Each May, the Ready Campaign—launched in 2003 by the Federal Emergency Management Agency—promotes National Wildfire Awareness Month. The goal of this initiative is to encourage and empower people to prepare for, respond to and mitigate wildfires. While several states have their own dedicated wildfire awareness weeks or months, National Wildfire Awareness Month is a good time to prepare for and raise awareness of wildfires throughout the United States.

Wildfire season typically lasts from May to October. However, it has been lengthening in recent years due to climate change. The largest and most destructive U.S. wildfires have occurred in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Still, the risk of wildfires is expected to grow across the United States as a result of decreased precipitation and increased temperatures.

As wildfires become more frequent and severe, the Ready Campaign recommends people take steps to protect their homes and mitigate risks by:

• Knowing what to do before, during and after a wildfire (e.g., protecting property, evacuating and returning home)
• Learning evacuation routes
• Having emergency supplies
• Checking insurance policies
• Creating a communications plan
• Listening to local officials

The Ready Campaign provides resources on wildfires, including information on recognizing warnings and alerts, making an emergency plan, strengthening home protection and gathering supplies. For these resources and more, visit the Ready Campaign’s website.

For additional risk management resources, contact us today.

This is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel or an insurance professional for appropriate advice. © 2023 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.