03/27/2025
What would you bring if you needed to evacuate immediately? What things in your life are vital and irreplaceable? Where are they?
Last night, with an uncontained fire not far from me, I updated my bug out list and ran through my plan if I need to evacuate immediately. If you live in WNC/Asheville, NOW is the time to locate your important items and make a plan.
Evacuation Protocol
🐶 1.) PETS
💖 2.) FAMILY PRINTED PHOTOS/VIDEOS AND SPECIAL IRREPLACEABLE HEIRLOOMS
💵 3.) CASH SAFES ( cash will burn inside)
🪪 4.) VITAL RECORDS (Deeds, social security cards, passports)
💊 5.) VITAL MEDICATIONS
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IF YOU ARE IN MANDATORY EVACUATION AND ORDERED TO LEAVE GO IMMEDIATELY.
✅TURN ON LIGHTS so Fire dept can see your house- (this saved many homes in our area as did solar lights)
✅Walk through the house quickly with video camera on and video each room of the house. If you have time, open all the closets, drawers and cabinets. This will help immensely with insurance claims later.
✅Leave gates unlocked.
✅Leave the hose out where it’s easy to spot
✅Turn off propane or gas lines if possible and if there’s anything leaning up against the house or fence or propane tank like trash cans, move them.
✅Bring headlamps, water, electrolytes and snacks
✅grab your dirty laundry… it’s likely your favorite clothes you wear most often.
✅Text someone you trust and send them your SHARED LOCATION until the end of the day when you evacuate. Text them your car description and plate number.
✅Have evacuation location set up and have backup just in case. Download map in case you lose service. Map marked with at least two evacuation routes
✅save all your receipts for hotel/gas/food while evacuated.
✅if you have to abandon car for any reason pull car off the road and don’t block traffic. Leave keys in the car if you’re stuck and everyone’s abandoning cars.
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IF YOU HAVE 1-2 HOURS BEFORE EVACUATION
INSIDE THE HOUSE (if there is time- if you are still in a safe / not in emergency mandatory evacuation area but you feel you will evacuate during the night)
✅LOCATE PETS & put into crates or get into car. Give calming treats if you have them.
✅Shut all windows and doors (interior too) and leave them unlocked.
✅Remove combustible window shades and curtains; close metal shutters if you have them.
✅Move furniture to the center of the room, away from windows.
✅Turn off pilot lights
✅shut off a/c/heat & propane tank
✅Attach hoses to spigots
✅Leave indoor and outdoor lights ON- it can be hard to see where homes are in thick black smoke so solar lights really save homes.
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OUTSIDE & IN NEIGHBORHOOD
✅If you have a swimming pool write a note on cardboard with an arrow pointing in direction for firefighters
✅Move propane BBQ away from structures.
✅Place combustible outdoor items (patio furniture, toys, doormats, trash cans, etc.) in the garage or 30’ from structures (optional: place in a pool).
✅Shut off gas at the meter or propane tank; move small tanks at least 15’ away from combustibles.
✅Connect garden hoses with squeeze grip nozzles to outdoor spigots for use by firefighters.
✅Fill water buckets and place them around outside of the house, especially near decks and fences for animals & firefighters.
✅Back your car into the driveway, loaded, with doors and windows closed.
✅Prop open fence and side gates.
✅Place ladder(s) at the corner(s) of structures for firefighters.
✅Seal attic and ground vents with precut plywood or metal covers (even duct tape will protect from ember entry) if time allows.
✅Patrol your property and monitor conditions. ✅Leave if spot fires ignite or conditions change.
✅Put a ladder at the house corner for firefighters access. Also leave garden implements like rakes etc at the front of the house for firefighters.
✅Wear protective clothing and bring respirators or a good mask/bandanas for face.
✅Close doors inside the house to prevent draft.
✅Fill & ready any gas-powered water pumps.
✅DISCONNECT automatic garage doors so they can open by hand (close door).
✅Notify an out-of-area contact of your phone number, location and status and share location with them when you evacuate. Update them as you can.
✅Leave a note with your contact info and out-of-area contact taped to fridge or inside a front window.
✅Check on or call neighbors to alert them to prepare at first sign of fire.
✅Set up wildlife cameras so that you can stay updated from afar- this helped fire-survivors greatly in our area
✅Put “Go Kits” in your vehicle.
✅Get in the practice of parking the car so that it is facing the direction off your property for faster escape
Stay safe and look out for one another. The most important thing in your disaster recovery is community. These are times that ask us all to strengthen and fortify those bonds. Wrapping you and all the animals and most vulnerable among us in protection and love ❤️
