Wildfire checklist
Last reviewed 2026-10-21
A short list to help you get ready for wildfires and smoke. It's based on Ready.gov, National Weather Service, AirNow, NFPA and American Red Cross guidance, not advice about any one home.
Before wildfire season
- Sign up for emergency alerts from your county or parish.Learn more: How to get alerts (opens ready.gov)
- Know your evacuation routes and where you would go.Learn more: Evacuation basics (opens ready.gov)
- Clear dry leaves and debris from your gutters and from the area around your home, out to at least 30 feet.Learn more: Firewise USA® (NFPA) (opens nfpa.org)
- If you can, keep N95 masks in your supply kit for smoke.Learn more: Wildfire safety (opens ready.gov)
- Learn what a Red Flag Warning means.Learn more: Fire weather alerts (opens weather.gov)
When a wildfire is near
- If local officials tell you to evacuate, leave right away.Learn more: Wildfire safety (opens ready.gov) · FL: Learn more: Wildfire safety (opens floridadisaster.org)
- If there's smoke and you aren't told to leave, stay inside with windows and doors closed.Learn more: Check air quality (opens airnow.gov)
- Keep your phone charged. If you have a car, keep the gas tank full in case you need to leave.Learn more: Evacuation basics (opens ready.gov)
After the wildfire
- Wait until local officials say it's OK to return.
- Stay away from hot ash, burning embers, burned trees and downed power lines. The ground can still be hot.Learn more: After a wildfire (opens redcross.org)
- Take photos of any damage before you clean up, for your own records.
- Contact your insurance company or agent to report damage.
- Watch for fraud. Don't pay for repairs in full before the work is done. FEMA doesn't charge a fee to apply for disaster help. Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.Learn more: Report a scam (opens reportfraud.ftc.gov)
Sources: Ready.gov "Wildfires" and "Evacuation"; NOAA National Weather Service; AirNow.gov (EPA and partners); NFPA's Firewise USA® program; American Red Cross; Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Information from US federal and state government agencies and from nonprofit organizations. KAVO360 is not affiliated with, endorsed by or approved by any of them. Last reviewed 2026-10-21.
General information only. KAVO360 isn't an emergency alert service and doesn't issue watches or warnings. The National Weather Service and your local officials are the official sources. Always follow local officials and evacuation orders.
Want to see what's mapped for your address?
This explains FEMA map labels only. It is not an official FEMA flood zone determination or an elevation certificate. Check the official map at the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov).
Find help in your state
We list emergency management and insurance department links for every state, DC and Puerto Rico. For Louisiana and Florida, we also list more detailed resources, and we plan to add more states over time. The national links below have information for all 50 states, DC and US territories.
National resources
- DisasterAssistance.gov (opens disasterassistance.gov): Learn about federal help after a declared disaster.
- FEMA (opens fema.gov): Learn about disaster preparedness and recovery. Checked Oct 21, 2026
- NFIP FloodSmart (opens floodsmart.gov): Learn about flood insurance.
- Ready.gov (opens ready.gov): Learn how to prepare for emergencies.
- National Weather Service (opens weather.gov): See forecasts, watches and warnings.
These links go to government and program websites. KAVO360 isn't affiliated with any of them and doesn't decide who gets help. Each program sets its own rules.