An effective evacuation plan includes planned emergency exits and designated safe spaces. LawDepot’s Emergency Plan template prompts you to prepare a home escape route and attach it to your plan. Sketch the layout of your home (by hand or on the computer) and plan at least one or two exit options for every room in your house. Customise an escape route for various evacuation scenarios, such as blocked exits, heavy smoke, or fire in the house. If needed, prepare for exiting through windows with ladders or ropes. Practice your evacuation plan with your family at least once every six months to a year. You may not have time to refer to your maps during an emergency, so it’s critical to learn and rehearse your escape routes ahead of time. Our questionnaire will also prompt you to list two locations for meeting up with family members after an evacuation: Outside your home: Choose a safe location that is outside your home but not directly beside it, such as the end of your driveway. You could also include city-designated storm shelter sites (such as community centres or churches) that are within walking distance. However, if you identify two safe spots outside your home, be sure your family knows which meeting place is appropriate for which type of emergency.
Outside your city: Choose an out-of-town location to meet during a city evacuation. Refer to your municipality’s evacuation plans to confirm what safety measures are in place during certain emergencies (roadblocks, for instance, may hinder you and your family from reaching a planned muster point). If needed, include instructions for different modes of transportation (like if you don’t have a car or run out of gas).