As wildfires can travel swiftly, shifting directions and jumping roads suddenly, people may have to evacuate at short notice. Before you receive orders to evacuate, parents should:
Turn on a wind-up or battery operated radio for emergency information.
Remind family members you have a Family Preparedness Plan (PDF)
and review the steps of that plan with your children so that they know what you are doing to protect them.
Keep to your family's daily routine as much as possible, including mealtimes and bedtimes.
Monitor and limit the media coverage of the fire, especially for children.
Remain calm and answer your children's questions in order to reassure them you are in control.
Be ready to evacuate your family and pets if necessary.
When there is an order to evacuate:
Follow the instructions of emergency personnel and firefighters.
Follow your family evacuation plan and get to safety as soon as possible.
Give your family plenty of time to move to a safe area. Remember that property and material items can be replaced, human lives cannot.
Tell someone where you are going and what time you left.
Tell your children that the firefighters are working hard to put out the fire. This helps reassure them that adults are actively taking steps to protect them, their home, and their neighborhood.
