Evacuations from your home or work are more common than many people realize. FEMA urges residents to know their evacuation routes and to heed the direction of local officials taking seriously their instructions to evacuate.  According to the Ready Campaign, fires and floods cause evacuations most frequently across the U.S., and almost every year, people along coastlines evacuate as hurricanes approach. In addition, hundreds of times per year, transportation and industrial accidents release harmful substances, forcing many people to leave their homes.

You don’t have to wait for an official evacuation notice to prepare, you can start now. Contact your local emergency management agency for the evacuation routes in your community. Additionally, follow these guidelines for evacuation:

• Develop a Family Emergency Plan and include your local evacuation routes.
• If you commute, make sure you have a commuter emergency plan for travelling between work and home.
• Have emergency supplies in a Go Bag.
• Sign up for local alerts and warnings, so you know when you need to evacuate.
• Download the FEMA App to find out the location of open shelters.

Be ready to evacuate yourself and your family with Ready’s Evacuation Guidelines. 

As you plan your Thanksgiving menu don’t forget about fire safety.

Did you know Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires? The number of home fires double on Thanksgiving. So, let’s add a pinch of fire safety to the menu.

Keep these safety tips in mind as you prepare your meal.

Turkey:

If you're roasting your turkey, make sure you set a timer. This way, you won’t forget about the bird as you watch the parade or a football game.

If you're frying your turkey:

• Use a fryer with thermostat controls. This will ensure the oil does not become over heated.
• Thaw your turkey completely. Ice on the bird will cause the oil to splatter.
• Don’t overfill the pot with oil. If you do, the oil will overflow when you add the turkey causing a fire hazard.
• Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the fryer.
• Also, always use the fryer outdoors.

Stuffing and Potatoes:

Stand by your stove when you're boiling your potatoes or frying onions for stuffing. It is best to stay in the kitchen when you're frying, boiling or broiling. If you're in the kitchen, it is easier to catch spills or hazardous conditions before they become a fire.

Vegetables:

• Keep the area around the stove clear of packaging, paper towels, and dish cloths; anything that can burn.
• Be sure to clean up any spills as they happen.
• Be prepared. Keep a large pan lid or baking sheet handy in case you need to smother a pan fire.
• Turn pot handles towards the back of the stove so you don’t bump them.

By following these safety tips, you will have a delicious and fire safe Thanksgiving. Let the firefighters have dinner with their families, not yours.

Neighbors may be the first to help you after a disaster. With that in mind, the City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department developed the 5 Steps to Neighborhood Preparedness. Check out the following links to learn about the 5 steps, how a neighborhood practiced their plan during America’s PrepareAthon! and how another neighborhood put it into action:

• 5 Steps to Neighborhood Preparedness.
• Los Angeles’ 5 Steps PrepareAthon!
• Neighborhood Preparedness Saves Lives in Los Angeles.

For more information, visit the Los Angeles Emergency Management Department.