Disaster victims should be prepared to go without power in the hours and days following a catastrophe. (Credit: SkyLine/Adobe Stock)

High school football coach and Altadena native Zaire Calvin wandered through the charred rubble that was his neighborhood and described watching fire race across a nearby mountain and then, in short order, take aim at his property.

“I literally just built all of this,” said Calvin, sobbing, during a 60 Minutes story that aired on Jan. 12, 2025.

“Out of nowhere, you see the fire appear,” recalled the 47-year-old father. “For it to move that quickly and that rapidly, and for it to shift paths that fast, is insane.”

Calvin lost his home, and his sister succumbed to flames in a neighboring house, during the deadly Eaton Fire.

Minutes matter

Once a fire sparks in or near a home or business, it may only be minutes before the entire property is engulfed. That leaves only moments to grab belongings and go; no time to lose.

A wildfire Go Bag is not for cherished mementos, advises the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). It should be easy to access and easy to carry.

Here is a checklist of essentials:

  1. 3-day supply of non-perishable food (with can opener)
  2. 3 gallons of water per person
  3. A map with at least two evacuation routes
  4. Necessary prescriptions or medications
  5. A change of clothes
  6. Extra eyeglasses/contact lenses
  7. Extra car keys
  8. Money (cash, credit cards or traveler’s checks)
  9. A first aid kit
  10. Sanitation supplies
  11. A flashlight
  12. A battery-powered radio
  13. Extra batteries
  14. Copies of important documents (birth certificates, passports, etc.)
  15. Pet food
Only pack up such valuables as family photos or electronics if time allows.

A wildfire Go Bag is not the same as a medical kit or a disaster-emergency kit, which would include additional provisions. Some other items that may be helpful in the wake of any disaster include masks, plastic sheeting, duct tape, scissors, tools and moist wipes.

For a complete list of disaster preparedness supplies, visit Ready.gov, a resource of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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