Sign Up for Alert Napa County

Many agencies across Napa County (including Napa County Sheriff, Fire, Public Works, and Office of Emergency Services) and the City of St. Helena, including its police and fire departments, use Alert Napa County to communicate emergency and community messages. Alert Napa County delivers text message, application notification, TTY and/or email communication. How you receive information, depends on how you customize your account profile in Alert Napa County. Make sure you are signed up today!



Keeping Defensible Space

Ensuring that your home, property, and/or business has the appropriate defensible space is not a once-a-year activity. While a major lot clearing may happen once a year, it’s important to maintain your defensible space. Keep weeds and grasses mowed down, clear leaves off roofs and gutters, trim low hanging branches, and more. Learn more from Cal Fire - St. Helena Defensible Space Certification Program and Inspection Checklist - Napa Firewise Defensible Space Project cost sharing program

When do I Evacuate?

The simplest answer is, the moment you feel unsafe, evacuate. During fire season it is also important to pay attention to all "red flag day" weather warnings. Even if you have not been notified of an evacuation warning or a mandatory evacuation, you can and should evacuate. All of our emergency responders will do their best to provide accurate information on evacuation levels, but especially in the first few moments or hours of an emergency event, you may need to self-evacuate. St. Helena is broken up into 8 evacuation zones. Find your evacuation zone.

What are the Evacuation Levels?

Evacuation Warning:

An evacuation warning is issued when there is a potential threat to life and/or property. The threat to life is not yet imminent.

• Voluntary evacuation orders are issued when residents should begin preparing for a potential mandatory evacuation order to be issued.
• Due to the potential for rapidly changing conditions to develop into a serious threat, residents are advised to prepare for the possibility of an evacuation order.
• Those who require additional time to evacuate due to mobility issues or other types of access and functional needs, and those with pets and livestock, should leave when an Evacuation Warning has been issued.

Evacuation Order:

An evacuation order is issued when there is an immediate threat to life. The danger is imminent!

• This is a lawful order to leave now. The area is lawfully closed to public access.
• Generally, residents will not be forcibly removed from their own property. However, those found to be on public property, including roadways and public parks, may be subject to removal from the area.
• Once out of the area, the general public will not be permitted to return until conditions permit.
• Nothing shall prevent a duly authorized representative of any news service, newspaper, radio, or television station or network from entering the area unless the area is determined to be a crime scene.
• Those found to be interfering with the disaster response are subject to arrest.

Learn more about evacuation terminology from CalOES.

No Power, No Cell Coverage, No Internet. Now What?

All of our police vehicles are equipped with a hi-lo siren. If you hear this siren, often followed by announcements from the vehicle's loudspeaker, you should follow the instructions and/or evacuate immediately. Listen to our hi-lo siren.

Create Your Plan, Know Your Plan

Create your plan today so that you’re ready when the next emergency happens. Everyone in your household should be familiar with the plan well in advance of a wildfire or another emergency. Each family’s or household’s plan will be different, depending on a variety of issues, needs, and situations. One easy way is to remember the six “P’s” - People and Pets; Papers and Phone Numbers; Prescriptions (including all medications, vitamins, eyeglasses); Pictures and Irreplaceable Memories; Personal Computers; and Plastics (credit and debit cards, cash). Beyond your own household, help your neighbors, especially those who may need additional assistance when evacuating and consider annual evacuation drills for yourself and/or your neighbors. Learn more and create your plan.

Preparing a Go-Bag

Having a Go-Bag ready is essential for leaving your home in the event of an evacuation quickly and safely. Go-Bags should include a variety of items including medications, visual aids (eye glasses, contacts), personal documents, identification, cash in small denominations, credit cards, cell phone chargers, a radio, personal hygiene items, and more. Get the list.

Get Your Tag

One way to help our emergency responders can do their jobs more effectively in an emergency is to let them know when you have safely evacuated. Door and mailbox tags are available at no cost and can be picked up from the St. Helena Police Department and/or Steve’s Hardware during normal business hours. Vineyard Valley residents can pick them up at the Vineyard Valley office. Learn more.

Think Beyond Wildfires

While wildfires are often top of mind in St. Helena there is always the possibility of another emergency. Emergencies come in all shapes and sizes and each of us needs to be prepared. Luckily many of the emergency preparedness steps remain the same. Have a plan, know your plan, have a Go-Bag, check on your neighbors, and safely evacuate. These are true for fires, floods, earthquakes, and more.