Why Do You Need an Evacuation Plan?

Natural Disasters

• Evacuations may be required due to natural reasons such as fires, earthquakes, volcano eruptions or floods.

Weather

• Evacuation plans may also be necessary due to weather conditions such as hurricanes or tornadoes.

Accidents

• Transportation or industrial accidents can also spur evacuation plans into effect. According to FEMA, hundreds of times each year, transportation and industrial accidents release harmful substances, forcing thousands of people to leave their homes.

The Plan

• An evacuation plan includes knowing at least two entry/exit points, having a plan on how to get out of the building or area, designating an area to meet, and having food/water supplies and gas in the car. Leave early in the case of severe weather, follow recommended routes, do not drive in flooded areas and have a radio ready for instructions to avoid getting into a more serious situation. Prepare maps of the building you are in, with evacuation routes drawn, and know where the closest evacuation centers are, main and alternative routes, and meeting spots in safe destinations.

Contact

• Businesses should have a chain of command and a way to take a head count, and if leaving a home, you should have someone out of your area to contact.

Warnings

• According to FEMA, when evacuations become necessary, local officials use the media to get information to the public. Sometimes other warning methods, such as sirens or telephone calls, are used.