How will you know if you need to evacuate?
You will hear to evacuate from your police, fire, or other local officials on the radio, television, your mobile news app, or by text alerts on the emergency alert service.
You may need to evacuate for a few hours, possibly a few days, or longer.
- If you hear or get a text message code red alert code or severe terror alert, pay attention to the radio, television, or your mobile news app to know if you need to evacuate.
- You will hear from your police, fire, or other local officials over the emergency alert system to evacuate or stay put and seal off your space. Always follow the instructions of your police, fire, or other local officials.
How do you get ready to evacuate?
Make a plan to keep you and your loved ones safe if you must evacuate from your home.
Follow these 6 steps to keep you and your loved ones safe.
- Plan how you would leave and where you would go to get away from the chemical release. Think of several different routes in case one is blocked.
- Always follow the instructions of your police, fire, or other local officials. They will identify local shelters and give directions.
- Find a place that will take pets but also have a plan to leave a pet with someone else if needed.
- Make an emergency plan to stay in contact if you and your children or loved ones are separated. You may need to relay messages through texts or social media.
- Practice so everyone knows what to do.
- Put together Ready to Go bags for you and one for your pet. You may want 2 bags – one for home and one for your car, truck, or other vehicle.
Ready to Go bag
A Ready to Go bag contains basic supplies and important papers you may need if you evacuate.
- First aid kit.
- Flash light, battery-powered or crank radio, and extra batteries for both.
- Charging cables for cell phones.
- Bottled water. Get 1 gallon of water per person in plastic bottles or jugs.
- Food. Buy ready to eat foods that do not need a refrigerator.
- Personal care items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, and skin wipes.
- Medications and medication list.
- Papers such as insurance cards, immunization records, or other health information in a waterproof bag.
- Dust mask.
- Multipurpose tool that includes a knife, can opener, bottle opener, and screw driver.
- A supply of large and small trash bags and several pairs of disposable gloves.
Pet Ready to Go bag
Your pet Ready to Go bag contains supplies and important papers for your pet if you need to evacuate.
- Enough food and water to last 2 weeks.
- Food and water bowls for your pet.
- A litter box and scoop able cat litter for cats along with plastic poop bags for cats. Disposable aluminum roasting pans are good as well.
- Plastic poop bags and a week of cage liners for dogs.
- A supply of large and small trash bags and several pairs of disposable gloves.
- Medicines to last 2 weeks.
- A pet first aid kit.
- Extra pet collar, leashes, and harnesses.
- Pet crate or carrier with pet pads. Add a t-shirt you have worn so your pet will have your scent for comfort.
- A blanket.
- Medical records, especially shot (vaccination) records in a waterproof bag.
- Microchip number (if your pet is microchipped).
- Your name, address, phone numbers, and the same information for close friends or relatives.
- For cats: toys, a pillow case.
- For dogs: toys, chew toys.
More Information
Page last reviewed: March 31, 2022
Content source: National Center for Environmental Health