If you are ordered to evacuate your home it is extremely important that you do not delay but leave as quickly as possible. If possible, evacuate before the official order is made. Not only will a quick escape increase your chances of rescue and survival in an emergency, but it will often shorten your travel time. Families and individuals who wait until the last moment often experience traffic congestion that delays getting to the right destination.
Having an emergency to go kit can help you just pick up and get to safety, but assuming that you are prepared with supplies, do you know where you are going?
Part of your emergency preparedness should be selecting, ahead of time, several places that you can go with your family if you need to evacuate. Have a combination of specific and general places to go. For example, you may identify a friend or relative nearby and also the town shelter, which might be set up in different areas, depending on the emergency and the manpower available.
Your first place to evacuate to should be one that is close to your home, preferably in the same town. If you an minimize the distance between your home and the evacuation site, you are more likely to get to shelter and get their quickly. Keep in mind that hotels tend to fill up quickly in an emergency, so have several different numbers on hand that you can call before you leave to reserve a spot.
The next place to designate would be with a friend or relative who lives close to your home but who is not likely to have to evacuate. For example, if you live along the shore, choose a friend who lives inland. In the event of a hurricane, you may be able to shelter in place with your friend.
If all of those options are not available to you, you will need to be prepared to evacuate to a shelter. Shelters are not generally arranged for comfort, only safety.
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