There were three key takeaways from the recent information meeting about wildfires for Lakewood and Jester Estates residents.

First, sign up for a free Structural Ignition Zone Evaluation (or SIZE) to assess the wildfire risk to your home, sign up for alerts at warncentraltexas.org, and know how to find Temporary Assembly Points (TAP) signs in an evacuation.

During a SIZE evaluation, an Austin wildfire advisor will meet you at your home to walk the exterior and explain how to strengthen your property against wildfire risk. It’s important because embers from wildfires can travel more than 1.5 miles. Learn more here.

Second, sign up for alerts of all emergency types at warncentraltexas.org. You can decide which alerts you want and how you want to receive them.

And third, know where to look for TAP signs and directions when leaving our neighborhood if it’s ordered to evacuate. The signs are typically located away from the neighborhood to ease traffic. Scan the sign’s QR code to complete a form telling emergency responders that folks in your home are accounted for. There’s more in the presentation shown at the recent meeting here.

Lakewood is a participating site in NFPA – Firewise USA®, a nationwide designation for communities working to reduce wildfire risks. The meeting was held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church.