Grab 'n Go, Part Three (Evacuation Preparation)

Posted on 19-Sep-2006 at 22:04

We’ve already touched on a basic “grab ‘n go” pack for your vehicle which will get you through a day trip with the kids or a roadside emergency, as well as putting together 72-hour packs for each member of your family in case of short-term emergency needs.  Now I’d like you to consider what items are vital to your family in case of a major evacuation due to natural disaster or political strife.  Here in the U.S.A. we more frequently deal with natural disasters such as tornadoes, forest fires, and earthquakes, before the latter.  Those of you homesteading in other countries may face issues such as riots, terrorist attacks, and political operations that can turn an area upside down for days, weeks, or months on end.

Because the possibilities vary so much by region, even within one country, it’s hard to say what “necessities” apply to each homesteader.  Instead, I have questions for you.  Sit down with your spouse and discuss the following considerations.  Families with older children may want to make this an informative and educational opportunity, since older children can and should be expected to help the family in survival mode. 

• Start at the beginning.  What mode of transportation will you use to evacuate?  Families with livestock need to make the decision whether to secure animals in a barn and hope for the best or to spend time loading them into trailers.  Do you have enough adults trained to drive a vehicle towing a trailer along with a second vehicle for the family?  Remember, as much as we love our animals, our children must come first.  If you have a smaller, faster vehicle, be prepared to leave the larger, more cumbersome one behind if necessary.  If you are splitting the family into separate vehicles, have a chosen point of contact out of the area to check in with by phone or radio, along with a previously chosen meeting place.  If you are split up on the road, each driver will know to make their way to that spot. 
• Other transportation issues to consider: if you are in a rural area, would horseback, a four-wheeler or a motorcycle be a better option?  During an earthquake, roads and bridges can be torn to shreds in an instant.  Flooding will make many routes impassable.  Would you be better off on a small, nimble vehicle or leading a couple of sure-footed horses loaded with your gear and smallest children to higher ground?  If you’re driving a truck or SUV, is there a boat you could haul along as well during floods?
• Now: what will you take with you?  You’ve already got a basic day pack in each of your vehicles, as well as 72-hour packs, right?  So you’ve got the bare minimums covered.  Now is the time to plan for extended problems, considering your needs for a week or longer.  This is particularly important if you will be attempting to evacuate with pets.  Durable plastic storage cases filled with food, clothing and toiletries, large water containers, camping gear such as tents, sleeping bags, and a camp stove or portable grill will be essential.  Some families in high-risk areas invest in a small horse trailer and keep it stocked year-round with their evacuation goods.  (Remember to go through each season and rotate food and clothing, based on family members’ current sizes and seasonal needs!)  Others keep such gear stocked in a storage area of the home, ready to be loaded into the car on a moment’s notice.  The important thing here is to be prepared: decide in advance who will go, how they’ll go, what they’ll need, and have it ready!
• Don’t forget that during some emergencies, you may choose to remain on your homestead.  This is especially true for those in suburban and urban areas.  Your present location may very well be safer than being out on the streets.  Power failures from winter ice storms don’t mean an evacuation is necessary; they do, however, mean that you’ll be without electricity and possibly water for anywhere from hours to days or weeks.  Stay put, stay warm, stay dry, and stay occupied.  You’ll still need food, water, and other supplies set aside, even if power outages are the worst emergencies you see your family facing.
• While you’re considering safety, decide how to best protect your family.  Police, firefighters, and EMTs will be overworked during large-scale emergencies.  Assume that you may be responsible for protecting your family and providing basic First Aid to family members and even neighbors during these times.  It’s always good to have older children and adult family members take a Red Cross First Aid class to learn basic medical responses, including CPR.  Those of you who hunt should also make sure children of adequate maturity are trained in safe use of firearms.  If something should happen to you, an older child may well need to protect himself and his younger siblings, or to provide food and water for the family.  Make sure children you deem capable of handling weapons are trained and prepared for the worst, then hope they don’t have to use their knowledge.
• Are you a business owner?  Be sure to make arrangements for your business as well as your family.  Important documents, expensive equipment, and other such items need to be dealt with.  Will you lock down your shop and keep employees with you because you are in a safe zone, with families meeting at your location, or will you shut down and head home to gather privately?  Discuss these options with anyone who works for you.  Remind them to prepare their families as well!

• Come up with ways to introduce your family’s evacuation concepts to younger kids; you’d be amazed at what they consider important after the basics of food, water, and shelter.  Comfort comes in many forms, and little ones who are content are much more likely to follow requests from older siblings than those who are caught unaware and afraid.  Scared children are more likely to dash away from an emergency in an instinctual attempt to survive, adding one more problem to the family’s situation. 
• Be sure small pets are secured in carriers and large pets are adequately secured if you are taking them with you.  Unless they are incredibly well-trained to stay with and defend the family, many pets will attempt their own evacuation plans…which normally includes running away from the fray or hiding in what they think is a safe place.  They don’t understand that a burning home is not the place you want to be stuck searching for them or trying to draw them out!  As soon as you are given an evacuation order, get your family to your chosen transportation and get the pets secured in their assigned location.

These are just the basic questions to ask yourself when it comes to preparing your family for large-scale emergencies.  Check with your local county extension office, or do searches on federal sites for further suggestions and resources.  Just like planning your escape routes in case of fire in a home or place of business, more in-depth emergency preparedness can get you through the worst safely.  Don’t delay: plan today!

Untitled Comment

Posted by morningsunshine on 20-Sep-2006 at 09:32 - Link

i can't find the part one of this... I really like this "series" you have posted. thanks!

Extra comments

Posted by Anonymous on 20-Sep-2006 at 17:05 - Link

Okay, many things have been covered. A few more thoughts.
A cane or walking stick is a good, besides helping with sure footing it can have many other uses. Center support for a tarp to make shelter, personal defense, etc.
The loveys are very important. Make sure NOT to wash loveys, they'll smell like "home" to kids and pets alike. Pacifiers for babies, make sure to bring along one that has been used before. Sitting on a jet, at Rhein Main Air Base, 13 hours, with a binkie your 5 month old baby keeps spitting out is not fun!
Even for older kids "receiving" blankets make a quick, easy cozy. Warmth and the smells they are used to makes for calmer moments. (that was 27 hours sitting in an old Commissary at Heidelberg)
Small paperback books that the whole family is familiar with are good. "The Borrowers" is good for many ages, and an easy "read aloud" for older kids to read to little ones. "Little Women", "Wind in the Willows", etc. have enough action to keep minds busy, but not overly stressful stories.
Any small "beanie" type animals make handy loveys too, especially well played with ones.
Adults, how about a deck of playing cards, a crossword puzzle book, a small paperback, & maybe some Yahtzee pads & dice?
Fishing tackle is easy to do in one of those small compartmentalized boxes. (Plus Grampa had lots of fun picking out lures, weights, hooks, line, etc. even if he wasn't going to be able to fish with it on a regular basis) A "travel size" fishing pole.
Some smalll "purse size" magazines make a good addition, Reader's Digest (lots of topics), Prevention (good medical & nutrition), etc.
Your mind can work for days on small things to keep boredom away if you are stranded for an extended period of time.