Wildfire Preparation

Several members of our chapter were evacuated this week due to the wildfire.  Fortunately there is a good outcome and no lives or buildings were lost.  However, we all need to think about being ready to evacuate.  What will you take if you have 30 minutes?  How about 10 minutes?  Most of us had NO time to pack -- just grab people and animals and scram.

The following are links to evacuation lists that I posted about a year ago.  My husband and I have customized the list for requirements and have it pinned on the wall in our home office  so we won't run around like chickens with our heads cut off.  Even though I didn't have any time to pack, I wasn't panicked like I was in 2002 because we had talked it through and had a plan. 

Emergency Evacuation List Part 1
Emergency Evacuation List Part 2

There are many ways to inventory your possessions and you should do something in the horrible event that you lose all or part of your home.  We walked around the house and took pictures of everything -- including laying out all of my jewelry.  We put the pictures on a flash drive and have stored it in our safe deposit box. 

Have you signed up to receive reverse 911 calls on your cell phone?  If not, please do as you will receive text, phone calls, and emails in the event of an emergency.  It worked very well on Monday.  Here is the link:  https://www.smart911.com/ 

You can also register cell phones or VOIP phones here:  Code Red

Here is the link to the Jeffco website on emergency resources:  Jeffco Sherriff Emergency Resources

Something I learned is that there are now 3 levels of alerts.  I don't have the wording exactly right, but here is a summary:

• Level 1 -- there is a wildfire in your area so get ready to evacuate
• Level 2 -- you should pack important belongings and leave
• Level 3 -- no time to pack -- GO

We went from level 2 to 3 in about 5 minutes so there wasn't any time to react.

I'm sure there are more links and resources available, but this is what I have right now.  Please sign up for the reverse 911 on your cell phone and put together a family plan.  What will you take?  Where will you meet? 

I certainly hope and pray that no one will be impacted by wildfires but I did want to share with you what we have learned.  You can't prepare for everything and sometimes the best plans won't work, but it does help you feel more comfortable being as prepared as possible.

May 2 Meeting

On a personal note.....

• Anne announced details of the Evergreen Chorale’s upcoming concert called Fiesta. She also offered raffle tickets for sale to anyone who might be interested.  
• Nancy Dunkin announced details of an auction for “Young Voices of Colorado”.
• Sue Queen reported that her son is going to go to California Lutheran for college.  
• Sondra Inman told the chapter that Nancy Tyler left that day to distribute her mother’s ashes, and that Sherrill Erfurth was recently married and went to Hawaii for a honeymoon.
• Sondra also showed us some pillow cases that Denise Pecoraro had embroidered for her.  
• Dianne read regrets from several sisters who could not make it to the meeting.  
• Susie Beerer remarked that it was really so nice to be at the meeting and to see everyone that she has not seen since she moved to Denver.