SolveYourProblem Article Series: Hurricanes
Hurricane Facts, Tips and Safety Protocols

Hurricane Evacuations: Essential Guidelines

During hurricane season, evacuations are not unheard of. As a matter of fact, when an evacuation is ordered, you may find yourself on the road with a large number of fellow travelers who, too, will attempt to get to safety quickly. Here are some essential guidelines for hurricane evacuations that will help you to get to your destination of choice quickly and safely.

Keep in mind that many, who have been through hurricanes in the past, will feel that they are up to the challenge of weathering the storm in their own home. This became graphically clear during Hurricane Katrina when mandatory evacuation orders were ignored by a large percentage of the population. Do not fall into the same trap! Granted, nine times out of ten you might have been able to stick it out at home, but you will not know for sure until the storm is over, and you survey the damage to your home. This is not the time to second guess the authorities that really have nothing to gain from sending you on a wild goose chase, so as soon as an evacuation order is given, you and your family and pets need to board up your house, turn off all the utilities, and leave. Ideally you will already have a destination that is part of your family emergency plan.

The odds are pretty good that you will take your car. The odds are also pretty good that your neighbors will do the same. For this reason traffic congestion needs to be factored into your travel time. If you leave right at the beginning, just when the evacuation orders were issued, the time delay will most likely not harm you. It only gets critical when you are one of the latecomers who are trying to escape just before the hurricane itself.

It may be advantageous to make hotel or motel reservations ahead of time so that you will have a room waiting for you and your family when you arrive. Granted, this will cost you a bit of money, but at least you will be in your own room, and you may very well be able to invite your pets to stay with you in the rooms. Another option would be to stay with a friend or family member who lives far enough from the coast and immediate inland areas that an evacuation is unlikely. If all else fails, you may need to go to a shelter. Sadly, most of these shelters will not accept pets, and those who are unwilling to leave a beloved pet alone outside for the warm safety of an indoor shelter have faced many heartbreaking scenes.

While an evacuation is a scary business – after all, you do not know what, if anything, you will find as you return – it is a must when it comes to preserving human life. This includes not only the lives of the residents who are asked to evacuate, but also the lives of the potential rescuers who will later on comb the neighborhoods looking for survivors and recovering the bodies of those who were not so fortunate. Sadly, many times these rescuers have to take on big risks simply because residents refused to evacuate in the first place, and sometimes the rescuers will have to pay with their lives for their service.

Of course, another aspect of the evacuation procedures is the perceived fear of looting. Sadly, these are very real concerns since Hurricane Katrina as well as other storms have shown that some people will not shy away from stealing from those who have almost lost everything already. While it is true that your physical presence may deter a potential looter, it is also important to remember that your physical presence may be of little consequence if you are hurt and unable to get help.

Emergencies and disasters can happen anytime, anywhere without warning. Protect yourself and your family. Click to see valuable emergency preparedness supplies and information. Be ready. Be prepared. I love this website. It's my SolveYourProblem recommendation.

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by SolveYourProblem.com : 2007

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