essay paragraph explaining the steps in evacuation

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Five Steps to preparing an effective evacuation plan

Disaster readiness will help keep you and your family safe and secure, in this article, 1. arrange your evacuation ahead of time, 2. plan what to take, 3. create a home inventory, 4. gather important documents, 5. take the.

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In the event of a sudden, catastrophic event, you may have just minutes to gather your family and get out of your house—possibly for good. What would you take? Where would you go? Planning ahead for the worst can help minimize the impact of a tragedy and may even save lives. This five-step plan can help get you and your family on the road to safety.

Check it out for preparedness tips, handy checklists (including ones you can personalize yourself) and evacuation planning advice to cover a variety of disasters. It's a great tool to help get you and your family—including pets—organized and ready to act more quickly if an emergency strikes.

For your evacuation planning:

Don't wait until the last minute to plan your evacuation.

• Identify where you can go in the event of an evacuation. Try to have more than one option: the home of a friend or family member in another town, a hotel or a shelter. Keep the phone numbers and addresses of these locations handy.
• Map out your primary routes and backup routes to your evacuation destinations in case roads are blocked or impassable. Try to have a physical map of the area available in case GPS satellite transmissions are down or your devices run out of power. 
• Pre-arrange a designated place to meet in case your family members are separated before or during the evacuation. Make the location specific, for example, "meet at the big clock in the middle of town square" not "meet at the town square". Ask an out-of-town friend or family member to act as a contact person for your family.
• Put all evacuation plans in writing along with pertinent addresses and phone numbers and give them to each member of the family. Note that many home printer inks are NOT waterproof, so take appropriate precautions to ensure legibility.
• Listen to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio or local radio or TV stations for evacuation instructions. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. 

Many families choose to have a "go bag" ready with some of these critical items. Consider packing the following for an evacuation.

• Prescriptions and other medicines
• First aid kit
• Bottled water
• Flashlight, battery-powered radio and extra batteries
• Clothing and bedding (sleeping bags, pillows)
• Special equipment for infants or elderly or disabled family members
• "Comfort items," such as special toys for children
• Computer hard drive and laptop
• Cherished photographs
• Pet food and other items for pets (litter boxes, leashes) 

Making a home inventory and having it handy will be useful if you need to apply for disaster aid. It will also:

• Help ensure that you have purchased enough insurance to replace your personal possessions.
• Speed the insurance claims process, if necessary
• Substantiate any losses for income tax purposes.

Keep the following important documents in a safe place that you can easily access and take with you in the event of an evacuation. And while for most of these you'll need an original, it's a good idea to make digital copies and keep them with you on a thumb drive, as well: 

• Prescriptions
• Birth and marriage certificates
• Drivers license or personal identification
• Social Security cards
• Insurance policies — homeowners , auto , life and any others
• Recent tax returns
• Employment information
• Wills and deeds
• Stocks, bonds and other negotiable certificates
• Financial information such as bank, savings and retirement account numbers and recent tax returns
• Home inventory

10-minute evacuation challenge

To ensure that you and your family are fully prepared for a sudden evacuation, do a real-time test. Give yourself just 10 minutes to get your family and belongings into the car and on the road to safety. By planning ahead and practicing, you should be able to gather your family members and pets, along with the most important items they will need, calmly and efficiently, with a minimum of stress and confusion.

Next steps link: Watch two families practice a 10-minute evacuation .

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STRATEGIES FOR EVACUATION PLANNING

The COVID-19 pandemic complicates evacuation planning—an essential process for reducing human losses from disasters, such as floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and industrial accidents. In the context of the pandemic, it is necessary to modify existing emergency response plans and to plan for new, potentially resource-intensive public safety measures (e.g., physical distancing, testing).

The strategies below can be used by emergency planners to update their evacuation plans in light of COVID-19.

Addressing Community Support Needs

Planning for transportation, issuing evacuation guidance.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL GUIDANCE

SEAN   is supported by the National Science Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado Boulder, with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, substantially contributed to this guidance.

Read the guidance online at https://www.nap.edu/resource/26084/interactive.

How can SEAN help?

Are you a policy maker? Do you have a question you need answered? SEAN will consider the most pressing questions and engage the nation’s experts to focus on your challenges. Contact us at [email protected] or 202-334-3440. SEAN is a network of experts in the social, behavioral, and economic sciences poised to assist decision makers at all levels as they respond to COVID-19. The network appreciates any and all feedback on its work. Please send comments to [email protected] . 

Copyright 2021 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved

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Evacuation decision-making: How people make choices in disasters

After hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded research to investigate the broad impacts of these disasters. A year later, some of the researchers funded by awards from the agency's Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Directorate are reporting results produced to date. This is the sixth article in the series. Roxane Cohen Silver, professor of psychological science, medicine, and public health at the University of California, Irvine studies the details of why people chose to evacuate or stay put as Hurricane Irma approached .

