How do you build a real evacuation plan?
Written by Andy Kruger
BuildSOS CEO5 min read
The short answer
You’ve likely already done most of the work if you’ve completed the other guides in this pillar: you know your household’s needs, you have a communication circle, and you know your risk. What’s left is mapping your actual route: primary and alternate ways out, a place to meet if you’re separated, and what to grab on the way.
Why a written plan beats a mental one
Under pressure, people default to whatever’s already decided, not whatever seems best in the moment. A plan you’ve thought through and written down in advance is what your household actually follows when it matters, not the plan you’d improvise in a hurry.
Building your plan, step by step
- Identify your primary evacuation route from your home to a safe area or shelter.
- Identify at least one alternate route. Roads close. Having a backup matters.
- Pick an assembly point outside your immediate neighborhood, in case household members get separated.
- Account for your household’s specific needs. Reference your household needs assessment for mobility, medical, and other considerations that affect how you evacuate.
- Include your pets. See pet emergency planning if you haven’t already.
- Know what to grab on the way out: your emergency kit, medications, documents, and anything irreplaceable that’s genuinely quick to grab.
- Use your communication circle to let people know you’re evacuating and where you’re headed.
- Practice it once. A single walkthrough surfaces gaps a plan on paper doesn’t.
Frequently asked
How often should I update this plan?
Whenever your household changes, and otherwise once a year as a check-in.
What if my primary route is blocked when I actually need to evacuate?
This is exactly why an alternate route matters. Know it in advance rather than improvising when roads may already be congested or closed.
Should I evacuate even if it’s not mandatory?
That’s a personal decision based on your specific risk and comfort level. Having a plan ready means you can act quickly whichever way you decide.
About the author
Andy Kruger
Andy Kruger is CEO of BuildSOS, author of When the Storm Comes, and sits on multiple boards and advisory groups shaping disaster resilience policy and research.
About Andy