Make an evacuation check list, detailing the steps necessary to close your house and get safely away. If you wish, use the Family Evacuation Checklist form provided.
The “Things to Take” section is for necessary items which are used every day and are too expensive to replicate or cannot be to be replicated in your Emergency Evacuation kit.
For instance, a 2nd toothbrush is an inexpensive item that should be bought specifically to stay in your kit. It is not the one you use every day. Eyeglasses, however, are needed every day and are too expensive to duplicate and leave unused in your kit. Therefore, eyeglasses are on the “Things to Take” list. The goal of the kit is to minimize the number of things you need to find and grab before getting away.
The goal of the Evacuation Checklist is to remind you of all the things you need to take and do. There are extra lines on the form that you can use to fill in your personal evacuation needs.
Assume you have only 10 minutes to make your getaway happen. IMPORTANT: Test run the checklist drill with your household members, and then see what you forgot or missed. Note how long it takes, also. Correct all problems that arise. An example Checklist is shown below.
