Emergency preparedness | veterans affairs

Wildfires affect everyone. They can spread fast and harm us. Wildfires are getting bigger and more dangerous. More people are living in areas at risk for wildfires, but we can take action to

prepare. Learn how to prepare your household and community. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SMOKE. When wildfires create smoky conditions it’s important for everyone to reduce their exposure to

smoke. Wildfire smoke irritates your eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. It can make it hard to breathe and make you cough or wheeze.  Children, pregnant women, and people with asthma, chronic

obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or heart disease, need to be especially careful about breathing wildfire smoke. KEEP SMOKE OUTSIDE. * Choose a room you can close off from outside air.

* Set up a portable air purifier or indoor air filtration system to reduce indoor air pollution. *  If you use a do-it-yourself box fan filtration unit, never leave it unattended. REDUCE

YOUR SMOKE EXPOSURE. * Consider wearing a N95 or P100 respirator to help protect your lungs from smoke or ash. (AirNow.gov Respirator Information - Protect Your Lungs from Wildfire Smoke or

Ash and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Respirator Information and Proper Fit.) * If you have heart or lung disease ask your doctor if it is safe for you to wear a respirator. *

Avoid using candles, gas, propane, wood-burning stoves, fireplaces, or aerosol sprays, and don’t fry or broil meat, smoke tobacco products, or vacuum. * If you have a central air

conditioning system, use high efficiency filters to capture fine particles from smoke. If your system has a fresh air intake, set the system to recirculate or close the outdoor intake

damper. PETS AND OTHER ANIMALS CAN BE AFFECTED BY WILDFIRE SMOKE. KEEP TRACK OF FIRES. EVACUATE SAFELY. You may be asked by public authorities to evacuate or you may decide to evacuate.

Learn how you can evacuate safely, make a disaster plan, and how to develop a family disaster plan: Read about how to evacuate safely and how to develop a family disaster plan: STAY HEALTHY

DURING POWER OUTAGES. Large fires can cause long-term power outages. Learn what you need to know when the power goes out unexpectedly to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, food safety, safe

drinking water, power line hazards: * Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - What You Need to Know When the Power Goes Out Unexpectedly.