In no way is this guidance a flawless cut and paste for you and your situation. This is only meant to open your mind and to take considerations of my advice and experts in the field that I have learned from. Consume this information with an open mind and critically apply it to your gear, your skill set, and most importantly, your unique situation. Stay safe and be prepared.
The most important factor in any evacuation plan is time. You can download both the Burgeon Defense short notice and long notice evac plans and compare them. You will see several differences. The time you have from notice to evac is the driving force in what course of action you choose to take. There are countless examples of families getting15 minutes or less notification of mandatory evacuation from a forest fire. In comparison, a hurricane brewing off the coast could offer you a couple days of advance preparation. We would certainly want 3 days’ notice compared to 15 minutes. The core advice of myself and other experts in the field is recognizing the possibility of evacuation as early as possible and to be as prepared as your means permit 365/24/7.
Recognizing the possibility of evacuation as early as possible is critical. I recently watched a forest fire grow across the lake from our house. It spread for days as planes and helicopters were dropping water and retardant and brave fire fighters battled on the ground. This fire raged for days before it reached and threatened homes. When the fire suddenly burst with a powerful surge the call was made for immediate evacuation of homes in the area. The media was full of stories of families barely making it out with just a laptop and a handful of clothes as their homes burnt to the ground. This completely baffled me. How could a fire be growing with0% containment just miles from your house and literally no thought or action of preparing for an evacuation. Those couple days prior could have been filled with moving your valuables to a storage unit safely in the next town.
A short notice evacuation is going to be incredibly stressful. The fire story mentioned in the paragraph above would be quite different if it was started from a lightning strike less than a mile away. There is no time for multiple trips to your safe area. You got one shot at getting out and it is happening within minutes. Here is where prior preparation is going to be key. Having a well thought out and ready staged go-bag or bugout bag is going to be your best solution and quite possibly your only choice.
What is your mechanism to leave the area and what does it offer you for space available. If your transport is a daily commute sedan, your space is limited. If you own a truck, van or even a camper your available space is multiplies. Another consideration is how many drivers and vehicles do you have. Can you get all your vehicles safely out with the drivers you have available or is it in your interest to take the one best vehicle with everyone piled in? Do you have enough gas to get out of the danger area. When we lived in Florida and were ordered to evacuate for a hurricane the gas stations quickly ran out of gas near the evac zone. There were more than a couple people stranded because they didn’t fill up early. If you own a truck, van, large SUV, etc. you can prepare totes or bags with food and water, extra clothes and blankets, etc. I highly encourage to have these ready throughout the year.
Be prepared for an evacuation should be part of your standard readiness posture. Having gear ready to go will make your decision to evacuate less stressful. Talking about evacuation to your family is critical as well. It gives everyone peace of mind knowing there is a plan, and you are ready. Talk to your kids and spouse about the plan every so often to remind them of the way things are going to happen. This is especially important if you have a long notice event arise. Start the discussion early and start preparing with everyone involved. Keep your cool, evacuation is not the time to panic. It is the time to calmy and swiftly enact a logical evacuation plan.
1. Safe Area – Where are you going to go. Have a couple of locations in mind in different directions. Family, friends, campgrounds, etc. are all solid choices. Have the discussion with those people in your safe areas. Let them know if you must evacuate you are coming to stay with them and what they might expect.
2. Distance – If you have family a two-day drive away, do you have supplies in your evac kit to make it? If you choose an area not so far away, do you have enough gas to get there in one shot? As we learned with a hurricane evacuation, we had to go much farther than we had initially planned because of the wave of people ahead of us taking up every hotel within a hundred miles. They type of disaster may also determine the distance you need to travel.
3. Transportation – Is your vehicle gassed up and ready to go? How is the maintenance and can you safely make it there in the winter with those worn-out tires? You may have to change your vehicle plans last minute so be flexible.
4. RV/Camping – Do you have a RV or camping gear to incorporate into your evac plan? Can you quickly hook up a RV and go? If you own camping gear it should be incorporated into your evac plan. Being able to pitch a tent can be a life saver for a night or two until you can get to better housing. Campgrounds in our area always open for evacuees till they are overflowing.
