Nevada County launches Ready Nevada County outreach and ZoneHaven tool to help residents prepare for wildfire season

Officials and community partners presented Ready Nevada County, a public education campaign built on the Ready, Set, Go wildfire preparedness framework. Speakers urged residents to prioritize defensible space around the home—particularly the first 100 feet—harden building openings and vents, and assemble a 72‑hour "go bag" containing food, water, medication and supplies.

Presenters underscored the campaign’s emphasis on wildfire risk in Nevada County and offered concrete steps for households with medical needs, including backup power for CPAP machines, nebulizers and insulin pumps. Ulysses Palencia of the county’s 211 call center explained 211’s 24/7 role in sharing evacuation information and resource‑center locations, noting that 211 receives updates directly from the Office of Emergency Services.

County staff also introduced ZoneHaven (community.zonehaven.com) as a mapping tool that assigns neighborhood evacuation zones. Officials said ZoneHaven is intended to supplement opt‑in alerting systems such as CodeRED and Nixle, not replace them, and urged residents to record their zone in advance of an emergency. The presenters highlighted the importance of local networks—"Find Your 5"—so neighbors can check on one another during evacuations.

The briefing closed with practical advice on planning and outreach: identify trusted contacts, inventory critical medical equipment, secure noncombustible exterior materials, and consult local Fire Safe Council resources for on‑site defensible‑space guidance. County staff encouraged residents who need help to contact local offices, the Fire Safe Council or 211.