Natural Disasters, Severe Weather, and COVID-19

Know how the COVID-19 pandemic can affect disaster preparedness and recovery, and what you can do to keep yourself and others safe.

Preparing for Wildfires

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Picture showing a view from a hill of a city and expensive houses on the side of the hill surrounded by trees

Take steps now to preparepdf iconexternal icon [PDF-205 KB] for wildfires. More and more people make their homes in areas that are prone to wildfires. You can take steps to be readyexternal icon for a wildfire and prepare your home and landscapingexternal icon to reduce your risk from a wildfire.

Know your community’s evacuation plans.
Gather emergency supplies, such as respiratorspdf iconexternal icon [PDF-321 KB].
  • A respirator filters out smoke or ash before you can breathe it in.  Respirators are not made to fit children.
  • Remember the needs of childrenpdf iconexternal icon [PDF-497 KB], pregnant women, and individuals with medical conditions like asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), or heart disease.
Plan to keep wildfire smoke outside.
Image of Wilfires Infographic.

View a full-sized imagepdf icon [PDF – 345 KB] of the Be Ready: Wildfires Infographic. Share it on social media or print it out to post in your office, school, or home.

  • Choose a roomexternal icon you can close off from outside air.
  • Set up a portable air cleaner or a filterpdf iconexternal icon [PDF-122 KB] to keep the air in this room cleaner even when it’s smoky outdoors or in the rest of your home.
Keep track of fires near you so you can be ready.
Infographic: Be Ready! Hurricanes Ready: Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed. Social Media at CDC Emergency

Page last reviewed: June 14, 2019
Content source:  National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC)