What if I have to evacuate?

Simple and convenient preparations

Updated 03jul09

Power outages, fires, floods, earthquakes, wind, and storms can interrupt utilities, phones, stores, ATMs, and travel. You can be forced to leave your home because of flooding, sewage backflow, fire, chemical accident, or terrorist threat. These things occur when you are least prepared. This is an inexpensive common sense preparation document.

The large disaster relief organizations can provide basic relief for a lot of people, but need a few days to get set up. Wise people are prepared to handle problems on their own for 3 days to a week.

Don't buy any survival kits or anything you are not familiar with. After the power goes out is not the time to try something out. Don't waste your money buying "special survival food". It will probably get old before you need it.

This is not a complete guide to preparation; it is only to give you a starting place. Experience, training and special equipment provides better preparation. And nothing is better than common sense (which doesn't seem to be very common).

Notice

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Prepare to evacuate

Make a quick-exit list of what to take so nothing is forgotten. Include the probable locations of these items. Mark certain items as essential (and put them at the top of the list) in case you have to leave immediately with only what you can carry. List items together if they are close to each other. Update the list annually. Tape the list to the inside of a closet or cabinet door where you keep some of the stuff. You must be able to get ready in 15 minutes; time how long it takes to touch everything on the list. Getting it below 10 minutes is better; you might not have a quarter-hour.
There are certain records, valuables, and heirlooms you do not want to lose. List them and where they usually are. Update the list annually. The valuables should all fit on one container, perhaps a special briefcase or plastic box. Tape the list of valuables inside the lid. If the time of need should ever come, dump the Christmas ornaments out of the container, round up everything on the valuables list, and put them in. You must be able to round everything up in 5 minutes; time how long it takes to touch everything on the list. The time you spend rounding up valuables counts against the 15-minute quick-exit.
Maintain a travel kit, everything you need to travel except clothes. This is great for traveling, too. Put spare glasses in the travel kit so your vacation won't be ruined. You can buy glasses over the Internet for $40.
Keep a zip-kit in your car. It is small, cheap, and is just enough to get you home.
Keep a 72-hour kit in the trunk of your car in case you have to leave in a hurry, or if you can't even go home. It is small and affordable, but lets you get by for a few days away from home.
Maintain a camping kit, even if you do not camp. Camp once a year whether you like it or not to stay ready.
Pets usually do better if you leave them behind than if you try to bring them. They only need saving from fires and floods. If you bring them, they will find a way to escape and get lost. If you leave them, they will be there when you return.
Rescue workers must sometimes shoot pets to save their owners. Leave the pets behind.
Most shelters cannot take pets. You will be sleeping in the car in the cold with your pets walking all over you. To make room you will put your possessions out in the rain.
Do not turn pets loose unless necessary; emergency vehicles hit them. This kills the pet and disables the emergency vehicle. People will be endangered by the loss of the emergency vehicle.
When preparing to evacuate in a hurry, the first thing to do is turn off the ringers on all the phones. The phones will ring non-stop when everyone you know calls to make sure you are OK and talk about the disaster. It will take several minutes to reassure each one that you are OK and will be leaving soon. Except you won't because you are talking on the phone instead. If not getting out in time is a possibility, the phone will make not getting out in time possible.

Things to put on your quick-exit list

Money (cash, checks, credit cards, etc). This is essential.
Everyones travel kit (probably essential)
A cell phone, charger, & phone numbers of everyone you know (possibly essential)
Boots, raingear and jackets (bring spare shoes if you are wearing the boots). Disposable galoshes may work for you.
A suitcase or two full of clothes for 3 days, preferably with their hangers
The box of valuables
IDs, passports, et cetera.
Gasoline
3 days supplies for everyones special needs (medicines, baby food, feminine hygiene, etc)
The camping kit
The household emergency kit
Water for a few days
Blankets or sleeping bags
The computer backups
Flashlights and lots of batteries
A toolbox
Bring a garden trowel, trash bags, and 3 days worth of toilet paper or baby wipes. Baby wipes are better than toilet paper, and can be used for cleaning other things.
A days worth of food that does not require cooking or refrigeration. This can be bread and peanut butter.
A bath towel & washcloth for everyone
3 wire coat hangers per person, best accomplished by bringing the clothes with their hangars.
Since you are going to ignore all advice to leave the pets behind, bring pooper-scoopers to clean up after them until they escape.

This quick-exit list is sorted with the most important items on top in case you run out of time, and assumes you are leaving in a car. Group items on the list according to where they are to make them easier to round up. Do not bring stuff not on the list, unless you are sure the house will be destroyed. The two big mistakes are to bring too much stuff and to take too long getting out.

Make a note at the bottom of the list: Turn off the electricity (and possibly the gas) if you expect flooding. Floodwater can short out wiring and burn your house down to the waterline.

Assume that if you have to evacuate because of the danger of fire, flood, or storm that your neighbors will too. Assume you are evacuating to a place with food, shelter, and medical care, but you may have to go without for a day or so.

The traffic getting out will be stop & go. The people who take too long to get ready will be stuck in it the longest. If not getting out in time is a possibility, these are the ones who won't make it.

Always keep a zip-kit in every vehicle. It doesn't take up space, costs almost nothing, and can get you home. The zip-kit is a separate document.

Keep a 72-hour kit in the trunk of your car if you have room. This is a bag containing everything you need to get by for 3 days. It is always handy to have a toothbrush and change of clothes. This is invaluable if you cannot get home or have to leave in a hurry. The 72-hour kit is a separate document.

Disaster preparedness	What to do during & after
Getting the car ready	72-hour kits