This evacuation kit is my personal kit. It is not designed for avoiding zombies, the
end of days, living off the land with guns and gold or hiking or camping. It is for the average person who wants to
prepare. It is designed for you, if you have to go to a hotel or family/friends
home. Yes, somethings such as a water purifier won’t be necessary, but I like
having them in my preparedness “tool box” along with a tent and sleeping bag -kind
of a combination evacuation kit/family home preparedness, but I haven’t put them into
the below list.
It looks like a lot, it’s not, just detailed and again,
tailored for our family. Find what works
for you. Don’t think of cost or feel
guilty. Start with what you have and
build on it over time. Nobody has
everything or is prepared for everything. This is just a starting point. Having
this list will help you take things you need/want, not just the first things
you see.
Video posts I link to are not in any way to be perceived as
negative or positive. They do not point
fingers or make judgements. They are
strictly to demonstrate different experiences people have. This way you can experience them ahead of
time and think, “What would I do?”
Psychology of Emergency
1.
When people are affected by change, especially
with something so dramatic and possibly catastrophic as an evacuation, for every
person there is a different range of feelings, emotions and reactions. From joking, to serious, to shut down (unable
to make decisions). Logical to
illogical. Be patient and show kindness.
2.
They’ve never experienced a worst-case scenario;
therefore, people will stay until it’s too late.
3.
Some will wait for multiple sources of validation,
most waiting on social verification. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U__XFKVfXeM
4.
People don’t realize the disaster is headed
their way or changes at the last minute leaving them no time to evacuate. Many will stay in their homes because it’s
always been a place of safety. But all
you have to do is pick up your car keys, take your family and pets and leave.
It might be an inconvenience if it turns out to be nothing, but how thankful
and relieved you’ll feel if it turned out to be something much worse than you’ve
ever experienced and your family is safe, far away.
5.
Heed the warnings when they come, but above all,
trust your gut/instinct.
6.
Waiting to evacuate means more traffic on the
road, longer evacuation time, greater chance of getting stuck and becoming part
of the emergency, more stress, less ability to control the situation.
7.
You can expect no information or
misinformation. Best thing to do is to
is if you wonder if you should evacuate, YOU SHOULD EVACUTE. Sometimes, you
just won’t get the message to evacuate.
YOU have to make that call.
Frankly, if you are wondering if you should evacuate, then you know what
you need to do! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTSmitCjQjM
8.
Because disasters (fire, hurricane, flooding)
occur with greater speed, intensity, and frequency than in the past, it is in
everyone’s interest to leave as soon as a threat is identified. Winds change direction, winds pick up speed,
fires create spot fires -miles in front of the main fire, hurricanes change
their direction from forecasted paths, hurricanes intensify dramatically in a
short period of time -from CAT 1 to CAT 5 within 24 hours, Tornadoes go
wherever they want. 100 or 1000 year
flooding events happen more frequently. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEqYN0hsUn0
9.
Some people will die trying to save the last
item.
10.
There will come a moment when first responders
(firefighters, sheriff) won’t put out fires, they will try to warn people to
evacuate. They won’t be able to notify
you personally or come to your rescue. Don’t
wait for the government to tell you to leave, take ownership and make the call
early.
11.
Evacuation notices may come via text, news,
neighbors, social media, phone calls, or not at all.
12.
In an evacuation, fallen trees may block your
route, a disabled car may prevent you from evacuating due to mechanical problems or lack
of gas, you can only go as fast as the slowest car. People ahead of you may
have abandoned their cars due to fires or flooding. Because you are behind them you won’t know what’s going on.
13.
Don’t get mesmerized or focused so much on a
threat in front of you such as a fire or flooding, sometimes spot fires can
appear behind you or flooding can approach from behind you while you
are focused on what appears to be the main threat in front of you. Since a disaster/threat can appear
from any direction at the last second, if you identify a threat, best to
consider it within the realm of possibility it could appear next door without notice
due to winds or geography. Here’s a great example of what I am talking
about. The individual is focused on an
incredible tsunami hitting his town when all of a sudden the water approaches
from behind and he doesn’t see it starting at 5:31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-Bnk_tyMW8&t=387s
14.
Take the initiative to listen to the radio or TV
for the latest news. Don’t wait to be ordered to leave your residence, leave
early and go.
15.
Anticipate the need to evacuate and prepare for
it BEFORE the emergency.
16.
If you are evacuating, so is everyone else. The lucky ones can go to family and friends,
but not everybody can. If you are going
to evacuate, try to reserve a room asap.
Because everyone else is doing the same.
The closer you are to the evacuation, the faster those hotels are
filling up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABQRMOwi5rc
17.
Last of all, plans are just that, plans. They are intended to get you ready for a
disaster, but no disaster goes according to plan, so be flexible. Adapt,
overcome, improvise. But make a decision!
Get Ready
1.
Important papers & thumb drive
2.
