prepare-my-
Evacuation
Would your family be ready to evacuate if necessary?
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- What would you grab if you had a full day’s warning?
- What would you grab if you had 30 minutes warning?
- What if you had 10 minutes warning?
- What if you only had moments?
- Where will you go if only your home is affected?
- Where will you go if only your immediate area is affected?
- Where will you go if your area and hundreds of miles around are affected?
- How will you gather all your family members?
- Where will you gather all your family members?
- How will you communicate with local and long-distance family members?
Create Your Evacuation Checklist
Having a pre-made evacuation checklist allows you to DO without THINKING when asked to evacuate. It will help you avoid panic and overwhelm and ensure you won’t forget anything important. Here is how to create one:
First, sit down with all the adults and teenage children in your home. Create a list of everything you’d want to take with you if you had a full day’s warning to evacuate and could do so in your car. Also, include things you may need to DO. Think about what you are preparing to evacuate FOR in these situations. Will you need a tent, or will you be going to your brother’s house in the next town over? Think about items that will help you take care of your family as well as sentimental items you would not want to lose if your home were destroyed.
Now, prioritize that list according to what is most important to you. Those things that are absolutely essential to grab or do should be at the top. Print your evacuation checklist, post it near your doors, and put one in your grab and go binder.
Next, move any items that you can (pictures, hard drives, extra keys, grab and go/important documents binder, water, books, tents, 72-hour kits, etc.) near an exit to make them easier to grab quickly.
Last, practice at least once to make sure you can get through everything on your evacuation checklist as quickly as possible and so you know how to fit everything in your car. Make needed adjustments. Then practice yearly.
We did this a few years ago, and it brings such peace of mind! We actually split our evacuation checklist into two: “Moments” and “Minutes or More” because we found our priorities were different depending on the time we had.
In addition, our prioritized list is split it between my husband and me. We each just start working down our list until we have to leave.
We’ve also assumed that if we had 10 minutes notice or more we would be able to leave in our van and would likely be able to get to a friend or family member’s home within a day or two. If we only had moments, it would be on foot.
Below are our lists. I’d love to hear your plans/suggestions!
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MOMENTS
MOM:Get girls’ shoes on Get my shoes on Grab purse and cell Get to a garage with girls Get 72-hour kit on Get outside with girls |
DAD:
|
MINUTES OR MORE
MOM:My shoes on Kids’ shoes on Turn on a movie for kids IN VAN (on iPad) Jackets and winter gear in a van (if winter time) My purse, Nathan’s wallet, keys, cell phones, and chargers in a van External hard drive and camera in the van Extra flashlights (these are my favorite), solar generators, and other power out supplies in a van Quick Meals and extra snack food in the van A cooler filled with milk, cheese, fresh fruit and frozen water in the van Kids’ pillows, blankies, and stuffed animals in the van Extra clothes, diapers, and medicine in a van Toys, coloring books, games, and crayons in van |
DAD:Shoes on Shut off gas and water to the house Put 72-hour kits in the van 24 pack water bottles in a van Family pictures/journal tub in a van Kids keepsake boxes in a van Family tent in a van (also heard good things about this one, but we don’t own it) Butane Stove and quickfire stove in a van with butane and quickfire pucks Firewood in van Fishing gear in a van Additional extra blankets in a van Guitar in van Favorite books in a van |
You can create your own prioritized evacuation checklist on this form.
You can record your predetermined family meeting locations HERE.
A Few Notes
- If the house is in full flames, we wouldn’t worry about ANYTHING on the list except ourselves and our children.
- We keep our grab and go binder, camera and our (1 TB, but very small) external hard drive RIGHT by our garage door. We would walk right by them on our way out making it simple to grab them as we go.
- We keep our 72-hour kits in our garage.
- The reason for turning on a movie for the kids is to keep them out of the way/distracted while my husband and I run around like crazy people.
- We keep a pair of shoes near the garage AND front doors for all family members.
- All our power out supplies are in one upstairs hall closet making it easy to find and grab things.
