Planning Emergency Evacuation Routes With and Without Technology

A well-planned evacuation route is useless if you cannot follow it when roads are flooded, GPS is down, or traffic is gridlocked. Effective evacuation planning requires both technology-assisted and fully manual methods.

Technology-Assisted Planning

Use Google Maps or Waze to identify three routes from your home to your designated safe location: primary (fastest), secondary (avoids highways), and tertiary (back roads only). Screenshot each route and save them as PDFs on your phone for offline access. Check each route’s vulnerability: Does it cross a flood plain? Does it include a bridge that might close? Are there single-lane sections that create bottlenecks?

Manual Route Planning

Purchase a county road atlas or print detailed maps from your state DOT website. Mark your three routes with different colored highlighters. Note key landmarks, gas stations, hospitals, and alternate shelter locations along each route. Store the map in a gallon-size ziplock bag in your go-bag.

A baseplate compass ensures you can navigate even when roads are impassable and you must travel cross-country on foot. Practice basic compass navigation: set your bearing, pick a landmark, walk to it, repeat.

When to Evacuate

• Mandatory evacuation order: Leave immediately. These are not suggestions.
• Voluntary evacuation: Leave if your household includes elderly, disabled, young children, or pets.
• Before the order: If you have reliable weather information (from your NOAA radio) showing a direct threat, early departure avoids traffic chaos.

Vehicle Readiness Checklist

Keep your fuel tank above half at all times during threat season. In the trunk: go-bags for all family members, a 5-gallon fuel can, jumper cables, a tire inflator, basic tools, and a 12V-compatible power station for device charging. Confirm your spare tire is inflated and your jack works every six months.

On-Foot Contingency

If roads are impassable, your go-bag becomes your lifeline. Plan a walking route to the nearest safe shelter or high ground. Estimate travel time at 2 mph with a loaded pack. Mark water sources along the route on your paper map.