Expanding Defensible’s Coverage to Oregon and Washington
The recent unprecedented wildfires that have plagued the Pacific Northwest over the past several weeks have convinced us at Defensible, that wildfires are a key indicator of climate change, and that we, collectively, need to do more to become more prepared and more resilient. So we decided to expand our coverage into the great states of Washington and Oregon.
Defensible puts the power of building level wildfire risk into the hands of the people, where it belongs. Previously, this type of information was only available to insurance companies and their data providers. We flip the script on that because we believe it is more valuable to help people create resilient communities than it is to profit from their risk.
We are not out of the woods yet on the 2020 fire season, and we rushed to get this information into people’s hands so that they can do a better job preparing for the next fires. If your home is in the elevated colors on our app, here’s what you should always have ready during fire season:
- A go bag with your most important documents, keys, money. Things you can’t do without.
- An escape plan. How can you quickly get out of where you are to safety? Ideally you have two paths to escape (not always possible though). Know them beforehand!
- Because of COVID, you may need extra supplies like masks and hand sanitizer.
- Always listen to local authorities with regards to evacuation. If they say you need to go, GO!!!
Our goal at Defensible goes well beyond the immediate evacuation planning. We urge everyone in wildfire country, and especially those with elevated risk colors (yellow, orange, and red) to begin the process of hardening their properties for wildfires. If we all do our part, we will make a huge dent in this problem. The first step is understanding your risk. Visit us at https://www.defensibleapp.com
