.png)
There are so many things to consider when faced with an emergency situation– the most stressful often being the possibility of evacuation and sheltering at a remote location.
The who what where and whens of a natural disaster can be tricky to navigate but the first thing to do when a disaster is approaching is find out if you’ll need to evacuate. Each city’s government website will have a “Know Your Zone” section that will help locate your zone and give you its status. For example, If I go to www1.nyc.gov and search “know your zone” it will bring me to an emergency management page where I can find my zone. If there is no imminent danger, it might say something like “no evacuation order currently in effect.” If there is a disaster like a hurricane approaching, then it might give an advisory warning or instruct to evacuate. The same map can also indicate nearby evacuation centers. Tip: another option is to google “your state and know your zone.”
So you’ve been instructed to evacuate, now what? The first thing to do is see if you can stay with family or friends who live outside the evacuation zone. First, you’ll probably be more comfortable with familiar surroundings and have to worry less about supplies and things, and second, shelters can often be overcrowded so whoever can find other arrangements should do so.
If you can’t find anywhere to stay then your next job is to locate an open shelter. As I mentioned earlier, your zone map will often show nearby evacuation centers (they will also let you know which are accessible), the problem is that sometimes plans change based on the emergency. The spot on your map might sometimes function as an evacuation center, but maybe not for that given emergency or at that time. The best thing to do is download the FEMA app for a list of open shelters. Another perk: the app will give you real-time alerts from the National Weather Service and safety tips and tricks for every type of disaster.
Here’s where we’re at: you have to evacuate and you’ve found a shelter. Now it’s time to go. Make sure to give yourself ample time before weather or conditions increase. You want to avoid traveling during during poor conditions. Follow evacuation routes, you might know a shortcut but those roads may be blocked off.
Before evacuating, Ready.gov, instructs you to secure all the doors and windows, make sure all electronics and appliances are unplugged, and shut off the water, gas, and electricity. Ready also recommends leaving a note behind letting people know when you left and where you’re going.
You will also want to take your emergency go bag, sometimes called bug out bag. If you’re unfamiliar, a go bag is a bag or bin that has pre-packed essentials like food, water, medical supplies, and other important items you’ll need in case of emergency. Most shelters will provide you with food and water ( taking into consideration dietary restrictions like low sodium, low fat, vegetarian/vegan, halal, kosher), but it might be a good idea to pack some extra non-perishable food with you anyway like protein bars and snacks– especially if you have kids.
Depending on the severity of the disaster you might be stuck there for hours, overnight, or even days. So be sure to have some comfortable items in your go bag like blankets and pillows. If you don’t have a go bag yet, you’ll want to check out our guide first.
The dark cloud of approaching disaster is always going to cause some anxiety, but if you know what to do then the process will be much easier. So just remember the steps: find your zone, find shelter, have the essentials, and most importantly try to stay calm.
Sources: fema.gov, nyc.gov, ready.gov, disasterassistance.gov
