How to Hold a Practice Evacuation

Many more evacuation related videos can be found here

A practice is an activity that is repeatedly or regularly performed in order to improve or maintain one’s proficiency. Our goal is for all Marin residents to be prepared to immediately evacuate if ordered by public safety agencies. This means residents should have an evacuation plan, understand our system of alerts and warnings, have a go bag, know the evacuation route options, know how to properly secure their home prior to departure, and be able to evacuate quickly.

Evacuation practices are not designed to test traffic flow because it is impossible to duplicate the traffic volume of a real event. We all know the roads will be crowded. Instead it is meant to encourage residents to review their evacuation plan and ensure that things are in place to facilitate a quick departure. Practice makes perfect.

Organizing a basic evacuation practice does not need to be difficult. Below are several scaled approaches to holding an evacuation practice. Every Firewire site should hold an annual evacuation practice. If you need assistance or have questions, please contact your Firewire Liaison firewise@firesafemarin.org who will guide you through the various options.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please let your local Fire and Police Department know that you are holding an evacuation practice. They may want to participate, but if resources are not available, they will be glad to know that you are preparing your community.

1. Residents are asked to take a photo of themselves and their family participating in an evacuation related activity.
2. This could include:
   1. Review the Fire Safe Marin Evacuation Checklist (https://firesafemarin.org/ prepare-yourself/evacuation-guide/evacuation-checklist/)
   2. Prepare a Go Bag (https:// firesafemarin.org/prepare-yourself/evacuation-guide/evacuation-go-kit/ ),
   3. Sign up for Alert Marin (https://www.marinsheriff.org/services/emergency-services/alert-marin),
   4. