Sacramento, CA — (July 22, 2019) – With California’s 2019 wildfire season under way, local Allstate Agents, in partnership with the American Red Cross, are giving away over 2,900 disaster kits July 22 – 26, across California, to better prepare families and local communities.
“Although it might be the last thing on your mind, a disaster could occur in any community at any time in California,” said Allstate California Community Relations Manager, Kyla O’Brien. “Many people—85 percent, in fact—aren’t prepared. Allstate is here to help California communities prepare and be less vulnerable in the event of a sudden disaster. Creating an emergency kit for you and your family is step one.”
This is especially relevant for California residents as the state is the number one most wildfire prone state in the country, according to the Insurance Information Institute’s top 10 “Most Wildfire Prone States” list. California has over two million households at high or extreme risk from wildfires. And in 2018, over 8,000 fires took place across the state, burning more than 1.8 million acres.
Residents who wish to pick up a disaster preparedness starter kit, can stop by any participating Allstate agency in California for more information.
To help local residents prepare for a disaster, The Allstate Foundation recommends three important safety tips to help communities be aware of the risks in their lives and to protect themselves and their loved ones.
Step One: Build a basic disaster preparedness kit. Your disaster preparedness kit should contain these basic supplies:
- Water (one gallon per person, per day)
- Ready-to-eat, nonperishable food (for family members and pets)
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Flashlight
- First-aid kit
- Whistle (to signal for help)
- Dust mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape
- Antiseptic and plastic garbage bags with ties (for sanitation)
- Wrench or pliers
- Local maps (to locate emergency services and shelters)
- Extra batteries
- Prescription medication
For more information, download Allstate Foundation’s brochure on how you can prepare your family for a disaster. Resources are available in English and Spanish.
Step Two: Create a household emergency evacuation plan. A household emergency plan should include the following information:
- Emergency contact names and numbers – mobile and landline (As an extra precaution, everyone in your family should program “In Case of Emergency,” or ICE, contacts in their mobile phones so emergency personnel can contact them if needed).
- Family meeting place in your neighborhood and alternative meeting place in the region.
- Personal details for each family member (date of birth, important medical information, recent photos).
- Addresses and phone numbers of the places family members frequent on a regular basis (work, school).
- Contact information for medical providers (doctors, pharmacist, veterinarian).
- Important medical and insurance information, including photocopies of your medical insurance card(s).
- For a fill-in-the-blank household emergency plan and cards to download, print and keep close at hand, visit www.ready.gov/make-a-plan.
Step 3: Help your community get ready for a disaster. The strength of a community comes from each person who lives in it. By raising your hand to help your community prepare for a potential disaster, you can help people respond to and recover from an emergency situation. Contact your local Red Cross to gain more information on how to prepare your community in the event of a disaster.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters, supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood, teaches lifesaving skills, provides international humanitarian aid, and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of donors to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org.
About The Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people’s well-being and prosperity. With a focus on building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, empowering youth and celebrating the charitable community involvement of Allstate agency owners and employees, The Allstate Foundation works to bring out the good in people’s lives. For more information, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.