- We keep one cooler, 24 pack water bottles, firewood, our family tent, fishing gear, and our butane stove, and quickfire stove in the garage.
- We keep (all day every day) an emergency crank powered radio, a first aid kit, mini 72-hour kit, extra blankets, an emergency road kit, snacks, a current and 3-4-year-old family photo (for ID purposes) and small bills (money) in our van.
- All of our family pictures are on our external hard drive, but we have some pictures of mine and my husband’s childhood that aren’t. (Remember the days of film??) Â These, along with older written journals are all in a tub in our basement.
- We also have a tub and file folder for each of our kids where we keep sentimental things for them when they get older. These are also in our basement.
- We did not list out scriptures separately as we have a copy of them on our iPads/phones.
- You can find a list of what USED to be my Grab-and-Go binder here. I’ve since started using the Prepare My Life Planner which is much better for so many reasons, but it isn’t free like the printable I provide in that post. My free folder worked for me for a long time!
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There you have it! Now, go create your family’s evacuation checklist!
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Becky is a wildlife enthusiast and pet and livestock care expert with a diploma in canine nutrition. With over a decade of experience in animal welfare, Becky lends her expertise to Simple Family Preparedness through insightful info about pets, livestock, bee keeping, and the practicalities of homesteading.
I did something similar to this years ago after I heard an interview with a woman who was evacuated because of a fire. She had just minutes to get out and one of the things she grabbed was her hairdryer… and she left behind photo albums. She had no idea why.
I’m updating my list now that my kids are slightly older AND I never thought of splitting the list between my husband and myself!
Thank you!
THanks for sharing that! I always wonder how I might actually react!
Just curious how important a guitar is into leaving due to disaster or emergency — love the organization/lists.. Do you ever “practice” for events like those?
Obviously a guitar is not essential, but it is a very sentimental item to my husband and if we had the time we would grab it.
And yes, we do “practice”…usually about every 6-9 months.
Thank you so much for all the amazing ideas and sharing your wonderful templates! I am new to the bigger picture of emergency preparedness and am still trying to pull it together. 🙂 As a mother of 3 adorable, very young boys I am afraid I would freeze up in an emergency evacuation and not know what to do. Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your evacuation plan!!! I was wondering if you would be so kind as to email me a copy of your evacuation plan in a word document format? I like things to match too, it’s the OCD in me kicking in. Huge thank you again!
I very much appreciate this post! I am a stickler about preparedness and have been telling my fiancé for months that we need to practice our evacuation routine.. Even the most prepared person can still fall victim to panic when the time comes, so I think it is so important to familiarize yourself with your evacuation plan!
I looove your idea of planning for different time sensitivities too, I hadn’t even thought of that, or about prioritizing what needs to come with us, first and foremost, if time only allows us so many minutes!
Thanks!
I’m so glad you’ve found it helpful Kelly!
Just another thought for parents of small children. Having waterproof name tags to pin on your child’s clothing before you evacuate. I can’t imagine the terror of being separated from my kids and knowing that if they were found, they would have no way of telling someone their name or personal information to help us find them again. We’ve planned on a tag with their name, DOB, our names and phone numbers and a non local relative’s name and phone number.
Great idea Kathy! Thanks!
Hi, Misty! I love this idea, and was wondering if you could possibly email me a copy of your cover sheet? Thanks in advance!
I found (and will now stalk) your blog through Pinterest. Such mixed emotions! Being prepared is critical, and provides a sense of relief… yet the fear and reality of such a time is terrifies me. BRAVO on you doing this and making it so simple for the rest of us to get it together! Can you please email the word template of the evacuation plan? Thank you so much!!!
Yes, mixed emotions is how I often feel. I try VERY hard not be motivated myself (or motivate others) out of fear, but it is tough!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this! I have things here and there for emergency situations but to have a whole binder dedicated to it? FABULOUSNESS!
After a trip to the beach this past weekend, we have decided to move there – in 5 months! While we are super excited about this, we are both very aware of the potential hurricane evacuations we could face. This binder (as well as a kit) will be done before we even get there!! I, too, would love a template of your cover page!