We surveyed more than 1,600 Floridians in the 60 hours before Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida, and again four to six weeks later. Having a sample that were surveyed both before an impending disaster and after its occurrence allowed us to answer important questions about who evacuates ahead of a hurricane, who doesn't, and why.

Our initial analyses suggest that individual risk perception is the strongest predictor of who will evacuate before and during a hurricane. But it appears that some individuals' self-reports of their evacuation risk did not agree with what emergency response agencies decided were the highest risk areas. That is, preliminary analysis of perceived and actual evacuation orders suggests misinformation or misunderstanding by respondents in our sample.

Based on preliminary analysis of post-hurricane responses, almost 50 percent of those who evacuated did not live in areas that received mandatory evacuation orders. In addition, fewer than one-third of individuals who were in a mandatory evacuation zone appeared to have evaluated this information accurately. Our analysis suggests that individuals' perceptions were based on the amount of media they consumed before the hurricane, past experiences of loss from a hurricane, and other personal factors not tied to the recommendations of emergency response agencies.

In emergencies, targeted evacuations save lives. When people in evacuation zones stay put, they may place themselves and responders in danger. When people outside evacuation zones evacuate, there is a cost economically, and they may make evacuations more difficult for those in zones with the highest risk. Evacuation efforts and decision-making can be facilitated by coordinated risk communications from trusted sources (such as The National Weather Service, other government officials and broadcast meteorologists) who work together to ensure that appropriate messages are communicated, heard, and acted upon.

Our data illustrate how pre-hurricane factors predict post-hurricane responses and demonstrate how vulnerable populations of individuals who are at risk for exposure to future hurricanes are coping with these recurrent stressors.

Research areas

Emergency Preparation: What You Need to Plan for an Effective Emergency Evacuation

Emergency preparation  is the act of organizing yourself and your loved ones in preparation for disasters. Disaster can strike at any moment, but there’s no need to panic! There are numerous ways you can prepare for an inevitable emergency evacuation. We compiled an emergency evacuation checklist to guide you through an effective evacuation plan.

How to Prepare an Effective Evacuation Plan

It is highly stressful to be in the midst of an ongoing crisis. Generally, you should wait for at least half a year before making a crucial decision, such as moving after a disaster struck. There are instances when making a significant move before that time becomes unavoidable. You could be pressured to make an emergency evacuation. While these circumstances rarely happen in some areas, it is better to have an emergency preparation ready as a precaution.

It is understandable that you do not want to think the worst could happen in the event that you are forced to evacuate yo0ur home and leave most of your belongings unattended. What is even more worrying is having no idea what will happen after the crisis, whether you will still have a home to go back to, and if things will go back to the same way they used to be. To partially relieve yourself of some additional worries, familiarize yourself with this evacuation checklist.

Having preparation ready will aid you in focusing on important matters. It will help you endure the burden of leaving most of your belongings behind. Keep these tips in mind before, during, and even after an emergency.

Before disaster strikes

It is best to start your emergency preparation before disaster strikes. So when the time comes, you are well prepared. Here are some instructions you should follow:

Make your home well-prepared for regular emergencies

Keeping your house clean and orderly will definitely make it easier to maintain order when an emergency occurs. Gather sufficient information about the area you are in so you will be well informed of the different possibilities and disasters that might affect you. Are you located in a known flood zone? Are earthquakes considered a common occurrence? Each catastrophe has a certain emergency preparation protocol. Here are some things to mull over when it comes to home protection:

Things you can prepare in advance:

• Get rid of dead or sick trees around your property.
• Have sandbags ready if you are situated in a flood zone.
• Keep your roof well maintained. Have it replaced every 10 to 20 years if possible.
• Have hurricane-grade windows and shutters installed.
• Prepare an effective evacuation plan in case a fire breaks out or a hurricane strikes. Make sure you know all possible routes you can take to escape. Knowing the ways is of extreme importance if you have children.

Know how to operate an emergency alert system

Sufficient know-how is an essential component of surviving an emergency. Familiarize yourself with local broadcast updates for calamities like hurricanes, tornadoes, and fires.

Most mobile services offer a Wireless Emergency Alert system for free. This feature will send notifications to your phone automatedly. However, this is uncertain since some old model phones or plans with small and lesser-known companies may not carry this innovation.

You may contact your provider to verify if you will be receiving these kinds of updates should there be an emergency. Ensure that you have a backup plan to keep your mobile phone charged for at least a couple of days so you can check in. You may also consider getting a hand-crank radio as an alternative.

