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Most people wait too long. The flames are already on the ridge. The alert comes after you’ve had that gut feeling for hours. And by the time you’re scrambling, you’re already behind.
In 2022 alone, more than 3 million Americans had to evacuate their homes. Fires. Floods. Storms. Civil unrest. All kinds of chaos can force you to leave with little warning. But here’s the thing—most people still don’t have a plan.
This episode fixes that. It’s a 7-step walkthrough to help you get out—fast, calm, and with everything that matters. Because the only thing worse than having to evacuate is having to evacuate and not being prepared to do so.
TL;DR: A personal evacuation plan helps you get out fast when disaster hits. This 10-step guide covers routes, go-bags, destinations, communication, pets, and when to shelter in place—so you’re not scrambling when seconds matter.
Quick Look at What You’ll Learn
Step 1: Have a Plan and Commit to Following It
A 2021 Ipsos survey revealed that over 70% of Americans don’t have a detailed emergency plan.
That disconnect is dangerous. Without a plan, when something goes sideways—as most of you know—adrenaline and fear take over. People freeze. They don’t think straight and forget essentials. They make bad decisions.
Paradise, California, 2018. The Camp Fire moved so fast that people died in their cars trying to get out. Main roads were clogged. Some had no idea where to go. Cell towers went down. That’s pure chaos.
Part of planning is to include non-negotiable evacuation triggers. This will help prevent you from second-guessing whether to leave or from asking yourself, “What’s the risk if you don’t act in time?” Real-world outcomes, like the Camp Fire, have already answered that.
A plan helps you to take ineffectiveness off the table.
Step 2: Choose Where You’re Going
Destinations, as with your routes, require multiple destinations as well.
Pick a:
- Primary spot (friend or relative out of the hazard zone)
- Secondary/alternate option (hotel/Airbnb options that are in a safe zone)
- Contingency (A place where you can safely park your vehicle for shelter)
- Look for an evacuation center (an evacuation center or designated emergency site—not a FEMA Camp)
Talk to the people you plan to stay with. Don’t assume they’re good with a pop-up visit during a crisis. Talk it out. Discuss what that looks like if you go to them and what it looks like if they come to you. Know the pet policy of the hotels—are your friends or family allergic?
And yes, practice getting there. Know how long it takes in traffic. Know which gas stations are along the way. Over time, check out all of your possible routes and stop points along the way.
Expect hotels and Airbnbs to book up fast. Expect delays.
for their take on what to do before, during, and after an evacuation.
Step 3: Map Multiple Escape Routes
You need more than one route out of the area. In some cases, you may have only one road out of the immediate area. And as soon as the option to take other routes presents itself, you need to expand your plan.
To get you started, get a map of the area and take 15 minutes to highlight and list at least three different ways to get out of your area. A main road, a back road, and one other. Assume one will be jammed. Assume another might be blocked. Then, over time, drive those routes and observe traffic patterns. After some time, you’ll probably learn which routes are the best at certain times of the day, along with learning other routes and box arounds.
Have them all go in different directions if you’re able. Have them make big loops around (aka box arounds) so that all of your options put as much distance between you and the disaster as possible, no matter which direction you go. The goal with your initial routes is to get you away from the problem. Once you’re safe, then you can make your way towards your destination.
Think terrain. Wildfires? Avoid heading higher into canyons. Floods? Avoid low ground. Earthquake? Avoid overpasses and built-up areas.
Do you want to take it to the next level? Make sure each of your routes is broken up into smaller segments, with multiple routes around each section. Think in terms of three options, each of which has three options. That way, if the route you choose has problems, you have three route options to choose from while travelling that route—not to mention your other two initial routes. Look at all segments of your route planning as a P.A.C.E. plan.
Print out a hard copy of the map. Mark it up. Toss it in your vehicle and bugout bag. While your primary may be GPS. GPS is great—until it isn’t. Another option is to get a map or map book and highlight the routes to help guide you.
Step 4: Pack Right
This isn’t a camping trip. It’s survival.
