MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) SC Forestry Commission says the wild fire threat is high.
Sunday flames came very close to homes in the Palmetto Pointe area. Emergency management wants to remind residents that now is the time to make sure you have a safety plan in place in case of an evacuation.
You have just minutes to evacuate when fire crews come knocking at the door and what a person does do during that time is key.
Alicia Sanders with Horry County Emergency Management recommends keeping an envelope in your home with important documents and items. Some of the important documents to consider keeping in this envelope are bank statements, insurance policies, and a list of medications everyone is your household are taking. Sanders also recommends keeping a set of spare keys to your home and cars.
Sanders also recommends making arrangements with neighbors and friends in the event one isn't home while evacuations are taking place. This gives people the option to call that neighbor or friend and ask them to grab your envelope and other important things you need to be taken out of your home.
"In most circumstances, when evacuations have started, they are not going to allow you back in. It is really that quick when we're dealing with wild fires," Sanders said.
There are also other items people tend to want to grab like family photos and laptops.
Sanders says keeping important family pictures in a jumpdrive is best in emergency situations because they are easy to grab. As for laptops, it's best to always be mindful where one keeps their laptop, so it's quick and easy to find.
Another major factor when evacuating, pets. Sanders says as part of an evacuation plan, one should prepare to take things like carriers and pet food with them. "Those seem to be the big hot ticket items when people have to get out of their house and get out of their house very quickly."
Business owners should use a similar strategy with their business. It's best to ensure at least one employee knows what to do and what to take in case of an emergency.
Sanders says to make sure to share evacuations plans with kids. The idea isn't to frighten them, just to make them aware so they too, so as a family you can be better prepared in the event of a wildfire evacuation.
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