Recent Colorado wildfires are a reminder that emergencies can happen quickly. Being prepared and informed can save time and help residents make the right decisions when seconds matter.

Plan Ahead. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends making a pre-fire plan. This plan can include planning how you will evacuate your family, listing potential evacuation routes from home or work, and signing up for local emergency alerts. FEMA also recommends practicing at least two ways to get out of your neighborhood and doing a practice evacuation of pets or farm animals.

Stay in the know during an emergency. Visit the NOCO Alert website or text “NOCOALERT” to 888777 to sign up for emergency text messages or emails about wildfires, floods, blizzards, severe weather, police activity, or public health incidents in Larimer County. When signing up, NoCo Alert subscribers can enter their home, school, and/or work address, and the alerts they receive will be for emergencies or incidents happening near those addresses. Subscribers can also choose a preferred language for alerts.

Be prepared to leave. A mandatory evacuation can happen quickly. Prepare a “go bag” or “survival kit” with items you may need if you must evacuate your home. The American Red Cross suggests packing items such as food and water, medications, a first aid kit, personal hygiene items, cell phones and chargers, money, important documents, and a flashlight. Store your bag in a place that you can reach quickly, such as your vehicle or by your bed.

To learn more about emergency communication and preparedness on the City of Loveland website, and visit Ready.gov for free preparedness materials.