What does a Red Flag warning mean?

When to plan (now), what to know and how to act.|

Earlier this month, a rebroadcasting feature mistakenly forwarded an alert of a 'red flag' warning to Sonoma Valley residents. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office quickly performed some damage control by tweeting a link to Nixle which led to a page featuring an advisory announcement that declared 'no red flag warning for Sonoma County.'

This specific instance rang a false alarm for residents in the area, but with many living in or near hazard zones, Sonoma County can only hope that it does not bear the same fate as the boy who cried wolf.

Red flag warnings are sent by the National Weather Service in order to notify the public of imminent fire risk given extreme weather patterns. Fire agencies in each district of Sonoma County are conditioned to respond to red flag warnings in such a manner that best suits the specific needs of their district.

Additionally, during this warning period, agencies will increase their staff count and deploy resources on site prior to active fires in order to minimize potential impact. Sonoma County Emergency Management Division will also be active in monitoring and responding to current and evolving conditions.

At the call of a red flag warning, the public is called upon to exert immense caution, 'because a simple spark can cause a major wildfire,' according to the August issue of the SoCo Correspondent.

Knowing how to respond and prepare in the news of a red flag warning can limit survivor regret. The SoCo Correspondent provides information on Red Flag warning readiness and cites three words that encapsulate this response: Plan; Know; Act.

Plan

Familiarize yourself with multiple evacuation routes and inform someone from out of your area of the route you plan to take in the possibility of closed roads. Don't stop at one alternative; more is more in the context of emergency.

If you use a vehicle to evacuate, keep its fuel tank full. If you store your car in a garage, practice manually opening the garage door in the case of a power outage.

Review the Five P's of Evacuation; People/Pets, Prescriptions, Papers, Personal Needs, and Priceless Items; and make a physical list of what you'll want to bring during an evacuation.

Know

To note: Sonoma County will send Wireless Emergency Alerts to evacuation areas, which will reach all cell phones in the designated region.

Subscribe to the emergency altert system Nixle to stay up to date on latest warnings; text your zip code to 888-777 or register at Nixle.com.

Sign up for and provide a personal address for alerts from SoCO in order to receive word on immediate threats that are tailored specifically to where you live.

Act

Call 911 right away in the sighting of smoke and/or fire.

Do not use fireworks or open flame.

Do not mow dry grass when a red flag warning is in effect.

Do not drive through dry grass.

Keep large, flammable items a safe distance away from your house, at least 30 feet away.

Remove flammable materials from your deck, roof, patio and gutter.

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