Future Self Care
The new year is a great time to review safety action plans for potential and likely disasters that we know will occur at some point. Canyon fires, earthquakes, sustained power outages, etc., will happen eventually. As the Pacific warms, more severe storms than we’re used to will surely head our way. Before that happens, though, we can count on the abundant grasses sprouting in our surrounding canyons after this winter’s historic rainfall totals creating perfect kindling ready to fuel fires sparked by illegal camping, carelessly tossed cigarettes, etc.
We all have our Go Bags ready by now (right?), but we might need to swap out some of the food and water in those bags and maybe refurbish our other supplies. Or perhaps our upgrade this year can be creating duplicate bags / tubs to keep at work or in our cars in case disaster strikes when we’re not at home. Do we all have flashlights and sturdy shoes next to our beds in case the “big one” hits in the middle of the night? Those are some of the many recommendations on ready.gov and similar sites.
Evacuation routes could also use some updated consideration. Experts recommend having two different routes in mind for different evacuation scenarios. After the fires in LA last year, a local SDFD captain explained that sheltering in place may be the best and only solution in some cases because roads have a finite capacity. In that same community discussion, our City Councilmember said he wasn’t aware of any efforts to improve evacuation routes or strategies for residents in our area even though thousands more people and their cars now share the same old roads. The takeaway from that meeting? In many ways, we’re on our own. We need to pay attention to local government guidance during disasters, but we also need our own plans in place for how we’ll save ourselves and our neighbors. So…February Goals?
Finally, a quick note to those who’ve started their spring cleaning: the Goodwill retail store and donation center on 16th Street accepts textiles for recycling! Any bedding, towels, old socks, etc., unsuitable for donation can be dropped off at this Goodwill location. Find landfill diversion options for other materials on the wastefreesd.org website, or call I Love a Clean San Diego for assistance: 800-237-2583.