Quick: You have 30 minutes to evacuate – what will you take with you?

By on October 9, 2012 in All-hazards, Disaster, Preparedness, Wildfire

So much of disaster preparation is just being organized.

My dear friend lives in Green Mountain Falls, CO and was one of the first people to have spotted – and phoned in – the Waldo Canyon fire. She had half-a-day, and a full night, to pack her trailer and leave (although 24 was very dicey as she left).  Her dear friend lived in Mountain Shadows, and she assisted her in a much-more-

Victims of hasty disaster preparation

Photos left behind in a disaster

hasty evac, although neither dreamed that by dinner-time that very night — just hours later — the fire would race through that neighborhood, destroying homes.

You have 30 minutes to evacuate – how do you spend it?

What do you grab?  What do you forget to grab?

What do you remember to take, but then can’t quite put your hands on, due to the rush?

What items aren’t where they’re supposed to be, and so you have to leave them behind?

Are you the GearHead that grabs all the necessary electronics (and charge cords, and car-chargers, and solar chargers)?

Are you the Momento Lover that takes the photo albums?

Are you All Practical – grabbing the camping gear and the sleeping bags and the medical kit, and the roadside flares?

Are you Preventative – taking the high-ticket items that you know won’t be used, but that you don’t leave behind in case of looters…

Did you get the baby food? Your meds? A blanket? Enough water?

Your eyeglasses, for heaven’s sake, where are those? But surely, you’ll be back soon and can get along fine in your contacts..

You have 5 minutes left – let’s go, let’s go!

How many times did you stand at the door threshold and try to calmly think?

How many times did you get in the car, thinking Hey, it’s just STUFF, I can buy anything I don’t have!

How many times did you run back in, for just one more thing?

What did you leave behind?

So much of disaster preparation is just being organized.

 

 

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  • http://www.surfingchaos.com/ Karen

    From my old boss (Disaster Manager for a nonprofit in San Diego):

    Consider how the thumb drive alone saves time and electronics. Keep it up-to-date and grab that. Better yet, get yourself a notepad that can fit in your briefcase. My top choices: the cat and her supplies; thumb drive; sterling silver flatware (I have 200+ pieces in two carrying cases and silver can’t survive wildfire while bone china can; if I get desperate I can sell it); my folder of critical papers (birth certificate, passport e.g.) but after that? Tough choices!!! I am too sentimental. Books, clothing, jewelry—all fungible. But what about those gift cards my nephew made for me when he was 7? My Valentine bear for my mother as she lay dying in the hospice? Those are the owies.