Evacuation Checklist: What to Do in the First Hour After an Evacuation Order

Quick answer: when local officials order an evacuation, leave as soon as you can. In the first 10 minutes, confirm the order through an official source, alert everyone in the household and grab go bags, medications, documents, phones and chargers. In the next 20 to 30 minutes, if time allows, secure your home the way Ready.gov advises: close and lock windows and doors, unplug electrical equipment, and shut off utilities only if local officials tell you to. Bring pets, check on neighbors who may need help, let your out-of-area contact know your plans, and leave by the routes officials recommend rather than shortcuts, which may be blocked or unsafe.

An evacuation order rarely comes at a convenient moment. It may arrive by phone alert at 2 a.m., as a knock on the door from a firefighter or as a vague warning on the radio that suddenly becomes urgent. Rushing without a plan leads to forgotten medications, left-behind pets and wasted time going back for things.

A checklist turns that first hour into a sequence you can follow under stress. This guide breaks the hour into stages, based on guidance from Ready.gov, FEMA and the American Red Cross, with adjustments for apartments and city living. It is part of our severe weather preparedness guide.

Sources: Ready.gov, “Evacuation” and “Make a Plan”; Federal Emergency Management Agency, evacuation and shelter guidance; American Red Cross, evacuation and emergency preparedness tips; National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center, evacuation zone guidance (“Know Your Zone”); local emergency management agencies. Always follow instructions from your local officials, which take priority over any general checklist. Checked October 2026.

Before the Clock Starts: What Makes the First Hour Work

The first hour goes smoothly only if a few things were done in advance. Ready.gov emphasizes planning where you would go, how you would get there and how your household would communicate. If you have not done these yet, put them at the top of your to-do list:

• Know your evacuation zone, if your area uses them. Coastal communities often assign zones for hurricane evacuation.
• Pack a go bag for each person, with water, food, medications, copies of documents, a flashlight, a charger and clothing. Our urban go bag checklist lists the contents.
• Pick at least two destinations, such as a friend’s home in another area, a hotel or a public shelter.
• Plan multiple routes, including routes on foot or by transit if you do not have a car.
• Set up a communication plan with an out-of-area contact. Our guide to making a family emergency communication plan walks through it.
• Sign up for local alerts and keep wireless emergency alerts turned on.

With those done, the hour after an order is about execution rather than invention.

Minutes 0 to 10: Confirm, Alert, Grab

The first ten minutes are for verification and getting the essentials into your hands.

1. Confirm the order through an official source. Check your local emergency management agency, the city or county website, a wireless emergency alert or local broadcast news. Rumors spread fast on social media.
2. Note the type of order. An evacuation order or mandatory evacuation means leave. A warning or advisory means prepare and be ready to go. If you are unsure, local officials and Ready.gov advise leaving early rather than waiting.
3. Alert everyone in the household. Wake sleepers, call people who are out and tell them where to meet.
4. Put on sturdy shoes and protective clothing. Ready.gov recommends long pants, long sleeves and sturdy shoes when evacuating.
5. Grab the go bags and set them by the door.
6. Collect the critical extras that are not always in the bag: daily medications, eyeglasses, phone chargers, wallet, keys and IDs.

If you are told to leave immediately, skip everything else. Leave with people and pets first and supplies second.

Minutes 10 to 30: Pets, People Who Need Help and Key Items

Next, make sure no one is left behind and that you have what you will need for several days away.

Pets

Ready.gov advises taking pets with you during an evacuation, because if it is not safe for you to stay, it is not safe for them. Get carriers, leashes, food, water, medications and vaccination records. Our pet emergency plan for apartment dwellers covers carriers and pet go bags.

People who need extra help

Check on household members and neighbors who may need help, such as older adults, people with disabilities and families with infants. Ready.gov encourages checking with neighbors who may need a ride. If someone in your building relies on an elevator, read our guide to an apartment evacuation plan for limited mobility before an emergency happens.

Important items to add if they are not packed

• Medical devices and supplies, with chargers
• A list of medications and doses
• Copies of insurance policies and IDs if not already in the go bag
• Cash in small bills
• Baby supplies, including formula, diapers and bottles
• Comfort items for children

Avoid spending time gathering valuables or large items. Ready.gov’s evacuation guidance focuses on people, pets and essentials.

Minutes 30 to 45: Secure Your Home If Time Allows

Only do these steps if officials have not told you to leave immediately and you can do them quickly and safely.

1. Close and lock windows and doors.
2. Unplug electrical equipment such as computers and small appliances, as Ready.gov recommends. Leave the refrigerator and freezer plugged in unless there is a risk of flooding.
3. Shut off utilities only if instructed by local officials. Ready.gov notes that if you turn off natural gas, a professional must turn it back on, which can take time after a disaster.
4. Move valuables off the floor if flooding is expected and you have a few spare minutes.
5. Leave a note saying when you left and where you are going, if your local guidance suggests it. Some households prefer to tell a trusted contact instead of leaving a note visible from outside.

In an apartment building, follow building management’s instructions on shared utilities. Tenants usually cannot and should not shut off building-wide gas or water.

