Do You Have a Family Disaster Plan?

“Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed.”

That straightforward message from the American Red Cross applies to every Santa Barbara homeowner. In a region prone to wildfires, flooding, earthquakes, and coastal storms, that advice is more than just a slogan — it’s a lifeline. The Red Cross emphasizes that natural and human-caused disasters can happen suddenly, anytime and anywhere, and families who prepare ahead of time are much more likely to stay safe and recover quickly.

A man and a woman picking up a duffle bag and backpack representing emergency go-bags.

How to Get Disaster Ready Now!

Local officials echo the American Red Cross's urgency, and Santa Barbara County’s ReadySBC program reminds residents: “If we can’t reach you, we can’t alert you,”

For clients and neighbors throughout the Santa Barbara area area, luxury real estate expert Cristal Clarke encourages homeowners to view disaster planning as a vital part of caring for their property and loved ones by following these steps:

Step One: Build a Disaster Preparedness Kit (Your “Go Bag”)

Every household should have a basic emergency kit or “go bag” that can be quickly grabbed if evacuation orders are issued. The American Red Cross recommends storing supplies in a portable bag, such as a backpack or small wheeled duffel, prepared for both short evacuations and longer shelter-in-place situations.

According to the Red Cross, a basic emergency kit for Santa Barbara homeowners should include:

Water: at least one gallon per person per day
Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items
Pet supplies: food, bowl, medications, carrier, collar with ID
Flashlight
N95 masks
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio, ideally with NOAA weather reception
Extra batteries
First-aid kit
Toiletries, sanitation, and personal hygiene items
Manual can opener
Medications (seven-day supply) and key medical items
Multi-purpose tool or utility knife
Copies of important documents, such as medical information, proof of address, insurance policies, passports, and birth certificates
Cell phone chargers and backup power
Family and emergency contact list
Extra cash
Emergency blanket and change of clothing, including a warm, waterproof layer
Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses and solution
Scissors, duct tape, work gloves, towels, matches
Baby supplies, if needed, including formula, food, and diapers
Simple games and activities for children
Extra house and car keys
Printed maps of the local area

Additional supplies to consider for Santa Barbara households include a whistle, rain gear, plastic sheeting, household liquid bleach for water purification (used according to EPA guidance), tools to secure your home, and any specialized medical equipment such as syringes, oxygen tanks, or CPAP machines.

Cristal recommends keeping at least one go bag in a convenient, accessible place like a front hall closet or garage, so it's easy to grab when leaving.

Step Two: Create a Household or Family Disaster Plan

Once the kit is ready, the next step is to develop a written family disaster plan. The Red Cross emphasizes that every household should know which emergencies are most likely in their community and practice emergency procedures before a crisis happens.

Key elements for Santa Barbara families include:

Identify local risks.
Discuss how you will prepare for earthquakes, wildfires, post-fire debris flows, floods, hazardous spills, active-shooter situations, and extreme weather.
Assign roles.
Determine who will grab the go bag, gather pets, assist children or seniors, and handle communications.
Choose meeting points.
Select at least two locations: one just outside your home and another outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home.
Plan your escape routes.
Map out at least two ways to leave your neighborhood and keep printed copies in your go bag and vehicles.
Practice regularly.
Experts recommend rehearsing your plan until each family member feels confident in their role. The Red Cross notes that families who practice their plans are more likely to respond calmly and effectively during a real emergency.

To make planning easier, the American Red Cross offers a free Family Disaster Plan template that homeowners can print out and fill in together.

Front grill and headlights of a firetruck.

Step Three: Stay Informed with Local and State Alerts

Even the best kit and plan only work if you receive timely information. That’s where alert systems come into play.

ReadySBC Alerts (formerly Aware & Prepare).
Santa Barbara County’s official emergency notification system sends warnings and instructions via text message, email, landline, and mobile phone. Residents are encouraged to enroll to receive real-time alerts for wildfires, evacuations, flooding, and road closures.
California Health Alert Network (CAHAN).
For health-related events, the California Health Alert Network is the official platform in the state for sharing public health alerts, treatment guidelines, and preparedness information between state and local partners.
CalAlerts.
The statewide CalAlerts website makes it easy to find and sign up for your county’s emergency alert program. If you live in Santa Barbara but work in another county, you can enroll in both.
MyShake.
Earthquake alerts in partnership with USGS ShakeAlert® and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).

Local authorities always stress the same point: early warnings save lives, but only if residents are registered to receive them. As the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office highlights about its Aware and Prepare system, residents must sign up to receive alerts by phone or email when it matters most.

