The initiative aims to enhance emergency preparedness and response 

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — The San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services has launched a countywide evacuation planning project, urging residents to “know your evacuation zone.” This initiative aims to enhance emergency preparedness and response by providing pre-determined evacuation zones that will aid first responders in quickly identifying evacuation areas during emergencies.

The newly established evacuation zones will enable the public to easily determine whether they are in an area under an Evacuation Warning, Evacuation Order, or other protective actions. These zones are specifically designed for scenarios that require large-scale evacuations.

To streamline the evacuation process during emergencies, residents are encouraged to find out their evacuation zone in advance. They can visit ReadySLO.org/evaczone and enter their address in the evacuation zone tool to discover their zone name. It is crucial to record this information and keep it easily accessible in case of an emergency.

According to Emergency Services Manager Scott Jalbert, knowing your evacuation zone ahead of time can be life-saving, as it allows for swift and efficient responses when evacuation orders are issued.

In the event of an Evacuation Warning or Evacuation Order, emergency officials will employ alert and notification systems, such as Wireless Emergency Alerts and Reverse 911, to inform residents about the affected zones. By being aware of their evacuation zone beforehand, residents can be prepared to act promptly when their zone is identified.

The countywide evacuation planning project was made possible through a grant from the FireSafe Council and resulted from collaboration between the County of San Luis Obispo and the San Luis Obispo County Fire Chiefs Association.

For any inquiries or additional information, residents can contact the County Office of Emergency Services at (805) 781-5678 or visit ReadySLO.org.