Ashland residents are urged to sign up for Citizen Alerts and to pack a go bag with essentials

By Paula Hyatt

Fire season is upon us, and as a community we are called to take two essential steps vital to emergency preparedness. First, sign up for Citizen Alert and second, pack your go bag.

Signing up for citizen alerts and packing your go bag can mean everything in an emergency. 

Fire season was declared on June 1, and if you are not signed up for emergency alerts, the time is now. We encourage all residents and local business owners in Ashland to sign up for Citizen Alerts. 

Citizen Alerts

Citizen Alerts through Everbridge are easy to set up, and there are multiple ways to establish your alerts. 

First, you can sign up online at ashlandoregon.gov/966/Alerts.

Using the online sign-up, you may prioritize your preferred methods of contact and customize notifications. Additionally, your online account will provide flexibility to make address or phone number changes when the need arises.

If you would prefer to sign-up using your cell phone, text 97520 in the message line to the following number: 888777.  

• Best practices recommend assigning the 888777 number a name in your contact list such as “Ashland Citizen Alert.” 
• You also have the option of assigning 888777 its own ringtone to further alert you to the nature of the outreach.
• It is important to note that if you sign up for text only you may not receive the Jackson County-wide alerts, only the Ashland Alerts associated with the 97520 ZIP code, and you will not receive notices by email, only text. 

Signing up for text alerts is an excellent first step, and following up online to create your account is highly recommended. Having an account will enable you to include email alerts and additional phone numbers. It will also connect you with the county and associated county alerts.

Finally, Citizen Alerts through Everbridge has an app! To download the app, go to your Google Play or Apple App Store and search for Everbridge. The Everbridge App will allow you to subscribe to Ashland Alerts and control your notifications from the convenience of your phone. You will need to subscribe to Ashland Alerts from within the application, and the app can be used by itself or in conjunction with text messaging. 

Please remember, effective emergency preparedness means ensuring ALL your family members have access to Citizen Alerts, including older children with cellphones.

Be ready

Once you are signed up for alerts, it is time to turn your attention to emergency evacuation readiness. The next step is not a comfortable one to contemplate. Many of us have experience in wildfire evacuation, and we know well that the time to prepare is when you are not faced with an emergency. Yet, we still put off the “Get Ready” step. In an acute emergency it can be hard to prioritize needs. You are processing a lot of information quickly and having a plan, ideally written and easily accessible, for yourself and your loved ones saves lives.

During our fire seasons, get comfortable with being at Level 1: Be ready.

And, unlike so much of fire season, signing up for alerts and packing a go bag, are 100% in your control.

The task of packing a go bag often feels overwhelming. Contemplating the need to pack a go bag takes energy and can feel scary. Channeling that energy and taking tangible steps helps give us control and personal agency.  

Focus first on your essential needs, the essential needs of family members and, if appropriate, your pets. So, where to start?

Go bag resources and guidance for almost any emergency can be found at ready.gov/kit.

This website will help you prepare a go bag that is appropriate for you and your family. Some basic recommendations are below, but note that the list is not all-inclusive and each individual or family will have unique needs. Please take a few minutes to consider your individual circumstance and develop a list of what you need, then actually PACK YOUR GO BAG so the items are ready should the need arise. 

Basic supplies for wildfire evacuation include:

• Water.
• Shelf-stable food. 
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio.
• Flashlight. 
• First-aid kit. 
• Extra batteries. 
• N95 mask.
• Local maps.
• Cell phone chargers and back up batteries. 

Personal supplies to consider:

• Medications, including over-the-counter medications and supplements.
• Important documents. Examples include personal identification, copies of insurance policies and bank account information, available either electronically or in a watertight portable container.
• Prescription glasses, sunglasses or contact lenses.
• Change of clothing.
• Formula, diapers, wipes, rash cream and bottles. 
• Pet supplies including food and extra water.
• Cash, in smaller bills if possible.
• Soap, hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes.

Where you store your go bag is as important as packing one. Keep your go bag in a designated space that is easy to access and make sure all those in the home know the location! Evacuation circumstances are dynamic and ensuring all members of the household know where to find the go bag(s) is critical. 

The time is now to prepare and plan. Please do not delay. Sign up for Citizen Alerts and pack your go bag. 

Additional resources

The city of Ashland is committed to providing resources that enable you and your loved ones to plan and prepare for emergencies. Additional resources can be found at the following link: ashlandoregon.gov/180/Emergency-Preparedness.

Additionally, there will be a “Ready, Set, Go! Emergency Preparedness for Seniors” program from 1 to 3 p.m. July 31 at the Ashland Senior Center, 1699 Homes Ave., Ashland. Registration is required. To register call 541-488-5342. The program is free and will be presented by the Ashland emergency management coordinator, Kelly Burns.

Email Ashland City Councilor Paula Hyatt at [email protected]. Email letters to the editor and viewpoint submissions to [email protected].