The American Red Cross has opened a shelter for residents heeding the pre-evacuation warnings issued for the Rice Ridge and Liberty fires burning near Seeley Lake in Missoula County.
The shelter will be located at the Potomac Community Center, 29827 Potomac Road, in Potomac.
All evacuees are welcome. All Red Cross services are free.
For those in the area who have not yet received the order to evacuate, here is what you can do to prepare:
• Download our free Wildfire app at http://www.redcross.org/prepare/mobile-apps.
• Gather your family or household members and delegate responsibilities.
• Assemble an emergency kit to take with you when you evacuate. For a detailed list of items to include visit http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies
• Prepare an information kit with important documents like medical, banking, and insurance records.
• Save a list of emergency numbers on every cellphone.
• Plan ahead for your pets and livestock. Ask local officials where you can bring them.
• Identify a place to meet in case you are separated.
• Plan and practice several evacuation routes from your neighborhood.
If an evacuation is imminent:
• Tune in to local radio and television stations for updated emergency information.
• Limit exposure to smoke and dust. Keep indoor air clean by closing (but not locking) windows and doors. Close curtains, shutters, and blinds. Use the recycle mode on your air conditioner.
• Turn on exterior lights.
• Remove flammable items from decks and porches.
• Open gates for animals that cannot be evacuated.
• Connect a hose to an outside spigot, mark any water sources on your property, and leave a ladder for firefighters.
• Put your emergency kit in your car. Back your car into the garage or park it in an open space facing the direction of escape, with windows closed and keys in the ignition.
• Put your best driver at the wheel. Turn on lights, drive slowly and watch out for emergency vehicles.
Evacuate as soon as the order is given. Don’t delay.
Reader Comments(0)