Emergency Preparedness Information

Talk with your family and make a plan on where you will meet if separated and how you will communicate.

Sign up for emergency alerts through your local jurisdictions. For places near the border of several jurisdictions, such as Winters, it is recommended to sign up for alerts from neighboring jurisdictions as well.

In the event of adverse weather conditions, make sure to fuel your vehicle and withdraw cash before power outages.

If you plan on using a generator during a power outage, do your research. Make sure you have a safe place to put the generator (away from dry grass), have enough fuel, and learn what size generator you need.

Visit resources for additional preparedness tips such as:
CalFire ready for wildfire web page HERE
Yolo County Office of Emergency Services web page HERE

Check emergency supplies and rotate them periodically.

Familiarize yourself with the Emergency Operations Plan of your local jurisdiction.
City of Winters Emergency Operations Plan is posted on their web page HERE
Yolo County Office of Emergency Services Emergency Operations Plans are posted on their web page HERE

What should I have in an emergency kit?

Emergency kits should be in airtight plastic bags or two easy-to-carry sealed containers such as plastic bins with a locking lid.  You can make your own or buy a kit ready made.

Recommended items include but are not limited to:

• Activities (board games, cards, and/or art supplies to keep people occupied)
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert with extra batteries
• Bedding (blankets, sleeping bags, and pillows) and extra clothing
• Cash and Checks
• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery, bonus if you have a solar charger
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• First aid kit/ way to signal for help
• Flashlight
• Important papers (insurance info, birth certificates, social security cards, marriage certificates, deeds, etc). Bonus if you have them scanned to a secure cloud storage
• Local maps
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days (for drinking and hygiene) and at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food (plus eating utensils/ manual can openers if needed)
• Pet supplies (extra food and supplies). Having your pets micro-chipped with updated contact information and including vaccination certificates for your animals in your disaster kits before an emergency is highly encouraged. Contact information can be affixed to large animals with tags, halters, or harnesses. In emergency conditions: contact information may be written on hooves in sharpie or spray painted on coats.
• Prescription and over the counter medication
• Tool set like a multi tool, wrench and pliers to turn off utilities

Emergency Alerts are available from your emergency jurisdictions by email, phone, and text in Yolo County by signing up through Everbridge HERE

(Nixle was purchased by Everbridge in 2015 and both platforms are operational, if you signed up for emergency alerts prior to 2015, please double check your settings)

Local Conditions/ Information

Our partners at California Highway Patrol have their radio traffic HERE, be sure to choose Sacramento under communication centers.

Information on individual fires, including evacuation orders and shelter locations, can be found on the CALFIRE State map HERE

Road closures and maps can be accessed through CalTrans HERE

Keep track of weather conditions that may impact your area including wind and flood events HERE

Monitor air quality in the area HERE

Monitor smoke in the area HERE

Local maps, road closures, and shelter information during an emergency can be tracked locally by following local social media pages such as: City of Winters, Winters Police Department, and Winters Fire Department

The Yolo County Office of Emergency services also has a current emergencies and incidents link on their web page HERE which serves as a collection point for information, resources, and maps relating to current emergency incidents.

Evacuation Zones

Know your evacuation zone in Yolo County by typing in your address at the following link HERE.

Addresses in the City of Winters are in Evacuation Zone 59. Primary evacuation routes are State Highway 128 (Grant Ave) and County Road 89 (Railroad Ave). The Winters city limits are County Road 90 (now Matsumoto Ln), Moody Slough Rd, Bridge on Dry Creek, and the Railroad Car Bridge.

If your Winters address contains 5 numbers, you are in the Yolo County response jurisdiction. Emergency notifications/information will come from the Yolo County Office of Emergency Services in addition to the Yolo County Sheriff Office.

If your Winters address contains 4 numbers, you are in the Solano County response jurisdiction. Emergency notification/information will come from the Solano County Office of Emergency Services in addition to the Solano County Sheriff Office.

Emergency notifications

notifications can/will utilize a wide variety of mediums including but not limited to:

• Activation of the Emergency Alert System
  • Activated by authorized federal, state, and local authorities (radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio, television providers, and wireline video providers – deliver state and local alerts on a voluntary basis)
  • This type of alert are typically heard over radio and television
  • This type of alert can be impacted by the location and condition of electrical lines/poles and various networks)
• Mass Notifications
  • Previously referred to as reverse 911, these notifications are activated by Public Safety Dispatchers, in Yolo County the system would be activated by members of the Yolo Emergency Communications Agency.
  • This type of alert are typically heard over hard telephone phone lines and does not require a subscription.
  • This type of alert can be impacted by the location and condition of telephone lines/poles.
• Mobile Mass Notifications
  • Utilizing the Everbridge platform, these notifications are activated by public safety jurisdictions and Offices of Emergency Service, subscribers can choose to be notified by phone call, text, email, or a combination of means.
  • These alerts are typically heard over cell phones and requires users to sign up for an account.
  • This type of alert can be impacted by the location and condition of cell towers and volume on the cell network.
• Social Media
  • Activated by public safety jurisdictions. Subscribers should be sure to follow official pages such as City, Police, Sheriff, and Fire Departments.
  • These alerts are typically accessed by cell phone, tablet, and/or computer.
  • This type of alert can be impacted by the location and condition of internet networks.
• In person
  • Activated by public safety jurisdictions, fire and law enforcement officers will drive areas with information over a PA or go door to door. Jurisdictions may also utilize a Hi-Lo siren.
  • These alerts are made in person.
  • This type of alert can be impacted by local roadway conditions (blocked roadways) and equipment (damaged vehicles).

Evacuation information regarding animals in Yolo County will be coordinated with the Yolo County Animal Services Shelter through the Yolo County Sheriff Office (Dispatch number 530-666-8282). Having your pets micro-chipped with updated contact information and including vaccination certificates for your animals in your disaster kits before an emergency is highly encouraged. If you have to turn large animals loose, be sure to secure shelters and fences as animals may try to re enter areas in disasters. Contact information can be affixed to large animals with tags, written on hooves in sharpie, or spray painted on coats.

What is the difference between an advisory and a mandatory evacuation?

Please remember emergencies are unpredictable and the time frame between an advisory and a mandatory evacuation can change quickly depending on local conditions, and/or if access to the community is compromised. Remember, you do not have to wait for an evacuation notice. If at any time you feel like your family needs to evacuate the area, you may do so.

• Advisory Evacuations
  • Indicate an emergency situation has the potential to threaten an area in the near future. Residents in these areas should have a bag packed with important papers, medications, pet supplies, and necessities.
• Mandatory Evacuations
  • Indicate an emergency situation is directly threatening a community and residents are in danger. Residents in these areas need to leave immediately for their own safety.

What is the difference between an advisory, a watch, and a warning?
Advisories, watches, and warnings can be used to indicate both time frames and the severity of conditions. It is important to familiarize yourself with the various definitions in order to prepare your family for any dangerous conditions that may arise.

• Advisories or Outlooks: are issued when the potential exists for an event in the next 3-7 days.
  • An Outlook provides information to those who need considerable lead time to prepare for the event, such as public utility staff, emergency managers and public health officials.
  • An Advisory is for less serious conditions that cause significant discomfort or inconvenience and, if caution is not taken, could lead to a threat to life.
• Watches: are issued when conditions are favorable for an event in the next 24 to 72 hours.
  • A Watch is used when the risk of an event has increased but its occurrence and timing is still uncertain. A Watch attempts to provide enough lead time so that those who need to prepare can do so, such as cities officials who have event mitigation plans.
• Warnings: are issued when an event is expected in the next 36 hours.
  • A Warning is issued when an event is occurring, is imminent, or has a very high probability of occurring. The warning is used for conditions posing a threat to life.