What if you had to evacuate?

[HollyJoy]

I thought that I was the only person who thought about this! I always think about "what if.." and the material things that I would take if I could really prepare for an evacuation. Since we have a van, we would have a lot of room for stuff. We would definately take all our important papers (would help if our home was destroyed). Another must is all our photo albums and scrapbooks, along with home movies and such. I figure this would only be a few boxes. Then it would go to personal items and momentos. I have some paintings by a great uncle, lots of geneology stuff, and china that belonged to my parents. We'd pack some necessities in the way of clothing, but not too much. The kids would bring their favorite toys (again, not much) and some clothing. I think I'd stuff the van as full as I could. Once again, this is if I could actually plan for an evacuation and had the time to pack up the van.

 

[caitycaity]

clothes
everything in our fireproof safe (important documents and the negatives of our wedding photos)
my laptop
my ipod

 

[va32h]

It's funny - my house is chock full of family pictures, pictures of the kids, etc. and yet I would not stop to grab them in an emergency. I am not a "saver" of stuff - dh is, he'd be grabbing things left and right. I guess it would depend on how much time I had to prepare.

At the bare minimum, I'd take the children - and each child's security object. For dd2, her blanket and stuffed puppy, for dd5, his tiger and remnants of his blanket, for dd9 - she'd probably want her American Girl doll.

I do have their birth certificates and social security cards in one place, so I could grab those.

But I think beyond that, I'd just go.

 

[MagicalMom]

We almost evacuated during Hurricane Isabel. I loaded up the car, ready to go.

Now I have an evac kit and storage bins (like aprincessmom) all set and ready. You won't have much time to gather stuff plus your mind will be on other things - so get those things together now.

I packed some things up before Isabel too. It was pretty depressing because I had to go to work (nurse) & wanted to load up the car for DH & the kids in case they had to go somewhere. They made out just fine at home (Delaware) but the area I was in in Maryland was rerribly flooded.

I think I would also bring our tent. If we had to leave for an extended period I'd rather find a cheap campground than go to a shelter.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We take at least our computer hard drives....

Tell the girls to pack a suitcase with their most precious items that they don't want the hurricane to break....

Wedding items.

Important papers/documents.

Hubby's laptop.

And whatever else will fit.

I take way more than 3 days of clothes....we take as much as we can assuming our home will be destroyed.

We take our bottled water/food with us that can be taken....b/c what good is it if it is in a part of the house that is significantly damaged.



Regarding cash--we don't keep it in the house...so I wouldn't need to pack it .

 

[safetymom]

I have a large Rubbermaid container with all the hurricane supplies in it. I have several zip lock bags with the important papers I would need along with one that has my prescription drugs in it. I also would take my pets, my laptop and of course my camera. I also have the important photos on CD's. I also made copies of the important family photos so I am not the only person that has those pictures in case something would happen.

 

[jenm2878]

The papers in my fire-proof box, my picture albumn, and all my fuzzy babies! (3 cats, 2 bunnies) No way would I leave my fuzzies. Everything else is just things.

 

[Disney Doll]

Phot0s, the dog, DH some clothes, somne non-perishable food, dog food, my good jewelry, important papers, first aid kit, medicine, Leatherman, cooler, cell phone.

 

[christineann]

When we left Charleston because of hurricane Hugo, we took a couple changes of clothes, the photo albums and videos of the children (they were toddlers at the time) and (of course) our pets. We lost just about everything we left behind, but you just have to put things in perspective - most of the stuff is stuff and can be replaced. If we ever have to leave again, I will take the same things, plus the Christmas ornaments that my kids have made.

 

[MeanLaureen]

Well once we packed the 3 poodles, the tibetan spaniel, the 5 cockatiels, the 7 parakeets, a jumbo sized bag of kibble, a jumbo sized bag of 'tiel chow, a jumbo sized bag of 'keet chow and us in the car.. not a chance that there would be room for much of anything else..lol Matt would probably try to strap his comic book collection to the roof though..

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

I think I would also bring our tent. If we had to leave for an extended period I'd rather find a cheap campground than go to a shelter.

That's what I was saying to DH a few weeks ago. We have lots of camping gear, and that would be an alternative to expensive hotels or a shelter.

I feel so unprepared, but we usually don't have many natural disasters in this part of the country.

The ideas about the photos on CD are great.

My kids said they discussed this topic at school after Katrina, and they all said one thing they would grab would be their quilts. I've made each of my kids their own quilt. They would take it for sentimental reasons, but in case of a real disaster, they would be very practical as well.

 

[Aidensmom]

My important photos are on CD and those CDs are packed in my hurricane kit. If I had to evacaute, I would take my hurricane kits which have all our important documents and survival stuff, the cat and his supplies, laptop computer, digital camera and some clothes.

You can tell we've done this! That's exactly what we take, but add in a bible and a dog and his supplies too.

 

[C.Ann]

Cash, important papers, DH's wedding ring, photos, assorted medications, non-perishable foods, beverages, cell phone, flashlights, radio, batteries, extra pair of eyeglasses, pillows and blankets, extra change of clothing, extra pair of shoes, watch, important telephone numbers, police scanner, and MORE cash!!

 

[krissy2803]

DH and I are both ham radio operators. We are usually called in to areas that most people are evacuating from. To provide communications when standard lines of communications are down. We have "go bags" ready at all times. They contain water, food, copies of our important documents, etc.
I like the idea of putting photos on a cd. I think I will add that.

 

[DarkSideMoon]

What would you take? Other than important papers, I'd have to take some photos. I was thinking that I really should put my favorite photos together so I could easily grab them if I ever needed to. Or maybe even put them all on a CD so that I'd have them handy if I had to go somewhere. What would be really important to you?

1. 22.
2. ammo
3. tent
4. cash, oodles and boodles
5. things dear to me
6.dog
7. maybe a 12 gauge
8. digital camera
9. cell phone
10. food and water for one to two weeks.
11. car

 

[EsmeraldaX]

My dogs. I'd die in my flooded house before I'd evac without them.

I'd also take some of my photos, my hard drive, id & important papers, and a few material objects of emotional importance to me, one of which could double as a weapon if need be.