In a disaster, the only guarantees you have are what you have with you. To that point, you’re evacuation plan should, at a minimum, plan for 72 hours of self-sufficiency. Food. Water. First aid. Medications. Flashlight. Radio. Batteries. Cell charger. Cash. Copies of important documents. Clothes. Hygiene gear. Pet supplies.
The list isn’t endless, but it is specific to you and your situation. If you wear contacts, pack solution and glasses. Diabetic? Pack your meds. Baby in the house? Diapers, formula, wipes.
Your bag and everyone in your house’s bags should be ready to go. Not stuffed in the basement or garage behind Christmas lights and the mountain of stuff you keep threatening to sort through and square away.
Check and rotate the contents every 6-12 months. Expired meds and dead batteries don’t help anyone, so stay on top of it. We’re preppers, that’s what we do.
Step 5: Create a Communications Plan
Every person in your household should know the plan. Who grabs the evacuation bags or kits? Who gets the pets? What if you’re not home?
Have two meetup spots:
- One near home (for house fires or quick get-outs)
- One outside your neighborhood (for bigger stuff)
Designate an out-of-area contact. When local lines are jammed, it can be easier to reach someone outside the area or the country. If you’re separated or you just want to get the word out, you can use that person as your information hub.
Make sure your kids have a card with your emergency contact info. Teach them that, if they become separated, they should give that card to the police, the fire department, or anyone helping them.
Share a written copy of your plan with friends or family. That way, they have something to go and pass to rescuers who may be out looking for you.
Step 6: Know When Not to Evacuate
Evacuating isn’t always the right call. Sometimes, staying put saves lives.
Examples:
- Chemical spill? Seal the windows. Don’t drive through it.
- Tornado? Get to the basement or an interior room. Don’t try to outrun it.
- Radiological event? Shelter deep inside and gather information. Don’t flee into fallout without knowing what’s going on and what the best course of action is.
Have a shelter-in-place plan. That includes supplies, sealing materials, and a safe room. But know the signs and when to shift from staying to going.
Yes, different sources will give different advice. Listen, weigh, and act based on your conditions. No one knows your situation better than you.
Step 7: Practice Your Plan
You think you’ll rise to the occasion? Hopefully. And without training, you’re more likely to fall to the level of your training.
Run drills. Simulate a bit of pressure by timing the drills and trying to improve each time.
Simulate different scenarios:
- 10 minutes to go
- Day time
- Night time
Initially, it will probably be a one-person show with you driving your evacuation routes and fine-tuning the plan. Then, try it with kids and pets. Over time, make it a family thing.
Throw simulated (imagined) monkey wrenches into your plan. Use those hurdles to test out your P.A.C.E. plan options.
Then, as your plan gets more dialed in, adjust it when things go wrong or change—because they will.
Bonus: Plan for Pets
Pets are family members. If you don’t plan for your pets, you’re not planning. You’re not truly preparing.
Many people have died because they stayed behind for their animals. Others lost beloved pets because they thought they’d be back in a few hours. They weren’t. Even others abandoned their pets to luck.
Have carriers, leashes, and crates ready. Pack 3 days of food and water for your pets. Include meds, records, and ID. Know where you can go with pets. Many public shelters won’t take them. Some hotels will, but not all.
If you don’t regularly drive with your pets, make sure you practice loading them occasionally. Do it when the world isn’t falling down, so you can do it when it is. Take them on quick road trips to fun places so they enjoy getting in the car.
The Bottom Line
Having an evacuation plan isn’t complicated—it’s just being responsible by being prepared. Anyone can stumble through life unknowingly, hoping for good luck to see them through. That’s not you.
Map it. Pack it. Talk it through. Then drill it.
When it’s go time, your people will be better off for the efforts you make now. That only happens, though, if you’ve done the work ahead of time.
Additional Resources
📌 Next StepsThink through your own evacuation plan—where would you go, how would you get there, and who’s going with you? If you’ve already got a plan, what’s one thing you can improve this week? Let me know in the comments or shoot me a message—what’s your biggest gap right now?
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