PLANNING FOR NATURAL DISASTERS

California has counted nearly 300 disaster declarations since the federal government began using the designation in 1953. That’s more than any other state.

Fires, floods and earthquakes top the disaster list. But freezes, punishing storms and even a hurricane have drawn the attention of Washington and its all-too-familiar legions of relief workers.

In recent decades, the number of natural disasters in California has only increased, and scientists say a warming climate is likely to give rise to yet more weather extremes with the potential for greater havoc. The deadly wildfires over the past couple of years, from Wine Country to Redding to Yosemite, may be just the start.

“The reality is that climate is an increasing part of the picture,” said Daniel Swain, a climate researcher at UCLA. “We can’t say this is the singular cause of such events as wildfire, but we can say that climate change is affecting the character of wildfire, how big they are, how hot they burn, how much damage they cause.”

Increasing research is showing that warmer temperatures also induce longer heat waves, prolonged periods of drought and storms packed with additional moisture.

This outlook is more reason than ever for Californians to prepare for disaster.

Emergency experts say that while few people have a strategy, a little planning can make a big difference in how you and your loved ones weather the unexpected.

Is your home as safe as it can be? What will you grab when you’re told to evacuate? Where will you meet your family if you’re separated? Do you have what you need to survive if emergency assistance is delayed?

You can’t know when the next big disaster will hit, but you do have the opportunity to be ready.

Michael Macor / The Chronicle 2017 Terrie Burns stands in the middle of her destroyed home in Santa Rosa last October at the scene of the Tubbs Fire that tore through Napa and Sonoma counties.