Good day, lovers of our paradise. Welcome to our periodic Firewise newsletter, where we introduce one topic pertinent to our neighborhood's Risk Assessment and 3-year Action Plan (on our Resources page). Newsletter topics are  directly tied to our Action Plan.

Today's topic is the importance of Reporting. But first…

News and Events

Upcoming Zoom Event: Join a panel of countywide experts for an important discussion on fire resilience and how to prepare your home, landscape, and neighborhood to better withstand future wildfires. July 22, 6-8 pm July 22^nd: Register Here.

Recorded Webinar on California Home Insurance Shopping Help: How to Stay Protected When Insurance Options Are Limited and Expensive features experts who share their knowledge about who gets insured, who is dropped and why, and how to find options. Note, being in a Firewise community helps when it comes to obtaining insurance.

CA Fair Plan: To obtain discounts on fire insurance coverage through the CA Fair Plan, share the following with your insurance agent: (1) our community coverage map, (2) the document which shows that we are a certified community, and (now in addition) (3) an email confirmation of certification. Find these items on our resources page.

Growing Community: There are now 45 certified Firewise communities in Santa Barbara County, with several more in process on Gibraltar and Las Canoas Rd, and several on the Riviera.

Why it matters: Our continued certification depends not just doing the work necessary for fire prevention but also reporting how much time and money you have invested in doing so. Many things count, such as tree trimming, work on home hardening, cleaning gutters, raking leaves, gardening services, and participating in the chipping program. Examples of the types of time and expenditures that count can be found here.

What to do: Tracking investments helps to measure our impact and progress, makes our community eligible for grants, makes our community look better in the eyes of insurers, helps community leaders make informed decisions about future priorities, and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to being fire safe. If you want to receive weekly, monthly, or bi-annual reminders to report, sign up below.

What our neighbors say:

Amy Hammer says, "I finished the Firewise questionnaire. It was quite easy to understand and took me minutes to complete."

• Get emergency notification alerts by signing up at ReadySBC
• Text our Community Leader Allen Weiss at 323-854-8916 to:
  • Sign up for our neighborhood's WhatsApp mobile emergency text messages
  • Receive Reporting reminders about your time and money investments in keeping your home and property safe from fire. Many things count!
• Have you had a positive experience with a company that provides work related to keeping us safe from wildfires (e.g., tree trimming, gravel, vents, gutters)? Please share your recommendations for possible inclusions in future newsletters.
• Prepare in advance for smoke and ash. Get tips on setting up a clean air room from the Air Pollution Control District.

    We'd love to know what you thought of today's newsletter so we can improve it.

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