Right now I’m sitting near my front window and I can see a giant plume of smoke coming from the other side of the hill. And I wonder if this is the time we will have to evacuate.
The last few months our entire country has been riddled with intense weather causing immense damage. And so when I saw the smoke I realized it was my turn.
My turn to be on edge
My turn to get prepared
My turn to keep my family safe
Except I didn’t really know what to do, what to pack or even where to begin. Thankfully, there are few things I can do now so that if my family ever does need to evacuate we can at least be somewhat prepared. I can’t really say we will be fine as knowing everything you own will be burned to the ground doesn’t really seem “fine.”
Important Documents
- Most things are available online these days so make sure you have the login information to all of your accounts.
- Photo ID, SSN cards, Birth Certificates, Passports – You will need the photo ID for re-entry into your neighborhood and it’s a huge hassle to deal with getting another SSN card so just be sure to keep it in a safe place.
- Tax statements to provide contact information for financial and legal providers & apply for FEMA disaster assistance. (Most of these are online so once again make sure you are able to quickly access them).
- Housing documents – These are usually not online so make sure you have anything vital in one place ready to be taken.
Clothing
- Get your purse! This will help with the above as well!
- Clothing for a few days.
- Underwear – as easy as it is to forget try to pack yourself a few extra pairs. Some evacuations last several days.
- Diapers – If you have littles you won’t want to be without diapers or wipes for any amount of time. Have an extra box on hand that can be taken at a moment’s notice.
Electronics
- Computers, phones, iPads, etc.
- Chargers for all of your electronics.
- Any other electronics that you don’t want to leave behind and can fit into your vehicle. (My husband is convinced we could fit our flat screen…wishful thinking!)
Food
Hopefully, where you are evacuating to will have something for you to eat, but there is a good possibility that food could be scarce and if you have little children you’ll want to make sure you have snacks/food for a few days.
- Snacks
- Non-perishable food
- Water
- Formula
- Bottles
Valuables
If you have time during your evacuation try to get your most important valuables together.
- Jewelry
- Antiques
- Cash
- Bonds
- Personal Memorabilia
- Photos that aren’t digitized
Hygiene
You’ll want to have some personal hygiene items with you if possible
- Deodorant
- Feminine products
- Medications
- Tooth/Hair Brush
- Contact Case/Solution
- Glasses
Pets
Anything and everything you need for your pets. Please don’t leave them behind!
We know that having to evacuate is the last thing that anyone wants to do, but hopefully, we have helped you start the conversation of being prepared. Check out these links and stay safe mamas!
