How to prepare for emergencies that would force you to evacuate your home quickly

If there’s an emergency and you’re forced to evacuate your home quickly, are you ready? Everyone should be informed and have a plan in case they need it.

Disasters -- both natural and human-caused -- can happen suddenly, at any time, and anywhere. When they do, everyday routines change fast -- power can go out, roads can close, and emergency responders might be delayed.

The American Red Cross says there are three practical steps everyone can take now to be safer later: get a kit, make a plan, and be informed.

Get a kit (and make it easy to grab)

Think of your emergency supplies in two ways: what you need to shelter at home and what you need if you must leave quickly.

The Red Cross recommends keeping supplies in an easy-to-carry emergency preparedness kit you can use at home or take with you if you evacuate.

Start with the basics. At minimum, include:

• Water -- one gallon per person, per day
• 3-day supply for evacuation
• 2-week supply for home
• Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items
• 3-day supply for evacuation
• 2-week supply for home
• Flashlight
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio if possible)
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Medications: 7-day supply plus essential medical items
• Multi-purpose tool
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents (medication list and key medical info, proof of address, lease/deed, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
• Current digital photos of loved ones (update every six months -- especially for children)
• Cellphone with chargers
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Maps of the area

Add what your household needs. A kit works best when it matches real life.

Consider adding:

• Medical supplies (glasses/contacts, hearing aids + extra batteries, syringes, cane)
• Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
• Games/activities for children
• Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)
• Two-way radios
• Extra car and house keys
• Manual can opener

Depending on the disasters that could happen in your area, the Red Cross suggests items like a whistle, N95/surgical masks, rain gear, work gloves, plastic sheeting, duct tape, scissors, household liquid bleach, blankets, sleeping bags, sunscreen, and insect repellent.

Make a plan (then practice it)

An emergency plan is basically a set of decisions you don’t want to make under stress. The Red Cross recommends meeting with your family or household members to talk through the emergencies that are most likely to happen where you live, learn, and work, then assign responsibilities so everyone knows how you’ll work as a team.

Plan for being separated:

One of the simplest, most important parts of planning is deciding how you’ll reconnect if you’re not together when something happens.

Choose two meeting places:

1. Right outside your home for a sudden emergency (like a fire).
2. Outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home or are asked to evacuate.

Also, choose an out-of-area emergency contact. In major events, local phone lines can be overloaded or out of service -- sometimes it’s easier to reach someone long-distance.

Make sure everyone:

• Memorizes key numbers
• Has contacts written down
• Has them saved in their phone

Plan for communication when systems fail. Talk through backup options: text, email, calling, mail, or contacting through a third party. The key is agreeing ahead of time what you’ll try first, second, and third.

Plan evacuation routes -- then test them.

If you might need to evacuate:

• Decide where you’d go (hotel, friends/relatives, or an evacuation shelter, if necessary)
• Decide which route you’d take
• Identify alternate routes in case roads are impassable
• Make sure everyone knows the primary and backup plan

The Red Cross suggests practicing evacuating your home twice a year, driving your planned evacuation route, and plotting alternate routes on your map.

Plan for pets and household needs:

If you have pets, plan ahead by keeping a list of pet-friendly motels/hotels and animal shelters along evacuation routes.

If anyone in your household has access or functional needs, including a disability, the Red Cross recommends creating a comprehensive evacuation plan in advance with family and care providers, doing a personal assessment of needs during/after an emergency, and building a support network to help.

If a family member is in the military or travels frequently for work, discuss how your plan works if they’re away.

Be informed (so you know what to do when alerts come)

Preparedness isn’t only supplies -- it’s understanding what’s most likely in your area and how you’ll get reliable information fast.

The Red Cross recommends:

• Learning which disasters/emergencies can happen locally (from home fires and medical emergencies to community-wide events like floods or earthquakes)
• Knowing how authorities will notify you (local radio/TV, NOAA Weather Radio)
• Understanding the difference between weather “watches” and “warnings” and what actions you’ll take for each

Also: If you travel or have recently moved, learn what to do in disasters that might be common in those places (for example, what to do during an earthquake if you’re not used to them).

Extra steps that can save lives

When a major disaster happens, loved ones could be hurt and help might be delayed. The Red Cross encourages households to ensure at least one person is trained in first aid and CPR and knows how to use an AED.

They also recommend the Red Cross Emergency App, which provides expert advice on how to prepare and respond, plus a map of open Red Cross shelters.

Finally, consider printing emergency contact cards for each household member and carrying them -- especially for kids.

Are you already prepared?

Are you prepared for an emergency if you have to evacuate or shelter-in-place? We want to see your set up! Reach out to us at news@wdiv.com.

Shelby Township Fire Department

The Shelby Township Fire Department also sent us some recommendations.

Basic Disaster Supplies Kit:

To assemble your kit, store items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag.

• Water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation)
• Food (at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food)
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
• Flashlight
• First aid kit
• Extra batteries
• Whistle (to signal for help)
• Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)
• Plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape (to shelter in place)
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
• Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
• Manual can opener (for food)
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

Additional Emergency Supplies:

• Soap, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes to disinfect surfaces
• Prescription medications. About half of all Americans take a prescription medicine every day. An emergency can make it difficult for them to refill their prescription or to find an open pharmacy. Organize and protect your prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and vitamins to prepare for an emergency.
• Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxatives
• Prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution
• Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream
• Pet food and extra water for your pet
• Cash or traveler’s checks
• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
• Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes
• Fire extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
• Paper and pencil
• Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Maintaining Your Kit:

After assembling your kit, remember to maintain it so it’s ready when needed.

• Keep canned food in a cool, dry place.
• Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers.
• Replace expired items as needed.
• Re-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family’s needs change.

Click here for evacuation guidelines and tips.

Sheltering in place recommendations:

Whether you are at home, work or anywhere else you frequent regularly, there may be situations when it’s best to stay where you are and avoid any uncertainty outside.

Here are some indicators and steps to take if the situation arises:

• Use common sense and available information to assess the situation and determine if there is immediate danger.
• If you see large amounts of debris in the air, or if local authorities say the air is badly contaminated you may want to take this kind of action.

Here are some tips for sheltering in place:

• Local authorities may not immediately be able to provide information on what is happening and what you should do.
• Pay attention to local media outlets for official news and instructions as they become available.
• Bring your family and pets inside.
• Lock doors, close windows, air vents and fireplace dampers.
• Turn off fans, air conditioning and forced air heating systems.
• Take your emergency supply kit unless you have reason to believe it has been contaminated.
• Go into an interior room with few windows if possible.
• Seal all windows, doors and air vents with thick plastic sheeting and duct tape. Consider measuring and cutting the sheeting in advance to save time.
• Cut the plastic sheeting several inches wider than the openings and label each sheet.
• Duct tape plastic at corners first and then tape down all edges.
• Be prepared to improvise and use what you have on hand to seal gaps so that you create a barrier between yourself and any contamination.

“Sealing a room” is considered a temporary protective measure to create a barrier between you and potentially contaminated air outside. This type of sheltering in place requires pre-planning, by purchasing plastic sheeting and duct tape that you would keep in your emergency supply kit.