The end of summer may be near, but wild fire season is still in full swing. With fires having affected thousands of acres and many homes across the state, including north of the San Francisco Bay area, I thought now would be an ideal time to share some important information and resources with you. There are helpful measures to take with your home when it comes to the fight against wildfires, but if the worst does happen, there is also help on hand.
For wild fire education and prevention help, our counties offer some of the best hands on tools. Santa Clara County has a convenient homeowner’s checklist, an indispensable guide for preparing your property to withstand a wild fire, and great fire safety videos. Santa Clara County is also a part of the Firewise program, a federal fire safety and prevention resource which helps communities work together and prevent losses.
San Mateo County also has community resources available when it comes to wild fire safety and prevention. Their Fire Safe website includes not only a home owners’ checklist, but also guides on fire safe landscaping and creating what is known as a defendable space around your property.
The Diablo Fire Safe Council provides these types of resources and educational materials for Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. The goal of the council is to work with communities through sustainable practices toward wild fire prevention efforts. Where ever you live in the region, there is a local resource for you.
There is another incredible resource worth checking out when it comes to wildfire prevention and safety, no matter where you live in the state. CalFire is a one stop, state government website to keep up to date on the latest in wildfire situations and learn about actions you can take to protect your home and loved ones. If you have kids at home, CalFire, Just for Kids section is a valuable tool you can use to help teach your kids about fire safety.
While disaster insurance will help cover some of the costs, there are other ways to get further assistance. The California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), is a one stop resource to finding the latest in wild fire updates, preparedness information, and quick access to valuable national resources such as FEMA and the Red Cross. Cal OES also provides information on how individual residents can get the disaster assistance they need if faced with the dangers of a wildfire, or other natural emergencies. Additional federal government aid in times of disaster can also be accessed through the federal website, Disasterassistance.gov.
I recommend a review of these resources to not only know what may be available should a wildfire affect you, but also to learn what you can do to help prepare. When you are ready to buy or sell your home, being prepared with valuable information and resources makes for a better experience. We at Haylen Group are here to help you with all of your real estate needs! As your buyer agent we will strive to work together and give you the best support we can. Call Helen Chong at (408) 800-LIST or email at Helen@HaylenGroup.com. You can also visit us at our website for available listings and additional information.
