Preparing for Disasters in Placer County
Obtain Correct Information
Develop a Plan
Be Prepared
County of Placer
Office of Emergency Services
2968 Richardson Drive
Auburn, CA 95603
www.placer.ca.gov (click on "emergency")
Disasters happen!
Every family and individual should become prepared to respond to local disasters.
Rising from the valley floor to the crest of the Sierras, Placer County does experience natural disasters from time to time. Wildland fires, flooding, powerful winter storms, heavy snow, backcountry avalanches, power outages, and high winds are very predictable and will reoccur.
The County can also experience transportation accidents, law enforcement incidents or many other kinds of disasters. While terrorism in Placer County is considered less likely, it could happen. No one knows what the world situation may bring.
A disaster situation heavily taxes the resources of your fire, law, emergency medical services and other response personnel.
Under the law, management responsibilities vary according to the nature of the emergency and where it takes place. In Placer County, there are six cities plus the unincorporated area, and cities generally have jurisdiction within their boundaries. Some emergencies, such as flooding or large fires, may also cross several jurisdictional boundaries.
Prepare your family members to take care of themselves for three days, so that you will need to call for help only if you have an unusual or life-threatening emergency situation.
Basic emergency preparedness is simple, helps protect your safety, and creates reassurance for your family.
1. Stay well informed
Turn on news radio or TV for emergency information, instructions or warnings about potential disasters. Placer County will provide updated and accurate information to news media. Radio is usually best for frequent updates.
News radio serving the western slope:
AM 950 KAMI (Auburn broadcast)
AM 1530 KFBK (Sacramento region broadcast)
AM 830 KNCO (Grass Valley broadcast)
Radio serving Lake Tahoe Basin:
AM 1490 KOWL
AM 590 KTHO
FM 90.5 KKTO
FM 93.9 KRLT
AM 780 KKOH (Reno region broadcast)
Sacramento television stations:
KCRA Channel 3 NBC
KXTV Channel 10 ABC
KOVR Channel 13 CBS
KTXL Channel 40 FOX
KMAX Channel 31UPN
KUVS Channel 19 (Spanish)
Reno television stations:
KOLO Channel 8
KRNV Channel 4
KTVN Channel 2
Other radio stations, cable television, and local newspapers may also have information.
You may receive a Teleminder call, a computer-generated phone message from the Sheriff's Department, relaying critical emergency information. This is a message only, designed for rapid, neighborhood emergency or crime notification
Call 9-1-1 only to report an emergency. If you are on a cell phone, you may call 530-823-4411 to reach Sheriff and Fire 9-1-1 operators directly. All cell 9-1-1 calls otherwise go to California Highway Patrol.
Go online to the Placer County Website, which will have local information if the County is responding to a significant emergency.
www.placer.ca.gov (click on "emergency")
Other Websites you may find useful regarding emergencies include:
Cal Fire (CA Dept. Forestry/Fire Protection:
www.fire.ca.gov
US Forest Service Fire Information:
www.indweb.org
California Highway Patrol:
www.chp.ca.gov
Governor's Office of Emergency Services:
www/oes.ca.gov
CA Dept. of Health Services
bepreparedcalifornia.gov
Call the Placer County Emergency Operations Center
If the County is responding to a significant local emergency or providing support, you can reach a staff member via the Public Information hotline number below. During critical incidents this line may be staffed 24 hours a day, or may refer you to another resource. Otherwise, this number is not staffed.
EOC in Auburn: 53O-886-5310 (serving south Placer and the foothills)
North Tahoe: 530-584-159O
2. Develop a plan and be prepared
Create a family readiness plan.
Preparation can minimize disruption and anxiety when there's an emergency.
Learn First Aid and CPR.
For classes, call Red Cross at 530-885-9392 or register online at www.sacsierrraredcross.org
Learn which emergencies are most likely to occur in your area.
For example. Placer County has experienced numerous floods and fires.
• Is your home close to a creek which floods?
• Are wildland fires a concern in your community?
Minimize the hazards if you can.
• Clear debris from the creek.
• Create at least a 100-foot defensible space to protect your home from fire.
Be alert for suspicious activities & report them to law enforcement.
Join a neighborhood watch group.
Have a reunification plan if your family gets separated.
• Agree to call a specific family member who lives outside the area. It's often easier to call long distance in a disaster. Write it down for children.
Know the location of and how to turn off water, power, propane and gas coming into your house.
Teach your children what to do If there's an emergency.
• Tell them to follow directions of fire, Sheriff, or other safety officials if you aren't home.
• Tell them to call 9-1-1 if they are in danger.
• Make sure they know their address and how to contact family—write it down.
Store emergency supplies to last at least three days.
• Ready-to-eat, nonperishable foods
• Can opener, matches, knife, foil, plastic bags
• Water-one gallon per day per person
• Flashlights and batteries
• Battery-operated radios
• Medications and first-aid supplies
• Blankets
• Warm shoes and clothing, rain gear
• Household tools
• Food and water for pets, livestock
• List of important phone numbers
• Fire extinguisher
• Toys, games, books, etc.
• Supplies for infants and people with special needs (the elderly or disabled)
• Toiletries and personal supplies
If you must evacuate, take essential medicines and supplies with you.
Need more planning tips?
Call the American Red Cross at (530) 885-9392: www.sacsierraredcross.org
Or call the Office of Emergency Services, at 530-886-5300 for a free presentation.