May 28, 2020 – The 2020 Ready, Set, Go! Handbook will arrive in mailboxes across Nevada County this week. Created by the Nevada County Office of Emergency Services in collaboration with partner agencies, the guide serves as a tool for wildfire safety and emergency preparedness. The resources provided, from defensible space guidance to Go Bag checklists, have been compiled through the collaborative efforts of county officials, local and state agencies, first responders, nonprofits, and community leaders.
“There is so much information out there that it can almost be overwhelming. We thought it was important to create a streamlined guide for residents with the most up to date local information,” says Steve Monaghan, Director of the Office of Emergency Services.
New this year, the handbook includes information on 10 Tips for Finding Insurance, Generator Safety, and the hi-lo siren, the European alarm utilized by local law enforcement to signal an imminent threat and the need to evacuate immediately. The handbook also includes contact information for 6 local organizations participating in the Listos California campaign to help individuals, families, and communities prepare for disaster. Ana Acton, Executive Director of FREED Center for Independent Living, says “In Nevada County, there is a strong coalition offering increased preparedness guidance to residents most vulnerable in the community. Please do not hesitate to reach out to one of our organizations for assistance.”
Most Nevada County residents live in a high or very-high fire severity zone. Preparing properties and equipping families for the possibility of a wildfire or Public Safety Power Shutoff is a way of life in heavily wooded Nevada County. Personal responsibility paired with education are crucial to the community’s safety. “Many people know it’s important to prepare for wildfire, but they aren’t sure where to begin. We hope that this handbook provides a path forward for people to get started right away,” says Truckee Fire Protection District Fire Chief Seline.
The development of the handbook was a collaborative process between the Town of Truckee and Cities of Grass Valley and Nevada City. The guide captures municipal codes and ordinances, as well as covers both opt-in emergency alert notifications systems pertinent to property owners and residents in Eastern and Western Nevada County.
The initiative Ready Nevada County represented by the logo on the cover of the handbook, is a multifaceted stakeholder effort coordinated by the County of Nevada to raise awareness and mobilize the community to prevent and prepare for wildfire. Community members are encouraged to look for the logo for the latest on Nevada County’s wildfire readiness through increased planning, strategic partnerships, improved communication, and ongoing public engagement.
The delivery of the Ready, Set, Go! handbooks will be staggered; all residents should receive theirs within the week.
Editor’s note: If you prefer to download a digital copy of the guide, you can do so now! Click here for the file.