What Would YOU Pack For Evacuation If Severe Weather Or Wildfires Forced You To Leave Your Home? (Here’s what I Packed)

How To Make An Evacuation Pack List

You can learn a lot about a person by what they pack for an evacuation due to severe weather!

With all that’s going on hurricane-wise lately, it has forced me to re-think what my own list of things to pack for evacuation would look like today.

My Experience Packing For An Evacuation

I happen to know a little something about packing for an evacuation because:

• I used to live in Orlando Florida — I worked fulltime at the University of Central Florida for 6 years.
• My husband was born in Ft. Lauderdale Florida — he lived there throughout his childhood.
• We moved to Pensacola Florida when we first got married — and we lived in Gulf Breeze Florida, as well.
• Together, we’ve traveled the ENTIRE state of Florida — camping, bicycling, motorcycling, RVing, hotelling, fishing, beaching, conferencing… you get the idea. I don’t think there’s a single part of Florida that we haven’t at least been through at some point!

I’ve done a lot of reflecting lately about my time spent in Florida — and a couple close calls I had with hurricanes while I was living there. (Plus a couple of close calls that my husband and I experienced together when we lived on the Gulf Coast.)

In March of 1998, when I was still single, the part of Orlando that I lived in was just a few miles from a wildfire that was burning out of control. (To this day, there’s still evidence of the widespread fire damage — all the way from Cocoa Beach to Orlando.)

For days, it was touch and go whether we’d have to evacuate or not.

Since my little apartment in Orlando was a bit too close for comfort in my opinion, I decided to “get prepared” just in case we were told to leave the area.

I mean, it’s better to be a little bit prepared than to just toss a bunch of stuff into the car at the last minute. Right???

Here’s what I packed in preparation for an evacuation…

My Evacuation Packing List (in my early 30s):

(By the way, as an avid journal writer, these are the ACTUAL notes that I wrote at the time. This evacuation pack list summarizes everything I packed for an evacuation when I was in my early 30’s.)

• Swimsuit — I’ve waited 5 years to find one I like… I’ll never find one that fits me like this one again… It’s coming with me!
• Camping gear — to have a place to stay
• Favorite biking shorts, tops, and jerseys — bicycling is my hobby, my exercise, my life right now
• Biking shoes — they’re one of the most expensive things I own (cost $200) and everyone wants a pair like these, but they don’t make them like this anymore.
• The “Simplify Your Life” book — because I might have no choice
• Favorite work clothes — my boss will be proud, I packed all of my UCF polo shirts!
• A year’s supply of underwear — I will NEVER be without clean underwear
• Black heels, navy heels, black flats, navy flats — for work
• My cameras — I’d be lost without them. I often say that my only memories are those I’ve saved in photographs
• Old high school and college yearbooks — one of my few ties to the past
• All my photo albums (9) and photo negatives — many boxes!
• Scrapbooks (8) and all of my craft supplies — a couple huge plastic tubs, as a sanity saver if necessary
• Favorite clothes — in 2 suitcases
• Dog stuff — dog food, dog bowls, the dog’s favorite toys, dog brush, and dog nail trimmer
• Computer files & documents I’ve saved on disks (hey, it was 1998!)
• My favorite framed pictures — photos are “my thing” they remind me of all the good times
• Old love letters — a connection to the past I suppose
• Corded phone (I’m too practical for my own good!)
• Flashlights — and batteries
• Universal remote and instructions (…we’ve all got our priorities, this thing was HARD to program!)
• Insurance papers — health and car
• Receipts for everything I’ve bought — important purchases, big purchases
• All credit card statements with account numbers and balances — so I know my limits
• Credit cards — to buy new stuff
• Toiletries — shower stuff, teeth stuff, hair stuff, and makeup
• Van Morrison CD’s — he’s gotten me through a lot of tough times
• 5 of my favorite videotaped movies (ha – VHS tapes!)
• Bible (yep, even back then)

It’s funny to read this list so many years later…

I’ve always been one to make and keep lists — for EVERYTHING! So for me to make this list of things to pack for evacuation didn’t seem at all strange to me. It seemed smart.

Looking back, I was lucky that I had an SUV to hold everything. And it was just me and the dog!

My Evacuation Packing List (today):

Here’s what my evacuation pack list looks like today — now that I’m a little bit older, a little bit wiser, and married. (And now we have TWO dogs living with us.)

Let’s see how much has changed…

• Luggage with wheels — I’ve learned from all of our long-distance motorcycle rides, anytime you can ROLL a bag, it’s better than having to CARRY it! Your hands and arms will most likely be needed for plenty of other things (like managing the dogs!)
• Camping gear — in case we need a place to stay (we actually have a tent large enough for us and the dogs that we’ve only used once, but it’s nice to know we have it should an emergency arise)
• Bible — I’ve finally got my priorities straight!
• A year’s supply of underwear — it’s still a fear of mine to run out of underwear or to have to wear dirty underwear (OK, so I’m a bit strange!)
• My phone & charger — a way to connect to everything else in “the world”
• Neck lanyard — to “wear” my phone in case a purse isn’t convenient (I use this lanyard that fits any phone when we’re riding on the motorcycle)
• My Chromebook & charger — while “my life” used to be organized and saved on computer disks, these days it’s all 100% contained in the cloud (accessible from my laptop and phone)
• Extra portable charger — I use this portable charger when we’re traveling or riding the motorcycle
• My scrapbooks (8) — my life in photos, all organized by year
• Dog stuff — the mesh bag that I always keep filled with the dogs’ grooming supplies (dog brush, dog nail trimmer, dog electric toothbrush & coconut oil, dog hair scissors) PLUS dog food, dog bowls, the dogs’ favorite toys, 1 dog bed/blanket, dog treats, dog meds, poop bags, leashes (retractable ones AND short nylon ones), harnesses, collars, ID tags, proof of rabies vaccination
• Flashlights — I really like these collapsible LED lanterns (we use them in our attic, camping, and keep one in the garage), but I also like these small flashlights with glow handle too… they’re like reusable glow sticks!
• Batteries — extra batteries (AAA and AA especially)
• Insurance papers — and insurance cards (home insurance AND health insurance)
• Passport — not only is it a good form of ID, it’s also helpful should you need to travel across the U.S. border
• Important papers — birth certificates, social security cards, marriage license, military ID, personal photo ID (drivers license)
• All credit card statements — so I’ll have all account numbers and balances
• Waterproof bag — for all of the important things made of paper that would become useless if they got wet (this is the one I have my eye on because it would hold everything from papers to bulky items like phones & chargers and looks easy to carry)
• Credit cards & debit cards — to buy new stuff
• Bank checks — you never know
• Cash — cash is king (especially in emergency situations!)
• Gas can — filled with extra fuel for the car
• Toiletries — deodorant, toothbrush & toothpaste, soap, shampoo, brush, makeup, sleep mask, earplugs, essential oil roll-on bottles, Biofreeze for sore muscles, lotion, elastic hair bands, small mirror
• Towels — my favorite Erase Your Face cloths + full-size body towels that pack small and are SUPER absorbent (I’ve always used these for camping, for spills on the carpet, and for dog messes) + heavy-duty microfiber cloths
• Medications — prescriptions, allergy meds, and Ibuprofen
• Blanket and pillow — you never know when or where you’ll be able to sleep!
• Water bottles — a case (for us and the dogs)
• Shoes — sandals, tennis shoes, and socks
• Pants — lightweight travel pants, jeans, and shorts
• Shirts — tank tops, short sleeve shirts, and long sleeve shirts
• Sleep clothes — think about garments that you can comfortably sleep in AND that are appropriate to wear in public (because you never know where you might end up sleeping!)
• Jewelry — just a few pieces that are the most meaningful to me
• Headband — to keep long hair out of the face
• Hat — to keep sun off husband’s bald head
• Garden gloves — for any type of cleaning work and/or moving of debris that we might have to do
• Jackets — 1 lightweight jacket and 1 heavyweight jacket
• Bags of all sizes — backpacks, canvas tote bags, cross-body bags, shoulder bags, plastic Walmart bags, and ziploc baggies in various sizes, and a few large outdoor trash bags
• XL mesh hamper bag — for dirty clothes (the same bag we use when traveling)
• First aid kit — you really only need a basic first aid kit that’s small, lightweight and easy to grab and go. However, some people (like “preppers”) prefer to have their own personal access to everything that they could possibly need while living off grid. If that’s you, then a larger survival kit would be better.
• Wipes & paper towels — because sometimes you need “dry” wipes and sometimes you need “wet” wipes
• Disinfectant — to wipe surfaces and hands
• Scissors — you never know what you might have to “cut”
• Duct tape — there are a million and one uses for duct tape!
• Kleenex — to dry those tears (and for me… to deal with allergies)
• N95 face masks — who doesn’t have a few of these face masks still hanging around?!
• Mosquito repellent — where we live the mosquitoes are brutal, so it would be nice to eliminate THAT source of frustration
• Sunscreen — if you’re stuck outdoors or have to “work” outside
• Purse — wallet, sunglasses, reading glasses, keys
• Card games — in case there’s a lot of down time or waiting time
• Camping chairs — you never know where you might end up, and it’s always nice to have a clean place to sit and rest your weary bones
• Cooler — to keep food/water cold temporarily OR to use as portable storage AND to use as a chair
• Tarp — like duct tape, there are 101 uses for a tarp (from a sleeping pad to a clean ground cover… a privacy barrier to a makeshift tent… even a rain covering)
• Rain suits — we have lightweight ones that we keep on the motorcycle at all times, they’ll be good if we have to be outside in the rain for any length of time
• Snacks — nuts, crackers, protein bars, gum
• Can opener — for opening canned food and dog food
• Travel cups — these large collapsible cups are what we use when traveling on the motorcycle (and we use these small collapsible cups to hold snacks when traveling)
• Travel tool kit — pliers and a hammer are two items I can think might be handy
• Small bottle of liquor — what can I say?… I don’t smoke and I can imagine that having some sort of a vice to “knock the edge off” could come in handy!
• Digital photo frame(s) with the digital media cards in them and charging cords — IF I happen to have a little extra space (because reliving old memories via photographs is kind of “my jam”)
• Collapsible crates — only because we already have them (these and these) and they take up no space (good for storing/carrying things) I mostly use them for groceries in the back of the SUV
• Whistle — so you can signal for help if you’re trapped or far away from other people
• Recent photos of all family members (and pets) — to identify family members if you (or they) become lost or separated

