We spend a lot of time here talking about the likelihood of experiencing a disaster that necessitates evacuation, but besides recommending that you AND your children have Evac Packs, we haven’t yet gotten into the nuts and bolts of planning an evacuation. That’s what I would like to dive into today.
Ready.gov has a good section on Evacuation, and between that and using our own brains, we should be able to come up with a good plan! Let’s get started. (No really, you need to do this along with me, the next evacuation I write about may be yours!)
Planning Your Evacuation
I hate continuing to harken back to other SaveYourAce.com posts, but we have said over and over again, you never know how much warning you will have before an evacuation is called for. Some, like those in the Southeastern US, can see a hurricane coming for days or weeks. Others may be forced from their homes minutes after learning of a wildfire barreling down on them. So the point is, you need to be prepared, NOW, before you need to leave. That means planning things out, and getting everything together you will need.
Step 1. Get everyone together
What’s the most stressful time for anyone not in a disaster themselves? Worrying about their family. Even if they are safe, if you don’t know, you will worry and may make dumb decisions to go and find them. Ready.gov recommends a family communication and reunification plan. Make sure everyone knows the plan by heart. Where will you meet up? What if that location is compromised? Will the kids stay where they are or are they to meet you at a location? These are all important questions and the link above has good planning resources.
Step 2: Determine destinations
Where will you go if disaster strikes? That is our primary concern here. You need to have a backup location and a tertiary location in mind. Why? Because your first and second options might be experiencing the same thing you are. So try to think of places to go that are in different directions, as well as some locations close by and others a little further away.
What if you don’t have family within driving distance? How about close friends? No? How about a public shelter? Ready.gov reminds us that most public shelters do not allow pets (besides service animals), so be prepared for this. This is one of the many reasons you need to plan ahead of time!
Make sure you clear your plan with the friends and family who you are planning on evacuating to! You don’t want to show up on someone’s doorstep hoping for their goodwill. They may have already accepted a bunch of other people not expecting you to come. Clear it ahead of time, so even if your phones aren’t working, they know to expect you in the event of a disaster.
Step 3: Map your routes
As for routes, having multiple is key. In an evacuation, you will almost always be in traffic. Not only will traffic be a problem, but who knows how your disaster will affect your route to safety. An earthquake may have taken out your primary highway, or flooding may make your main road impassible. The important thing is to be flexible, and know your routes to safety ahead of time. Many times right when you need it GPS won’t work, so have your routes clear in your mind (and maybe have a map as backup).
Just today I was heading to do some work with my Dad and my primary route was blocked by an accident. I realized that I don’t really have any alternative routes known by heart. Sure I could rely on the GPS to take me around, but what if that wasn’t available, or I couldn’t stop to program it in my phone? Know your routes, and practice them. Driving a road for the first time in the heat of a disaster is no time to experiment.
Step 4. Get your supplies together
We have a whole post about what supplies need to be in your evac pack for adults. Most items you have already around the house. Some you should prioritize buying so your packs are complete. So here I want to suggest a few things to keep on hand to make evacuating safer, faster, and hopefully easier.
- Two 5 gal cans of gas — This can be a big help in many situations. Having 10 gallons of gas at home gives you the flexibility to not have to pay top $$ if prices jump up at the pump. Or a family member runs out of gas and you have some to bring them. But more importantly, even if for some reason you are on E and an evacuation is mandated, you have a 200-300 mile range (assuming you aren’t stuck in traffic for hours) to get to safety. Plus, you won’t have to stop at the gas station while you are still in the danger zone, and wait in line like everyone else. Trust me, there will be lines at the gas station.
- 3-4 Gallons or a case of water — Obviously you can’t keep this in a pack. I keep water in my car and at home, just in case. But you will be thankful you have some water for everyone in many different situations.
- Some cash — I know I recommend having this in your evac packs, but it’s good to reiterate here.
- Backup radio — This should be in your Evac Pack, but again, if for some reason you are without cell phones, information will be at a premium. If your car radio dies, or you have to leave your car, you will want to have a radio.
- A map of the area — No explanation needed!
During The Evacuation
Step 1: Listen and heed evacuation orders
Keep your radio and/or tv on. Make sure all of your supplies are packed and ready to go. If you feel uncomfortable, don’t wait for the order to evacuate comes down. Just leave. Better safe than sorry.
Step 2: Prepare your house (**only if you safely have time**)
If you have time before the evacuation, there are a few things you can do to prepare your house. **Do not take the time do perform these actions if you are in danger. Evacuate first. None of this is as important as your safety**
- Lock your doors — You don’t really want any unwanted guests enjoying your home while you are away. And while this may not stop some, it will make your house a harder target, and may deter some would be thieves.
- Turn off gas and water — if you don’t know how to do this, its time to learn. This is a good way to prevent leaks and potential fires.
- Leave a note behind — If family or friends come to your house it will be nice for them to know where you have gone. This will make your meet up much easier, especially if communications are down.
- “Harden” your house against the disaster — This goes without saying for hurricane people, but other disasters can be hardened against as well. Just as those readying for a hurricane board up their windows and clear their yard of any and all debris that could become projectiles, there are ways for everyone to make their houses less disaster susceptible. If a wildfire threatens (you should have done this already), but cut back the brush and everything close to your house. You can also close and cover vents to the outside, and doors and windows with plastic to keep out the ash and cut down on the smoke smell some. It may not help a ton, but every little bit could help.
Step 3: Safely Evacuate
Follow your pre-determined routes or the one’s dictated by the authorities. Do not drive erratically. Keep calm. Know that there will be traffic. If you are going to friends or family and have the ability, warn them that you are on your way to them.
Summary
As you can see, the bulk of the evacuation happens BEFORE a disaster even threatens. That’s not to say you won’t be ok if you throw things together at the last minute, but why go through all of that added stress? Prepare now, before the clock is ticking.
Thanks for reading, if you have any other tips for evacuees that you learned in an evacuation feel free to post them in the comments below!
