Preparing to get out

I had a friend Emil me last week as she watched the Colorado fires burning in the distance. She was safe or now, but felt that things could go bad fast, and she wanted to prepare. Here was my advice to her: Top 15 things to do NOW 1. Go thru your entire house w a video camera, and narrate the tour identifying everything including the date.  Open drawers, cabinets, closets, everything.   2. Fill easy to carry tubs NOW so you can grab and go.  Be thoughtful and prepared.  It will be easier to put things away than to hurry and grab.  Put the following in those tubs: 3. Pictures 4. Family heirlooms...if it's big, wrap in a garbage bag, tape it shut and put it in the car or basements 5. Jewelry 6. A weeks worth of clothes and shoes, deodorants, tooth paste, brushes, combs, mmbrushes... 7. A couple blankets, sheets, pillows in case you mare in a shelter for a while 8. Your homeowners policy and agent contact info 9. Medicines, eyeglasses, prescriptions, doctor names and phone numbers 10. Souvenirs that you would miss 11. Marriage licenses, tax returns seven years, birth certs, social security cards 12. If you have pets, their food for a week, a cage, leashes, meds 13. Wedding dresses, baptism gowns, etc 14. Portable computers, phone chargers, flash light and batteries, Download computer files onto an external hard drive and take it 15. Grab address books, etc. letters, etc Most importantly though, things are things. Houses can be rebuilt, but your family makes a house a home. Protect them first.