Whether you are being forced to evacuate a dangerous situation or you have chosen to do so, there are some things that you should do BEFORE you leave. When you are in a hurry, you may not consider these tasks important, but they are. Of course, only complete these tasks if you have time. Don’t risk your or anyone else’s life to do these things. This is why we prepare NOW, so we don’t have to rush around later.
Things You Should Do Before You Evacuate
Some items on this list aren’t new—I have shared them in previous blog posts—but having a list right in one spot is fantastic. Go ahead and check out these tasks you should be doing before you evacuate. Please print out this list and keep it in your prepping binder. If you must evacuate, check for states near you that may have medical outbreaks.
#1. Stock Up on N-95 Masks
One of the best things you can do is stock up on N-95 masks. We were expected to wear them in certain areas a few years ago. Let’s talk about smoke inhalation, debris flying, diseases, HantaVirus (from mice/rat droppings), plague, or whatever may come into our country. Who would have guessed we would have a Measles outbreak in Texas? Now Tennessee (one as of today)! There’s no sign that the outbreak is slowing down in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.
ABC News: “Cases linked not to the outbreak but to international travel have been reported in Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, and Washington.”
Measles is very contagious; a mask would be helpful if you travel to any of these states. One person can spread this respiratory disease to 10-15 people without knowing it. A person can have the virus for up to 4 days before becoming symptomatic.
Measles can cause brain swelling, pneumonia, and life-threatening complications. It’s more contagious than even Covid. I remember having measles as a child; I was born in 1950. Mark had them as well, and he was born in 1946.
#2. Sign Up For Emergency Notification Services
As much as you’d like to believe you will be listening to the radio or television when an emergency strikes, this isn’t always the case. Take the time to sign up for an emergency notification service. Ready.gov is a good one! However, you can also visit PublicAlerts.org to sign up for emergency notification services.
#3. Offer a Place for Others to Stay
What if you have friends who are evacuating, but you are not? Why not offer others a place to stay? Sure, it’s not always ideal to have others in your house. However, an emergency is an emergency. If you can, allow others who may be evacuating a natural disaster to stay with you. You won’t believe the amount of gratitude they will have for you extending your hospitality.
#4. Prepare Yourself Mentally
I have to admit that there is a lot of adrenaline when you are evacuating. You will likely forget a lot of stuff, so starting now is essential. You are going to need time to prepare yourself mentally. Spend time learning your evacuation plan and what you must do before leaving.
#5. Purchase a Battery Operated Radio
If there was ever a time that you needed to evacuate but your cellphone was useless, what would you use? Radios are a great way to keep in touch with others and hear what is happening worldwide. You will want to purchase a battery-operated walkie-talkie and an emergency radio. Both are great tools to help you get help or communicate with others. We recently purchased an emergency radio with batteries and a crank, so you can operate it if the batteries run out of juice.
#6. Always Keep Your Gas Tank Nearly Full
You can’t evacuate in an emergency if your gas tank is empty. This is one of those essential tips. Don’t ignore this one. Everyone will try to get gas in an emergency or evacuation, and the gas stations will be packed. If at all possible, keep your gas tank as close to full as possible.
#7. Keep Your Phone Charged & Have a Backup Battery
When you need your cellphone most, it seems to have a dead battery. If you can, always try to keep your phone charged. If you unexpectedly need to evacuate, you would be in trouble if your phone wasn’t charged. Keep a backup battery in your emergency bag as well. It doesn’t hurt to keep an extra phone charger cable in your car. You have to think of these things now so they can help you later.
#8. Pack an Emergency Bag
Way before an emergency evacuation strikes, make sure you pack an emergency bag. You should have one packed for every single person in your family. An emergency bag will have everything you need to survive for at least a few days in case of an emergency. Of course, this isn’t a long-term solution, but it does help you survive for a few days in an emergency situation. 72-Hour Kits: Please have one ready for your pet as well.
#9. Gas Mainline Should Be Shut Off
When you are asked to evacuate, you can assume you don’t know what will happen to your home while you are gone. Like most people, you hope to return. To ensure your house doesn’t explode, on top of everything else going on, you can turn off your main gas line. This is something that not everyone remembers to do! However, it can help keep houses from exploding in a natural disaster. Remember that you may have to have the gas company turn it back on, so be aware of that. Please have a 4-in-1 tool on hand.
How To Turn The Gas And Water Off To Your House
#10. Make Sure You’re Safe
If I am being honest, you should do it on your own before you are forced to evacuate. Don’t wait until someone tells you to do it. Also, don’t avoid evacuating. Your life is so important, and if emergency personnel think it’s important that you evacuate, then please listen to them. Making sure you’re safe is one thing you should always put first.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t an extensive list of everything you should do before you evacuate, but it is a good start. You don’t want to get caught “with your pants down,” so to speak. When you spend time prepping and ensuring you’re ready, you can be prepared for anything. The last few years have shown us that we don’t always know what to expect. The world isn’t done with us yet! Remember that anyone can be asked to evacuate for several reasons and at any time. Are you prepared? May God bless this world, Linda.
Copyright Images: Fire in City Deposit photos_46884281_s-2019
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