Emergency preparedness in Wahkiakum County: last-minute evacuation list

Emergency preparedness in Wahkiakum County:

last-minute evacuation list

This is part 3 of a 4-part series.

By Shirley Rheault

There is no doubt that being prepared for an emergency is a daunting task. It’s been proven that those who do plan ahead of a disaster do far better than those who don’t. It is definitely worth the effort.

In the two previous articles I explained the essentials of how to be prepared to shelter at home, or to be Two-Weeks Ready, and how to build a basic Go-Bag if you need to evacuate. However, there is one more step in preparing for an evacuation and that is to have a list of last-minute items to grab just before you leave, items that can’t be packed ahead of time.

The importance of having an established list of items ready to grab is that in the middle of a disaster the stress and adrenaline levels skyrocket which obstructs our ability to think clearly. In the midst of a disaster, I’ve heard of people grabbing the darndest things just because those items happen to be in plain sight, then leaving behind critical items, like grabbing a favored houseplant but leaving behind a purse or wallet. This list should be posted in a prominent place, like on the inside of closet door where you store your Go-Bag, so you don’t have to think about where it is. It’s just right there.

Take a quick survey of each room in your home using the five questions below to help you determine your “must-haves,” so you don’t leave behind what matters most. Remember, anything you leave behind might not be there when you return. Or, you might have to leave it all behind.

Question 1: Does your life depend on it? That would include medicines, medical equipment, and so forth.

Question 2: Is it in daily use? These would be items like your cell phone and charger, purse/wallet, laptop and charger, and office records. I keep my office records in portable file organizers. In an evacuation situation, they will be easy to grab, and I have all my important office records in one place. If you use a desktop computer, you’ll still want to take it with you, so have it on the list.

Note: A Grab-and-Go binder isn’t a “daily use” item but needs to be included on this list, unless you’ve already packed it in your Go-Bag. A Grab-and-Go binder has copies of all your vital documents in protective sheets (items like marriage and birth certificates, titles, etc.) Also have copies of all these documents on an accompanying flash drive in a waterproof bag.

Question 3: What is irreplaceable? Items like heirlooms, photos and photo albums would be listed here.

Question 4: Does it have monetary value? Antiques, firearms and ammunition, jewelry, and collectibles are items you want to think about putting in this section.

Question 5: Is it something you keep in a home safe? Cash, precious metals, and important documents are the usual items kept in a safe. (Tip: keep a pillowcase in your safe so you have a convenient bag to put all the items in.)

Once you’ve listed everything that’s important to take with you, rank them by priority. Time might limit you on what you can grab before you need to depart, and you want to grab items in the order of your most important things to take. Include the location where each item will be stored and who will be responsible to gather it. (Tip: Store the smaller items that you already keep out of sight in a tote near your Go-Bag to aid in a quicker departure.)

After your prioritized list is written, you might want to include other items at the bottom of the list. Items you think are important to pack, and if time allows, you would also like to take with you. Those items would include the water containers and gasoline containers you have stored for sheltering in place, as well as things that are helpful for your comfort (blankets, pillows, favorite music), seasonal clothes, camping equipment if your pre-determined destination is a campground or camping in a friend’s yard (tent, sleeping bags, lantern, camp stove, etc.) and books (medical handbooks, basic technical “how-to” books). Again, some of these items can be put together in totes ahead of time and placed in an easy to get to location.

Please note, if you have pets, put at the very top of your list to secure them in a crate, or at least in a small room, as soon as it looks like evacuation might be eminent. Then you don’t have to go looking for them after you’re packed and you’re ready to go, possibly having to leave them behind.

For more information about preparing for all aspects of an emergency disaster, the website http://www.thesurvivalmom.com is a good place to start. It’s a website that’s easy to navigate and has a wealth of information. Also, Lisa Bedford (Survival Mom) has two books that are worth reading: “Survival Mom: How to Prepare Your Family for Everyday Disasters and Worst-Case Scenarios,” and “Emergency Evacuations: Getting Out Fast When It Matters Most!”

The last article in this 4-part series will be on communications, from developing a family communication plan to how to get reliable emergency information.