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During natural disasters like wildfires and hurricanes, people in at-risk areas are often asked or ordered to evacuate. It's important to prepare and heed evacuation warnings. Below is a checklist list of the necessities you should pack or take with you whether you are evacuating from a fire or another natural disaster.
1. People and Pets
You should pick a meeting point for your family members to join each other after evacuating that is safe and away from the high-risk zones. You should also plan your escape routes and practice them, so your family knows where to go.
Have a plan for safely evacuating your pets, who may be frightened.
2. Papers, phone numbers and important documents
Papers and important documents could get damaged in wildfires and other natural disasters. You should take things like IDs, passports, insurance cards and Social Security cards with you. You may also want to take a list of important numbers with you — if your phone dies, you can't access your contact list.
3. Prescriptions
Have your full, current supply of prescriptions packed in case you can't get to a pharmacy. You may also want to take other health supplies like vitamins, eyeglasses and extra contacts.
4. Photos and personal items
Especially in fire areas, where entire homes can be destroyed, you should take family photos and small mementos that you wouldn't want to lose and that are irreplaceable to you. You will also want room for other personal items like toiletries and even snacks and water. The United States Department of Agriculture recommends packing enough water and food for two to three days.
5. Personal computer and hard drives
If your work or personal documents are digital, bring the hard drives or laptop computers they are on. Computers can get destroyed in fires or other storms like hurricanes.
6. Plastics — credit cards, ATM cards, cash
Lastly, take your credit and debit cards and cash. In many cases, people don't know when they will be able to return home. With power outages, even ATMs may shut down, so it is important to have cash and other forms of payment when you leave home.
Preparing to evacuate
Be prepared and have a plan for evacuating your family and pets out of the area, packing an emergency supply kit, talking to your loved ones about a communication plan and following local evacuation updates.
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