Emergency Evacuations: Get Out Fast When it Matters Most! (Survival Mom's No Worries Guides Book 1)

by Lisa Bedford

One of the most important concepts when it comes to survival is having options. The more, the better. When you plan your evacuation route (where to go and how to get there) having multiple options for both will make the actual process less stressful.

  In our neck of the woods, we have a large city about an hour south, lakes and forests to the east and northwest, and miles of suburbs to the west. Depending on the type of emergency we face, any one of those directions might be the best one to take, but if we’ve only planned one route heading north and a forest fire stands in our way, we’d have to make quick decisions on the fly, and who wants to face that additional challenge under extreme duress?

  It’s best to have planned several routes, each going in different directions. Ultimately, you may end up at the same destination. You’ve just taken the safest route to get there, under the circumstances.

  Use a very detailed road map to mark each route. I’ve been using the DeLorme atlas and appreciate its detail. As you seek out multiple evacuation routes, continue to look for possible destinations, such as state parks, campgrounds, or logging roads. A good map or atlas will also include back roads and even hiking trails to help you come up with more options than you’ll probably need.

  Route considerations

  What surrounds you in all directions?

  Take a few minutes and consider the terrain and population centers that surround you. Use a detailed map, preferably topographic, to examine the terrain about you in all four directions, north, south, east, and west. Take note of potential obstacles, such as bodies of water, bridges, flood zones, large cities, and heavily traveled routes. It’s best to be aware of those things now, before you run into an inescapable traffic jam.

  On the map, begin tracing possible evacuation routes that will likely be best, with fewest obstacles. Topographic maps show elevation, so you can avoid dangers such as flood-prone areas and bottlenecks such as canyons.

  Where will each route lead you?

  For each route that you’ve established, decide on a concrete destination, even if it's a hotel, timeshare, the home of a relative, or a campsite (bring camping gear). If you'll be taking pets, make sure your destination is pet-friendly. Don’t invest time in planning routes only to declare, “We’ll figure out where to stay when we get there!” Luck may not be on your side when you need it most.

  Additionally, identify stopping points that may come in handy or become necessary. Ideally, your route should contain at least 2 or 3 different stopping points, so you have more flexibility and can adapt your plans according to changing circumstances. These points could simply be highway rest stops.

  Include these stopping points even if your end destination is only a few hours away. If, after just 2 or 3 hours into your journey everyone, including the driver, is exhausted, you’ll be glad to have those intermittent stopping points pre-planned. If one of them is a campground or a town with a hotel, you’re better off stopping for the night and continuing to your destination in the morning. Don’t underestimate the toll stress will take on you, mentally, emotionally, and physically, and the amount of rest everyone will need.

  Circle these stopping points with a pen or Sharpie, along with the final destination at the end of each route.

  Plan appropriate routes for different scenarios

  A final consideration is which disasters are most likely in your area. List those and then determine in which direction(s) would be safest for evacuating. Add to that list possible destinations, both for short-term, less than six days, and long-term, a week or more.

  Your destination may vary, depending on what type of disaster you are facing, so spend a little time thinking through your options. In a flood scenario, you might be okay making a 20-minute drive to higher ground. For something like a hurricane, however, even going an hour down the coast is not going to cut it; you may have to drive as many as three or four hours further inland.

  Be ready for traffic nightmares

  Along with determining multiple routes, part of your evacuation planning will need to take traffic and crowd issues into consideration.

  When my family lived in Phoenix, we occasionally headed north to the cool country over holiday weekends. Everyone else seemed to have the same idea and sometimes the traffic backed up for miles. Add an overheated car or two, and you could sit there, in the heat, for an hour or more.

  Hurricane Rita in 2005, is another excellent example of a disaster within a disaster. Most of downtown Houston was complete wall-to-wall, bumper-to-bumper traffic. More fatalities occurred as a result of poor evacuation planning than from the hurricane itself!

  Be prepared to have some tough competition for gas, food, and hotel rooms if most of your city is also evacuating. Heavy traffic also means you’ll be on the road longer than anticipated and using more resources (gas, snacks, time) than you’d normally expect. Keep that in mind.

  Gasoline, in particular, may become a huge issue. Why? Most people will stop at the gas station they can see from the highway and these will become overloaded in no time. It’s even possible that law enforcement will be called in to keep order and possibly enforce the temporary rationing of gas.

  Why endure that hassle when there might be a perfectly good gas station a mere five or six blocks away with virtually no line and lower prices? GasBuddy is a free smartphone app that helps you find nearby gas stations and their current prices per gallon. This could be a life-saver for locating out of the way stations.

  If the power is out over a large area, gas station pumps won’t be operational since they rely on electricity. Even if you plan to reach a safe destination within an hour or two, it would be wise to bring along 2 or 3 filled 5-gallon gas cans to ensure that you get to where you’re going and don’t end up sleeping in your car, waiting for AAA. Just idling your car for about 15 minutes uses a quarter of a gallon of gas, so plan accordingly.

