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EVACUATION BEST PRACTICES

Posted: 14-Nov-2018
With recent concerns raised over evacuation notices, please consider sharing these best practices with your family and neighbors. Click here for a printable version: Evacuation Best Practices

1. Sign up for the Community Warning System (https://cwsalerts.com/registration/)
2. Sign up for Nixle Alerts from your local PD.
a. Text your zip code to 888-777 or go to: (http://local.nixle.com/)

3. To receive alerts when your phone is in “Do Not Disturb” mode (ie. In the middle of the night) you have to set Nixle as an Emergency Bypass contact. 
a. On the Iphone:
i. The first time you receive a message from Nixle open the message.
ii. Click on the person icon at the top of the screen to open the contacts window.
iii. Go to the bottom of that window and click on “Create New Contact” and enter Nixle to your contacts. Then press “Done”.
iv. From the newly created contact page press “Edit” and scroll down and press “Ringtone”.
v. At the top of the ringtone page swipe the “Emergency Bypass” button to green.
vi. Press “Done” 
vii. Ensure your smart phone is set to receive government alerts under the Notifications setting (this is the default setting)
b. On an Android device:
i. Designate Nixle as a favorite contact by tapping the star within the contacts app. 
ii. Go to Settings, Sound and Vibration, 
iii. Go to “Do Not Disturb”, 
iv. Allow Exceptions, 
v. Custom to allow favorite contacts to bypass the Do Not Disturb block.

4. Purchase an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) to power your hands free phone base station and router/modem during a power outage to facilitate emergency notification via the reverse 9-1-1 system.

5. Develop a neighborhood notification plan to ensure everyone is notified in the event of an evacuation order.
Clear defensible space around your home and any streets that front your property by removing fuels and overgrown vegetation (http://www.mofd.org/fire-prevention/abatement)