Ready, Set, Go! What It Is And How You Can Be Prepared For An Emergency In Your Area

With the Museum Fire requiring neighborhoods under pre-evacuation and evacuation notices, it is good to remember to be prepared. One way to do this is by signing up for Alerts from Coconino County. You can do that here. If there is an incident that Coconino County is responding to in the area you are in, you will be notified.

Another thing we have been seeing with the Museum Fire is the terms “Set” and “Go”. What do these mean? “Set” is part of a nationwide program that was adopted throughout Arizona that educates residents about being proactive and what measures to take before an emergency happens, and what actions to follow when a community is experiencing an emergency, just like the Museum Fire.

“Set” and “Go” are two of the program’s three principles: READY: prepare for a threat or emergency before there is one; SET: maintaining awareness of the danger during an emergency or threat; and GO: immediate evacuation when asked by authorities when the danger is immediate, current, and life-threatening.

Colors In The Logo Have Meaning

If you didn't notice, the words in Coconino County’s ‘Ready, Set, Go!’ logo is colored like a stop light: red, yellow, and green. There is a reason for this. Ready is red, meaning no action is needed except to ensure you have taken the steps to be prepared for an emergency. “Set” is yellow and is like a holding pattern: you have been informed by local emergency authorities that there is a danger and to be prepared to evacuate the area if necessary. “Go” is green for evacuate to a place that is outside the area.

This color system can be seen in the evacuation stage area map for the Museum Fire below.

“Ready”

Register with your county/tribal emergency notification system. For the system in Coconino County, click here.
Connect with your county’s Emergency Management and/or Sheriff’s Department on social media.
Take steps to prepare for seasonal threats. For example, Coconino County can experience high heat and wildfires during the summer, snow in the winter, and flooding throughout the year; which we experienced just recently with rains and cold temperatures into late May. You should know what weather and threats each season can bring to the area you live.
Make a family evacuation and communication plan that includes phone numbers for family members, out-of-town contacts, and family meeting locations. Remember, if your cell phone loses power, you will need some of the numbers saved in your phone written down.
Build a bug-out-bag with enough food, water, and necessary supplies for at least 72 hours for each person in your home. To remember what you need, remember the 5 Ps: people and pet supplies, prescriptions, papers, personal needs, and priceless items

People and Pet supplies – this including other animals and livestock, food and other necessary supplies
Prescriptions – dosages, medicines, medical equipment, vision and hearing aids, batteries, and power cords
Papers – important documents such as deeds, birth certificates, social security cards, passports, insurance papers or cards, etc.
Personal needs – clothing, water, food, cash, credit cards, first aid kits, phones, chargers, baby supplies, hygiene kits, sewing kits
Priceless items – photos, irreplaceable items such as family memorabilia, and other valuables

Make sure your friends, neighbors, family, and elders are prepared as well
Keep up to date with local news, weather watches, and warnings.

“Set”

Make sure your bug-out-bag is in an easily accessible location, and all supplies are current, especially prescriptions.
Stay informed with local news, and information from public safety officials
Start making plans for shelter outside of the affected area (community shelters, friends, family, etc.).
Keep in mind the unique needs for you and your family such as special equipment, pets, livestock, etc.

You may only receive this notice once. Conditions can rapidly change, and emergency services cannot guarantee they will be able to notify everyone affected if this happens.

“Go”

You should evacuate immediately to a place outside the affected area (emergency shelter, family, friends, hotel, etc.)
If you choose to ignore the “Go” order, you must understand that emergency services may not be able to help you
If you or someone you know needs assistance evacuating, your local emergency services may announce who to contact and/or where to go
You should always follow instructions from emergency personnel, stay on designate evacuation routes, and avoid closed areas.

Other Information

During the Museum Fire, many people were receiving scam calls with callers informing residents they were being evacuated. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office announced they were not calling any residents for evacuation, and that evacuation notices were announced through social media, the Coconino County website, and through the Emergency Alert System. If you receive a phone call with a person telling you to evacuate, and are unsure about the validity, verify with your local emergency services first.

For more information on Coconino County's Ready, Set, Go! program, click here.

Sources: Coconino County Emergency Management and Arizona Emergency Information Network

Article Sponsored By