What If You Have to Evacuate?
Between hurricane Katrina and several recent huge wildfires where I live, evacuation's been on my mind.
My aunt and uncle had to flee their house in San Diego twice. I've seen people on the other side of town with cars parked in driveways loaded up and ready to go. They were staring at the fires marching down the slope behind their development.
Family First, Then Pets and Essentials
Family members are the most important thing: you die, you lose. Don't be one of those people who said, "I love my home and I can't bear to leave it." If the disaster is that big, there's not much you can do to protect your house. Either it will be there, or it won't be. If you stay, you face the same risk.
Pets are often members of our family, so practice being able to find them in a hurry and have something to carry them with. Remember that they tend to hide when things are chaotic. Know their hiding places.
Then we need essential documents: passports, ids, credit cards, deeds to car/home, insurance info. Try and collect that beforehand.
Emergency Supplies
CELLPHONE, but remember that sometimes towers go down and networks don't work. Emergency radio with batteries. FOOD. WATER. Underwear, warm clothes. Blankets.
Treasures
This is the important thing. What can you really not bear to lose? So much is replaceable nowadays. Photos, heirlooms -- that's what people miss. Mom's wedding ring. Dad's dogtags. A box of letters.
Get these together beforehand. If possible, photograph things on your digital camera and save everything on a laptop. (Remember backups.) A laptop can often be grabbed ina hurry.
Make a List
This is what I hadn't done until I saw the smoke blotting out the sun last October. I made a list. Things I would grab if I only have 5 minutes to get out. Things I would grab if I had half an hour. Things I'd put together if I had a few hours.
I printed this list out and put it in my fire box -- a small fireproof box -- where I keep my passport and birth certificate. When I grab that box, I can whip the checklist out. That way I won't forget my Mom's college songbook, if I have a little more time; if I don't have much time, I'll at least remember to grab my great-great-grandfather's bar mitvah ring.
Because in the flurry of a disaster, you may not remember the things you love. Family members, pets, and ID, yes. But it's the little things you might miss later-- a child's painting, a loved one's special gift-- that you'll forget.
