Emergency Preparedness Tips
BE PREPARED
For Extreme Heat
Many areas of California will experience heat above 100 degrees for much of the day. Please stay safe, stay cool, and share the information and resources below with your family, friends, and communities.
The Governor shared a list of cooling centers in each county, where people can go to get relief from high temperatures:
https://www.caloes.ca.gov/cal-oes/active-incidents/cooling-centers.
Here are some additional tips for how you can stay safer from extreme heat:
Stay Cool (During the Hottest Times of the Day):
People without air conditioning should check for cooling centers near them, or visit public locations such as a library or shopping mall.
Avoid physical exertion or exercising outdoors.
Wear lightweight, light colored, loose clothing, hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
Stay Hydrated:
Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, even when not thirsty; drink sports drinks (in moderation with water) to help replace electrolytes lost during exercise.
Avoid sugary, alcoholic, and very cold drinks.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Stay Connected:
Monitor people at high risk of heat-related illness including infants and young children; people 65 years of age or older; individuals with chronic illness, disabilities, or who are pregnant.
Californians are also encouraged to check on their neighbors – call or visit vulnerable people, and offer to pick up groceries, medication, and other necessities. Older adults, young children, and babies, people with chronic medical conditions, and those who are pregnant are most vulnerable.
Use a buddy system when working in the heat.
Keep pets indoors, with plenty of water.
Stay Informed:
Check the local news for weather forecasts, extreme heat alerts, and information about cooling centers.
Additional Resource Links:
Enter your zip code here for the latest weather forecast.
PREPARE FOR AN EMERGENCY
Go to scr911.org online. This is Santa Cruz County’s Emergency Preparedness website. On their website, you can signup for CodeRED notifications that will give you important information and guidance for emergencies in our county.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TIPS
Have a “go bag” ready with essential items: medicines, documents, and important valuables (photos) in case of evacuation. Be ready to leave in 15 minutes.
Every house and location is unique. If your area is susceptible to flooding be aware of your exits and likely routes out of the area.
Have food, water, and emergency battery in case of power outage to keep informed.
Do not travel on waterways of more than 3 inches. This can move cars and sweep you away.
If you cannot safely evacuate, stay in place.
Prepare your house to limit damage. If you live in a flood zone, don’t leave items on the floor and give yourself 6 inches to limit damage.
After the incident, Family Resource Collective staff can help you file insurance claims and coordinate with insurance agents needed materials to document your claim and loss.
PG&E COMMUNICATIONS
Emergency Preparedness and Safety Tips
PG&E encourages everyone to have a plan, prepare for power outages and above all else, stay safe.
You can get updates on outages in your neighborhood through a variety of channels.
Contact your outage information line at 1-800-743-5002
Access your Electric Outage Map online at pge.com
You can also log-in to your account through pge.com and sign up to receive proactive outage alerts through email, text or phone.
Never touch downed wires: If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and extremely dangerous. Do not touch or try to move it—and keep children and animals away. Report downed power lines immediately by calling 911 and by calling PG&E at 1-800-743-5002.
Use flashlights, not candles: During a power outage, use battery-operated flashlights, and not candles, due to the risk of fire. If you must use candles, please keep them away from drapes, lampshades, animals, and small children. Do not leave candles unattended.
Have a backup phone: If you have a telephone system that requires electricity to work, such as a cordless phone or answering machine, plan to have a standard telephone or cellular phone ready as a backup.
Have fresh drinking water, ice: Freeze plastic containers filled with water to make blocks of ice that can be placed in your refrigerator/freezer during an outage to prevent foods from spoiling. Blue Ice from your picnic cooler also works well in the freezer.
Secure outdoor furniture: Deck furniture, lightweight yard structures, and decorative lawn items should be secured as they can be blown by high winds and damage overhead power lines and property.
Use generators safely: If you have a standby electric generator, you should make sure they are properly installed by a licensed electrician in a well-ventilated area. Improperly installed generators pose a significant danger for you, as well as crews working on power lines. If using portable generators, be sure they are in a well-ventilated area.
Turn off appliances: If you experience an outage, unplug or turn off all electrical appliances to avoid overloading circuits and to prevent fire hazards when power is restored. Simply leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns. Turn your appliances back on one at a time when conditions return to normal.
Safely clean up: After an emergency has passed, be sure to safely clean up. Never touch downed wires and always call PG&E at least two full business days before digging to have all underground utilities safely marked.
Emergency Preparedness Guide/Toolkit for Individuals with Disabilities
The California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) and Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) have also developed an Emergency Preparedness Guide/Toolkit for Individuals with Disabilities available in multiple languages that includes information and emergency preparedness tips for individuals with specific types of disabilities.
RECOVERY
COMMUNITY BRIDGES RECOVERY RESOURCES
Through participation in the Santa Cruz County Long Term Recovery Group, Community Bridges and Catholic Charities provide Disaster Case Manager support for families in need of assistance as they navigate the rebuilding process.
Disaster Case Managers provide one-on-one support to achieve effective communication with the Recovery Permit Center and connect families with resources, including funding through the Unmet Needs Committee for families that are experiencing rebuild funding gaps.
To connect with a Disaster Case Manager, please email [email protected] or call 831-920-4764.
COMMUNITY BRIDGES FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS
Community Bridges Family Resource Centers provide resource referral & coordination, financial assistance, and public benefit enrollment. Please call or visit any of the locations listed below.
Felton: Mountain Community Resources, 6134 Highway 9
Monday and Thursday: 9 am to 12:30pm, 1pm to 4:30pm
Tuesday and Wednesday: 9am to 12pm (by appointment 1-5pm)
Phone (831) 335-6600
Watsonville: La Manzana Community Resources, 521 Main St., Suite Y
Monday-Friday, 9am to 12pm, 1pm to 4:30pm
(831) 724-2997
Live Oak: Live Oak Community Resources, 1740 17th Ave.
Monday-Thursday, 9am to 12pm, 1pm to 5pm
(831) 476-7284
Santa Cruz: Nueva Vista Community Resources, 711 East Cliff Dr.
Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, 9am to 12pm, 1pm to 5pm (Closed Thursdays)
Phone (831) 423-574f