I’m glad it has been so helpful! I will send you teh cover page! (-:
can I please have a copy of your coverpage?
Thank you in advance
Here I am another person asking for you to email me the cover sheet? I guess you should put it on this post. Thanks!
Yes, I should….it is just a lot quicker to send out an email, so I keep telling myself I will do it soon, but I don’t get to it…we are in the middle of moving states right now so I will get to it…later!! haha. (-: But I will email it to you now!
Thanks so much! This along with other information on your site is so helpful. My husband and I always just said our plan was to get to my parents house. Now we have a way of knowing what our responsibilities are to make it there.
Here’s praying that none of this ever needs to be used! But so thankful it’s there just in case.
I truly hope that you don’t have to use it either Crystal, but the peace of mind is priceless. Glad to have you here!
THANK YOU, you’ve shared so much fabulous information! We’ve have quite a few evacuations in our ares due to fires in the last few weeks and I’m feeling overwhelmingly underprepared, as are others I’ve talked to in our area. I’m working on getting my book and lists ready, so I can share them at an upcomming Relief Society meeting. Do you mind if I share your site? Also, I’d love a copy of the cover page template since, I too, love things to match. Thank you so much, Monica
I would love if you shared the site Monica! Thank you! And I will email you a template right now. I’m sorry it took me so long. We just got back from vacation and found out we will be moving to Utah in 2 weeks. Life just doesn’t slow down! (-:
I found you on Pinterest, and I’m thrilled. I was just in Green Mountain Falls, CO during the evacuations for the Waldo Canyon Fire. While I was just a visitor and could fit everything in my suitcase, it was sobering to see my inlaws stressed about what to take with them. I would love to get a copy of your cover sheet…I am one of those that like everything to match. Thanks in advance!!!
Sorry for my slow response. I’ve been on vacation!
Yes, I will send you the cover sheet!
And, yes, the wildwires are very, very sobering!
Thank you so much for all of this great information. Being more prepared has been weighing on my mind a lot lately and this will really help me check it off of my list. Found you on Pinterest (love that site). I’m with everyone else, could you please send your cover page? Thank you for inspiring us all to be prepared!
Sorry for my slow response. I’ve been on vacation!
Yes, I will send you the cover sheet!
just wanted to mention that I am completing my evacuation notebook as I am watching the news on the Waldo canyon fire that is burning through Colorado Springs (100 miles from me). Nothing like a natural disaster to motivate me to finish what should have been done a long time ago. Thank you for posting these great PDF’s.
You are welcome Tanya! I hope all calms down for Colorado Springs soon!
make sure you make a plan for your animals too. We live on a small farm. Our plan includes put leashes on the dogs, put cats in the kennel, put rabbits in the kennel, grab bird cage (all these go in van), put brooder in the back of the truck and fill with as many poultry as we can grab, leash the goats and tie down in the back of truck, get feed from garage into truck.
Great tips Tanya! I don’t have any animals, so they aren’t on my list, but for those that do, that is very important!
And sorry for my slow response. I’ve been on vacation!
I found you through pinterest and I am so thankful I did!!! After the start of the HIgh Park Wildfire in CO it has hit pretty close to home and we have started preparing for emergencies in our own home. And thanks to your post we have some much needed help! So from one Mother to another, Thank you!!!
And yes I am with Amanda, I would love the cover sheet so I can keep the same theme…I’m one of those OCD (CDO, ha, ha!) moms. Thank you!
You are so welcome Annie! Thanks for your kind comments!
Hey Misty! This is a life saver! (literally!! 🙂 ) Thank you so much for posting all of this wonderful information! I am (at this very moment) working on my family’s very own ICE book as I’m calling it 🙂 i was wondering though if you have posted a template for the cover sheet? I would like to keep with the same color and theme for all the sheets (it’s the OCD coming out again ><) If you have one available, even just the one you have on your computer that you've used for your book, would you mind emailing me a copy? (without your personal info of course).
Thanks so much!!!
Amanda
Of course Amanda! I will email it right now!
Sorry this reply took so long, I’ve had some issues with the comments on my site the last few days.
