Creating a Home Evacuation Plan - Part 1

Everyone in your family should know the plan, even the little ones, so set aside an evening when the whole family can get together to make your emergency escape plan. Follow these simple steps and you will be ready for evacuation.


The first thing we are going to focus on is making a map of your home. On the map of your home you should consider including the following:

• Label every exit which may become a potential fire escape
• In every room, label the primary exit and a secondary exit in case the primary exit is blocked
• Label every room where a family member sleeps
• Label the main shutoff valves of the gas, electricity, and water lines
• Establish a safe meeting place outside the home so everyone can be accounted for
• Label where all smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are located
• Try to limit evacuation procedures to three or four steps

The U.S. Fire Administration has a handout available that could be very helpful as you create your own Home Evacuation Plan. That handout and more reminders can be found here.

In part two we will talk about the importance of practicing your home escape plan.