Get ready, get set - get out

Greater Spokane Emergency Management officials want the public to know what evacuation levels mean - and what to take with them when told to leave.

The county agency has released a set of evacuation guidelines and an "emergency evacuation grab and go list" it hopes all residents will find helpful should conditions arise where they need to be prepared to leave their homes. The information is particularly applicable to residents in what GSEM program specialist Gerry Bozarth refers to as the urban/wild land interface - areas of the county most impacted by wildfires.

Bozarth said Spokane County Fire District 3 officials heard some confusion from residents in the wake of last week's Silver Lake fire northwest of Cheney on what the three levels of evacuation meant, prompting the agency's response.

"Many people don't know what these mean and what to do," Bozarth said.

At Level 1, residents should be prepared to leave their current location as conditions could get worse in the area.

At Level 2, residents should be prepared to leave at a moment's notice due to increased danger and know that the incident may be limiting emergency services abilities to protect them. Anyone with pets or livestock needing extra time to evacuate should leave immediately.

At Level 3, it's time to go - now. The threat is immediate, emergency services may not be able to assist you and returning is not allowed until conditions are safe to do so.

The county has also issued recommendations on what to take with you in the case of an emergency, and encourages residents to prepare these ahead of time.

Level 3 - five minutes or less evacuation - items include wallet or purse, keys, cellphone with charger and extra batteries, medications, medical devices, glasses, laptop and charger, emergency folder with identification papers, shoes and weather appropriate clothing and pet supplies. Levels 2 and 1 include these items, plus additional necessities for those who think ahead.

While the guidance was prompted by recent wildfires, and is directed towards people living in more rural areas, Bozarth said it's advice everyone should heed to be prepared in case of an emergency. Residents never know when another windstorm, or extremely cold weather will knock out services and leave them vulnerable.

"The vast majority of people think 'It's not going to affect me,'" Bozarth said. "It's definitely something most of us don't want to think about. In all honesty, all of us should be prepared."

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].