Article Written by:
Glenn Nader, University of California Cooperative Extension, Yuba City, CA
Making Evacuation Less Stressful
Pre-fire planning and taking action ahead of time, including making a list of what to do and what to take with you, is the best way to reduce the potential stress of an evacuation.
Some pre-fire evacuation tasks include:
- taking a home inventory;
- developing and discussing a disaster response plan with your household that identifies planned actions, such as:
- evacuation routes,
- emergency meeting locations, and
- communication plans;
- establishing a meeting place for family members;
- arranging for shelter for your pets; and
- gathering important documents in one place.
The time you will need to evacuate depends on how well you have prepared before the fire. The more you have pre-planned for it, the quicker you will be.
For more information, check these Web pages from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Evacuation Tips for You and Your Family and Wildfire
