Living in Nevada County, preparing for wildfire is essential. Despite cooler fall weather, it is important to remember that now is the time of the year that we often see wildfires start up. In fact, 13 of the top 20 most destructive wildfires in California history occurred in September, October, or November.
The Nevada County Office of Emergency Services (OES) urges all residents to sign up for CodeRED Emergency Alerts and know their Evacuation Zone so that they are ready in case of an emergency.
"When the weather starts to shift, we have a tendency to get complacent.” Said Craig Griesbach, director of OES. “Yet now, more than ever, is the time to be ready – until we get the first wetting rains it is bone-dry out there. It only takes a spark.”
To increase community awareness around preparedness, OES is partnering with agencies to install Know Your Zone Decals on department vehicles across the county. Whether on the road or parked in our cities and towns, these vehicles offer a “mobile reminder” to residents and visitors about the importance of knowing your zone in the event of an emergency.
“Installing Know Your Zone decals on local government vehicles is a fantastic initiative, and we are thrilled to partner with County OES on this project. While these reminders may seem small, emphasizing the significance of wildfire planning in our everyday lives is vital for our community and can ultimately save lives during a wildfire.” Said Evan McLenithan, Community Risk Reduction Officer, City of Nevada City OES.
CodeRED is the emergency notification system used by Nevada County to keep you informed during critical events. You can receive alerts via text, email, landline, cell phone, and TTY. CodeRED alerts only work when cell phone towers and telephone lines are operational, so always monitor local media during an emergency event.
All Nevada County residents are advised to register for CodeRED Emergency Alerts:
• Visit ReadyNevadaCounty.org/EmergencyAlerts
• Text ReadyNevadaCounty to 99411 and follow the link to complete the registration.
• Call 211 or 1-833-DIAL211 for assistance from a Connecting Point call agent.
Know Your Evacuation Zone
During an emergency, law enforcement and fire agencies issue evacuation warnings or orders and use specific zones. Authorities will use your Zone Name in emergency alerts, media announcements, and on social media.
Find your zone by visiting protect.genasys.com, entering your address into the search bar, and noting the zone name in the pop-up window. Make sure to write it down and keep it somewhere easy to find during an emergency.
For more preparedness tips and resources, visit ReadyNevadaCounty.org
