Creating a family evacuation plan can be tough. How do you know what to take and what to leave in the event of an emergency? Follow along with us here at Texan Insurance and we’ll guide you through the process of preparing a family evacuation plan!
Step 1: Select a meeting place
You should have two meeting points: One in the neighborhood, and one outside, preferably at a family member or friend’s home that is outside of the danger zone. Make sure everyone is on the same page and knows which location to go to in the event of a mandatory evacuation.
Step 2: Map out your routes
You should have more than one emergency evacuation route mapped out. One should take you on the main roads and highways, while the alternate should include lesser used roads where you are less likely to encounter traffic jams. (Odds are the traffic will be unavoidable however.) Be aware of current road conditions before heading out!
Step 3: Put together an emergency kit
This kit should include first aid and survival items:
- Band-Aids, antibiotic ointment, vinyl gloves, aspirin or ibuprofen, tweezers, icepack
- Prescription medications and assistive devices
- Fresh water – One gallon per person, per day
- Non-perishable food items and can opener – A three ay supply
- Flashlight, radio and extra batteries
- Clothing and blankets for each member of the family
- Pet food and supplies
Step 4: Gather together your important paperwork
We recommend storing electronic copies of your important paperwork on either a password protected flash drive or external hard drive, but hard copies work just as well so long as they are stored in a waterproof container.
- Insurance policies
- Identification and passports
- Bank account information
- Wills, deeds, trusts
- A copy of your last tax return
- Birth and marriage certificates
- Stocks, bonds and other financial certificates
- Warranty information for any big ticket items, especially electronics and appliances
Step 5: Practice!
Time is limited during a mandatory evacuation, so make sure that you and your family can get out in 10 minutes or less.