Orange County Fire Authority
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 19, 2013
Subject: Mass LIVE Evacuation Drill for Cowan/Lemon Heights September 28
Santa Ana, CA – It’s not a matter of “if” but “when” for the Cowan/Lemon Heights area. The next major wildland fire is looming as the Santa Ana Winds are yet to come. Being prepared to leave is the only sure way for you and your family to make it out alive. To help these residents, a Cowan/Lemon Heights Community Evacuation Drill is being held on Saturday, September 28 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Residents will be alerted to the evacuation order and sent to the evacuation center at Tustin High School (1171 El Camino Real).
“We encourage everyone in this community to come out and participate so they can see first-hand how crowded the streets will be,” said Fire Chief Keith Richter. “In a real disaster, the large volume of people trying to evacuate, dark smoke, poor visibility, and emergency responders coming in, is the perfect recipe for chaos in the streets. We want our residents in this community to be prepared, so what better way to prepare for a major wildfire than this live drill.”
The Orange County Fire Authority has been working extensively in partnership with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol, Orange City Fire Department, Tustin Police Department, American Red Cross, Orange County Emergency Management, Tustin Unified School District, OC Animal Care, Orange County Transportation Authority, AlertOC, State Farm, Foothill Communities Fire Safety Council, Major League Roofers, Pro West Mechanical, Survival Ready Solutions, and Los Piños Landscaping to plan this largescale mass evacuation drill.
For more information, visit www.readysetgooc.org or call (714) 357-7782.
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The Orange County Fire Authority is a joint powers authority that serves more than 1.7 million residents in 23 cities and the unincorporated areas of the county.
Contact: Captain Steve Concialdi, PIO at (714) 357-7782 or steveconcialdi@ocfa.org
