Family Hurricane Evacuation Plan and Shelter in Place Disaster Supply Kit
Developing a family hurricane/evacuation plan is one of the most important preparation steps toward a safe and timely evacuation. Planning ahead – long before a storm approaches – is crucial to identifying items needed during an evacuation. This plan should be written and kept in an easily-accessible place. Great tips for developing an evacuation plan are available from the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
An evacuation plan should include the following:
The place(s) where you plan to evacuate
Telephone and email contact information of family members
A plan for securing your household
A plan for securing cash for travel
A list of items to take during the evacuation (checklist of items)
Be sure to include medicines and clothing for at least one week
Be sure to include food and water for the trip
A plan for evacuating each person in the household
Hurricane Evacuation Box and Disaster Supply Kit
Many people keep their hurricane/evacuation plan in a plastic box along with some of the items the family will take during an evacuation. The box should be easily-accessible and ready for a quick exit.
Important family documents
Bank account and contact numbers
Insurance policies, contracts, stocks, wills, deeds, titles
Passports and social security cards
Immunization and medical records
Credit card information
Address book
Family records (birth and marriage certificates)
An inventory of valuable household items
Other documents you may need during an extended evacuation
Games or books for the children
Family Memory Items
CD copies of digital photographs
Copies of family photographs
Small historic family items/documents
Shelter in Place This August, Tropical Storm Claudette served as a tangible reminder that tropic systems can develop with little warning. If a tropical storm/hurricane develops as late as 12 hours before expected landfall in your area, evacuation becomes impossible. Each person in a hurricane-prone area should be working diligently to prepare a personal hurricane plan. But remember, an evacuation plan is not enough. You must also have a plan to stay put and ride out a storm if an evacuation becomes impossible.
Disaster Supply Kit
The Disaster Supply Kit is needed in a "Shelter in Place" situation and includes food, water and other essential items. Be prepared for the loss of power and services during a tropical event (even a small one) if an evacuation is not called. Many of the items in your disaster supply kit are also useful for an evacuation.
**Many NOAA weather radios come equipped with a flashlight and may be recharged with a hand crank. Weather radios may be purchased at most neighborhood pharmacies and department stores.
