Wildfires are the most promoninet natural disaster in Douglas County, and unfirtunately, it seems like every year there’s a major wildfire in Colorado. What do you know about preparing your home and protecting your family?
Many homes in Douglas County have significant wildfire hazards for the same reasons they are appealing: lots of vegetation and private settings in relatively remote areas. Even the planned communities in suburban areas like Highlands Ranch, Parker, Lone Tree or Castle Rock, have larger lots with significant amounts of undisturbed natural vegetation left near the home site. These attributes, while making the homes more desirable, also present risk factors that must be taken into account.
What can citizens do?
- Sign up for CodeRED, including every family member with a cell phone.
- Create or update your family evacuation plan (important items to take, multiple routes out of your neighborhood, family reunification point outside of your neighborhood, etc.)
- Revisit your homeowners insurance (correct coverage value, actual value vs. full replacement coverage, cataloguing items, hotel/rental policies, etc.)