On Sept 21st, we received an alert on our phones advising us to evacuate immediately due to a fast moving fire nearby. As it turned out, the fire was a few miles away and was quickly brought under control. However, it was a sober reminder that no one in California can confidently assume they have no fire risk.
There is little debate that climate change is having an impact on us now and will be impacting us for the foreseeable future. While it is important to do our part to mitigate future climate change, it is also just as important to learn to adapt to the effects of climate change in the here and now. I will be devoting the next few months of the Environmental Moments to what I call Resiliency. These tips are not just for events related to climate change such as wildfires and droughts, but also apply to other natural disasters like earthquakes and even unexpected events such as a home fire.
Resiliency Tip #1: We have all been told to have our “to-go” bag ready if we ever have to evacuate. Among other things, the “to-go” bag should have copies of important documents such as insurance policies, passports, vaccine records, etc. as well as medications, water, food, and a flashlight. Here is a link to a “To-Go” bag checklist: PGE To-Go Bag Checklist
BUT, what if a natural disaster or home fire happens while you are at work or on vacation? It might be wise to consider keeping your “to-go” bag in your car. In addition, you should consider putting digital copies of important documents in a fire safe or on a ‘cloud’ storage site or even sending them to a family member or friend who lives out of state. If your home is damaged or destroyed by fire, it is critically important to contact your insurance agent immediately which is one reason why it is important to have contingency plans for important documents.
If you are interested in a comprehensive guide to resiliency, I recommend “How to Prepare for Climate Change” by David Pogue.
If you have any tips for how to be resilient in the face of climate change or any other unforeseen event, please contact Eileen Haflich via the church office at andrewpres@sbcglobal.net
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