Do You and Your Family Know How to Evacuate in an Emergency?

When an emergency strikes, there is usually a small window of time to get you and your family to safety. In addition, you need to maintain enough composure to retrieve important documents and other necessities to take with you. That's why it's imperative you map out an evacuation plan before disaster strikes. This way, you will ensure that if you are a victim of a fire, a hurricane or a flood, you will be able to act immediately.

The Insurance Information Institute recommends the following five-step action plan:

1. Arrange Your Evacuation

    Map out your primary route and a backup route in case roads are blocked or impassable.

    Ask an out-of-town friend or family member to act as a contact person in case your family is separated during the evacuation.

    Identify a specific place to meet in case your family members are forced to flee separately.

    Listen to local radio and television reports when disaster threatens. Use travel routes specified by local authorities-don't use shortcuts because certain areas may be impassable or dangerous.

2. Create a Home Inventory

Create a complete home inventory of your personal property. A home inventory will help you ensure that you have purchased enough insurance to replace your possessions. It will also speed the claims process, and will substantiate losses for income tax purposes.

3. Plan What to Take

    Medicines and prescriptions

    Clothing

    Blankets and toys

    Flashlight and battery-powered radio

    Computer hard drive or laptop

    Photographs

    Pet food

4. Gather Important Financial Documents

Keep important financial documents in a safe place that you can access easily. In the event of an evacuation take the following documents with you:

    Insurance policies

    Birth and marriage certificates

    Passports

    Drivers license or personal identification

    Social Security cards

    Recent tax returns

    Employment information

    Wills, deeds, and any trust arrangements

    Stocks, bonds and other negotiable certificates

    Bank, savings and retirement account numbers

    Home inventory

5. Take the Ten-Minute Challenge

To find out if you are ready, conduct a real-time test. Give yourself just 10 minutes to get your family and belongings into the car and on the road to safety. By planning ahead, families are able to gather their children and pets, along with the most important items they will need, calmly and efficiently, with a minimum of stress and confusion.

The Insurance Information Institute has created the Know Your Stuff home inventory software. This is free, downloadable software you can use to organize and list possessions on your computer and burn the finished inventory onto a CD-ROM. You get a copy by logging on to http://www.knowyourstuff.org.