  TIP: Try to leave either very, very early in the morning or late at night. Most people won’t be ready for an evacuation at, say 4 a.m., and, at the other end of the day, a lot of people don’t like to drive at night. By getting on the road within either of these time frames, you have a good chance of enjoying empty roads, without traffic jams or stalled vehicles and of having the kids fall asleep in the car.

  Practice driving your routes

  Drive your planned routes ahead of time and scout for out-of-the-way gas stations, mini-marts, dog parks, playgrounds, and lesser known rest areas. Parks, in general, will be a better place to stop for stretching and a bathroom break. Since they will most likely be off the beaten path, the restrooms won’t be as overcrowded and nasty as highway rest areas. In an emergency, this knowledge could pay huge dividends in terms of better availability of goods and shorter lines. Be sure to mark those locations and routes on a map that you keep with your emergency kit.

  Most smartphones are equipped with a basic GPS system, but it is good to have a backup GPS system in case cell phone coverage is impacted. Keep paper maps in your car or in your emergency kit that cover the area of the entire evacuation route and areas nearby, in case you hit a detour. Some folks have road maps for each state bordering their own, in case unforeseen circumstances require them to travel further than they planned. Both AAA and Welcome Stations for tourists (especially near the state border) are great areas for free maps.

  As you head out of town, other vehicles may be part of your convoy. In that case, each vehicle and driver should be equipped with identical maps with routes, rest stops, safe houses, and final destinations clearly marked. Laminate these marked maps and they’ll last forever.

  Your getaway vehicle: not just for bank robbers!

  We've talked about the basics of emergency evacuations, what you should bring with you, and where to go, but what about actually getting to that safe place? You will not get very far if your vehicle is not kept in good condition. This is easily overlooked in the hustle and bustle of daily life, and that comes from a woman who once let her tires get so bald they were as smooth as a baby�
��s bottom!

  Starting now, treat your car to regular maintenance, even if it means making advance appointments for things like oil changes, much as you do hair and dental appointments. By taking your car in for regular oil changes and check-ups, your mechanic will be able to spot potential problems before they start. You will know that you can depend on your car when it really counts, and you will prolong the overall life of your car to boot. You can also learn how to do basic maintenance such as oil changes and checking / fixing your tire pressure at home.

  Here's what I mean by prolonging the life of your car. In 2006, a friend received a gift from her mother-in-law: a '94 Chevy station wagon. The car was already so old that her mother-in-law expected that it probably wouldn’t last for more than six months. However, my friend and her husband were very nearly desperate for transportation and took the car. Undaunted by its age and condition, they were very diligent about taking it to the mechanic at regular intervals and making minor repairs as needed. That car is still running today, in 2015! It runs very well, continues to be reliable, and nothing leaks. That station wagon is ready to hit the road on any emergency evacuation! That’s what regular maintenance and attention can do.

  Another small detail overlooked by the majority of drivers is a simple one: fuel. Many of us regularly drive on a tank of gas that is less than half full, but it's good to keep your gas tank at least half full. Urgent evacuations cannot be anticipated. You can't be sure that you won't be required to hop in your car and drive as far away as quickly as you can with no time to stop for gas on your way out of town. Make it a point to keep a close eye on your gas gauge and be willing to take just five or six minutes to fill it up when it hits the half-full mark.

  The next time your gas meter drifts dangerously close to the left of the big, red 'E,' imagine what it would feel like to be stuck on the side of the road with no gas at that very moment. Whatever and whoever you have with you will be your survival reality until help comes along. That's what emergency preparedness is all about: Being well aware of worst case scenarios. By making just the tiniest change in your habits and filling up the car when the tank is still half full, you will be able to avoid this scenario entirely.

  Following some types of emergencies, such as an earthquake or hurricane, fuel may be scarce. When Hurricane Rita hit in 2005, one Survival Mom’s father made a special trip to fill up the family cars the night before the storm was expected to make landfall. The gas station wasn't terribly busy at the time, and both cars still had a reasonable amount of gas in them, but he filled them up anyway. He also filled a 5-gallon gas can.

  Once Rita passed, power lines were down and shipment of gasoline and other goods was disrupted. Cars were lined up around the block to get gas. By then the problem was twofold: some gas stations in our town ran out of gas completely while others had gas, but no electricity to pump it into the cars. Because this dad took an extra 20 minutes to fill up his cars ahead of time, that family didn't have to worry about fuel until the crisis was resolved.

  The same principle can be applied to keeping your electronic devices charged. If you rely on a cell phone, GPS, or other electronics, having them fully charged will give you peace of mind that you will be able to rely upon your devices during those times when they are most needed. Invest in a heavy duty external battery pack and possibly a solar charger for charging those devices when the power is out or an electric outlet isn’t accessible.

  Equip your vehicle for emergencies

  In addition to keeping your gas tank full and electronics charged, keep extra supplies in the trunk of your car to be ready for everyday emergencies as well as a possible evacuation.

