Dear Constituent,

The ongoing possibility of a wildfire or serious earthquake is the norm here in the East Bay. Both could result in widespread evacuations, requiring us to quickly leave our homes. It's never too soon to be prepared with, at minimum, a to-go kit and an evacuation plan.

There are many resources that provide tips for being prepared, but here are three simple, yet very essential preparations worth putting together today:

• Assemble a to-go kit (see details below) in case you have to evacuate quickly
• If you live somewhere that has limited routes out, prepare a map with two evacuation routes from your home
• Designate an out-of-area friend or relative as point of contact for family members/close friends in case local communications are jammed

Items for Your To-Go Kit:

• Personal medication and medical supplies that you or a family member depend on
• Eyeglasses or contact lenses
• Charging cable for cellphone; good to include portable cellphone battery pack
• Cash, because credit cards may not work due to lack of electricity
• Copies or originals of these important documents:
  • Passport
  • Children's birth certificates
  • Insurance information for your home and autos
  • Titles for any property you own
  • Personal computer information on thumb drive or hard drive

Pack your to-go kit in something that's easy to carry, such as a backpack, small file box with handle, or other easy-to-carry container, and keep it in a convenient location so you can grab it and go.

And always, it's a good idea to keep walking shoes and a flashlight near your bed in case of a sudden evacuation at night.

For more information on wildfire preparedness and other items that you can include in your to-go kit, please check out CalFire's excellent webpage, Ready, Set, Go. You can also find important information here, here, here, and here.

For earthquake kits, please check out the California Earthquake Authority's website.

I hope you find this information useful. It's an honor serving you in the state Senate.

Sincerely,

Nancy Skinner
Senator, 9th District