Evacuation planning


First step in developing your evacuation plan is to discuss with your family what to do if authorities advise you to evacuate.

Man-made and natural disasters cause evacuations every year. Will you know where to go and what to take with you?

 

How to Prepare Ahead of Time

 

Keep a full tank of gas in your car if an evacuation seems likely. Gas stations may be closed during emergencies and unable to pump gas during power outages. Plan to take one car per family to reduce congestion and delay.

 

Purchase an Evacuation Map for your state and become familiar with evacuation routes.

Plan several evacuation routes in case certain roads become blocked or closed.

 

Follow the advice of local officials during evacuation situations. They will direct you to the safest route.

Be alert for washed-out roads and bridges. Do not drive into flooded areas.

 

Consider buying a FRS Two-Way Emergency Crank Radio with a tone-alert feature. FRS Two-Way Radio is the best way to receive warnings and emergency in your neighbourhood.

Use an small radio to get instructions from the National Weather Service.

 

Get your family or household together and agree on a plan. A functional emergency plan helps alleviate fears about potential disasters, and can help you respond safely and quickly when a disaster happens. You can get a copy of a household emergency plan

A household emergency plan will help you work out:

  • What you will each do in the event of disasters such as an earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption, flood or typhoon.

  • How and where you will meet up during and after a disaster

  • Where to store emergency survival items and who will be responsible for maintaining supplies.

  • What you will each need to have in your getaway kits and where to keep them.

  • What you need to do for members of the household, family or community with a disability or special requirement.

  • What you will need to do for your pets, domestic animals or livestock.

  • How and when to turn off the water, electricity and gas at the main switches in your home or business.

  • Turn off gas only if you suspect a leak, or if you are instructed to do so by authorities. If you turn the gas off you will need a professional to turn it back on and it may take them weeks to respond after an event.

  • What local radio stations to tune in to for civil defence information during an event.

Fire Evacuation Plans shall include:

  1. Emergency escape routes

  2. Procedures for employees who must remain to operate critical equipment before evacuating

  3. Procedures for evacuating occupants who need assistance

  4. Procedures for accounting for employees and occupants

  5. Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for rescue and medical aid

  6. Preferred and alternative means of notifying occupants of a fire or emergency

  7. Preferred and alternative means of notifying the fire department of the emergency

  8. Identification and assignment of personnel who can be contacted for further information

  9. Description of emergency/alarm communication system and preprogrammed voice messages, where provided

Fire Safety Plan shall include:

  1. Procedure for reporting a fire

  2. Procedures for notifying, relocating or evacuating occupants who need assistance

  3. Site plans identifying assembly points, fire hydrants, and fire department vehicle assess

  4. Floor plans identifying exits, primary evacuation routes, secondary evacuation routes, accessible egress routes, areas of refuge, exterior areas for assisted rescue, manual fire alarm boxes, portable fire extinguishers, occupant-use hose stations, fire alarm annunciators and controls

  5. List of major fire hazards

  6. Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for maintenance of fire protection systems

  7. Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for maintenance, housekeeping and controlling fuel hazard sources

Lock down Plans shall include:

  1. Instructions for reporting an emergency that requires a lock down

  2. Accountability procedures for staff to report presence or absence of occupants

  3. Signal for returning to normal activity

  4. Means of two-way communication between a central location and each secured area

  5. Training frequency

  6. Method of notifying building occupants, which should be separate and distant from the fire alarm signal

Time: 

Drills shall be held at unexpected times and under varying conditions to simulate the unusual conditions that occur in case of fire.

 

Records: 

A records of all emergency evacuation drills for the current and previous year shall be kept on the premises. Written records shall be maintained of required emergency evacuation drills and include:

  1. Identity of the person conducting the drill

  2. Date, and time of the drill

  3. Notification method used

  4. Staff members on duty and participating

  5. Number of occupants evacuated

  6. Special conditions simulated

  7. Problems encountered

  8. Weather conditions when occupants were evacuated

  9. Time required to accomplish complete evacuation

Here are some videos from Youtube that show you how it looks like.

Credit to the owner of the video