Keep essential documents in one location

One of the most crucial things to secure is your proof of identity and other important  emergency preparation . Should you require medical help, having at least your fundamental medical history will aid in getting you the proper care you need.

Prepare a document holder that is waterproof to keep your most important documents together.

Checklist of vital documents:

• Social security card
• Passport and driver’s license
• Homeowners, car, and health insurance documents
• A written summary of your medical conditions
• Medical history with information of any allergies

Emergency preparation kit

Assessing which items to bring with you is not something you should be wasting your time on in the midst of an evacuation. Take the time to prepare an emergency preparation kit.

Use as many clear plastic bags to hold the important things you want to include in your emergency preparation kit and put a label on them. This way, should an emergency occur, you can simply grab the kit and go. Knowing you have all the essentials with you will bring a bit of comfort to you in these troubling times.

If food is included in your kit, ensure that the containers will remain somewhere dry and cool. Remember to revisit your kit at least once a year to make sure nothing is past its expiration date and that your inventory is updated according to your family’s needs.

Checklist of essentials:

• First aid kit
• Canned food
• At least three gallons of water for each person
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Wet wipes and extra plastic bags
• Medications, medical supplies

During a disaster

Here’s a list of helpful things to do during a disaster:

Evacuate immediately

Some catastrophes will give you ample time to react and decide your next steps. In case of a hurricane or a forest fire slowly nearing, you will have the opportunity to prepare some precautions. If your home is caught on fire, however, your course of action should be immediate. Do not try to save any of your belongings; you will only be putting your life in danger. Prepare a fire escape plan and once you are in the clear, call the emergency hotline.

Move any valuables first in case of flood

In case of flood, ensure that expensive furniture and electronics are off the ground. If you have a second or higher floor, move all your valuables up there temporarily. Never attempt to turn off power at the breaker box if you must stand in water to do so.

Temporarily shut down all utilities

Doing so will help avoid additional flooding from pipes breaking or fires from electrical issues and gas leaks. Once you return home, ensure that there is no gas leak before you light a candle.

The aftermath of a disaster

An unforeseen calamity can have long-term financial and emotional effects. These tips will help minimize the financial blow after a disaster:

Call your insurance company

Contact your insurance company and find out the extent of their coverage. Do broad research on organizations and associations that can provide aid and temporary accommodation.

Curb your expenses

Cancel all your subscriptions temporarily until you get back on your feet. Avoid spending money as much as possible.

Call your mortgage company

If you own your home, contact your lender and see if you can process a forbearance agreement. This contract will enable you to make partial to no payment on your mortgage for a set period of time. The accumulated difference will be made up for once you can start paying regular mortgage payments again.

Move somewhere more affordable

Think about moving somewhere more affordable to cut back on your monthly expenses and save more money if you are renting. You can also move in with a friend or get a roommate as an option.

Use a storage facility

You may use a storage facility to temporarily house your belongings while trying to get back on your feet. If you need to move to a smaller house temporarily, you can sell some of the things you no longer need and rent a small storage unit to store your stuff in until you are ready to move back to a bigger abode.

What are the 5 Ps of evacuation?

Include supplies to help keep you and your family healthy, such as face coverings, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes. Start with the five P’s; people and pet supplies, prescriptions, papers, personal needs, and priceless items.

What makes an emergency evacuation plan effective?

• Evacuate or shelter. Assess the emergency exit carefully and figure out if you need to evacuate or take shelter accordingly.
• Clearly mapped out evacuation procedures.
• Access to emergency preparation kit.

Where should people go in case of an emergency?

Here are some examples of locations to consider in case of an emergency:

• School and daycare
• Places of worship
• Sports arenas and playing fields
• Entertainment locations such as theatres
• Shopping areas such as malls and retail centers
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4.4 Evacuation

Evacuation planning has become a critical component of disaster management operations in recent years. Each year, millions of people around the world are affected by evacuation orders due to the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters (Figure 4.4), along with periodic industrial/technological incidents and malevolent/terrorist activities.

These disasters teach us the importance of planning, coordinating, and executing evacuations as a primary protective action regardless of the threat or hazard. The challenge is to quickly identify the appropriate level of action necessary to address a variety of factors, including the community’s demographics, infrastructure, resources and authorities.

The primary authority and responsibility for evacuation typically begins with the local government working in conjunction with the community. Prior to an incident, jurisdictional governments should engage with public and private sector partners, nongovernmental organizations, faith-based organizations, and individual community members so there is an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of each partner along with the authorities and limitations that exist.

Evacuation orders are issued by the jurisdictional authority. This authority will also manage traffic flow, identify evacuation routes, and consider any necessary respite site needs if food, water, and fuel availability is limited.

Clear and concise messaging, in multiple accessible formats, is critical in order to actively engage citizens in the event of a voluntary or mandatory evacuation. This will include static and dynamic signage, social media, public emergency alert systems, and other available resources. Messaging should be pre-approved by the appropriate jurisdictional authority and advise the public of necessary actions, including the specific threats or hazards impacting their community. It is critical that authorities continuously monitor social media during the event to identify any contradictory statements and attempt to correct inaccurate accounts of the situation.

Public awareness of the hazard, of evacuation procedures, and especially of alerting methods contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of an evacuation. In addition, community familiarity with alerting methods is closely related to evacuation efficiency. Cooperation from evacuees contributes to safe, efficient, and effective evacuations.  1

A well-developed training and exercise program is also a critical element of overall readiness and preparedness for mass evacuations. Training ensures personnel are prepared for their roles. Exercises test the capabilities and resources of the agencies, and when a number of cooperating agencies and jurisdictions are included, they also test and strengthen working relationships. Training and exercises to test and improve plans for an evacuation from a catastrophic incident are especially important because of the large number of agencies and jurisdictions involved in such an evacuation.  2

• 1. Identification and Analysis of Factors Affecting Emergency Evacuations: Main Report (NUREG/CR-6864, AND2004-5901, Volume 1) https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/contract/cr6864/v1/index.html
• 2. U.S. Department of Transportation, Report to Congress on Catastrophic Hurricane Evacuation Plan Evaluation https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/hurricanevacuation/index.htm

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How to Prepare for Hurricane Season and Evacuations

Here are some tips for getting ready: Make a plan, make digital copies of important documents and prepare an emergency kit.

By Livia Albeck-Ripka and Adeel Hassan

This article was originally published in 2021 and has been updated.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has forecast above-normal hurricane activity in the 2023 Atlantic season, with as many as 21 named storms before the season officially ends on Nov. 30, and by mid-September there had already been 14, several of them quite powerful.

The likelihood of major hurricanes forming has risen because of climate change, according to a consensus of climate scientists. The warming planet allows the atmosphere to hold more moisture, which means that a storm can produce more rainfall, and warmer ocean water temperatures provide more energy for storms to draw upon.

Experts caution that a storm does not need to be a major hurricane to cause damage, and that extreme flooding and winds can occur hundreds of miles inland, not just on the coastline.

When a hurricane is approaching and the authorities issue an evacuation order, you may not have much time to protect your home and your family from the storm — and from flooding — before you must head for safer ground.

Here’s what you can do to get ready ahead of time.

Before the Storm

Make a family plan..

Prepare an emergency kit, including cash, prescription medicines and three days’ worth of food and water (for people and pets). If your house floods and you can’t return immediately, these will be is essential. Be sure to consider provisions for those with special needs, like older people. If you need help coming up with a list, this one from Wirecutter , a New York Times company, has suggestions for any household.

If you live in a coastal area, it’s important to be familiar with community evacuation plans, evacuation zones and evacuation routes.

Plan a meeting spot for your family. Deanna Frazier, a spokeswoman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said that forgetting to do that was one of the most common mistakes when Hurricane Harvey landed as a Category 4 storm in Texas in 2017.

“Cellphones may not work, or you may not have your cellphone with you,” she said. “There were a lot of people who were looking for loved ones and disconnected from them. Those are the kinds of things that you need to think about.”

Listen to local news reports for the most up-to-date information on how to prepare and when to evacuate. “The biggest issue I see people running into is that they just wait too long,” said Alberto Moscoso, a former communications director for the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “When it comes to hurricane and storm preparation, now is always the right time.”

Protect your documents and valuables.

Photograph or scan important documents like driver’s licenses, Social Security cards, passports, prescriptions, tax statements and other legal papers. Upload the images online for safekeeping. Store physical documents in a fireproof, watertight container, or take them with you. FEMA’s Emergency Financial First Aid Kit has a checklist of documents that you would be likely to need to claim insurance and other benefits.

When the time comes to evacuate, take irreplaceable keepsakes with you, if possible. Otherwise, move belongings with sentimental or monetary value upstairs or to high shelves where floodwaters might not reach them.

It’s common for people to underestimate where and how high the water will go.

“Anywhere it rains, it can flood,” Mr. Acree said.

[What do storm categories mean? Here’s what you need to know. ]

If possible, make sure that your home has flood insurance. Most homeowners’ policies do not cover flood damage, and flood insurance policies generally take 30 days to become effective.

As the storm approaches

Bottle water and freeze food..

The Food and Drug Administration recommends switching your refrigerator and freezer to the coldest possible settings and moving fridge items to the freezer so they will stay cold longer if the power goes out. A tightly packed freezer can stay cold for as long as 48 hours without power. If you can’t fit everything into the freezer, add containers of ice to the fridge.

Keep thermometers in the fridge and freezer, so you can check the temperature when you return. Anything that has remained at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or colder is safe to eat.

Move pantry items and a supply of bottled water to high, secure shelves, so they will be safer from floodwaters.

Take stock of household chemicals.

Look for any potentially dangerous products, like bleach, ammonia or drain cleaners. Check in the garage as well as the house. Make sure all their lids are tightly closed, and move these items to high shelves, as far from potential flooding as possible. Chemicals that mix into floodwaters can be hazardous to your health and may cause fires and explosions.

Think about power.

Move electronics, small appliances, portable heating systems and other things with wires to upper levels and high shelves — as far away from water as possible. If you have a portable generator, keep it away from moisture. (Never use it indoors, or plug it into a wall outlet.)

Clear the yard and secure the windows.

Trim and safely dispose of tree branches that might break and fall during hurricane winds, or become projectiles if left on the ground. Secure rain gutters and downspouts, and clear any clogged areas that might stop water from draining from your property. Move bikes, trash cans, outdoor furniture, grills, tanks and building materials to a secure place, either indoors or tied down, as these can fly in high winds. Board up your windows to prevent leaks and broken glass, and, where necessary, secure doors with storm shutters.

After the Storm

Avoid driving or walking through floodwaters, which can be hazardous in many different ways: They could be electrically charged from downed or buried power lines; they could conceal debris like glass, dead animals or even poisonous snakes; they could be contaminated with sewage or hazardous chemicals. Just six inches of moving water can knock a person down; a foot of fast-moving water can destabilize a vehicle.

Don’t enter your house until officials say it is safe to do so. To avoid electrical hazards from flooding, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker panel, or ask for professional help. Proceed inside with caution — don’t touch electrical equipment, and use a flashlight to light your way rather than anything flammable.

When in doubt, throw it out.

Only bottled water, canned and well-packaged foods may be safe to consume after a flood. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises throwing away any food that may have come in contact with water. If cans get wet, remove their labels and wash the cans in a bleach solution before opening them.

Waterborne diseases are also a risk . Drink fresh bottled water if it is available; if it is not, boil water according to C.D.C. guidelines before drinking it.

Clean up properly.

Hazardous chemicals, mold, asbestos and lead paint are some of the potential dangers in the aftermath of a flood — so follow official recommendations and wear gloves, eye protection and face masks when on any flood-damaged property. Before beginning to clean up and remove debris, take photographs of your home its general condition and any damage and contact your insurance company; after that, air the place out and remove any water-damaged items. This is the most important step in minimizing the growth of mold, which can cause asthma attacks, eye and skin irritation and allergic reactions.

Livia Albeck-Ripka is a reporter for The Times based in California. She was previously a reporter in the Australia bureau. More about Livia Albeck-Ripka

Adeel Hassan is a reporter and editor on the National Desk. He is a founding member of Race/Related , and much of his work focuses on identity and discrimination. He started the Morning Briefing for NYT Now and was its inaugural writer. He also served as an editor on the International Desk.  More about Adeel Hassan

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How to Prepare Your Family for an Emergency Evacuation

Last Updated: May 6, 2021

This article was co-authored by Direct Relief . Direct Relief is an award-winning humanitarian aid organization, active in all 50 states and more than 80 countries. They focus on helping people affected by emergencies and natural disasters. Direct Relief has been highly rated by Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and the Center for High Impact Philanthropy at University of Pennsylvania, for their effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency. This article has been viewed 23,752 times.

Evacuations are more common than many people realize. Hundreds of times each year, transportation and industrial accidents release harmful substances, forcing thousands of people to leave their homes. Fires and floods cause evacuations even more frequently. Almost every year, people along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts evacuate in the face of approaching hurricanes.

The amount of time you have to leave will depend on the hazard. If the event is a weather condition, such as a hurricane that can be monitored, you might have a day or two to get ready. However, many disasters allow no time for people to gather even the most basic necessities, which is why planning ahead is essential.

Before the Evacuation

• Know the following about your children's school emergency plans: how the school will communicate during a crisis; if the school has adequate food, water, and other basic supplies; if the school is prepared to shelter-in-place if need be and where they plan to go if they must get away.

• Create a network of neighbors, relatives, friends, and coworkers to aid you in an emergency. Discuss your needs and make sure everyone knows how to operate necessary equipment.
• If you live in an apartment building, ask the management to mark accessible exits clearly and to make arrangements to help you leave the building.
• Keep specialized items ready, including extra wheelchair batteries, oxygen, catheters, medication, food for service animals, and any other items you might need.
• Be sure to make provisions for medications that require refrigeration and keep a list of the type and model numbers of the medical devices anyone requires.

Day of Evacuation

• In order to acquire refills of important medication, identify a pharmacy in the area where you are evacuating and confirm that it's open.

• Because there are different gas shut-off procedures for different gas meter configurations, contact your local gas company for guidance on preparation and response regarding gas appliances and gas service to your home.
• Water becomes a vital resource during a disaster, so it is important to locate the cut-off valve outside the house and turn it off.
• Electrical sparks can ignite natural gas leaks, so make sure everyone knows how to shut off the electricity.

Expert Q&A

• Take a first aid and CPR class. Local American Red Cross chapters can provide information about this type of training. Official certification by the American Red Cross provides, under the “good Samaritan” law, protection for those giving first aid. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Be sure everyone knows how to use a fire extinguisher(s) and where it is kept. You should have, at a minimum, an ABC type. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Store important documents such as insurance policies, deeds, property records, and other important papers in a safe place, such as a safety deposit box away from your home. Make copies of important documents for your disaster supplies kit. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Be alert for washed-out roads and bridges, and do not drive into flooded areas. Thanks Helpful 16 Not Helpful 1
• Stay away from downed power lines. Thanks Helpful 14 Not Helpful 2
• If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get everyone out quickly. Turn off the gas, using the outside main valve if you can, and call the gas company from a neighbor's home. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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No matter where in the world you live—whatever the climate or region may be—the place where you pitch your tent is most likely susceptible to at least one kind of natural disaster. Between earthquakes and hurricanes, tornadoes and volcanoes, Mother Nature wields a wrathful arsenal capable of threatening the lives of everyone across the country.

The safety of you and your family is paramount. You should be ready to evacuate your family to safer ground should one of nature’s mercenaries loom on the horizon. Given the speed and unpredictability of natural disaster scenarios, prompt and speedy evacuation may be a necessity—and preparedness will be your be your best bet at keeping everyone out of harm’s way. Use these disaster survival tips to make a family emergency plan and protect you and your loved ones’ safety.

What’s in a Family Emergency Plan?

Evacuation route, transportation, protect your home, evacuating children.

• Disaster Preparedness for Elders and Disabled Persons

Pet Evacuation Plan

Meeting locations, evacuation drills, emergency contact, 3. shelter plan, 4. build an emergency kit, 5. important papers to keep in case of emergency, 6. staying informed.

A family emergency plan is a terrific way to ready your family for worst-case scenarios. You can make a step-by-step guide as thorough or basic as you’d like, but having a rehearsed family emergency plan on hand could save minutes during times when lives depend on every second. At its minimum, a family emergency plan is an action agenda that outlines the preparations, communications, and procedures of your family during a disaster scenario.

A family emergency plan may help ensure that:

• Your family quickly escapes from harm's way
• Your family is prepared to evacuate with the necessary belongings and supplies
• Your family knows where to regroup should they be separated

You should write down your family emergency plan, commit it to memory, educate all family members, and practice it well. If you need help creating a well-thought-out, play-by-play manual for when a near-disaster is at hand, we can help! Just follow the instructions below.

1. Written Evacuation Plan

Evacuation is a stressful scenario that most people hope they’re never forced to do. No one wants to abandon their home to chance, knowing their life’s worth of belongings and mementos may be at risk of theft or destruction. Some homeowners wait until the last possible minute to evacuate, hoping that the emergency will dissipate before it reaches their property.

That’s a risky and often fatal strategy. Certain disaster situations—like storms, floods, and wildfires—are incredibly unpredictable, and can change in direction and severity at any moment; one hour your home is safe, the next hour it’s sitting right in the path of destruction. If you choose not to evacuate because you believe in your ability to weather the storm, or don’t think you’re in danger of the natural disaster at hand, you could end up being the people you see air rescued on TV… or worse. Many fatalities occur because residents ignore advice and wait too long to evacuate. You should never place you and your family at risk for the sake of material items.

Your family emergency plan should contain instructions on what to do if you’re ordered to evacuate, streamlining the steps required to get out the door as soon as possible. When establishing evacuation protocols, you should consider which natural disaster threat your family is most likely to face and how quickly you’ll need to respond. For example, if you’re watching a hurricane expected to hit shore in a couple days, you’ll have more time to pack up your belonging before standing in the way of destruction; however, in the event that a spontaneous wildfire jumps a freeway and threatens your home, you might only receive a two-minute warning before it’s too late, in which case a well-prepared evacuation plan will become incredibly useful.

