The storm’s coming — and you are going. Whether you are ordered to evacuate during a flood or storm or make the decision on your own, you’ll have to be ready to act fast. Here is how to prepare as completely as possible for a quick escape from house and how to alleviate the shock of displacement till you can return.

American Red Cross

1. Preassemble emergency kits for each and every member of their household, including pets. If you reside in a area at risk for flooding or hurricanes, pack them kits today and keep them within an easy-to-grab place should you ever want them. Contain:
Three days’ worth of nonperishable foodsAny required openers, disposable utensils etc.Three times’ worth of bottled water (approximately 3 gallons per person)Battery-powered or hand-crank radioSpare batteriesBasic toiletriesMedicationsFirst aid suppliesSpare glasses or contactsBed linensToilet paperHand sanitizerChange of clothes and shoesCopies of documents that are crucial, especially insurance info, home and car deeds, photocopies of your driver’s permit and credit/debit cards, medical records and prescriptions. You also can scan these and store them on a remote data storage site like google Docs, but if you don’t have electricity or Internet access, you might not be able to recover them right away.Spare keysCash (include smaller bills, as merchants might not be able to produce switch)Zip-top plastic bags and garbage bagsPhone numbers of close relatives or other emergency contacts. Contain in or at least one person who lives out of state.

American Red Cross

2. Plan how you’ll get there and where you’ll go. The route of a storm is unpredictable, so choose a few places in different directions: resorts, relatives’ or friends’ homes, emergency shelters etc.. If there are too many people in your home to fit to a single car, confirm that everyone knows which spot to head to, dependent on where the storm is projected to travel. If you have pets, ensure the temporary place you choose is pet friendly; lots of shelters prohibit animals.

Map an exit route from town, however, have in your mind another in case your original choice is closed or becomes impassable. A GPS device or a map also can be helpful when you are traveling through unfamiliar land.

3. Understand what you’ll grab on your way out the door. In addition to your emergency kits, “It is the four p‘s: pets, people, tablets and pictures,” states consumer bekp, that has plenty of evacuation experience living in North Dakota’s flood-prone Red River Valley. “The remainder can eventually be replaced.” Make sure also to choose your purse or wallet, laptop or tablet, mobile phone and chargers with you. Kids might want to bring a favorite stuffed animal or toy.

Florida gulf shore resident Kerry Christopher, that evacuated during Hurricane Ivan in 2004, suggests bringing your most recent pile of dirty clothes. His rationale: They’re items you’ve worn lately that work together and which you probably like.

American Red Cross

4. Gas up your car. If there’s even a slim chance you may want to evacuate, go ahead and top off your tank today. Otherwise you’ll be sitting in a lengthy, crawling line of automobiles in the pump.

5. Protect your house. Unplug all the electrical appliances you are able to leaving your refrigerator on unless instructed otherwise. Switch off heat, ac, fans and port systems. Shut off your gas and water when ordered to do so. Take note you will need expert assistance to turn these utilities back on, and after a catastrophe, the wait time might be as long as a couple of weeks.

Bring patio furniture and some other loose outdoor items inside. Remove rugs and bric-a-brac in the ground and lower cupboards and set them as large as you can if flooding is an opportunity. Lock windows and doors and secure storm walls or cover windows with plywood if needed.

If you’ve time, then tie the bottoms of draperies and swags to the curtain rod to stop them from water damage, suggests consumer bekp from the Remarks to some story about Hurricane Sandy. “Sometimes it’s only the small things — that there is something you may save/restore from before the flood/storm which may make a massive difference,” writes bekp.

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