Ready, Set, Go!

All-Hazard Evacuation | 5 P's Evacuation | Notification Systems | Flood Risk | Resources

Ready, Set, Go! is a nationwide program adopted by the 15 Arizona Sheriffs that educates residents about proactive measures to take before an emergency and actions to follow when communities are threatened.

The three steps encourage Arizonans to get READY by preparing now for what threatens their community, be SET by maintaining awareness of significant danger and to GO, evacuate immediately when the danger is current and life-threatening.

All-Hazard Evacuation Steps

READY – Prepare Now

Be aware of the hazards that can threaten your community.

  • Take steps now to prepare for seasonal threats. 

  • Register with your county/tribal emergency notification system.

  • Connect with your local emergency management office, sheriff's office and public health department  on social media.

  • Make a family evacuation and communication plan that includes family phone numbers, out-of-town contacts and family meeting locations. Keep in mind physical distancing recommendations, wearing face coverings or other public health recommendations. 

  • Build an emergency go kit with enough food, water and necessary supplies for at least 72 hours. Include supplies to help keep you and your family healthy, such as face coverings, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. Start with the five P’s; people and pet supplies, prescriptions, papers, personal needs and priceless items. 

  • Check with your neighbors, family, friends and elders through video chats or phone calls to ensure they are READY.

  • Keep up to date on local news, weather watches, weather warnings and public health recommendations 

SET – Be Alert

Know there is significant danger in your area.

  • Residents should consider voluntarily relocating to a shelter or with family/friends outside the affected area. Residents should avoid close contact with those who are sick and should practice public health recommendations when relocating. 

  • Grab your emergency go kit.

  • Keep in mind unique needs for your family or special equipment for pets and livestock.

  • Stay aware of the latest news and information from public safety and public health officials.  

This might be the only notice you receive. Emergency services cannot guarantee they will be able to notify everyone if conditions rapidly deteriorate. Be SET to GO.

GO! –  Evacuate

Danger in your area is imminent and life threatening.

  • Residents should evacuate immediately to a shelter or with family/friends outside of the affected area. Residents should avoid close contact with those who are sick and should practice public health recommendations when relocating. 

  • If you choose to ignore this advisement, you must understand emergency services may not be able to assist you further.

  • Follow instructions from emergency personnel, stay on designated evacuation routes and avoid closed areas.

5 P’s of Evacuation

People and Pets and other animals/livestock and supplies.

Prescriptions with dosages, medicines, medical equipment, vision and hearing aids, batteries and power cords, face coverings, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. 

Papers including important documents (hard copies and/or electronic copies saved on external hard drives or thumb drives), insurance papers, contacts.

Personal Needs including clothing, water, baby supplies, food, cash, credit cards, first aid kits, phones, and chargers. Items for people with access and/or functional needs, such as older adults and children.

Priceless items including photos, irreplaceable mementos and other valuables.

County Emergency Notification Systems

Many Arizona counties and tribes have a system in place designed to quickly notify an affected area of an emergency by sending a voice or text message to you. Click a link below to sign up for emergency alerts in your area.

Counties:

Apache | Cochise | Coconino | Gila | Graham | Greenlee | La Paz | Maricopa | 
Mohave | Navajo | Pima | Pinal | Santa Cruz | Yavapai | Yuma

 

Clearing Defensible Space

Wildfires are never out of season. Create a defensible space to improve your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire and to help protect the firefighters defending your home.

Clearing Defensible Space

ZONE 1: 0 - 30 feet from buildings

Trim or prune shrubs/vegetation to a height of 2 feet and provide clear space around each plant of at least 4 feet.

Remove all flammable material from the ground, under decks and around propane tanks. Keep roofs and gutters clear of debris.

ZONE 2: 30 - 100 feet from buildings

Remove all vegetation that would allow flames to climb up vegetation or buildings. Trim limbs a minimum of 6 feet from ground. Create islands of shrubs, thinning them enough to walk between them.

On slopes greater than 20 percent gradient, treatment should be extended an additional 100 feet from structures. Stack wood piles at least 30 feet from structures. Never prune near power lines, call your local utility company first.

Flooding Preparedness – Know your risk

While some floods develop over time, flash floods can occur within minutes after the onset of a rainstorm. Even areas that are not traditionally flood-prone are at risk after a wildfire, due to changes to the landscape caused by fire.

  • At home
  • Around Arizona
    • Use your cell phone and NOAA weather radio to receive weather warnings.  Ensure you have NOAA weather radio coverage before hiking or swimming in remote locations.
    • Know the differences between a weather watch and a weather warning
      • Flash flood watch -  be prepared to move to higher ground.
      • Flash flood warning – immediately move to higher ground if near waterways.
    • Steep terrain and mountainous areas are especially prone to rapid runoff during monsoon storms and may result in flash flooding miles downstream from where rain is falling.
    • Avoid streams and slot canyons during and after storms.

Resources

Before, During and After a Wildfire (ASL Videos)

Defensible Space Graphic (English, Spanish)

County/Tribal Emergency Management 

Firewise USA - Reducing Wildfire Risk 

Ready, Set, Go! Program

Ready, Set, Go! Fact Sheet in PDF format (English  |  Spanish )

Ready, Set, Go! Door Hanger in PDF format ( English | Spanish )

Ready, Set, Go! Social Media Toolkit 

Arizona Department of Health Services 

Before, During and After a Flood (ASL Videos) 

Floodsmart

Ready Set Go AzEIN webpage content (PDF)