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16 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | AUGUST 2020 With fire season getting ready to gear up, I met with our very own resident, Chris Funk, who has a very impressive fire career and is currently with Cal Fire as a communications operator working with the department aircraft. Chris started out in Nebraska as a firefighter and after joining the Air Force he was stationed at March Air Force Base. After being discharged he joined Riverside County Fire Department where he retired after 18 years. Evacuation warnings used to be Voluntary and Mandatory. These are changing to Evacuation Watch and Evacuation Warning. Funk's suggestion is when you are asked to leave under a Watch or Warning, you go as early and quickly as possible. Think about traffic on a good day down Highland Springs; if there is an evacuation, it will be a mess. If you leave early, you will have your choice which direction you want to go. Insurance companies vary, so check with your carrier ahead of time to find out your coverage. Some companies actually cover everything for you once you are evacuated. Good to know if you need a place to stay or if you didn't have time to pack clothes before you left. Keep all your important documents in an easily accessible place. You will need your account numbers for your bank, credit cards and any other accounts, along with your identification. You don't need to take every canceled check for the past 20 years or tax forms as your bank and the IRS already have copies. If you have any pictures you want, keep them together and accessible for a quick exit. Other items you would want to have ready are a couple cases of water, your gas tank at least half full, and a couple days of dog or cat food along with pet food bowls. Before you leave it is a good idea to bring your patio cushions into your house (if time permits). Cushions are very light and burn easily, and if it is windy, you can prevent them from blowing away and sparking another fire. Cal Fire has a Ready, Set, Go! program that provides valuable information on what you should do to be ready in case a fire is in our area. Please visit the website at: http://www.calfireprevention. org/ready-set-go/. It's a great idea to make yourself aware of what to do. It still may be a difficult time, but knowing what to do can reduce some of the stress and panic during an evacuation. ~ Kathy Craven kathycraven@rocketmail.com Below are some resources to help keep you informed of the ever-changing news related to COVID-19. • California News: COVID19.ca.gov • General County News: riversideca.gov/COVID-19 • Riverside Office of Aging: rcaging.org • County Mandates, Etc.: rivcoph.org/coronavirus • City News: beaumontca.gov • To Support Your Physical Health: eatright.org/coronavirus • To Support Your Mental Health: eachmindmatters.org/COVID-19 Or, for more information in Four Seasons, call Anita Worthen at (951) 769-9858 or Donna Lewis at (909) 831-9536. PLEASE WEAR YOUR MASK Your mask isn't just for you. It can take from 2 to 14 days before you are showing symptoms of COVID-19. While you are infected but asymptomatic, you can still spread the virus to your family, your friends, and anyone around you. Face coverings help mitigate the spread of the virus, catching much of the virus expelled when you breathe, talk, or cough. So keep others safe and wear a mask. Remember: Face coverings must cover your nose and mouth to be effective. Secure the mask snugly under your chin and against the sides of your face. Ensure that you can breathe easily at all times. Neighborhood Watch COVID-19 Information Maintain your space Stay in place Cover your face