Read this first
- This is life-safety guidance. Evacuating during a tornado or sheltering during a wildfire can be deadly — match the action to the specific hazard and do exactly what local officials direct. Confirm against current Ready.gov / FEMA guidance.
What to do
To evacuate
- 1Prepare ahead — know two or more routes and destinations in different directions, a pet plan, a ready go-bag, and keep the tank at least half full.
- 2Leave early — don't wait until the hazard arrives; roads jam and close.
- 3Grab the kit, wear sturdy shoes and long clothing, and tell your out-of-area contact where you're going.
- 4Secure the home — lock up, unplug small appliances, and (if told) shut off utilities.
- 5Follow official routes — no shortcuts; avoid washed-out roads and downed lines, and never drive into flooded water.
- 6Go to your destination or an open shelter, and check in.
To shelter in place
- 1Get everyone (and pets) inside immediately.
- 2Close and lock doors and windows; close vents and fireplace dampers.
- 3Turn off fans, AC, and forced-air heat so outside air isn't drawn in.
- 4Move to an interior room with few windows; take your emergency kit.
- 5For an airborne hazard, seal the room's windows, doors, and vents with plastic sheeting and duct tape.
- 6Monitor local media and stay until authorities say it's safe.
Which one, when
- Evacuate when the danger comes to you and you can get away — wildfire, hurricane, flood, a nearby hazardous spill.
- Shelter in place when it's safer to stay inside than go out — a tornado, or contaminated air outside.
- Always — listen to local officials and alerts; the hazard decides the action.
Common mistakes & safety
- Follow local officials — the hazard decides. Do what authorities direct for that specific event.
- Evacuate early. Leaving late means jammed or blocked roads and being caught by the hazard.
- Never drive into flood water, and avoid washed-out roads and downed power lines.
- Sealing a room is temporary. Plastic-and-tape buys time against contaminated air; you still wait for the all-clear and ventilate after.
- Turn off air handling when sheltering from bad air — running the AC or heater pulls outside contamination in.
- Plan for pets ahead — most public shelters take only service animals, so arrange pet-friendly options before an emergency.
Going deeper
- Two words, two actions: GO or STAY. Every disaster response reduces to one of these — the hard part is knowing which, so the answer is always "listen to the officials for this hazard."
- A go-bag beats scrambling. The families who evacuate calmly are the ones whose bag was already packed and by the door.
- Seal the air, not just the room. Sheltering from a chemical release is about cutting off outside air — closing up, killing the AC, and taping plastic over the gaps.
Official source
Evacuation — Ready.gov (FEMA) →Both actions are from Ready.gov's Evacuation and Shelter pages. Confirm specifics and any supply quantities against current Ready.gov / FEMA and local officials. No medications or dosages appear here.