Preparing to Evacuate

Preparing to Evacuate

Stock Up

  • 1 week supply of clothing
  • 2 week supply of medicine
  • Bug spray
  • Entertainment for kids
  • Fill cars with gas and check fluid levels
  • Personal hygiene products
  • Snacks, drinks and water
  • Toiletries
  • Trash bags, can be used for emergency waterproof covers

Prepare Your Home
Remove items from your yard that can become flying debris. Lawn furniture, grills, potted plants and decorations can become projectiles even in minor storms. Install shutters or plywood to protect windows. Pack freezers and refrigerators with water jugs to fill voids and help retain cold. Wrapping these with blankets will also help insulate and keep cold in. Group furniture to center of rooms and drape with tarps. Pack valuables in thicker lawn and leaf bags to waterproof. Place rolled towels in window sills and door bottoms to help keep out water. Unplug all unnecessary electrical devices.

Evacuating

Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) provides tips for travel safety and evacuating, in addition to Contra-Flow information on their website. Check out their Hurricance Season Safety Information (PDF) for more. 

 If You Choose Not to Evacuate

There simply is no good reason to take chances. If ordered to evacuate, leave. However, should you insist on staying behind there are some things you should prepare for.

No Electricity
When we experience high winds combined with heavy rainfall, trees will be blown down. Power lines will be be damaged and electrical service interrupted. The length of the outages depends on the severity and duration of the storm, and the availability of repair crews.

No Water
Whether your water comes from a municipality or your own well, pumps rely on electricity to deliver water. See above section regarding electricity.

No Stores or Gas Stations
Businesses will be closed and operators will have evacuated. They too will need electricity to operate.

No 911 Services
Once an evacuation has been ordered and sustained winds reach 35 mph, Public Safety services cannot operate. Large vehicles such as ambulances and fire truck are very susceptible to high winds and rollovers.

You should be prepared to have 7 to 10 days of food, water, medicines, emergency first aid supplies, and any other items that may be needed.

Returning Home

Emergency workers and utility crews will have to cut and push their way back into the county should we experience heavy destruction. Around 7 to 10 days is a conservative number to be prepared for when anticipating returning home after evacuations.