I’d say my current list is much more detailed (and realistic) than my first evacuation packing list.

As a matter of fact…

The process of jotting down this updated list of items that I’d want to take with me in the event of an evacuation has reminded me to make an even MORE detailed and thorough list — should such an evacuation become necessary in the near future. (That shows you how detail-oriented I am!)

I mean, I have a list for everything else in my life! (I keep all of my personal lists in the Google cloud program called KEEP.) So why wouldn’t I want to create a permanent Evacuation Pack List, as well?

That way, I won’t have to rely on searching for this actual article online to find “my list.” And now I’ll always have my Evacuation Packing List stored on my phone and computer with me at all times!

What The Experts Say You Should Pack

If there is severe weather or some other threatening event likely to occur in your area, you want to prepare early!

Personally, I think you should heed the advice of experts FIRST — see what they say about packing for an emergency evacuation (in the list below).

After that’s done, THEN you might want to consider some of the “more frivolous” items that appear on my own Evacuation Pack List (above).

According to the experts, the “5 P’s of Evacuation” are: 

PEOPLE – all people in your family and, if safely possible, pets and other animals (ideally, contained in crates)

PRESCRIPTIONS – all prescription medications (with dosages), any special medicines that are uniquely helpful to you in times of pain or stress, medical equipment (including batteries & power cords), eyeglasses, and hearing aids, and immunization records

PAPERS – all important documents (hard copies stored in a notebook OR electronic copies saved on a portable thumb drive)

PERSONAL NEEDS – clothes, food, water, first aid kit, credit & debit cards, cash, phones, laptops, chargers, special items for those with disabilities and/or special needs

PRICELESS ITEMS – pictures, irreplaceable mementos, and other valuables

Additional information to have ready:

Regarding “the 5 P’s” mentioned above… I’m going to spell out for you exactly what should be included in the “papers / important documents” section.

You’ll want to compile the following information AHEAD OF TIME and have it all in one place.

I recommend that keep this info in a physical notebook (that you can grab at the last minute) AND / OR in a Google Document within Google Drive (that you can access at any time from ANY phone or ANY computer).

These are all of the important documents that would be necessary to rebuild (or reconstruct) your life after an emergency:

• Banking info – all the places where your money currently exists should you need to access any of it
• Online payment info – if you haven’t used Venmo, CashApp, or some other form of online payment in awhile, I would encourage you to make sure you still know your login and have your account attached to your bank. The easiest way for you to receive help & supplies in an emergency might be for people to donate directly into your account!
• Insurance policies (car, house, and health) – to re-establish your financial accounts
• Home insurance agents – so you can start working with them immediately. (TIP: Be sure to create a list of your home’s contents by photographing or videotaping each room in your house!)
• Health insurance provider – to make sure existing care continues uninterrupted and emergency care can be obtained if needed
• Doctors – in case medical attention and / or prescriptions are required
• House and car payments – to verify your financial records and obligations (also include the title to your car and the deed to any properties you own)
• Sources of income – so you can maintain payments and credit
• Tax statements – to give to financial & legal providers, and to apply for FEMA disaster assistance
• Estate documents – wills, powers of attorney, and advanced health care directives
• Passwords – lots of people keep their online passwords stored on a piece of paper or in a digital file… if that’s you, then don’t forget your passwords (But DON’T show them or tell them to anybody!)   
• A list of personal contacts – after surviving an emergency situation, you are likely to become dazed, confused, and quite possibly overwhelmed. Your friends’ and family members’ phone numbers & addresses won’t be easy to recall on the spot. (Be sure to include local non-emergency phone numbers for police, fire, and ambulance, as well.) 

Other Tips To Help You Prepare For An Evacuation

The bottom line is… You’ve pretty much got the Ultimate Evacuation Pack List here in this article!

Start with what the experts say in the list above. Then use your own common sense (and my lists above) to fine-tune what else you’d like to take with you IF you have the space.

Based on your own lifestyle — and the personal wants and needs that help you live that lifestyle — you now have all of the ingredients necessary to make your own Evacuation Pack List for yourself.

One last thing…

If there has been any damage to your home or property as a result of a storm (or wildfire), be sure to take pictures and contact your insurance agent immediately!