You should also take into consideration the ages of your family members and your family’s special and medical needs, as well as the following factors:

The last thing you should be doing is searching for GPS instructions during an evacuation; know which roads take you to safety ahead of time. Your route should avoid areas that might be made dangerous by the hazards at hand. For example, if you live in an area that’s at risk of flooding, don’t plan on taking any roads that travel near floodplains, rivers, or other bodies of water.

Of course, you can’t always predict where emergency situations will occur, or what evacuation routes will be inhibited. Plan multiple evacuation routes so that if one is cut off, you’ll have a second or third option, and if you’re in a situation where you know you might need to evacuate, stay up-to-date on road closures.

Remember, your evacuation route should ultimately take you to a safe shelter that’s removed from the disaster area.

What if you don’t have access to a vehicle? Or what if a road-damaging event occurs that renders driving impossible?

Even if you have a vehicle, you should plan an evacuation route that includes a backup means of transportation.

Plan an evacuation route that utilizes an alternative mode of transit:

• Identify alternative modes of transit and their proximity to your home
• Know where there's a local bus station or train station within walking distance
• Consult your local government website to find evacuation services for citizens without vehicles
• Make arrangements with family or friends that have access to a vehicle

If you suspect that evacuation is imminent, be sure to unplug all appliances and electrical equipment, lock your windows and doors, and consider shutting off your gas. If there’s a risk of flooding, move furniture and appliances to a higher floor. Your family emergency plan might designate these tasks to different family members so they’ll get finished faster.

If you’ve received a notice to evacuate immediately, don’t waste any time rearranging your home! Leave as soon as possible. Protecting your family is far more important than protecting personal items.

Children may be naturally frightened during an evacuation, but it’s important to remember that children emulate the behavior of their parents. If adults appear overly frightened and in a state of panic, then children are more likely to be frightened and panicked, too. If adults stay calm and collected, it’s more likely the children will also be calm.

If you have a child, try to explain the reality of the situation with an honest but hopeful point of view. If the child has a preferred stuffed animal, toy, or blanket, be sure to bring it during the evacuation so that the child may have it for comfort. Talking about your family emergency plan and possible evacuation protocols in advance will help keep everyone calm should you ever need to put the plan into action.

Disaster Preparedness Guide for Elders and Disabled Persons

In an evacuation, you might be without standard food, shelter, and supplies. For elderly and disabled persons, make sure you bring the necessary materials such as:

• Wheelchairs and walkers
• Shower chair/tub-transfer equipment
• Ample supply of backup power for electrical devices
• Medicine/medical supplies

Some family members might need handicap-accessible transportation, so be sure to make proper transportation arrangements for them, if necessary.

If your elderly or disabled loved ones live elsewhere and you need to reach them in an emergency, be aware that the emergency block access to their home or your ability to contact them. In the event those persons cannot be reached, make sure that they’re aware of evacuation routes and transportation services, and that they have an emergency kit in their home.

Don’t forget about your furry friends! When you evacuate, make sure you bring:

• Food and water for your pet
• Shelter for your pet such as a cage or kennel. If your pet typically sleeps in a larger piece of pet furniture, bring comfortable blankets or towels for them to sleep on, instead.

Keep in mind that many emergency shelters don’t allow pets, so you should make a list of nearby shelters that allow you to bring domestic animals.

What if an emergency breaks out and your family members are separated in different parts of town? In case of separation, you should plan on a pre-arranged meeting place for your family to regroup. This meeting place should be easy to find, easy to remember, and far removed from the disaster area. Cell phone towers will most likely be down during a natural disaster, so having this spot pre-arranged might be the only way you can ensure your clan regroups.

Practice evacuation scenarios that require you to collect materials, use evacuation routes, and gather at pre-determined shelters or meeting places. If a real emergency happens, your family will be well-trained on what to do and where to go!

2. Emergency Contact Plan

Another important part of your family emergency plan is your emergency contact plan . During a natural disaster, it might be difficult to contact family members in your immediate area because of busy phone lines or dropped cell towers, so you’ll want to establish a reliable form of communications (pro tip: consider investing in some hand-held radios).

If local phone lines are busy, you could try calling people who live further away. Long distance emergency contacts can be a helpful way to relay information to immediate family members that you can’t reach due to busy, local phone lines.

Choose two to three people who live further away and make sure that everyone in your family has those phone numbers written down or saved in their phone in case you can’t contact each other.

If you evacuate your home, you’ll need to find new shelter in a safe area. During emergencies that cover a widespread area—like hurricanes and wildfires—you should seek shelter many miles away from the disaster area, in a different city or different county.

Make lists of both local shelters and lodging further away that you could evacuate to. If you have friends or extended relatives who live not too far, you might want to ask them if you could possibly stay with them if you had to evacuate.

