Know Your Zone

Know Your Evacuation Zone

Find it. Write it down. Remember it.

Evacuation zones help public safety officials quickly identify geographic areas that may need protective action during an emergency. Knowing your zone before an emergency saves valuable time when conditions change.

Find Your Zone

  1. Enter your address in the South Pasadena Emergency Map.
  2. Identify your evacuation zone.
  3. Write it down.
  4. Add it to your household emergency plan and Go Bag.
  5. Make sure everyone in your household knows it.
  6. Sign up for South Pasadena emergency alerts through Rave.

[Find My Evacuation Zone]
[Sign Up for Emergency Alerts]

Do not depend only on your phone to remember your zone. During an emergency, cellular service, internet access, apps, or battery power may be unavailable.

Evacuation Status Guide.png

Know What the Alert Means

I would make these four items large visual cards or accordions rather than paragraphs.

Evacuation Advisory
Stay alert. Be ready.

An advisory means an emergency or hazardous condition may affect your area, but an evacuation warning or order has not been issued. Monitor official information, review your evacuation plan, locate household members and pets, and be prepared for conditions to change.

“Advisory” is not one of California’s standardized statewide evacuation terms, so I would use it carefully as a South Pasadena informational category rather than imply that it has the same legal meaning as a Warning or Order. Los Angeles County currently uses advisories in this way during incidents to tell residents to remain alert, follow public-safety instructions, and prepare for changing conditions. Los Angeles County

Evacuation Warning
Prepare to leave. If you need more time, leave now.

An Evacuation Warning means there is a potential threat to life and/or property. Prepare household members, medications, medical equipment, pets, service animals, Go Bags, and transportation.

California’s statewide terminology specifically says people who require additional time to evacuate, including people with access or functional needs and those with pets or livestock, should leave when a warning is issued. Cal OES

I think this deserves its own highly visible callout:

Need extra time or assistance? A Warning is your time to go.

If you may need help leaving, have limited mobility, depend on medical equipment, are responsible for children or animals, do not have immediate transportation, or otherwise need additional time, do not wait for an Evacuation Order. Leave during the Warning when you can do so safely.

Evacuation Order
Leave now.

An Evacuation Order means there is an immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to leave the affected area.

Take essential medications, medical equipment, pets and service animals, and your Go Bag if they are immediately available. Follow official evacuation instructions and do not delay to gather nonessential belongings. California’s standardized terminology defines an Evacuation Order as an immediate threat to life and a lawful order to leave now. Cal OES

 

SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER FOR YOUR ZONE

Shelter in Place
Go inside and follow instructions.

Shelter in Place means conditions outside may be more dangerous than remaining indoors. Go inside and follow the specific instructions issued for the incident.

The actions may be different depending on the emergency. For example, a hazardous-material release may require closing doors and windows and shutting off outside air, while smoke conditions may require a different set of actions. Do not assume every Shelter in Place instruction is the same. That distinction is already built into your content package.

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