Is this template posted somewhere on your site? If not, I would love a copy as well; working on my book currently… we live in a high hurricane area, which has recently seen quite a few tornadoes. I have a “kit” but all your info has helped immensely!!
Thanks so much for all the ideas!!
Cat
It isn’t on the site Cat. I should add it! But I will email it to you right now. (-:
Can I get a copy of the cover sheet too?
Could I also have a copy of the cover sheet? We live in CA and your prep is an outstanding resource for the totally creative me who plans things only in my head and never executes them. THANK YOU. Also, is there a place to download everything into one single download?
Will you send me a copy of the cover sheet too? Same OCD-ness here – I would like it to look the same. Thanks!
Could I got the template also? A group of us are working on getting our books together. Thank you for all of your information and hard work to help us be prepared also.
Hey Misty! Thank you so much for posting all of this wonderful information! I was wondering if you have posted a template for the cover sheet as well? If not do you think you would be able to email one to me? That would be nice to keep the same flow throughout the book 🙂 This is a wonderful thing to have on hand. Thanks for the time & effort you took to create such a lifesaving plan for emergencies! I know this will come in handy for my family.
Thanks,
Angela
*saw this on Pinterest* If I only had moments all that would matter is; grabbing photos, documents, and taking my husband’s hand and leaving. PHOTOS #1 ALWAYS! If you don’t have memories of good times and loved ones, you lose hope and sanity.
Yes VJ! We’ve got all our photos on our external hard drive and my husband does a fabulous job of keeping them all downloaded and up to date. That is the #1 reason why that hard drive is so important to us!
hey, was just reading your list. one thing we do, that might cut down on time/frenzy. I got some of those space bag things, and a rubbermaid bin, and in the bin, is 2 changes of clothes for each of the family members, blankets, canned food items, 72 hour kits, and extra prescription medications, as well as a can of formula for each of the kids on formula. the bin lives in the cargo area of my SUV. if for whatever reason the bin must be removed from the car, it is placed right next to the door, to be returned to the car ASAP. we also have an “emergency shelf” right next to the garage door, where we keep the water, camping gear, and other items we might need to cycle to keep from going bad, so it’s all in one place should anything happen. just thought it would be something to pass along 😉
Fabulous idea TJ! Our “emergency shelf” is right next to the car as well and we keep our 72 hr kits in our van, but I’d never thought about having a “extra” bin with other stuff we’d want to take if we could. Thanks for taking the time to share! I love all the ideas we get from each other here!
This is great! I used to be a flight attendant, and we had emergency checklists we would always carry in the event of an incident. They were set up in such a way that you did the most essential things first, such as informing passengers of what is happening, demostrating the brace position, showing Able Bodied Passengers how to open the doors in the event we are unable to do so, etc. right on down the list to removing curtains, strapping in and shouting commands. The idea was to get through as many items as possible in the allotted time (as dictated by the Captain) and then get to safety.
I never thought to do that in my own home! I’m going to start working on this right now! Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks for that perspective Kelley! I actually got the idea from the airlines b/c they always tell you to “secure your own mask before helping others!” (-:
Hey Misty, I recommend printing each of your lists for you and Cory on separate pages so you can each grab your list and do your separate duties. It would be hard for you and Cory to look on the same list when you’re going in separate directions. 🙂
Great point Cameron! We have a couple lists printed in various places in the house, but we should keep 2 copies at each place. Fabulous idea!
Wonderful ideas. We have grown children but we will be using these ideas soom.
Thank you Debbie. Good luck!
Just found your blog via Pinterest and am IN LOVE! I love how organized and easy to navigate your site is, and I love how you’ve simplified and organized emergency prepping for people like me! I’ve signed up for emails and can’t wait to see what you have in store. I’m diving in head first and can’t wait to be fully prepared!
Thank you Stephanie! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it and will be happy to have you back often (-:
Katie,
You are welcome. I hope it helps with your plans! Let me know if I can help in any other way, and thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for sharing your preparedness list. I've been wanting to make up an emergency supply stash and plan for my family. This will be a good reference.