Flashlight & headlamp-spare batteries, solar
powered lights
3.
Have a multiple USB wall charger
4.
Two reading glasses
5.
Water bottles
6.
Water filter-in case your home loses clean water
7.
Food with manual can opener
a.
Crackers, Peanut butter
b.
Cereal
c.
Microwave popcorn (stress food)
d. Macaroni & Cheese
e. Cookies
f. Protein bars
g. Jerky
h. Some like canned meat, vegetables, MREs, dehydrated fruit, raisins
8.
Sundries-hand soap, shampoo, deodorant, razors,
toothbrushes, toothpaste, comb, washcloth, towel, TP, feminine supplies
9.
Medicine-home kit (NOT hiking or car first aid
kit)
a.
Headlamp-yes, another one, this one in the
emergency kit
b.
Hand sanitizer-small bottle
c.
Tylenol, Advil/Motrin- fever and pain
d.
Ibuprofen- reduces swelling, fever reducer and
pain
e.
Mucinex DM MAX-for bad cough and congestion
f.
Pepto-Bismol-diarrhea
g.
Gatorade- (not red) to replenish electrolytes
h.
Benadryl-allergic reactions
i.
Aspirin (non-coated)-heart attacks
j.
Glucose tablets-someone with low blood sugar
k.
Water purification tablets
l.
Q-tips
m.
Leukotape or duct tape-blisters or cuts
n.
Band aids/Bandages and gauze-cuts and scrapes
o.
Ace bandage-sprains
p.
Tourniquet
q.
Superglue
r.
Large and medium safety pins
s.
Long strips of Velcro-great for securing sprains
t.
Chap stick-chap lips
u.
Permanent Sharpie
v.
Blood clot
w.
Tweezers-slivers, stingers
x.
Lighter
y.
Scissors
z.
Medicine for children with measuring syringe
i. Children’s
Tylenol-cough and cold
ii. Children’s
Motrin-pain reliever, fever reducer
iii. Children’s
Benadryl-allergy
aa.
Electronics Bag
i. Car
Charger USB adapter
ii. AC
Outlet USB adapter
iii. Portapow
Data Blocker
iv. 2
USB cords for phone or other electronics
v. 2
Ankar battery bricks-charged with cord and wall plug
vi. USB
rechargeable flashlight
vii. 2
sets of reading glasses-yes more reading glasses
viii.
AAA, AA, D batteries
bb. Practice
how to treat for shock, burns, sprains, cuts, broken bones and breathing
stopped
10.
Hand sanitizer, face masks and wipes
11.
Paper cups, bowls, plates with plastic ware
12.
Dog food with bowls for food and water, leash
13.
Baby food, diapers, formula, bottles, Desitin,
wipes, blanket
14.
NOAA alert radio with headphones (battery
powered or hand crank)
15.
Paper, pencil, pen, black-permanent sharpie,
duct tape
16.
Road map-with at least two evacuation routes
17.
Wide brimmed hat-for balding dads who might be
in the sun
18.
Poncho-for working in the rain
19.
Socks
20.
Two sets of work gloves
21.
Bungie cords-to attach something to car trunk or
roof
22.
550 cord or straps-see above
23.
Learn your community’s emergency response plan
24.
Fill up car and fill up all gas cans
25.
Have some cash in your kit. $1, $5, $10 &
$20 for purchases when electricity doesn’t work
26.
Take a picture of each family member-in case you
get separated you have their picture to show authorities. Consider printing and
laminating them.
Winter considerations for evacuation
1.
Snow shovel & kitty litter
2.
Hand warmers
3.
Gloves, winter hats, scarf/buff/balaclava
4.
Ice scrapper
5.
Warm undershirt and pants (base layer)
Evacuation – If you have days or hours of advance notice
(hurricane, fire many miles away)
1.
Shut off air conditioning
2.
Shut windows and doors
3.
Put your emergency kit in the car
4.
Ask friend/family outside the area if you can
stay with them if the need arises
5.
Charge your electronics-change phone settings to
preserve battery power
6.
Fill bathtub with water
Get Set - Last minute items
1.
Don’t panic, breath, stay calm
2.
Nothing is important anymore, get the family and
pets and leave
3.
Your garage door may need to be manually
opened-if no power.
4.
Wallet/purse
5.
Medicine
6.
Phone with charger
7.
Computer with charger
8.
Keys
9.
Pillow, blanket
10.
Pets with kennel
11.
Family heirlooms (pictures, old family Bible,
etc…)
12.
Safe -important documents
13.
Bras/underwear/socks/pants/shirts/shoes
14.
Children’s favorite toy, stuffed animal, blanket
Go
1.
Leave ASAP, the longer you delay, the more cars
get on the road before you, delaying your evacuation and the safety of your
family.
2.
Don’t wait for an evacuation order. It may never
come.
3.
Once you get to where you are save, notify
friends, family religious congregation over text, email, social media phone call that you are safe,
where you are, and how to reach you!