Minutes 45 to 60: Communicate and Leave

The last stage is getting out.

1. Tell your out-of-area contact where you are going and the route you plan to take. Text messages often get through when calls do not.
2. Charge phones in the car or with a power bank as you travel.
3. Take the routes officials recommend. Ready.gov warns against shortcuts, which may be blocked or dangerous.
4. Watch for hazards such as washed-out roads, downed power lines and flooded areas. Never drive through floodwater.
5. Keep the radio on for updates on routes and shelters.
6. Fill up early if you can. If you have a car, keeping the tank at least half full during storm season saves time.

If you do not have a car, many cities arrange transportation for evacuations, often from designated pickup points. Learn your local options ahead of time, and see our guide on getting home when transit shuts down for related tips.

Printable First-Hour Evacuation Checklist

Time	Task	Done?
0–10 min	Confirm order through an official source
0–10 min	Alert and gather household members
0–10 min	Put on sturdy shoes and protective clothing
0–10 min	Grab go bags, medications, phones, chargers, wallet, keys
10–30 min	Load pets with carriers, food, water and records
10–30 min	Check on neighbors who may need help
10–30 min	Add medical devices, cash and baby supplies
30–45 min	Close and lock windows and doors (if time allows)
30–45 min	Unplug electronics; shut off utilities only if officials say to
30–45 min	Move valuables up if flooding is expected
45–60 min	Text your out-of-area contact your plan
45–60 min	Leave by recommended routes

Print the table and tape it inside a closet door near your go bags.

Evacuating From an Apartment Building

High-rise and mid-rise buildings add a few steps that houses do not have. Planning for them ahead of time saves precious minutes.

• Know at least two stairwells and where they exit at street level. Walk them once when there is no emergency.
• Expect elevators to be unavailable. During fires, elevators are typically recalled to the ground floor, and during power outages they may stop. Plan to use the stairs unless building staff or firefighters direct otherwise.
• Follow the building’s emergency plan. Many larger buildings have floor wardens or posted evacuation maps. Read yours and keep a photo of it on your phone.
• Close your apartment door behind you as you leave. A closed door can slow the spread of smoke and fire.
• Help neighbors without blocking stairwells. If someone cannot manage the stairs, tell building staff or responders which floor and unit they are in.
• Meet at a set spot outside away from the entrance, so you can account for everyone in your household.

If you share a car with others in the building or rely on a neighbor for a ride, agree on a meeting point and a backup plan before storm season starts.

Common First-Hour Mistakes

Stress causes predictable errors. Watch out for these:

• Waiting for certainty. Delaying until the hazard is visible leaves less time and more traffic.
• Going back inside for forgotten items after leaving.
• Driving into water or around barricades.
• Leaving without medications or chargers for medical devices.
• Not telling anyone where you are headed.
• Forgetting the car charger or power bank, leaving your phone dead by the time you arrive.
• Assuming shelters have everything. Bring bedding, medications, snacks and entertainment for children whenever you can carry them.

Where to Go: Shelters, Friends and Hotels

Ready.gov encourages planning several destinations in different directions, since the hazard and road conditions will determine which one makes sense.

• Friends or family outside the affected area are often the most comfortable option. Confirm in advance that you and your pets are welcome.
• Hotels and motels fill quickly during large evacuations. Booking early and keeping a list of pet-friendly options helps.
• Public shelters are opened by local governments and organizations like the American Red Cross. Shelter locations are announced by local officials and may change from one event to the next. Bring your own bedding, medications and supplies if you can.

Keep a printed list of destinations and phone numbers in your go bag in case your phone dies.

When You Cannot Leave

Sometimes leaving is not possible, such as when roads are blocked or a hazard has already arrived. In those cases, follow official instructions to shelter in place, go to the safest area of the building for the hazard and keep your alerts on. Call 911 only for life-threatening emergencies so lines stay open.

After the First Hour

Once you are safe, check in with your out-of-area contact and register with any family reunification services officials announce. Ready.gov and the American Red Cross both recommend waiting for officials to say it is safe before returning home. When you return, watch for structural damage, gas leaks, downed power lines and contaminated water.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do first when an evacuation order is issued?

Confirm the order through an official source, alert everyone in your household and grab your go bags, medications, phones and documents. Leave immediately if instructed.

Should I turn off my utilities before evacuating?

Only if local officials tell you to. Ready.gov notes that once natural gas is turned off, a professional must turn it back on.

Can I take my pets to a shelter?

Policies vary. Some shelters accept pets or have co-located pet shelters. Plan pet-friendly destinations in advance and bring carriers, food and records.

What if I do not have a car?

Many cities offer evacuation transportation from designated pickup points. Learn your local plan before an emergency and leave early.

How do I know which routes to take?

Follow routes recommended by local officials and avoid shortcuts, which may be blocked or dangerous.

The Bottom Line

The first hour after an evacuation order decides how smoothly everything else goes. Confirm the order, gather people, pets and go bags, secure your home only if time allows and leave by official routes while keeping your contacts informed. Most of the work happens before the order arrives, so pack go bags, plan destinations and practice the checklist now.