JACKSON, Wyo. — As crews work to contain the Spread Creek Fire near Togwotee Pass, Teton County Emergency Management (TCEM) has some reminders for the community regarding wildfire preparedness.
This early-season wildfire serves as a good opportunity to assess a household’s readiness to respond to a disaster or an emergency. While no protective orders are currently in place related to the Spread Creek blaze, some wildfires do end up leading to evacuation orders, so it’s important to understand the “Ready, Set, Go” model used by TCEM.
“‘Readiness’ and ’emergency preparedness’ are mindsets and states of being,” TCEM Coordinator Anna Day shared in an email to Buckrail. “Everyone should make it their goal to be ‘ready’ year-round, for the hazards that are relevant and likely. Authorities in Teton County will never put a neighborhood or other area into ‘Ready,’ as they should already be ready.”
Be sure to sign up for Teton_WY Alerts, the free emergency notification service that informs residents if/when the following protective action orders are issued:
- SET: Prepare to take action. Stay tuned to local alerts and trustworthy sources of emergency information. If you anticipate evacuations, leave early if you have large animals, need extra time, or feel your life is in danger.
- GO!: Evacuate. Leave immediately, as instructed by officials. Do not hesitate. Remember to bring your pets and emergency supply kit.
- STAY!: Shelter in place. Stay tuned to local notification systems.
- AVOID!: Stay away from the designated area.
TCEM advises having three or more ways to receive emergency information, which could include a NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio, enabled emergency alerts on a mobile phone, presets to local radio stations that broadcast alerts (1340 AM, 88.3 FM, 89.1 FM, 93.5 FM, 95.3 FM, 96.3 FM, 96.9 FM) and/or access to social media channels that share current updates.
Now would be a great time to get a family emergency plan together. Part of emergency preparedness includes knowing the “Eight P’s” that belong in a “Go bag”:
- People and pets (needs and special considerations)
- Pictures and photo albums
- Personal computers
- Papers (important documents)
- Prescriptions and medications (for the pets, too)
- Plastics (credit cards)
- Personal devices (phones and chargers)
- Passports and IDs
Remember to keep the “Go bag” and its packing list easily accessible. Get more ideas at ready.gov/kit.
TCEM also advises understanding different insurance policies and awareness of personal coverage in case of damage or loss due to wildfire. Check whether lodging or hotel costs are covered in the event of wildfire evacuation.
“Remember that wildfire is just one hazard that we can face this time of year in Teton County,” Day said. “Many of the preparedness actions we recommend are hazard-agnostic and will increase individual/household preparedness for numerous hazards.”
