Do you have an emergency plan? If something happens, what steps will you take to ensure that you and your loved ones end up safe and sound? Do you have everything that you need properly stored away in a manner that’s easy to access? Having a proper evacuation plan in place is a major part of being prepared for every single emergency. You’ll have to develop the one that works best for you, although it should contain a number of different things, from communications to exactly how you’ll get out of town. Before you need to evacuate on a moment’s notice, put together your emergency plan.
Write It Down
The very first step involves getting a pen and a notebook. You’ll want to write your emergency plan down on paper. Sure, you could put it on your computer, but what happens if an EMP goes off? You’ll need access to it when your electronics get fried. There’s nothing wrong with a good, old-fashioned notebook with your plans. Store it in a safe location and remember where you put it. Now that you have your writing tools handy, it’s time to go through the next steps.
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Consider Communications
Communications are important. You’ll want to be able to stay in touch with many of the people in your family. If you end up separated and the cell towers are down, you won’t be able to call each other. This means that you’ll have to rely on other means of communication, such as walkie talkies. Plus, you need to have a battery-powered radio and a lot of batteries so that you can receive news about the outside world. This is very important, as AM frequencies should be broadcasting about what’s going on. In addition, create a card for each member of your family to carry in their wallet. Things like emergency numbers, addresses, and even email addresses need to be on it. This gives them a way of getting ahold of others should something happen.
Develop an Escape Route
By now, you should have a place to head to in case of an emergency. Cities are the best places to be, so you’ll want to head out to the country. However, you need to remember that many of the main roads in and out of the area will be clogged, as everyone else has the same idea. This is why you need to develop a proper escape route. Take a good look at the back roads. Assuming that they remain passable, they are your best route. Make sure to drive your escape route more than once, and in different types of lighting conditions and weather. You may not be able to rely on GPS data, so you’ll need to remember that route the old fashioned way – familiarity. In addition, take note of the landmarks and other things on the way. For example, is there a store that might remain open? A river that you might be able to get clean water from? All of these things are important.
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Prepare Your Vehicle
No matter your route, you might find yourself doing a little off-roading. This means that your standard vehicle won’t do the trick. Instead, set aside a vehicle that can be prepared to head out at a moment’s notice. Store things like food, blankets, extra fuel, a first aid kit, and some emergency rations in it. The less time that you need to prepare when something happens the better. Placing an extra copy of your emergency plan in it will help as well. It’s good to be as prepared as possible.