An emergency kit is one of the most important items to have ready in an emergency. An emergency kit includes a huge span of different survival gear , or necessary resources for any situation where you’ve lost your shelter, access to food, water, equipment, and/or electricity. The best emergency kits have all these supplies organized within an easily-transportable device—typically a pre-packed survival backpack —that’s ready to bounce with you out the door the moment it’s called upon.

Ready-to-go survival backpacks will spare you valuable time, and you can stock them in your home (and in each of your family member’s vehicles, if you want to be extra-safe).

Should an emergency situation occur, you’ll want to have all vital documents stored in a single, waterproof container. These papers include:

• Social Security card
• Birth certificate
• Any other official documents that are difficult to replace

It might be worth your while to scan all of these documents and store your digital records on a cloud-based server so you know that you can access them in case that they’re damaged during a disaster.

In an emergency situation, it’s important to be aware of any breaking developments that could affect you and your family. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a public warning system that may be used by local governments to issue important emergency information to radios and cell phones. These alerts are not affected by network congestion and are incredibly useful for staying up-to-date with the situation at hand.

Some information they can provide includes:

• Impending hazards
• Location of the nearest emergency shelter
• Evacuation routes that are unsafe
• Evacuation routes that are safe

Another great resource is NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR). This is a network of radio stations that broadcast continuous information and updates from the National Weather Service.

It’s important to educate all members of your family about these information sources, including how to access them. Spend time with your family learning how to tune in to various alert broadcasts in case you’re not there when the need for information becomes critical.

Remember to write out your family emergency plan in full. You should print out copies to give to each of your family members and you should have one in an easy-to-find location at home; keeping it somewhere in plain sight might help each of your family members memorize each step.

You’ll never be able to predict all of the situations that could arise in an emergency, but a strong family emergency plan will reduce the dangers that come from panic, indecisiveness, and uncertainty.

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Essay on landslides: definition, action steps and control (with statistics).

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Essay on Landslides: Definition, Action Steps and Control!

A landslide is the movement of rock and soil down a slope. Landslides range in size from a single boulder in a rock fall to a debris ava­lanche, which may have huge volumes of rock and soil capable of covering many kilometers.

Heavy rain, floods, or earthquake shaking can cause landslides. They can also be caused or made worse by human activity – such as removal of trees and plants, steep roadside cuttings or leaking water pipes.

Action Steps:

1. Find out if there have been landslides in your area and where they might happen again.

2. Check for signs that the ground might be moving.

i. Sticking doors and windows, and gaps where frames are not putting properly.

ii. Decks and verandas tilting or moving away from the main house.

iii. New cracks or strange bulges in the ground, roads or footpaths.

iv. Leaning trees, retaining walls, or fences.

v. Springs, seeps, or waterlogged ground in areas that are not usually wet.

3. Have an emergency- evacuation plan and a kit of emergency supplies for your family.

What should you do if you think a landslide is about to happen:

1. Evacuate and take your kit of emergency supplies and important documents.

2. Contact your local fire, police, or civil defense emergency management of­ficer.

3. Warn neighbors who might be affected.

4. Do not return until the site has been inspected.

Emergency Management in Case of any Disaster

You can be ready before a disaster happens. Start with these three steps:

1. Make up a Kit of Survival Supplies:

You probably already have most of the things you need. You can put them all together into a bag ready to take with you if you need to evacuate. Or, if you prefer to keep them in the house for everyday use, make sure you know where to find them when an emergency occurs.

You should have:

i. Food – Canned or dried food. Enough for three days

ii. Water – at least 9 litres per person in your household – that is 3 days’ supply.

iii. Radio and spare batteries

iv. Alternate lighting e.g. a torch and spare batteries

v. First aid kit

vi. Toilet paper and plastic bags for an emergency toilet

vii. Essential medications

viii. Baby or pet supplies

ix. Personal hygiene Items like toothbrush, soap, sanitary pads etc.

2. Make up an Emergency Plan for you and your Family

Your emergency plan should answer the following questions:

i. Where are your emergency supplies kept?

ii. Where are the escape routes if a fire happens in the house?

iii. Where are the safest places in your home to shelter in an earthquake?

iv. Where is your nearest Civil Defense Centre?

v. Where will you meet family members if an emergency happens during the day? (Will you try to go home or to some other location e.g. a relative’s house)

vi. Who has been approved to collect the children from school?

3. Learn About the Hazards in your Local Area:

See what your hazards are and what you should do to be ready for them.

The table below indicates the applications of space remote sensing in disaster management.

Table: Applications of space remote sensing in disaster management.

Related Articles:

• Paragraph on Landslides in India
• Issues Related to Landslides – Explained!

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