Receiving an Emergency Alert to Evacuate Your Home, What Do You Take?

11/23/2020 (Permalink)

Grab the dog and put them into the car. If you plan to take your pets right before you leave, they might hide or struggle, slowing down your escape.

It's the end of October as I write this blog.  My week started with an emergency alert on my device Monday late afternoon.  It read, "Per San Bernardino County Sheriff Dept. - Fire in the Chino Hills State Park.  Evacuation Warning in effect...

Potential threat to life and/or property…".  Needless to say, my heart sank, and a bit of a rush and panic came over me. I gathered my thoughts and since I already had a to-go-bag packed, I felt a little bit at ease.  My son and I had previously created an emergency evacuation plan of what to take, who to contact, and where to go.  We used Ready.gov's printable card and had those already in our wallet containing important information.  We reviewed our plan and confirmed what each of us were responsible for collecting.  We kept everything ready to go by the front door, both cars ready to pull forward with full tank of gas!  We went to bed feeling confident we were ready…until we received Emergency Evacuation Alert level 2.  This one, received at 1am in the morning read, " Due to wildfire burning near LA, Orange, and San Bernardino County borders, an EVACUATION WARNING has been issued in the area south of Diamond Bar.  Those in the area should Get Set for a potential evacuation by gathering loved ones supplies.  Monitor local news, our social media channels and LA County.gov."  I jumped up in a panic, made sure my son was aware of the alert and reviewed updates of the fire. 

How did we know what to plan for or what to take?  Ready.gov was the best tool.  Below are the steps we took, and the plan we created based on our families needs. 

Step 1: Put a plan together by discussing the questions below with your family, friends or household to start your emergency plan.

1. How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
2. What is my shelter plan?
3. What is my evacuation route?
4. What is my family/household communication plan?
5. Do I need to update my emergency preparedness kit?
6. Check with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and update my emergency plans due to Coronavirus.
• Get masks (for everyone over 2 years old), disinfectants, and check my sheltering plan.

Step 2:  Consider specific needs in your household.

As you prepare your plan tailor your plans and supplies to your specific daily living needs and responsibilities. Discuss your needs and responsibilities and how people in the network can assist each other with communication, care of children, business, pets or specific needs like operating medical equipment. Create your own personal network for specific areas where you need assistance. Keep in mind some these factors when developing your plan:

• Different ages of members within your household
• Responsibilities for assisting others
• Locations frequented
• Dietary needs
• Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment
• Disabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipment
• Languages spoken
• Cultural and religious considerations
• Pets or service animals
• Households with school-aged children

Step 3: Fill out a Family Emergency Plan

Download and fill out a family emergency plan or use it as a guide to create your own.

• Emergency Plan for Parents (PDF)

Step 4: Practice your plan with your family/household

Associated Content

• Family Emergency Communication Guide (PDF)
• Family Communication Plan Fillable Card (PDF)
• Emergency Plan for Families or (PDF)
• Emergency Plan for Kids or (PDF)
• Emergency Plan for Commuters (PDF)
• Pet Owners (PDF)
• Family Emergency Communication Planning Document (PDF)
• Family Emergency Communication Plan Wallet Cards (PDF)
• Know Your Alerts and Warnings (PDF)
• Protect Critical Documents and Valuables (PDF)
• Document and Insure Your Property (PDF)
• Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (PDF)
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Disaster Checklist (PDF)
• Make a Plan (Video)

This was also great article that I followed to some degree:

What to Take When Evacuating

From these experiences, I’ve learned:

If you don’t have a mental list already thought out, in an emergency you may forget what’s important and grab stuff that’s not useful or is easily replaced.

The more you mentally rehearse the actions you’d take in a crisis, the more likely you’ll follow your plan in an actual emergency.

My emergency list begins with:

1. Grab the dog and put them into the car. (If you plan to take your pets right before you leave, they might hide or struggle, slowing down your escape. If you’re not leaving soon, keep them in the bathroom nearest the door.)
2. My purse. (It’s big and can hold a lot of stuff.)
3. My laptop. (Fits in my purse.)
4. My to-go bag containing clothes and toiletries. (I always keep one packed and ready.)

I have included more on my list, these were the first five items.

Every time there’s a fire in California, practice running through a scenario where you have to grab what’s on your list and race out the door. 

You can also make a physical list — on paper or a digital one on your phone or tablet for easy access and mobility. Make a copy for each member of the family, designating which items they are in charge of.

PREPARE FOR AN EMERGENCY BEFORE THERE’S A CRISIS

In California, we’re supposed to have earthquake supplies on hand in case our state experiences “the big one.”  I also started keeping an emergency stash in the trunk of my car. If you open my trunk, you’ll find:

Copies of important paperwork.

Pet food, dog leash, other pet supplies,

A pair of tennis shoes and sweats, as well as a change of clothing and shoes for work.

Basic toiletries.

First Aid Kit.

Flashlight.

Radio.

Snacks and water.

Blanket, towel, and small pillow.

A roll of toilet paper.

Extra laptop charger. (An extra phone charger stays in my purse.)

It’s important to keep visual documentation of your home and valuables for insurance purposes. Video your whole house and also open drawers and closets. Keep this record updated. Make sure you store a copy on a cloud service and multiple memory cards/external drives.

WHEN IN EVACUATION LEVEL TWO, DON’T DELAY PREPARING

At the second level of an evacuation request, there’s a good probability of the need to evacuate. Level three is an evacuation request — be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Level four is immediate evacuation.

Load the car or cars and position them in the driveway headed out. Make sure the gas tank is full. If you never have to leave, then all you’ll have to do is unload the car and unpack. Yes, it’s a tedious job. But better than having to grab and go.

Stay informed through media about the progress of the fire and where to find safe evacuation routes. Watch for emergency personnel who may come by your home or be at certain checkpoints to give instructions regarding the evacuation.

Consider leaving at evacuation level two to avoid congested roads.

THINK OF PACKING IN TWO BATCHES

The first batch will cover the time you’ll stay at a shelter/hotel/with friends and relatives. The second batch is to pack as if you won’t have a home to return to.

BATCH ONE

Addresses staying in shelters. See her article for details.  You can adapt the information to staying in hotels or with friends/family.)

BATCH TWO — PACKING AS IF YOU WON’T RETURN

Take important stuff you can’t live without, treasure, or will need.

Computers. (If you have a desktop, store information on a cloud or download what you need on flash drives.)

Valuables.

Jewelry.

Special photos.

Sentimental items.

Clothes for longer term, such as for work or winter coats.

Bring additional paperwork:

Legal documents — birth certificates, passport, social security cards, will, vehicle registration and ownership papers, marriage/divorce papers.

Financial records — bank account information, credit and debit cards, government benefits, retirement and investment account statements, tax returns, year-to-date receipts if you itemize expenses on your tax returns.

I encourage all households to sit together and create a plan.  Check out Ready.gov and the referenced article.  These are great tools to help you prepare your loved ones and ensure you have necessities and valuables in the event of an emergency.

Be safe California residents!!