  Stashing containers of automotive fluids like antifreeze and oil in your vehicle is a good idea. It is also wise to keep emergency blankets or a spare 72-hour kit in your car. In this way, if you had to evacuate while you were already away from home, or if the nature of your urgent evacuation means you didn't make it out of the house with your individual emergency kits, you will still have basic provisions.

  Supplies for your Vehicle 72-Hour kit

  Blankets – I keep these rolled up tightly, secured with a zip tie, and stored underneath the back seat.

  Light sources – Headlamps are great and leave your hands free, but cheapie light sticks double as a source of entertainment for bored children. Do have a very bright LED flashlight in your vehicle, always.

  Rain ponchos

  Duct tape

  Hand and foot warmers – These should be rotated out, because they can lose efficacy after their expiration date.

  Rope

  Knife – A pocket knife is better than nothing, but you’ll be grateful if you pack something sturdier.

  Battery/solar-powered emergency radio

  Ground cover – I pack two large heavy-duty plastic tablecloths. They’re inexpensive and can also be used to cover dirty picnic tables.

  Work gloves – You’ll need them if you have to change a tire or clear away branches and rubble.

  Extra batteries for anything battery powered in your kit

  Sturdy umbrella – A hurricane is not the place for a cheap umbrella.

  Waterproof matches

  Whistle

  Water purification tablets

  Small portable water filter

  Mirror for signaling

  Small, sturdy shovel – Get a collapsible shovel if space is tight.

  Two heavy duty black trash bags (not kitchen trash bags)

  Dust face masks, especially if you live in an area prone to wildfires

  Evacuation on foot

  In the midst of chaos and danger, evacuating in a vehicle is a best case scenario. It allows you to get away quickly, travel farther, and gives you many different options. However, in some cases, you may have to travel on foot, and if you have less than 3 miles or so to reach a safer area, walking might actually be quicker than driving if traffic is heavy.

  One urban emergency planner stated, “If evacuation volumes are over 5,000 persons per square mile, walking is more efficient; if volumes are less than 5,000 persons per square mile, driving is more efficient.”1

  Even though evacuation by vehicle is more likely, some thought and planning should be given to getting out on foot. Car break-downs or encountering impassable roads will require that you carry with you what you can and progress on foot.

  If your situation is not an urgent one and you have time to choose between evacuating by foot or vehicle, consider these points in your planning.

  Carry with you only the most vital supplies

  To prepare for a long walk or bicycle ride, if that is your choice, first, be familiar enough with your emergency supplies that you could sort through them in a hurry and pick out only items most vital to your survival. Many of us carry nice-to-have items, such as a small sewing kit, but in an extreme, urgent evacuation that now requires you to travel by foot, you’ll have to be picky about what you carry. Even a few small items add to the weight of a bag or pack. Remember, some items, such as tools and entertainment, can be shared amongst your group.

  You’ll need to keep your hands free

  For the purpose of a walking or bicycle evacuation, all kits should be contained in backpacks, a shoulder or messenger bag, or any other type of pack that allows you to keep your arms and hands free. You’ll need those to hold the hands of little ones, steer a bike, pull a wagon, take care of a first-aid injury, or handle a flashlight or other piece of gear.

  Plan with kids and the elderly in mind

  You may be in top physical condition, but if you have babies, young children, sickly or elderly loved ones with you, what then?

  When my kids were babies, I would occasionally don a backpack and carry them in a front baby-carrier. I never tried carrying the two for more than a couple of hours, but if this option sounds workable to you, start taking walks around the neighborhood carrying both. It’s just a situation like this that calls for your best physical condition.

  Don’t le
ave a plan this important to the very last minute when seconds count and you have no idea what to do. Running away and leaving behind someone you dearly love isn’t an option.

  Transporting kids can be as basic as using a baby carrier as mentioned, a stroller, or a bike trailer or baby bike seat.

  Some do’s for getting out on foot or bike

  DO invest in the best quality bike you can afford and buy several spare inner tubes, a portable pump, a patch kit, and small hand tools for repairs.

  DO learn how to change a bike tire and make minor bike repairs yourself. Most bike shops offer this information, and possibly classes, for free.

  DO shop around for bike trailers. There are some excellent trailers that are built for rugged wear and tear. Even if you don’t have little ones, this is a worthwhile investment if your evacuation plans include possibly going by bike.

  DO equip toddlers and young children to walk, with sturdy shoes and comfortable clothing suitable for the weather. Eventually, they’ll start to get antsy in that wagon or trailer, so they might as well be prepared to hoof it along with everyone else!

  DO spend time carrying your child for lengthy periods of time, around the house, on errands, and on walks around the neighborhood. This will help strengthen your own muscles, your back muscles, in particular, and help your child become accustomed to this very cool mode of transportation!

  DO have a baby carrier that can be worn by other members of the family. Older siblings, dad, and other relatives can all take turns.

  DO keep comfortable walking shoes, socks, and moleskin stored in your vehicle. You never know when a break-down could happen or, in spite of your best laid plans, you encounter the Mother of All Traffic Jams and have no choice but to hoof it to your destination.