Evacuation: what to take, where to go, how to leave

When is an evacuation carried out?

Two cases — and only two:

• On order : notification FR-Alert, police officers or firefighters going door-to-door, vehicles with loudspeakers, instructions from the prefecture broadcast on the radio. We’re off right away — The emergency services know where the fire will be in an hour’s time, but you don’t.
• Well ahead of the curve, by choice : if a large fire is advancing a few kilometres downwind and you are in a flimsy or vulnerable dwelling: leaving early, whilst the roads are still clear, is an excellent decision. What common sense tells us to avoid is the middle ground — leaving just as the fire arrives. If in doubt at this stage: lockdown.

The 5 minutes before setting off

Where to go?

• The community centre opened by the local council (sports hall, village hall) : announced via FR-Alert, the town hall and the radio. We’ll be there counts as a stay even if you don’t sleep there : It is this register that prevents the emergency services from searching for you unnecessarily.
• Family or friends outside the affected area : perfect — but do make sure you register at the reception centre or the town hall (by phone).
• Executive Management : perpendicular to the wind where possible, never downwind of the fire, and in accordance with the directions given by the police.

The family plan (to be done tonight, not on the day itself)

Five decisions to make as a family, noted down in the kit and on your mobiles :

1. Who’s picking up whom? : children at school (the school is looking after them and keeping them safe : do NOT go to collect them during the crisis, unless otherwise instructed), a lonely grandparent, a neighbour with reduced mobility.
2. The meeting point if the family is separated and the network is overloaded: a specific location outside the affected area (the car park of a supermarket in a neighbouring town, a relative’s house).
3. The key contact outside the region : everyone sends him a text message saying ‘I’m fine, I’m at…’ ; he’s the one who coordinates it all, to save on the local network.
4. Animals : who’s taking the cat, where are the crates, which vehicle for the horses — large animals are either moved VERY early or let loose in a cleared area; they are never kept in stalls.
5. The documents : originals included in the kit or scans stored in a secure online space (ideally both).

What not to do

• Go back to fetch something — nothing is worth taking that risk, and the police will stop you from passing.
• Take the back roads “to avoid traffic jams” : they may lead straight into the line of fire or be unmonitored. Official route, full stop.
• Stopping to film : every vehicle that stops slows down the evacuation of everyone.
• Picking the children up from school In defiance of the guidelines: the Department for Education is implementing its emergency shelter plan (PPMS); the traffic jams caused by parents outside the school are a safety nightmare.