Evacuation
Leaving your Home
If you are told to evacuate, it is important to stay calm, listen carefully, and follow all instructions.
If you are sure you have time, call your family contact to tell them where you are going and when you expect to arrive.
Shut off water and electricity, but leave natural gas on unless local officials advise you otherwise. Only a professional can restore gas service once it has been turned off and this could take weeks in a disaster situation.
What to Take
If you must choose quickly what to take with you, grab these things and go:
If you plan to travel by car, become familiar now with alternate travel routes that you can use to avoid congested main arteries in the event of an emergency.
Remember, it is against the law to drive on the shoulder. Shoulders are reserved for police, fire, and rescue vehicles.
Winter Survival Kit
Carry a winter survival kit in your vehicle. Suitable items include blankets, flashlight, shovel, jumper cables, road salt or kitty litter, flares or reflective triangles, local road maps, and high calorie food (granola bars and cans of juice).
Consider keeping an old cell phone and power cord in each of your cars. Even if the phone does not have a service provider, it should still be able to dial 9-1-1.
If you are told to evacuate, it is important to stay calm, listen carefully, and follow all instructions.
If you are sure you have time, call your family contact to tell them where you are going and when you expect to arrive.
Shut off water and electricity, but leave natural gas on unless local officials advise you otherwise. Only a professional can restore gas service once it has been turned off and this could take weeks in a disaster situation.
What to Take
If you must choose quickly what to take with you, grab these things and go:
- Medical supplies
- Disaster supplies - flashlight, batteries, first aid kit, radio, bottled water
- Change of clothes
- Sleeping bag, bedroll, and/or pillow for each family member
- Car and house keys
If you plan to travel by car, become familiar now with alternate travel routes that you can use to avoid congested main arteries in the event of an emergency.
Remember, it is against the law to drive on the shoulder. Shoulders are reserved for police, fire, and rescue vehicles.
Winter Survival Kit
Carry a winter survival kit in your vehicle. Suitable items include blankets, flashlight, shovel, jumper cables, road salt or kitty litter, flares or reflective triangles, local road maps, and high calorie food (granola bars and cans of juice).
Consider keeping an old cell phone and power cord in each of your cars. Even if the phone does not have a service provider, it should still be able to dial 9-1-1.