There are situations where a forced evacuation may be necessary. These include wildfires, flash floods, mud slides, tsunamis, hazardous materials spills (train or truck), and gas explosions. If you live in an area where these are possible, or likely, being prepared can make a difference in who survives and how many of your critical possessions are saved.
- Make a list of what needs to be grabbed if you have 20 minutes, 15 minutes, 10 minutes, or 5 minutes to evacuate. Post the list in a prominent place in a gathering place or near the door you would leave through.
- Make sure you are ready at the beginning of the disaster season, which may be all year for some.
- Always keep a minimum of 1/3 tank of gasoline in your car.
- Back your car into the garage during the critical seasons for the disasters you could experience. You will be able to leave faster when seconds can make a difference.
- Keep emergency kits in a place where they are easy to grab – not in the basement, upstairs, or in a closet. Hang them on hooks near the door or keep them in something that can be opened easily and left open while everyone retrieves their kit.
- Make assignments. Most things you take with you will be single items. Assign each person in the house the responsibility of retrieving each different item to take with you. A card can be attached to each emergency kit to remind each person what they need to take with them. Don’t forget to take your pets, your keys, your identification, and your binder or portable file of important documents.
- Know more than one way out of your neighborhood.
- Decide on the best method for evacuating – car, bicycle, or walking – with a back-up plan.
- Agree on a meeting place in case family members are not at home when you evacuate.
- Practice your evacuation. Have an evacuation drill for a 5-minute, 10-minute, 15-minute, and 20-minute evacuation.