Everyone has experienced watching evacuations happen on the news or papers, but (thankfully) not everyone has actually experienced it in real life. It’s tragic to watch people have to abandon their homes and leave them to fate, bringing only what they can carry with them. And especially in the recent events of the nightmarish damage that Hurricane Harvey caused and the La Tuna and Burbank fires, more and more people are asking themselves the question of what to take when evacuating. In fact, having a good evacuation plan is smart no matter where you live—because Mother Nature’s anger takes many forms, and almost nowhere is completely protected from evacuations.
Know Exactly Where You’ll Need To Go
According to ready.gov, you should learn the types of disasters that are possible to occur where you live, as well as where everyone would most likely be directed to go in the event of an emergency. Your evacuation plan should involve you knowing if you’ll need to head to a church, a convention center, a stadium, or anywhere else. Have a friend or relative’s home in mind where you might be able to go, or a motel. Oftentimes these places will also be evacuated, but it’s still good to have several options. Understand that you may be traveling on foot or by some other way than by a car, and plan routes for this as well.
Be Prepared In Advance
With some evacuations, individuals and families may have a couple days to mentally and physically prepare to evacuate. However, for others, the emergency may come on so suddenly that there’s very little time. Because of this and the heightened panic that will surely be going on in the moment, it’s very advisable to have an evacuation plan and a checklist of what to take when evacuating.
Have Your Checklist Ready
Everyone is going to have special items they’ll want to bring when being forced to leave all their possessions, however, there are some basics that everyone should have ready to go for their evacuation plan. It’s ideal to have these items inside one bag to grab and go, but if you can’t do that, definitely have a checklist with these items so you don’t forget anything.
The items you should definitely have?
Extra items can include books, toys, and games to keep children occupied, as well as more clothing, pillows, and blankets. If you have room, paper towels, disposable plates, and cutlery are a good idea, too. If you’re able to, bring photo albums that you will regret not having.
Last-Minute Details
Finally, before you haul your belongings away and leave your home, be sure to take care of a few last-minute things in case you are able to return to it. Your evacuation plan should include unplugging all electronics, shutting off the water, electricity, and gas, locking all doors and windows, and leaving a note in a place that can easily be seen and reaches above the floodwaters (if flooding is the issue). Your note should include your name, number, who you have with you, and where you have gone.
Watch the video below for even more great evacuation plan tips:
We sincerely hope that you never have to experience a situation in which you would need an evacuation plan. But if you do, remember to be prepared in advance, have your checklist, and keep a calm head as best you can. Doing these things will help greatly in a stressful situation. As a company that has seen many natural disasters, we at Pro Restoration understand the importance of having a strong plan. If you ever find yourself in need of our services, please don’t hesitate to contact us.