Wildfires

Pay attention to emergency alerts and notifications for information and instructions.

Check with local authorities for the latest information about public shelters or check open locations on the FEMA app.

Choose a room to close off from outside air and set up a portable air cleaner or filter to keep the air in this room clean even when it’s smoky in the rest of the building and outdoors. If you don’t have an air purifier, make a DIY air purifier.

Limit phone use to conserve power or keep phones charged.

Put perishables outside to keep cold.

Run cord for electric heaters to generators placed outside only.

Use fireplaces safely. 

If your power is on, keep energy use low to preserve power.

Check on neighbors who don’t have power.

Children sometimes need to ask questions to feel safe, and will usually ask questions they are ready to hear the answer to. Follow their lead, answering the questions they ask.

Kids may want to help with light tasks.

Reading books and playing games can help kids feel more normal and less scared.

Check the city website if you need shelter. Information on warming centers and shelters can be found on HSEM’s Active Emergency Information Hub page and the city’s shelter page.

Shelter for people who are unhoused can be found on the city webpage for Homeless Resources.

Conserving energy is important, especially if evacuation is a possibility.

If trapped, call 9-1-1 and give your location, but be aware that emergency response could be delayed or impossible. Turn on lights to help rescuers find you.

Be careful! Even if the roads look just wet, they might still be slippery. Every year, over 5,000 people die on the roads because of the weather.

Before you start driving, make sure your vehicle is totally free of ice and snow. Snow flying off cars can cause accidents.

Tell someone where you are going and which way you will take. If something happens, they will know where to look for you.

Don’t leave home without these things: a fully charged phone, a car charger, and an emergency kit in your car.

If you start to skid while driving, stay calm, slowly take your foot off the gas, and steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go. If your car has an anti-lock braking system (ABS), press the brake pedal down firmly. Do not pump the brakes if your car has ABS.

If it’s hard to see because of the weather, pull over and stop your car until you can see better. Turn off your lights and use your parking brake when stopped to prevent another car from following your lights and hitting you.

Stay in the vehicle!

If you leave your vehicle, you will become disoriented quickly in wind-driven snow and cold.

Run the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat.

While running the motor, open the window a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

Clear snow from the exhaust pipe to avoid gas poisoning.

Be visible to rescuers.

Turn on the dome light at night when running the engine.

Tie a bright colored cloth, preferably red, to your antenna or door.

After snow stops falling, raise the hood to indicate you need help

• Find Shelter: Try to stay dry and cover all exposed body parts.
• When There Is No Shelter Nearby: Build a lean-to, windbreak or snow cave for protection from the wind. Build a fire for heat and to attract attention. Place rocks around the fire to absorb and reflect heat.
• Melt Snow for Drinking Water: Eating unmelted snow will lower your body temperature.
• Exercise: From time to time, move arms, legs, fingers and toes vigorously to keep blood circulating and to keep warm. Don’t work too hard. It may cause a heart attack, sweating could lead to a chill and hypothermia.