Hard Lessons Learned
When a devastating fire changes the topography of a community, fire education and defensible space requirements quickly change to adjust with the evolving natural and man-made hazards that face a burn scarred area. WSF quickly identified the changing needs after the Caldor Fire, and developed several programs that support the community with a new approach to disaster preparedness and recovery education, training and hands on learning opportunities.
Our goal is to help educate the rural western slope communities, so hopefully the next time a disaster strikes the results will not be as devasting, by providing valuable tools, supplies and resources to homeowners and renters. This includes developing disaster plans, preparing for evacuations and understandings the steps needed to rebuild their lives after a natural or man-made disaster.
Preparedness Programs
Disaster Preparedness Workshops
Motivating people to prepare for disasters is challenging. That is why WSF has worked hard to develop a Free Workshop Series with a new approach that is practical, simple, productive and at the same time fun. At the end of the Disaster Preparedness Workshop, we want you to breathe a sigh of relief, knowing you are prepared for an emergency or disaster.
Littlest Disaster Plan
WSF realized that families may not be able to attend our full Disaster Preparedness Workshops, so we developed a shorter version, which involves our Littles community members - the kids. Together parents and kids develop a disaster plan. Taught in a manner that includes the Littlest family members through interaction and involvement.
This program is still under development
and will be launched in 2024.
Check back for updates!
Trainings
WSF witnessed first hand the generosity and compassion our community showed to one another when faced with a crisis. To help prepare for the next emergency or disaster, WSF is developing several programs that help train our community members to help first responders during emergency or disaster. Below are several programs that we are in the process of fully developing and are looking forward to providing to our community.
​Programs Coming Soon
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CERT - Community Emergency Response Team
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To learn more about CERT please visit the National CERT Association website. ​
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Teen CERT - Teen Community Emergency Response Team
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Train-the-Trainer
This program is still under development
and will be launched in 2024.
Check back for updates!
Tool Shed
To help the community clean up their properties and create defensible space, WSF is opening up the Community Tool Shed to the entire community to use. Click on the link below to learn more about the Community Tool Shed.
Volunteer
Volunteers are an invaluable asset during disasters. WSF recognizes the immeasurable impact they have on the lives of Disaster Survivors, filling countless needs from providing a shoulder to cry on, preparing meals, providing transportation, hammering nails in a new home, translating, rescuing stranded pets, collecting and distributing clothing, answering phones and showing through their selfless actions there are really good people in our community.
Disaster Preparedness Workshops
Motivating people to prepare for disasters is challenging. That is why WSF has worked really hard to develop a Free Disaster Preparedness Workshop with a new approach that is practical, simple, productive and at the same time fun. At the end, we want you to breathe a sigh of relief, knowing your household is better prepared if a disaster were to threaten our community again.
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You will receive easy to use checklists, information signs and necessary forms to make the evacuation and recovery process less stressful. You will be going home with items, such as a FREE basic 2 person, 72-hour Go Bag, emergency cards, and so much more that will get you one step closer to being prepared.
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We guarantee the Disaster Preparedness Workshop will not be your typical sitting in a dark room watching a power point presentation while someone talks, probably saying things you have already heard one too many times. Fun, beneficial, thought provoking and interactive activities are scheduled, and individuals who have lived through disasters, and experts in the field of disaster management, will share their relatable experiences. The workshop will go by quickly and you will leave feeling empowered to continue taking the steps to be better prepared for a disasters.
Preparedness Workshop Overview
A Place to Start
Focuses on the importance of being prepared. Practical and easy to use and understand information, forms and checklists will be distributed to ensure the participants take lifesaving actions.
Don't Do It Alone
Focus on the importance of getting acquainted with people in your neighborhood and community, prior to a disaster occurring. You will be given information to help identify what specifics you might need during an evacuation and how to connect with people that can help meet those needs, making this stressful time more manageable.
Safety Barrier
Protect your home, whether you own or rent it. Wildland fires are the greatest threat in El Dorado County. For this reason, defensible space, home hardening and fire-resistant landscaping will be explained. Information related to other types of disasters or human caused emergencies that could happen in EDC will be identified too.
Essentials
Essential items you need to take when evacuating. Go Bags and more lifesaving items will be provided.
Help is All Around
Identifies players during a disaster response. Local, state and federal agencies offering disaster assistance will be identified and their specific roles explained. In addition, the non-profit organizations that show up to help will be introduced. Knowing how to connect to these agencies and organizations can make life a lot easier for disaster survivors.
Preparedness Pays Off
What to expect after you have been evacuated. Victims, turned survivors, of the Caldor Fire will share their experiences. How to prepare to go home, whether it is to an actual house, or all that is left of one, will be discussed. What to do if you encounter wildlife, and especially if they are injured, when you get back to your property will be explained.
Where To Go
What you need to safely evacuate people and animals and how to quickly get out of the way of danger. Knowing where to go after leaving your home will be discussed to minimize confusion.
Let's Chat
Critical importance of communication during disasters. Methods and resources will be discussed to help access clear, accurate and reliable information. How social media is used during disasters will be explored. And, addressing how to best talk with children who have been affected by a disaster.
Disaster Workshop Schedule
Coming Soon
Follow us on Facebook for updated and information on new workshop formats.
West Slope Foundation's
Disaster Preparedness Workshop Endorsements.
Steps to Preparedness
The following Disaster Preparedness Checklists are just a sampling of what participants who attend the WSF Disaster Preparedness workshop receive. We highly recommend that you attend the workshop to receive all of the 63 practical checklists, forms and handout, as well as the information and knowledge that the experienced speakers have to share. Since we never know when a disaster will strike, WSF wanted you to at least have these really important checklists to refer to for guidance during an evacuation or disaster planning. We hope you will join us for a future Disaster Preparedness Workshop to receive the full benefits of the experience.
This checklist explains why having a Point of Contact during an evacuation can save precious time. Completing the checklist before a disaster will help to get people and animals to safety quicker.
This checklist walks you through the steps to take to safely evacuate your family. Following these steps can
greatly reduce the stress felt
during an evacuation.
This checklist provides a list of the most important items to put in your Go Bag. If you have just minutes to evacuate, this may be the only thing you can grab and take with you, so it is important you include in it what is most important.
This checklist provides a list of the clothing and personal care items that need to be packed prior to a disaster for all members of your household. Try and combine all the items in one tote to save on space in your vehile.
This checklist provides evacuation information for animals and what supplies are needed to safely evacuate them, and care for them in their temporary location.
This checklist helps you to narrow down and prioritize your families most important and valuable belongings to take with you when you evacuate.
This checklist provides a list of tasks that should be done prior to evacuating your home. Time may not allow you to do them all, so prioritize the ones that increases the chances of your home surviving a wildland fire.