Evacuate
How to prepare for an evacuation?
- Draw up an emergency plan for your home.
- Make sure everyone knows the quickest and easiest way out (the escape route).
- Make clear agreements with family or friends about where you can go if you can no longer stay at home or in your neighbourhood.
- Also think about what you will do with your pets or other animals.
- Make sure everyone in the household is familiar with the contents of this plan. Pay special attention to family members with special needs, e.g. the elderly, children, people with disabilities, etc. Do you need help evacuating? Think about who might be able to help you in your immediate environment and make arrangements.
- Hang your house keys near your door.
- Divide up the tasks. For example, decide who will look after the children.
- Prepare an emergency kit that you can quickly take with you in case of an emergency. Also include useful documents, such as copies of identity cards or insurance policies.
- Rehearse the plan regularly with everyone. For example, finding the exit in thick smoke (blindfolded) is not easy.
When do you have to evacuate?
- In an emergency situation in your home/workplace, etc, such as a fire: if you see smoke or fire, or hear the sound of the smoke detector or fire alarm, get out as quickly as possible via a safe emergency exit.
- In the event of a more serious emergency in your neighbourhood (such as a flood, fire, gas leak or accident involving dangerous substances), an entire street or neighbourhood may have to be evacuated. Never evacuate on your own initiative in an emergency situation in your area. Wait for specific instructions from the authorities or emergency services. In effect, it is sometimes safer to take shelter than to go out.
How do you evacuate?
Always follow the instructions of the emergency services and authorities (mayor, governor, etc.) in the first instance.
Where do you have to evacuate?
Depending on the situation, you can evacuate to:
- Family members or friends who do not live in the affected area. Ask them in advance if they are willing to accommodate you in an emergency.
- A reception centre (e.g. a sports hall or village hall). In the event of a major emergency, the authorities (municipality, province, etc.) will organise a place to receive evacuees. The emergency services will provide you with the necessary information.
How to get there?
- In general, you will have to evacuate on foot. If it is far, you can use your own vehicle.
- You may be able to reach the reception centre by bus. The local emergency services or the municipality will be able to provide you with further information.
What should you take with you?
Take a minimum of personal belongings with you, such as your ID card, money, a few bottles of water, your mobile phone and charger, your keys, a list of important telephone numbers, your essential medicines, a bag containing hygiene products, etc.
When you have to evacuate, you often have to act quickly. You can be prepared by putting together an emergency evacuation kit and keeping it in a central, easily accessible place in your home.
Are you in immediate danger and do not have an emergency kit? Do not waste time gathering documents or belongings. Evacuate as quickly as possible.
Can you take your pets with you?
You may be able to bring along your small pets. Always follow the instructions of the emergency services and the authorities. They will clearly indicate whether pets are allowed in the reception centre.
Are you evacuating with family or friends? Agree with them in advance that you can bring your pets. You should also think about how you will transport your animals (a carrier bag, a small cage, etc.).
In some cases, you may not be allowed to bring your pets to the reception centre or to another facility.
If this is not possible, leave them at home in a safe place and give them enough food and water for 24 hours. Are you unable to return home after 24 hours? Appropriate recommendations will then be communicated for your pets.
How can you leave your home safely?
- Do not leave electrical appliances such as coffee makers or irons turned on. The fridge and freezer can be left on.
- Close doors and windows. Do you have an alarm system? Activate it.
The local police will take appropriate security measures in the evacuation zone for the duration of the evacuation.
How long does an evacuation take?
The length of the ban on returning to your home will depend on the specific situation. You can return home as soon as the situation has returned to normal. This can last from a few hours to a few days.
Listen to the instructions of the authorities.
How do you know if you can return home?
- At the reception centre, the local contact person will provide the necessary information.
- Are you staying temporarily with family or friends? Find information from the website of the municipality, listen to the radio or call the information number.
My family has been separated
As soon as you are safe, try to contact your family. Let them know where you are going and when you expect to arrive. If it is a large-scale emergency, contact them by SMS or WhatsApp instead. A lot of phone calls can saturate the network.
You can also ask a family member or friend who doesn't live in the same area as you to be your contact person. Inform them as soon as you are safe. Let them know if your family has been separated.
Help each other
Do you have to evacuate an entire neighbourhood, street or building? See if you can help or support others. Think in particular of people with reduced mobility or less developed social networks.
For example, you can:
- Help other people get to the reception centre by offering to drive them in your car.
- Warn others that they have to evacuate. Preferably by message (SMS, WhatsApp, etc.). That makes it possible to free up the network for important calls.
You can also draw up an emergency evacuation plan with the other residents of your building, street or neighbourhood.
You can also make yourself available to friends and family as an emergency contact, in case they need to evacuate.