During wildfire season, many Santa Barbara residents also use real-time fire-mapping apps alongside official alerts. However, experts warn that official county notices and Red Cross guidance should still be the primary sources for evacuation decisions.

An emergency helicopter in flight against a blue sky.

Disaster Planning as Part of Protecting Your Santa Barbara Investment

While a household or family disaster plan can't prevent an earthquake, wildfire, or storm, it provides you with the tools and confidence to respond quickly and protect what matters most. For luxury homeowners in Santa Barbara, Montecito, Hope Ranch, and the nearby coastal neighborhoods, that includes both people and property.

As a leading Santa Barbara real estate expert, Cristal Clarke advises her clients to see preparedness as a natural part of caring for their homes and way of life. Having a solid plan, a fully stocked emergency kit, and signing up for local alert systems can all make a big difference when every second counts.

If you're planning a move, Cristal can help you manage that change with expert foresight. Whether you're ready to sell a property in Santa Barbara, Montecito, or Hope Ranch, or start exploring your next home, Cristal provides concierge-level guidance, market insight, and a calm, strategic approach. To explore current listings or discuss your real estate goals, visit her comprehensive website, call (805) 886-9378, or email Cristal@montecito-estate.com to schedule a confidential consultation.

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Client Reviews

“It was an emotional experience selling our mother’s home in Montecito that we all loved so much but Cristal made the process easier on our whole family by guiding us through the transaction every step of the way. She knows the market so well and everything she recommended was on point including the asking price, painting, and staging the home, which looked beautiful and helped the buyer envision her new home. We sold it the first day it hit the market with an offer above asking! Cristal did an incredible job communicating with us and the buyer to ensure that the transaction would run smoothly. We highly recommend using Cristal, she was a pleasure to work with! ”

- J & A

“Cristal is a pleasure to work with! Her knowledge of the local real estate market coupled with her amazing listening skills resulted in her showing us an array of homes that were all excellent choices. Her low-pressure patient attitude made us feel extremely comfortable with the whole process. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

- M.F.

“Cristal Clarke is #1 in her field - and you don't become #1 by luck. Cristal works harder, and longer, and with more charm and patience than any real estate agent I have ever worked with in the past; her calendar has no weekend, her days have no clocks, her only concern is selling your property as soon as possible and for the best price on the market. Am I a fan? You bet!”

- P.B.

“We have used Cristal now several times and cannot express how grateful we are for her expertise, dedication, and unwavering support throughout the entire home-buying process. Cristal is knowledgeable, patient and attentive. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and she consistently went above and beyond to provide us with all the information and resources we needed to make informed decisions. Cristal is a skillful negotiator and advocate. She can navigate complex negotiations with professionalism and grace and felt like a true partner to us in the home-buying process. Cristal has a genuine passion for real estate and a deep commitment to her clients' satisfaction. I cannot speak highly enough of Cristal and her exceptional service. She is a true expert in her field and her dedication to excellence, combined with unwavering support is the reason we choose to work with her for all our real estate buying needs.”

- T.C.

“Cristal is a top-notch realtor who sold my home before it ever went on the market. I had two competing offers that enabled me to get top dollar for my home. Not only is Cristal superb but her team is extraordinary. I cannot say enough about Cristal and her team. They are simply phenomenal, the consummate professionals, who took care of every possible detail, making the sale and transition period, smooth from our end. They are also lovely, caring people, who knew all the right professionals, to get the job done. Thank you, everyone!”

- D.R.

“I could list lots of cool adjectives to describe Cristal. All good by the way. But, that is not why I or anyone should hire Cristal. My reason for hiring her, which proved to be correct, is very simple. She got the job done. And, she does it time and time again and with zero issues. And, that is why she is one of the top agents in the country. End of subject. ”

- M.A.

“Working with Cristal was a complete pleasure. Cristal was extremely patient with us as we evaluated nearly 2 dozen homes over a span of 2 years. Her knowledge of the market is unmatched. Cristal provided us with exceptional counsel as we evaluated opportunities and negotiated pricing. The closing process was handled thoroughly and efficiently. We could not be happier with our purchase and even more happy to now call Cristal our friend.”

- D.K.

“Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”

- S.N. Decker Ph.D.

“Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”

- Johan and Paula van den Berg

“Cristal is very straightforward, cheerful, helpful, professional and trustworthy….we felt very lucky to work with her.”

- John and Lacey Williams

“After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”

- Michael & Nancy Lee

“Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”

- Richard and Catherine Frinier

“Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”

- Laurie Siegel

“We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”

- Ken Saffir

“Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”

- Michael & Susan Marquart

“A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”

- Rob & Judi Kelch