Know before you have to go: wildfire evacuation checklist

The raging wildfires in Colorado have forced thousands residents to evacuate their homes.

Many problems can occur during evacuations, especially if people are unprepared or have additional animals and livestock that need to evacuate as well.

This list serves as a guide to help prepare in case of a wildfire evacuation, including packing lists and ways to protect your pets, house, and possessions.

This list was compiled with information from city and county officials, insurance agencies, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Forest Service.

Be prepared to evacuate before a state of emergency

The sooner you prepare for wildfires, the easier it will be to evacuate when a wildfire occurs near you.

“Knowing that we live in a state where wildfires are going to happen, the more we can be prepared and resilient as individuals, neighbors, and community members, the better prepared we will be to withstand the wildfires,” said Jenn Ciplet, a spokesperson for Boulder Public Safety, Police Department, and Fire Rescue.

Assess your situation: if you’re safe and able to check off this list, do it. But if the fire is near or you’re scared, evacuate immediately, according to Noco Alert, an emergency alert system for Northern Colorado.

If you are told to evacuate, do not delay leaving to gather belongings or protect your home, especially if you are in danger.

Create a personal evacuation plan

• Know what your community’s emergency notification and evacuation plans are.
• Monitor your city or county’s wildfire updates and subscribe to emergency alerts and warnings on all devices.
• Plan an evacuation route away from your home and practice it, if there’s time.
• Residents should be prepared with alternate evacuation routes if the initial route becomes unavailable, according to Boulder's Ciplet.

Plan ahead for housing

• If there’s an active fire near you, find out where local evacuation centers are located.
• If you do not plan to stay in an evacuation center, contact family and friends to see if they have available space or book a hotel room in a safe location.

Don’t forget about insurance

• “There are some things you can and should be doing pre-evacuation to make sure you’re covered in case of an emergency,” said Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association Executive Director Carole Walker. She recommended taking inventory of your home and staying informed on insurance policies so that you’re aware of what kind of insurance coverage you have.
• If you don’t have time to do those things, at least take photographs of your home and important items in your home that could get destroyed in a fire, Walker added in an interview with The Denver Gazette.
• “If you’re in a state of mandatory evacuation, leave your residence immediately, and once you, your family, and your pets are safe, contact your insurance agency. Let them know where you are, and they can inform you of what kind of coverage you have under your insurance plan,” said Walker.
• Your insurance agency can help you figure out what expenses will be covered under a mandatory evacuation.

Have your car ready to go

• FEMA recommends having at least 1/2 tank of fuel in your vehicle at all times.
• Keep an emergency bag in your car with essential items like water, food, first aid equipment, personal hygiene products, a flashlight, a portable radio, a portable charger, and any other necessities.

Fill a bag with essential items

• In addition to an emergency bag for your car, have a bag that’s stocked and ready to go with clothing, socks, underwear, jackets, sweatshirt, extra shoes, etc.
• Also include toiletry items such as deodorant, disposable shavers, extra toothbrushes, shampoo & shaving cream, toothpaste, and extra regular medications to last a few days.
• Be sure to have bags ready to go for everyone in the household, including pets.

Plan ahead for pets and larger animals

• Have pet carriers, leashes, food bowls, food, litter boxes, litter, and other pet needs ready to go.
• If you have larger animals such as horses or penned animals, contact a neighbor or friend and ask if they would be willing to help you move the animals in an evacuation situation.

Keep important possessions organized and accessible

• Locate and organize important documents including bank, IRS, trust, investment, insurance policy, birth certificates, and medical records.
• For any online documents, place them on a USB or virtual drive.
• Gather any valuable possessions like jewelry, cameras, and electronic devices and place them in a fire-proof box or prepare to take them with you.

Protect your home

• Close all windows and interior doors.
• Remove curtains from the area of windows.
• Turn off your propane gas tank.
• Remove any propane tanks and take them with you or store them in a secure place such as a bunker or away from your house.
• Turn off all pilot lights.
• Close the garage door after you leave.

If you have time

• Notify family and friends of the evacuation and of your plans afterwards.

If you’re actively evacuating

• Protect yourself, your family, and your pets.
• Keep your car windows up and the air conditioning on to prevent embers and smoke from entering the vehicle.
• Continue to listen for additional evacuation instructions.
• Make sure that everyone is okay once you are out. If someone is injured or not feeling well, get immediate assistance.
• Check on family, friends, and neighbors who could be affected by the fire.