Agencies conduct wildfire evacuation workshop in Ramona

Representatives of several Ramona governmental agencies and organizations participated in an evacuation workshop conducted recently by the county’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) in the new briefing room at the sheriff’s Ramona substation.

Beginning with a welcome from Supervisor Dianne Jacob, the workshop focused on community evacuations based upon a wildfire scenario, as wildfires pose the largest threat to the community of Ramona.

The scenario played out over four hours of interaction and conversations among representatives of the various agencies that would respond directly to a wildfire, as well as agencies that provide support to those affected. Throughout the workshop, each agency was able to exercise its policies and procedures, along with anticipated response from the community.

Thirty-two people participated representing 17 different agencies: Cal Fire, U.S. Forest Service, County Fire Authority, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Caltrans, California Highway Patrol (CHP), American Red Cross, Ramona Municipal Water District, Ramona Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Ramona West End Fire Safe Council, Committee for a Better Ramona, Ramona Community Planning Group, Ramona Unified School District, County Department of Animal Services, County Public Health Services, and OES.