Yikes. That sweet little creek that winds through your subdivision? It’s just become a river that soon will be flowing through your living room. You’ve got to gather the family and go — fast.
Though we Midwesterners don’t consider evacuation nearly as much as our hurricane-plagued neighbors to the south, recent Northern Illinois floods and off-season tornadoes indicate we need to be prepared.
“In the event of a sudden emergency, such as a fire, tornado or other disaster, you may have just minutes to get out of the house, possibly for good,” says Loretta Worters of the Insurance Information Institute in New York City.
Preparation and practice are key, Worters says. Paperwork, documents and supplies should be packed in “grab-and-go boxes” and stored in a safe, easily accessible spot, and you need to do a few dry runs, giving your family 10 minutes to get everything together, get it in the car and get on the road. Here are the steps Worters recommends to help disaster-proof your life:
1. Inventory it: A daunting task for many, taking a home inventory is nonetheless crucial, says Worters, who suggests setting aside an afternoon or weekend and involving your whole family. Go through your home and list all your possessions, from jewelry and electronics to toys and clothing. Take digital pictures and/or video of your stuff. Make copies of receipts or scan them into your computer. Copy everything to a disk or a portable USB drive, and store it in your grab-and-go box with a printout of your inventory. Keep second copies somewhere secure outside your home, such as in a safe deposit box or with an out-of-town friend or family member. (The Insurance Institute offers free downloadable home inventory software at knowyour stuff.org.)
It’s important to update your inventory yearly — after the holidays is a good time, Worters says — and make sure everything is adequately insured. And, she says, remember to document any recent home renovations.
2. Gather it: Round up important documents and store them in your grab-and-go box. A simple portable file system from an office supply store will work fine, Worters says, as will a small file safe, though you want to make sure it’s lightweight enough to move easily. Along with your home inventory, in your grab-and-go box put copies of insurance policies and health insurance information; prescriptions and medical records; birth and marriage certificates; divorce decrees; vehicle titles; citizenship papers; adoption records; passports; drivers’ licenses and identification cards; Social Security cards; recent tax returns; employment information; wills and deeds; stocks, bonds and negotiable certificates; and bank and retirement account numbers; and passwords.
3. Plan it: Decide where you will go if you must evacuate your house, whether it’s the home of a friend or family member, a hotel or even a shelter. Worters advises identifying a primary and a secondary location. Write the phone numbers and addresses of these locations down and keep them in your grab-and-go box. Map out a route to the evacuation site, then map out a backup location in case roads are blocked or impassable. Because family members can be separated during an evacuation, designate a specific place to meet. Ask a friend or family member who lives out of town to act as a contact person. Make sure everyone in your family knows this person’s phone numbers. For more information, The American Red Cross (redcross.org) and the Department of Homeland Security (ready.gov) offer suggestions for creating a family disaster plan.
4. Take it: Draw up a list of what you will need to take with you, and keep as many of these items as possible packed in a box or plastic bin. Include prescription medications and a first-aid kit; cash, checkbook and credit cards; bottled water; snacks; clothing; blankets or sleeping bags and pillows; a flashlight; a battery-powered radio and extra batteries; your computer hard drive or laptop; sentimental items; a few toys for the children and comfort items, such as favorite blankets; and pet food and other pet items, such as litter, litter boxes and leashes. And don’t forget family photos: Include a few albums, or put them on disk or a USB drive.
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5. Test it: Practice evacuating by holding a “real-time test,” Worters advises. Give your family members 10 minutes to gather their belongings and documents and get in the car. Run through the drill a few times until your family has it down.
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