Determine Your Evacuation and Shelter Needs
EarthquakeFloodHailHurricaneLightningTornadoTsunamiWildfireWinter Storm
When preparing for a disaster, ask yourself: “Where will I be safe?” Is it a room in your home? Is it a nearby school or other commercial building? Is it a family member’s or friend’s home outside of the disaster zone? Once you answer this question and discuss it with your family, you will have a shelter plan that increases survival, reduces stress, and enhances comfort.
Plan for Evacuation
The best ways to plan for evacuation vary based on the type of disaster and whether it is safe to shelter in your home. Local officials declare when a mandatory evacuation will occur, and sometimes they may suggest, but not require, evacuations.
Preparing to evacuate
- Determine alternate routes and several modes of transportation out of your area.
- Review at least two exit routes from your home or neighborhood to the designated meeting place for your family.
- Identify several places — in different directions from your home — to go in an emergency or during an evacuation.
- If you have a car, keep it in good working condition with a full gas tank and a portable disaster kit. Evacuate in one car per family to reduce congestion and delay.
- If you do not have a car, make transportation arrangements with family, friends, or your local government in case you must evacuate.
- Develop a household plan to maintain contact and reunite if separated.
- Don’t forget about your pets. If you cannot take them with you, identify a place that will accept pets, as most public shelters allow only service animals.
Pack your bags. After a disaster, you may not be able to return to your home for some time. Make sure to bring your disaster kit, including essential documents and valuables.
- See Assembling a Disaster Kit for details on what to include in your kit.
Deciding when and how to evacuate
- Evacuate if government officials instruct you to do so.
- Evacuation may be on foot, depending on the type of disaster.
- Always prioritize evacuation routes identified by authorities.
- Flood: If you’re told to evacuate due to flooding, do so immediately. It’s never safe to drive through flooded roadways. Six inches of moving water can knock you over, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
- Hurricane: Before a hurricane threatens, identify a safe location to shelter after evacuation. You may be ordered to leave if you live in a storm surge evacuation zone. Also, you may decide to leave if your home is not built to withstand a hurricane. Evacuate promptly according to your evacuation zone and follow the evacuation route(s). You may not be able to evacuate if you delay too long, so don’t wait.
- Tsunami: If there is an earthquake and you are in a tsunami area, protect yourself from the earthquake. Crawl if you can reach better cover, but do not go through an area with more debris.If there are signs of a tsunami — like a quickly rising flood, a wall of water, sudden draining, a roar, or a warning siren — after the shaking ends, move to a safe place as high and as far inland as possible.
- Wildfire: Know your community’s evacuation plans; identify several potential exit routes; and follow the evacuation routes. Evacuate if you’re told to do so. Wildfires may result in extremely hazardous driving conditions, making it difficult or impossible to escape. Use N95 masks to avoid breathing harmful particles.
Evacuating with extra time
- Bring your disaster kit to your safe destination.
- Unplug electrical equipment, but do not unplug freezers and refrigerators unless there is a risk of flooding. Shut off water, gas, and electricity if your home is damaged or officials advise.
- Close and lock all doors and windows.
- Share evacuation plans with your out-of-state contact in your family communications plan.
- Wear sturdy, protective shoes and clothing, such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and a hat.
- Check on others who may need transportation.
- Take actions depending on your location, the predictions for weather conditions, and guidance from local authorities.
- Take your pets with you, but know that most public shelters may only permit service animals. Plan ahead how to care for your pets.
- Be on the lookout for road hazards, and do not drive into flooded areas.
Plan to Find Shelter
Sheltering in Place
Depending on the circumstances, you may need to stay in your current location by “sheltering in place.”
When deciding where to shelter, identify the safest place in the building based on the peril you’re facing. You may only need to shelter for a short time, such as during a tornado warning, or for a long time, such as during a winter storm.
- Tornado: The safest location is a safe room or certified shelter. If neither is available, take refuge in a basement or the lowest level interior room away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. If flooding is possible, go to the lowest floor that won’t flood. During a hurricane and a flood, consider similar safe locations if you have not evacuated. See safety during a flood and hurricane for more information.
- Earthquake: Drop where you are, cover, and hold on. See safety during an earthquake for more information.
- Tsunami: Follow the steps above for evacuating during a tsunami. See safety during a tsunami for more information.
- Wildfire: Follow the steps above for evacuating during a wildfire. See safety during a wildfire for more information.
- Winter storm: The safest location is an indoor heated space. Plan for a potential power outage by locating your nearest shelter. Follow safety precautions like monitoring carbon monoxide levels. See safety during a winter storm for more information.
- Extreme heat event: The safest location is an indoor, air-conditioned space. Plan for a potential power outage by locating your nearest shelter. Follow safety precautions like monitoring carbon monoxide levels. See safety during a winter storm for more information.
- Hail storm: Don’t go outside to protect your property. Stay indoors until the storm has passed, and stay away from skylights, windows, and doors.
- Lightning: If thunder roars, go indoors! Once inside, avoid doors and windows. If you are outdoors, avoid water, high ground, open spaces, and metal objects. Shelter in a large building or vehicle with closed windows. Do not lean on the doors. If you cannot get indoors, crouch down with your feet together and place your hands over your ears to minimize hearing damage from the thunder. Stay at least 15 feet away from other people. See safety during lightning for more safety tips during lightning.
Stay in your shelter until authorities say it’s safe to leave. Take turns listening to radio broadcasts and maintain a 24-hour safety watch.
During extended periods of sheltering, manage water and food supplies to ensure you and your family have the supplies and quantities you need.
Evacuating to a public disaster shelter
Take your disaster kit with the supplies you need. Mass care sheltering can be difficult, with many people living in a confined space. Cooperate with shelter officials, and remember that alcoholic beverages and weapons are prohibited.
Install a Safe Room or Storm Shelter
The best safety protection in high winds and tornadoes is a safe room or storm shelter. A safe room that meets FEMA P-320 or FEMA P-361 guidance or a storm shelter that meets the ICC 500 standard provides near-absolute life safety protection.
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