Planning for an Evacuation
Earlier this week, Trident Restoration posted a blog about how important it is to have a plan in case of an emergency and to not rely on luck to get you out of a dangerous and threatening situation.
Along with the list recently provided, Trident is giving tips, tricks, resources, and ideas to help you come up with an efficient plan in case you need to evacuate your home in a hurry.
This list is broken down into three categories
- Planning before evacuation
- What to do during an evacuation
- Recovery after an evacuation
Before an Evacuation
An evacuation from your residence, neighborhood or town could happen for several reasons. Acting quickly yet efficiently is the key to a less stressful time during this period, and it also gives you peace of mind knowing you have a plan to fall back on.
Knowing the types of disasters within the area you reside in is the first and foremost bit of planning you will want to be ahead on. With this knowledge, you will learn an evacuation plan for your county. To find this plan, simply Google “Emergency Operations Plan” for the county you live in and it should direct you to the necessary page.
To learn about the plan for Summit County specifically, follow this link: https://co.summitoh.net/pages/Emergency-Operations-Plan.html
When making your own plan, follow these starting points as a guide to help you in the right direction:
Plan how you will leave and where you will go.
- You will want to explore options for local shelters, and hotels, or have family or friends lined up who can accommodate you and your needs.
- Have multiple locations lined up within a couple of different areas in case one or two of your options fall through
If you have pets, be sure the hotels or Airbnb allow them. Otherwise, consider an alternate plan for the pets to stay somewhere without you
Communication and Driving
- Plan several driving routes for evacuating – familiarize yourself with these routes and keep a full tank or half tank of gas ready. Consider carpooling if you have multiple people leaving the same area. This will help reduce congestion in traffic.
- Figure out a plan for communication or meeting location in case separation occurs between household members.
- Have a safety kit ready, and be prepared to leave on foot, depending on the type of disaster
- Download the FEMA App for a list of local shelters that have open availability at the time of evacuation
During and Evacuation
After you have come up with a reliable plan for evacuation, you should feel more prepared for when the time comes to evacuate. You will find this list will make evacuation more efficient
Have a battery-powered radio ready with an extra set of batteries
- Do not forget your emergency supply kit!
- Leave early to avoid traffic and severe weather backups
- Do not forget your pets!
- Close all doors and windows to the house and garage and lock any exterior doors and windows
- Unplug electrical equipment including tv’s, including stereos, and large appliances
- If a flood is on the radar, unplug any refrigerators and freezers
- Wear sturdy and comfy shoes plus protective clothing such as a long sleeve shirt, long pants, and a hat
After an Evacuation
Be prepared for disruptions in daily life. It may take some time to get your house, neighborhood, or community back to a comfortable spot.
Be cautious of scattered and dangerous debris lying around
Consider downloading a fuel app when returning to your home area. These apps will show if there are any power outages at nearby gas stations
Avoid downed power lines. They may have active and dangerous voltage running through them. Report these downed lines to a power or utility company as soon as possible
Bring water and non-perishables for the drive/walk back to your destination
Charge devices and get backup batteries as necessary
Use a generator outdoors only and within a certain distance away from any structure.
If your home was severely damaged after an evacuation emergency, Trident Restoration can be of service to you during this time. If you call 330-409-8000, you can count on us to restore your home back to its original formation.
