SLO County Rolls Out New Evacuation Zones

(TNS) — When there is an emergency, do you know where to go?

The San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services has launched new evacuation zones, the agency announced Tuesday in a news release.

Residents are encouraged to “know your evacuation zone” as part of the launch of a countywide evacuation planning project.

The pre-determined zones will help first responders determine evacuation areas during an emergency, the release said.

The zones will also allow community members to easily identify if they are in an area under an evacuation warning, evacuation order or other protective actions.

The zones are intended for emergencies that require large-scale evacuations, such as wildfires and widespread flooding.

To find your zone, visit ReadySLO.org/evaczone and enter your address. Then write down the zone name that comes up and post it in a location easily accessible in an emergency.

“Taking a minute to write down your evacuation zone could save your life,” San Luis Obispo County Emergency Services Manager Scott Jalbert said in the release. “Knowing your zone in advance will save you valuable time during an emergency if you are told to evacuate.”

Emergency officials will utilize alert and notification methods such as wireless emergency alerts and reverse 911 to notify residents whether their zone is under an evacuation warning or order, the release said.

This new initiative was made possible through a grant from the FireSafe Council and a partnership between San Luis Obispo County and the San Luis Obispo County Fire Chiefs Association.

If you have questions, call the SLO County Office of Emergency Services at 805-781-5678 or visit ReadySLO.org.

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