With fall and winter come Santa Ana Wind events. Malibu, with its geographic location and canyons that funnel wind toward the coast, is all too familiar with these Red Flag warnings.
As defined by the City, “a Red Flag Warning is issued by the National Weather Service for weather events that may result in extreme fire behavior that will occur within 24 to 48 hours due to forecasted high winds and low humidity combined with low live fuel moistures. A Fire Weather Watch is issued when weather conditions could exist in the next 12-72 hours. During these times, extreme caution is urged for all residents because a simple spark can cause a major wildfire.”
This warning stems from a combination of high wind levels and low humidity. As this dries out the brush and vegetation in the Santa Monica Mountains, fuel moisture levels drop off. In Malibu, this happens every year throughout fall and winter and is simply part of living on this beautiful coastline.
To be ready for Santa Ana wind and future wind events, our team has compiled a preparation guide and checklist for Malibu residents. This was done using the City of Malibu’s recommendations, other resources, and personal experience as Malibu locals.
Wind Event Preparedness Checklist
1. Check your property for items that could be blown or damaged by the wind, including seat cushions, seat covers, hanging lights, unsecured furniture, sporting equipment, toys, trashcans, and so on.
2. Survey your landscaping and make sure that it is separated from your home, creating a defensible space. If there has been growth during the spring and summer, cut and trim branches to get them away from your home so that falling damage, or a potential wildfire event, would not compromise the structure.
3. Plan for potential loss of power. Charge your devices and walkie-talkies, put gas in your generator if applicable, and have flashlights and/or candles ready. If you do not have a generator, put any refrigerated items that you’ll want access to in a cooler on ice. If the power does go out, seal your refrigerator with a clamp or simply duct tape it to prevent items from spoiling.
4. Pack a go-bag in the event that an evacuation will be necessary. Below are the City of Malibu’s suggestions:
5. Have a plan for evacuation. Identify a meeting point outside the property, know where the utility shut-off locations are (gas, water, electric), and know the evacuation routes. Keep paper maps in your car in case they are needed and most importantly, fill up your car with gas prior to the wind event.
6. Have stay kits prepared if you do not plan to evacuate. In addition to having the proper protective clothing, this kit should include:
7. Most importantly, stay calm. The Santa Ana winds and wildfires are part of life in Malibu. Most winds events are harmless, just messy. That said, stay vigilant and if you see signs of fire, call 911 immediately.
Wishing our friends, clients, and fellow Malibu locals a happy and safe fall!
If you have any suggestions for this list, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at 310.230.5771 / russellandtony@compass.com
