My friends in New Orleans all thought they'd be away for two or three days, as usual during a hurricane evacuation. So they didn't pack much to bring along, and didn't do much more than lock up their houses when they left. As it turned out, they were gone far longer than they expected to be. So they learned a lot about preparation for evacuation, and in the future will have checklists – like the ones below – to refer to before evacuating.

Diane Dees

We evacuated the morning of the day before the storm hit. I thought we should have gone earlier, but it worked out okay.

My biggest tip: If you think there is any chance at all that you will evacuate – way ahead of time, go ahead and make a reservation somewhere. You can always cancel it.

I did very little before we left, just things that are standard for me when a hurricane is coming:

• Unplug all appliances.

• Pick up everything that could get blown by the wind and put it in the garage or out of wind range (at our house, this takes a long time).

• Water plants thoroughly.

• Decide what to do with small items of value, like jewelry (I took them with me).

• Take all of the art off the wall and put it in safer places; this requires a certain amount of creativity, but I am afraid of rattling walls. If a tree had gone right through the roof and rain had come in, a lot of my art would still have been safe, but not all.

• I did not pack enough clothes; I, like many other people, had no idea we would be gone as long as we were. We just packed clothes, toiletries, meds, the notebook computer, a camera, a cell phone and some books. What I SHOULD have packed--a corkscrew and a bottle opener.

• Roxie and Velma (the two cats) packed more than we did. In addition to their litter box and scoop, a bag of litter, and their food, they took their beloved cat bed, which they did not use at all at the hotel, so we won’t bring that next time.

• I packed a very large tote bag for the cats with food and water bowls, their favorite grooming tool, a portable scratch board, a toy
(I’d take more toys next time), some treats, and some catnip.

Gwen Leonhard

Gwen wrote, three years after the Katrina evacuation:
"I'm telling you.....feelings are still raw here.  Tears often rise in my eyes when certain images come into my head.....like going home for the first time and being the only person on my street or on surrounding streets, helicopters continually flying extremely low in the sky, packs of dogs (dogs that had been left behind and got out of the garage/house) roaming neighborhoods.  I kept honking my car horn aching for someone on my street to come outside, to be there.  It really seemed like a war zone everywhere."

Will & Martha Crocker

We have vowed to be more ready next time.  But we will at least give ourselves this credit: we got going early on. 

Number one regret is not bringing an info packet with addresses, e-mail addresses and insurance and tax forms.  Think about what information would be essential if everything went up in smoke.  Bank account info, investment info, mortgage photocopies that are very legible, passwords to accounts, credit card info and health records.  I should have my eyeglass prescription handy--that could be very helpful.  It would be smart to have this info available online so that you could access anywhere.


Number two regret is not having a camera. 

A few of the things that I brought that turned out to be smart:  a flashlight and batteries, a cork screw, a small sharp kitchen knife for preparing food in a hotel room,  and maps. We brought state and city maps for a variety of places that we went to and it was a very handy. We ended up buying a can of flat fix on the road and it occured to us that we should always have a can in the trunk.  Very handy and could be a life saver!   A favorite book can be very reassuring when everything shifts underfoot.  I brought a sky  chart to enjoy star gazing and was glad to have it along.  The stars are very reassuring pals. Martha and I both brought rain parkas.  They double as light jackets. If you have a laptop, bring it. And make sure that you evacuate to a place that has wireless & takes credit cards. 


Next time I will take 20 minutes to empty the refrigerator before leaving!

Easy to get carried away with this stuff.  I remember reading a survivalist recommendation to keep $10,000 in rolls of silver dimes on hand for emergencies because they are very liquid and easy to use when bartering in any culture.  It is enough to buy plane fare anywhere or bribe your way out of most jams.  But far better currency than silver dimes, it is  important  to remember to bring a Buddhist sense of non-attachment.  Something that I often failed at but when I did it cut through obstacles.  My yoga and meditation practice was something that certainly diffused my displacement woes and it required no cargo space! 

The Crockers' Evacuation To-Do List