5. Security – Area wide evacuations is going to bring panic for the unprepared. Our personal plan is for everyone in the family to be carrying a defensive weapon during an evacuation. We also will have pepper spray and tasers at the ready while in the vehicle. Consider evacuations to be High Risk! That means every adult is alert and aware of their surroundings. Be polite and respectful out there but above all, protect you and your family. Get to your safe area without incident and don’t let others panic infect you or provoke you to take unnecessary action.
6. Everyone All The Time – That is who should be prepared! Does everyone in your house know the plan? Can your spouse hook up your camper without you? Do your kids know what is going to happen? Do you driving teens know where to meet-up? Keeping everyone in the plan will also keep them distanced from panic and anxiety.
7. Kids – Everyone should have their own bag or pack. Involve them with packing and planning their bag and in yearly inspection. Remember kids grow quick so spare clothes need to be changed out now and then. Don’t forget a comfort item too. Have them pick a favorite toy, game, blanket, that is added last minute.
8. Cash is King – Always have an adequate supply of cash in a variety of bills. We keep a supply in an envelope on the inside door of our safe, ready to go. Close to an evacuation zone there may be no power or cell communication. Credit cards are important for evacuation, but they won’t work without power and internet. Cash is quick and convenient just remember about security. If you flaunt your envelope of cash getting gas you might find yourself an easy target for those less prepared.
9. Inspection – Your evac gear and kits should be inspected at least yearly and I personally do it twice a year. Also, if you get a long notice opportunity, inspect immediately while you still have the time! Checklists are your friends and should be in every kit you own!
10. First Aid – A first aid kit should always be part of your evac kit. You never know what you are going to encounter and who you may need to help. The size is the biggest within your skillset and the best within your price range. Space is another consideration for smaller vehicles. Every vehicle you own should also have a permanent med kit as well.
11. Medication – Always have a plan for any medications or unique medical needs. These items can be difficult to stage long term as you typically use them every day. I recommend a checklist stored in a small backpack/bag or as I’ve seen with others is in their evac first aid kit. Pull out the short checklist and add those last minute but critical items!
12. Pets – Consider food, medication, bedding, walking leash, cages, and of course any treats or toys that keep them content. Remember this is stressful and nerve-racking times for them too.
13. Food & Water – If your safe area is adays drive then you should have enough food and water to make it there. A tote with a flat of water bottles and Ziplocs with stable food that has a shelf lifelong enough to make it through your inspection dates and storage temperatures. A handful of emergency rations, cliff bars, MREs, etc. can get you to where you are going and be your first meal when you settle down. Remember grocery and convenience stores will be out of most foods you need when an area wide evacuation order has been made. Restaurants in the outlining area can be overwhelmed very quickly too. No need to get hangry in that evac traffic either!
14. Storage Location – Keeping your evac supplies in your attic may not be the best plan when you are in your basement taking shelter from a tornado ripping your roof off. Heat is another factor. The evac food you store in your garage may not stand up to summer heat or a freezing winter either. Your supplies are critical to your family’s well-being so protect them with careful planning.
15. Master Checklist – I have mentioned checklists throughout this article, but this is about a master checklist for evacuation. Ensure your entire family knows where this checklist is too. Your teenage kid or spouse may have to start packing if you haven’t made it home yet. A master checklist can give them a confident head start and nothing will be forgotten.
16. Practice – My final important piece of advice is to practice. Now I know it is hard to carve out a time to practice an evac but you can do it in stages too. When you are doing your semi or annual inspection…pack the darn vehicle! Don’t be surprised in a real evac when all your carefully packaged totes, bags, and luggage don’t fit in your vehicle because you forgot to calculate the dog crate! Pack it out and see how it all comes together. You may find you need to eliminate a few hard totes or boxes for soft duffle bags to make everything fit. Take time in your year to visit your safe areas if possible. If your plan A is to take your camper to your relatives or friends in the next state, then wouldn’t it be a great idea to make the trip at least once during happy stress-free times?
If you want a solid evac plan with checklists and all the right gear choices…. build it. Everybody’s plans and kits unique to them. I can certainly start you in the right direction but customizing it for your needs is where it will really come together. Stay safe and keep researching for the reset!
