Crisis-Ready Society
Scenarios / Evacuation, conflict & unrest

Evacuation and leaving home quickly

Fire, flooding, a chemical release or other threats can mean leaving home with little warning. This page helps your family pack a grab bag, plan routes and meeting points, and leave and return safely.

Depends on regional security
In the UAEIn the UAE, leave burning buildings at once, avoid lifts, close doors behind you and only go back in when police or Civil Defence say it is safe. Call 997 for Civil Defence.[5]

Before

  • Pack a grab bag per person in a backpack or wheeled case, kept near the door.[1]
  • Choose one meeting place near home and another outside your neighbourhood.[1]
  • Pick an out-of-town contact everyone will call or text if separated.[1]
  • Learn more than one route out of your neighbourhood.[1]
  • Plan two ways out of every room, and use stairs, not lifts, in a building.[1]
  • Keep ID and key papers where any family member can grab them fast.[2]
  • Learn how to turn off gas, electricity and water at home.[3]
  • Ask your doctor about a two-week supply of medicines for your grab bag.[1]

During

  • Follow official instructions and use the routes authorities give.[1]
  • In a fire, leave at once and take nothing with you.[3]
  • Tell everyone, help children, older people and anyone who cannot pack alone.[2]
  • Take your grab bag, ID for everyone, phone and charger, and pets.[1]
  • Turn off utilities only if officials tell you to, then lock the door.[1]
  • Leave a note saying when you left and where you are going.[1]
  • Tell your out-of-town contact where you are heading and when you arrive.[1]
  • Register at the desk if you go to an evacuation centre.[1]

After

  • Go home only when authorities say it is safe.[1]
  • Watch for hidden hazards such as debris, broken covers and dirty water.[4]
  • Have gas, water and electricity checked before switching them back on.[4]
  • Photograph damage before cleaning up and contact your insurer.[4]
  • Throw away food that touched flood water or warmed up during long power cuts.[4]
  • Restock your grab bag so it is ready next time.[1]

Watch

Short how-to videos for this topic are being added to our channel.
Watch Crisis-Ready Society on YouTube

Official sources

  1. Get Prepared (Public Safety Canada): Your Emergency Preparedness Guide
  2. Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency (MCF): If you need to evacuate
  3. UK Government (Prepare): Get prepared for emergencies
  4. GOV.UK: What to do after a flood
  5. UAE Government Portal (u.ae): Handling emergencies

Steps are written in our own words from these pages. If advice from your local authority differs, follow your local authority.

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