This topic contains 9 replies, has 7 voices, and was last updated by 
Daisy 1 year, 7 months ago.
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Do gas explosions count as “natural disasters”? 4000 folks were evacuated near here because of a grass fire threatening a natural gas pipeline explosion.
I was listening to a radio report on folks talking about having to evacuate on short notice and how they wish they’d had a go bag ready. One guy left without his meds. Most folks didn’t have warm enough clothes or blankets with them. One lady didn’t have a crate for her cat, so had to stay in her car.
How many are ready to evacuate in the middle of the night with 5 minutes to be out on the road? What kind of preparation have you made to be able to evac quickly?
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While I have our meds staged for grab-and-go and the cat carrier and dog leashes handy (with vaccination records for all the animals in the cat carrier), I hate to admit how often I have to walk around the house looking for where I left my keys and purse this time. What’s stupid is that I have a place for them to live! I’m off now to go make sure they’re in their place now!
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I’d much rather stay home than evacuate in most cases, but their are certainly times — like what you describe — when leaving is the best choice. Maybe I’ll work on grab and go bags tomorrow… I generally do some prepping on Saturdays.
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AnonymousOur meds are on top of the fridge, they all go, no questions asked. My husband is the most fast compact packing person I know when it is time to leave. Me I have a million purses and no clue what is in each one, so they would all go! My daughter takes after her father. My boys, HELP!
Our biggest problem with evacuating is the road placement. Idiots drew up the plans, bigger idiots agreed to use those plans. One wreck 15 miles away from here will tie up traffic where I am for hours, because the roads make no sense!
When we evacuated from Floyd I remember looking out the window and just thinking if it comes we would die on the interstate. It took up 4 hours to go less than 10 miles. If I could have gotten off the bus with my kids we would have walked back home!
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Me I have a million purses and no clue what is in each one, so they would all go!
I used to be constantly frustrated with having my wallet in a library bag, my sunglasses in the diaper bag and other things in a purse. Each day I used whatever bag was appropriate for the situation, but I hated having each bag partially packed. Now I unload my bag as soon as I get home. Each item goes in a particular place and if I need to leave in quickly I can grab everything needed in under five minutes.
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AnonymousI have gotten better over the years. It only took me one time of going to the store and finding out at the register that my money was in my other purse to figure it out. OMG was my husband mad at me since he was the one who had to drive home to find my other purse!!! I added a few dollars to the gas fund that week 🙂
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On purses – I started using a smaller bag that I just transfer from one purse to the other. It’s got my wallet, chapstick, inhaler, and other miscellaneous stuff. That way, I at least have the necessities with me even if most stuff is “in my other purse”.
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The destruction of Paradise, California in the Camp Fire. What caught my eye in the stories is how many times you see the line “….so all they had time to do was grab some family photos and flee with the clothes on their backs and nothing else.” That is sad. A go-bag could help them be more comfortable wherever they end up. I remember Daisy’s blog had an excellent article on how she and her daughters prepared to be ready to evacuate a wildfire.
I feel sad and mad that in the year 2018, county governments do not have specific plans for evacuating elderly people and handicapped people. It always seems to come down to one lone heroic man risking his life to go save an elderly or handicapped neighbor. Why on earth don’t the police and fire departments and national guard have a by-name list of people in the county who need help evacuating?
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Anonymous@Molly Malone — My health is poor, nevertheless I sure as heck don’t want LE or county government to know it. Privacy!!!
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Here are a few of the things I’ve learned about leaving fast.
- One tip for leaving in a big hurry is to grab your dirty clothes hampers. They’ll be full of complete outfits right down to the undies and socks, and perhaps a pair of PJs too. (Unless, of course, you just did laundry) Have every family member grab the hamper from their room and then you’ve got clothing for the price of a trip to the laundromat.
- I now feed the cats in their carriers so I can lure them in fast.
- We have our most important sentimental things all displayed together on top of a small decorative trunk that contains other sentimental items and our binders full of important documents.
- Important information is on a thumb drive on my keychain.
- The dogs are easy – ask them if they want to go for a walk and they’re at the door waiting for a leash.
These things can all be loaded into the car FAST. When speed is of the essence, focus on the things that can never be replaced and leave things like clothing behind. That’s why you have insurance.
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