Emergency Preparedness / Public Safety

California Standard Statewide Evacuation Terminology

Evacuation Order: Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to leave now. The area is lawfully closed to public access.

Evacuation Warning: Potential threat to life and/or property. Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave now.

Shelter in Place: Go indoors. Shut and lock doors and windows. Prepare to self-sustain until further notice and/or contacted by emergency personnel for additional direction.

Evacuation Order(s) Lifted: The formal announcement of lifting evacuations in an area currently under evacuation.

Hard Closure: Closed to all traffic except Fire and Law Enforcement.

Soft Closure: Closed to all traffic except Fire, Law Enforcement and critical Incident resources (i.e. Utility, Caltrans, City/County Roads etc. or those needed to repair or restore infrastructure).

Resident Only Closure: Soft closure with the additional allowance of residents and local government agencies assisting with response and recovery.

Unfortunately, active shooter situations can occur spontaneously, without warning, in crowded public spaces and workplaces. The Federal Department of Homeland Security has provided a tip sheet on how to preserve and to promote public safety during an active shooter situation (PDF).

The Northwest Mosquito and Vector Control District has issued a fact sheet on the Zika virus (PDF).