Nevada County Calif. June 25, 2020 – The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office is providing free “EVACUATED” tags for residents to place in a highly visible place such as a door, reflective address sign, mailbox, fence, or gate as they evacuate their residence during an emergency. These tags will help first responders swiftly identify which homes have been evacuated so they can focus their attention on those who still need help and decrease overall evacuation times.

With fire season right around the corner, these evacuation tags, when used properly, will greatly help first responders quickly identify if a resident has already evacuated from a hazardous area. When an evacuation order is deemed appropriate, time is of the essence and these tags will provide visual cues that allow first responders to efficiently and swiftly evacuate neighborhoods,” says Sheriff Shannan Moon. “Forecasts are showing a very dry and potentially dangerous fire season, it is important that as a community begin preparing now. These new evacuation tags are an additional way that we can work together to create a safer Nevada County,” added Sheriff Moon.

Office of Emergency Services will continue training community members on the best way to use this important new tool via the Ready Nevada County outreach initiative and hopes others will share this new evacuation step with friends and neighbors. It is a simple step, but it is important to keep the tag in a place where it is easy to find and remember to use it by placing it somewhere first responders can find it like a mailbox or reflective address sign. “In 2019 our community stepped up their preparedness and we are excited to add this new tool to the overall recommended emergency plan. It is a compliment, not a replacement of the best practices we advocate, like having a go bag ready, being familiar with the Hi-Lo evacuation siren, and knowing evacuation routes,” says Program Manager, Paul Cummings.

It is understood that some residents may be apprehensive to place a sign like this in front of their homes, believing it could invite criminal activity. The Sheriff’s Office, who oversees evacuations, assures all concerned residents that once an area is evacuated law enforcement will minimize access to those areas. Deputies will then saturate those evacuated areas with patrols. The process can help alert law enforcement to suspicious activity in clearly marked evacuated neighborhoods.

These tags are free and may be found at the following locations throughout Nevada County:

  • Nevada County Sheriff’s Office 950 Maidu Avenue, Nevada City, CA 95959
  • Nevada County Sheriff’s Office – Truckee Substation 10879 Donner Pass Rd., Truckee, CA 96161
  • Higgins Fire District Station 21 10106 Combie Rd., Auburn, CA 95602
  • Station 23 20604 McCourtney Rd., Grass Valley, CA 95949
  • Nevada County Consolidated Fire District Station 84 640 Coyote Street, Nevada City, CA 95959
  • Station 89 11833 Tammy Way, Grass Valley, CA 95949
  • Peardale Chicago Park Fire Protection District Station 57 18934 Colfax Hwy, Grass Valley, CA 95945
  • Penn Valley Fire Protection District Station 43 10513 Spenceville Rd., Penn Valley, CA. 95946
  • Truckee Fire Protection District Station 91 10049 Donner Pass Rd., Truckee, CA 96161
  • Washington Fire Department Station 60 15406 Washington Rd. Nevada City, CA 95959

For more preparedness tools like Go Bag and Emergency Allies checklists, Defensible Space tips and Evacuation planning visit ReadyNevadaCounty.org

To aid in prompt evacuations, all residents should sign up for Code Red, or Nixle Emergency Alerts for residents in the Town of Truckee. To sign up, or find additional information, visit: https://www.mynevadacounty.com/2713/Emergency-Alerts.