Evacuation tags are the newest tool to help first responders quickly evacuate neighborhoods during emergencies. During an evacuation, residents will hang their evacuation tag in a highly visible area.
What is an evacuation tag?
Yolo County Fire Safe Council, Yolo County OES, and the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office have teamed up to provide FREE evacuation tags to folks living in western Yolo County. The tags are large, card stock with a metal wire that read “EVACUATED” in large bold text. After a house is evacuated, residents will tie their tag to a fence post, gate, address sign, or mailbox.
Seconds Count – Tags Help With Quick Response
These tags help first responders quickly identify which houses are evacuated to quickly verify and then move onto the next home. Seconds count during evacuations and tags help speed up the evacuation process. Faster and safer evacuations means more time that first responders can plan and respond to emergencies.
Evacuation tags also feature a QR code that links to an Evacuation Reporter webpage. Residents can report their evacuation to help the Sheriff’s Office better understand and document which neighborhoods are evacuated. When seconds count, residents should disregard the evacuation survey, but can report their evacuation to the portal if they have extra time.
If residents don’t have tags, the Sheriff’s Department has a cache of tags to use for evacuation marking. If first responders can confirm neighborhoods are evacuated, they have more time to patrol evacuated zones to protect unauthorized entry and prevent looting or vandalism.
Considerations for Your Evacuation Tag:
During fire season or while preparing for an emergency, keep your evacuation tag in an easily accessible place like nearby by the front door or in your go bag/disaster preparedness kit. The tags have metal should be tied to a spot that is easily visible for Sheriff’s Department like:
- Address Signs
- Gates
- Front door
- Posts
Pick-Up Locations (Tags will be available soon):
- Esparto Fire Protection District – 16960 Yolo Ave, Esparto, CA 95627
- CAL FIRE LNU Brooks Station – 14023 CA-16, Brooks, CA 95606
- Yocha Dehe Fire Department – 14170 Golf Course Dr, Brooks, CA 95606
- Capay Valley Fire Protection District – Station 22 – 7447 CA-16, Guinda, CA 95637
- Winters Fire Department – 700 W Main St, Winters, CA 95694
More Yolo County FSC Programs
Neighborhood Chipper Pilot Program
The Neighborhood Chipper Pilot Program is a hazardous fuels reduction service that helps landowners manage vegetation after they create defensible space around their homes.
Defensible Space Assessments
Defensible Space Assessments are non-regulatory, non-judgmental, and educational with the goal of assessing your home’s vulnerability to wildfire and embers.
Reflective Address Sign Program
Yolo County Fire Safe Council is offering free reflective signs for your home. These reflective signs are visible in smoky conditions and at night, allowing emergency officials to find your home in case of an evacuation before or during a fire.