Evacuation planning: before, during, and after

The majority of evacuation-related traffic accidents, missed exits, and bottlenecks occur because people are navigating on the fly during high-stress conditions. Route planning done in advance (including alternates) takes 30 minutes once and compounds in value every time it is needed.

• Two primary routes, two alternates: Map your primary evacuation route from your home to your designated destination (a family member's home, a pre-identified hotel outside the risk zone, or a shelter in your county's emergency management plan). Then map a second entirely different route using different roads, not a variation of the first route. Repeat both steps for a secondary destination. Four route-destination combinations covering your two most likely emergency scenarios (e.g., hurricane evacuation and wildfire evacuation if you are in a dual-risk area) is the planning minimum.
• Identify chokepoints and alternatives: On each route, identify the bridges, tunnels, and single-lane segments that will become bottlenecks in mass-evacuation traffic. For each bottleneck, identify the nearest alternative crossing or bypass route. In a wildfire scenario, fire can cut roads with minutes of warning; knowing the secondary crossings is not optional. In a hurricane, major bridges are often closed when sustained winds reach about 39 mph (Florida DOT; check your state DOT), making alternate crossings unavailable. Know this and factor it into your departure timing.
• Know your county's official evacuation routes: Most counties with significant natural hazard exposure (coastal, flood-prone, wildfire interface) publish official Evacuation Routes. These are typically available on the county emergency management office's website and are often posted on roadside signs. Official routes are designed to move large populations efficiently and are typically kept open as long as conditions permit. They may not be the fastest route under normal conditions; they are optimized for traffic volume under emergency conditions.
• Keep your fuel tank above the half-tank rule: During a mass evacuation, gas stations in the evacuation corridor run out of fuel within hours. Power outages disable pumps even at stations with supply. The half-tank rule (never let your vehicle's fuel drop below half) means you have at minimum a 150 to 200 mile range at the start of any evacuation without needing to stop for fuel. In practice, many households maintain this discipline only during active watch or warning periods; maintaining it habitually eliminates this decision point entirely.
• Mark your routes on paper: Highlight both primary routes and both alternates on a printed road map or state atlas stored in each vehicle's glove box and in your go-bag. Cell navigation fails when towers are overloaded or when you enter a data-shadow. A paper map with highlighted routes is independent of infrastructure. Include the phone numbers of your destination contact and your out-of-area family contact on the same map page.

Zone maps, shelter locations, and alert systems are managed locally; your county or state emergency management agency is the authoritative source. The FEMA directory below links directly to every state agency site. Federal Ready.gov pages provide hazard-specific overviews that apply nationally.

The first 15 minutes after an evacuation order is received are the most time-pressured part of the event. Decisions made in this window under stress are consistently worse than decisions made in advance. The only way to manage the first 15 minutes well is to have a written list and a pre-positioned bag.

• Pre-departure checklist (post it somewhere visible): Go-bag: grabbed and loaded into the vehicle. Prescription medications: checked against the go-bag's supply; add current month's supply if the go-bag supply is short. Phone: charging cable and power bank in bag or charging. Pets: carriers ready, food, bowls, any medications. Children: school bags with a change of clothes, comfort items. Vehicle: fuel level checked; fill if below half-tank if time permits. House: utility shutoffs if directed (gas main, main electrical breaker). Security: lock windows and doors; leave a note on the door for emergency personnel if directed by local authorities.
• Where family members will be during the event: If an order is issued during working hours, do not assume family members will be home. Establish in advance who picks up the children from school (the school's emergency contact list must be current), where each adult will go directly from their workplace if separated, and the physical out-of-area meeting point if communication is lost. Have this discussed and documented before you need it.
• Do not go back: Once you leave, resist the impulse to return for forgotten items. The roads become increasingly dangerous as conditions deteriorate and traffic management changes. Fires can cut roads in minutes. Waters can rise faster than expected. An item left behind is replaceable; the window to leave safely is often not re-openable.

Return only when official re-entry is announced for your area. Attempting to return during an active response operation creates hazards for rescue personnel, risks contact with ongoing hazards (downed power lines, gas leaks, structural instability), and may result in being turned back by law enforcement at a checkpoint, wasting fuel and time you cannot afford.

• Re-entry documentation: Some jurisdictions issue re-entry passes to residents of affected areas that allow access through checkpoints before general re-entry is opened. These are typically coordinated through the county emergency management office. Follow their instructions for obtaining a pass if applicable. Have your photo ID and proof of residency (the deed, lease, or a piece of official mail with your address) in the document pouch of your go-bag for this purpose.
• Utility checks before re-entering the building: Walk the exterior of the building before opening doors. Check for structural damage: cracked foundations, shifted walls, roof damage. If you smell gas outside the building, do not enter. Call the gas utility emergency line from a safe distance and wait for them. Do not operate any electrical switches, outlets, or appliances until the electricity has been inspected or you are certain there is no flood damage to the electrical system. If the structure has been flooded, have it inspected by a licensed electrician before restoring power.
  Pro recommended: Licensed Electrician
• Document damage before beginning cleanup: Photograph and video every damaged area before moving or removing anything. This documentation is what your insurance claim is built on. Photograph from multiple angles, include wide shots showing context, and close-ups showing specific damage. Do not discard damaged property until the insurance adjuster has inspected; this is a condition of most property insurance policies and discarding items prematurely can complicate or reduce your claim.
• Contacting your insurer: Call your homeowner's or renter's insurance company as soon as you can document the damage. Most policies require prompt notification of a claim; delays in reporting can complicate recovery. Ask specifically about: advance payments for immediate living expenses while you are displaced, the process for temporary repairs to prevent further damage (typically reimbursable), and the adjuster inspection timeline. Keep receipts for all emergency expenses (hotel, meals, temporary repairs), as these may be recoverable under Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage.