Things You'll Need:
- good weather for planning
- phone and internet connection for further research
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Step 1
Do you have an evacuation plan? Of course you don't want to ever use it, but if you had to leave your house, where would you go? Relatives? Friends? Municipal facilities? Other? How will you get there? Make sure you can answer these questions before you need them.
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Step 2
What's your evacuation route? What will the traffic be like if everyone you know is leaving as well? Do you have an alternative? How will your evacuation route stand up to floods? Be sure to have two possible routes in your plan that won't flood out.
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Step 3
Is your home in a low lying area where it could be threatened by floods? What can you do to protect yourself? If you're new to the area and need information, contact your local emergency management agency to learn more about where you live. Standard homeowner insurance policies don't include protection from flooding which has to be purchased separately. Do you have this coverage? Can you get it? Ideally, you want to ask these questions and seek this information before you purchase your home.
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Step 4
Do you have pets? If so, you need to have a plan for them, too. If you're dependent on using a municipal shelter, chance are, you won't be able to bring them. How can you ensure the safety of your pets?
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Step 5
Are you a person with special needs? Any emergency evacuation plan should be discussed with family members, but if you have special needs, be sure to talk with any support systems about how you can design an evacuation plan that fits your needs.
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Step 6
Put together a disaster supply kit. See Resources for How to Plan for an Emergency or Disaster for the details of what should be in your kit.
