11 Points to Preparedness for Evacuation

Marla, also known as Flylady (she likes to fly-fish), has a website that helps people to organize their lives, and declutter their homes and offices. It is a free-use website and a great help to many people (including me!). She has a list of information that would be helpful in a crisis, especially if we are required to evacuate. This would be in addition to a 72-Hour Kit.

"11 Points to Preparedness for Evacuation

1. People: Have a plan for getting out of the house and make sure everyone knows it. Have an emergency bag of food and treats for the children: dried fruit, nuts, peanut butter, crackers and granola bars.

2. Pets: Keep pet carriers and leashes readily available to lead pets to safety. Also take pet food with you.

3. Pictures: Keep negatives or CDs of pictures in a lock box or at a family member's home. Have picture albums in one place ready to grab and go at a moments notice.

4. Papers: Have all your important papers in a lock box at a bank and only keep copies at the house. This keeps you from panicking. If you have them at home then put them in a folder that you can easily grab if you have to move fast. Color code it so you can find it!

5. Prescriptions: Take your medications with you. Don't forget the ones that have to be refrigerated like insulin. Have small ice chest and cold packs readily accessible to pack and go. If you have babies, remember their formula or medications.

6. Purses and Petro: This is where you keep your identification, credit cards and cash. Keep a stash of cash for emergencies and grab it. You may not be able to use an ATM in the event of a power outage. Make sure your car always has a half tank of gas.

7. Proper Clothes and Comfort Items: According to the weather conditions, gather up a change of clothes along with outer clothing: coats, rain gear, boots, gloves and hats. If you have babies remember diapers. Remember to grab your children's favorite blanket, stuffed animal or toy. A game or a deck of cards could keep them occupied and calm too.

8. Planner/Calendar/Control Journal: These documents have all the information you will need from phone numbers, insurance numbers and important dates. They are small and filled with things you don't have to try to remember.

9. Personal Protection: Many of us still have that time of the month. Be sure and grab a box of your preferred protection. It may be hard to find if you have been evacuated. Stress can cause our bodies to do strange things too. So be prepared. Take medication for cramps too.

10. Phones, Radios, Fuel for the Car: Many of us have cell phones now. Always keep them charged up and have a charger in the car or an extra battery. They may not work in the event of power outages, but then they might. Know which local radio station has emergency bulletins. Keep your battery powered radio tuned to that local station and have plenty of batteries for it. Also keep an old type regular phone that does not operate with electricity. GAS PUMPS don't work without power either. You can't leave if you car is on empty. So keep your car fuel tank topped off when it hits a half tank. This way you will have gas to drive at least a couple of hours. Evacuation routes are usually bumper to bumper traffic. Having a tank filled will keep you less stressed.

11. Patience: This is one of the most important things to pack. Keep it inside of you so that you have a clear calm head. Having your P's to Preparedness list guiding you will keep you patient. In the event of an evacuation there will be lots of displaced people. Being patient will make things less stressful. Your children need to see you calm and collected. This will help keep them calm too."