Evacuation by Auto

(Excerpt from the "PRESENTATION: Three Response Strategies and Networking" post.)

The most likely emergency that will prompt auto evacuation is a wildfire or quickly out of control series of house fires near you.  I saw that happen in Tooele just a few years ago.  

You must consider that flames could reach your home before firefighters could extinguish them. Your focus in such circumstance it to GET OUT IMMEDIATELY.

Sometimes, entire parts of cities get consumed so quickly, residents cannot safely exit with any belongings.  

MAKE A LIST of wildfire evacuation items.  Here are questions/suggestions to get your list started:

• What is precious, sentimental and not replaceable?  
• What would be expensive to replace, that will fit in your auto?  
• Is your digital data backed-up in the Cloud? Verify. Do you have external drives? 
• What digital equipment and chargers would you take? 
• If you work from home, do you have work product you need to protect?  Is it digital or paper?  
• Cash, collectibles, jewelry and precious metals.  
• Financial, legal, religious records.
• When preparing your evacuation list, ask each household member what is valuable to them and include, if appropriate. 
• Your pets will be coming too. They will need food, water, bowls and carriers/ leashes.  

Print out the list and give a copy to each household member. Give a copy to adult children not living with you.  Ask their advice.  Your Estate Advisor might be another person to review your list. 

Remember to finalize the list after you have thought it over, received input. 

  

Next, Set priorities now with a clear head.  What are most important items to grab quickly, if you have little notice.  Color code those.  Be certain to include important documents.  (Refer to the earlier section in On-Foot Evacuation).  Store your high priority items together if at all possible, so you don’t have to run about gathering them in the precious seconds of a quick evacuation. If they are not together most will have to be left behind. 

Next identify things you would take if you had a 10–15-minute notice.  Color code with a different color. Note location of each so they can be gathered efficiently.

If you have 20–30-minute notice you may have time to gather everything on your list if you have noted their location.  

Review this list every year as your priorities may have changed as well as the locations of items. 

Leave room for any people that need to be in your auto. 

What about essential items like medication, sanitation supplies, water, food, hygiene items, flash lights, etc.?  These are standard emergency kit items; THEY SHOULD ALREADY BE IN A KIT THAT LIVES IN THE TRUNK OR CARGO HOLD OF YOUR AUTO, OR KEPT NEAR THE DOOR as a Grab & Go bag.  Evacuation warnings would not be the time to create an emergency kit.

Dollar store thermal bags are perfect for cold food/beverages you pull from your refrigerator to supplement what you have in your emergency kit.  Grab some snacks and treats if time permits.

If you are no longer driving, you must connect with neighbors who do drive.  This must be done, pre-need. 

If you are a passenger in someone else’s auto, there may be little room for you to bring items.  So chose carefully what you can hold on your lap in a tote bag.

It is important to communicate clearly to first responders who may do a drive-by assessment.  Use the (FEMA) uniform color messaging:  a long green ribbon or scarf tied to your front doorknob or mailbox indicates you have evacuated.  Red would mean you are still there and need help.

As you exit, turn off utilities, lock windows & doors; close window coverings.  Lock any autos left behind. 

If you have more than one auto and have access to more than one driver -- load both autos with items and kits supplies.

Important Reminder:  Reliably keep at least half a tank of fuel in all family autos.  You do not want to run out of gas during evacuation or have to be in a long gas line.  I have a life experience that convinced me to drive on the top quarter of my tank always leaving me with at least ¾ of a tank full of fuel at all times. 

SHELTERING:  In a community-wide disaster, the American Red Cross is the usual provider of temporary sheltering in schools and churches; They also participate with groups like VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTER –VOAD in mass feeding. 

Do you have friends or relatives with whom you would be staying?  What if you cannot return to your home?  Where would you stay? Has this been discussed/agreed upon?

It does not take a huge wildfire to threaten your safety. A home fire is the single most common disaster in our country. In such a case you will escape with your life and little or nothing else. Do you have an escape plan?  Have you considered having important documents and valuables in a location other than your home?  

BTW, if you get a chance to learn how to use a fire extinguisher, take that opportunity.  Some have learned by going to a fire station. I learned at a Prepare Fair. That know-how prevented a stove-top grease fire from quickly getting out of hand in my kitchen.