Here in Northern California, wild fire season is in full swing!

CalFire, the California agency responsible for fire reporting and extinguishing fires, has a very interesting and interactive map showing the MANY fires currently active in the state as of this writing.  Take a peek here: https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/

Seeing this and knowing that it’s only a matter of when (and not if) we may be asked to evaluate our home, I realized that that I needed to do a home inventory!  In the past I have looked at doing this with paper and pen but the task never seemed to get done.

So, realizing that I carry a pocket computer complete with camera with me all day long, I went on a search for an app for my phone that would get the job done.  After loading several apps and testing them out, I have landed on the one that I like the best.

It checks the boxes of free, easy to use, comprehensive and cross platform, meaning it will work on both iPhone and Android devices!

It’s called Encircle and you can find it on the Apple App store at: 

https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/encircle/id604527488

And you can find it on the Google Play Store at:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.encircle&hl=en_CA

When you first load it you will have to create an account, which was straightforward and painless.  Then you tell it that you want to use it for a home inventory.  From there, you create a property, i.e. your home and then add rooms.

If you want some in-depth, but easy to follow help, on using the app, go here: https://help.encircleapp.com/category/536-home-inventory-app

Then you go around snapping pictures of the rooms and the contents therein.

Should you ever need to file a claim for lost possessions, this app will help you document your belongings!

And speaking of being evacuated…what should you take?

There are lots of web sites with info on what you should prepare, ahead of time, to take with you with you. And then store in a bag.

These bags are commonly called “bug out bags”.

There are lots of different opinions on what constitutes a good bug out bag (sometimes called a BOB), but here is website that will get you started:

https://www.survivalcrackas.com/prepping/bug-out-bag-list/

I hope that you never have to go through the trauma of being evacuated and losing your home, but if you do, I hope that you took this article to heart!