Wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes and volcano eruptions send population masses scurrying for safer ground. Preparation is the key to success and sometimes survival. Emergency management officials and disaster preparedness agencies do their best, yet often leave little time to prepare. Those who hesitate end up hitting the road without the necessities. Some forethought and preparation will have you ready to act promptly when it’s time to pack for evacuation.
Instructions
pack for an evacuation
1. List necessities beforehand. In the anxiety of approaching disaster, it’s difficult to think clearly. Draw up a list now for reference in times of emergency, to be sure nothing gets overlooked. Your family and pets may be living out of your car for several days so consider every possible need. The items listed under "What you’ll need" provide a basic outline for starting your own list.
2. Do advance preparations. Important documents like birth certificates, marriage license, deeds, titles and degrees can be kept in a single folder and ready to pack. Have a first aid kit updated with all special needs. Keep a backpack loaded with camping supplies. If possible, keep a few hundred dollars in cash handy. If the condition of evacuation is seasonal, never let your car’s gas get below a half a tank during that time. When electricity goes off, so do gas pumps and ATMs.
3. Act quickly. During an emergency, everyone for miles around will flock to stores for gas, food, water and ice and it’s surprising how fast these items run out at such times. The ice in coolers will keep perishable items for less than 48 hours. Depending on the condition you’re escaping, you may need enough dry and canned goods to last for a week afterwards. You must buy everything you lack as soon as evacuation orders are given.
4. Account for medication doses. For anyone in your household taking a prescription, call the prescribing doctor immediately and ask for enough doses to cover at least ten days. In the face of emergencies warranting evacuation, any responsible physician will surely comply. Fill the prescriptions before leaving. If you cross state lines, it may be a problem to use insurance or fill prescriptions.
5. Pick a destination and go. The sooner you get on the road, the less traffic you’ll have ahead of you. A passenger can use a directory and a cell phone to attempt lodging reservations while you drive. Highways reach gridlock quickly as hotels are filling, when you have entire counties on the move. A campsite may offer the only possible alternative to sleeping in the car.
Tags: evacuation orders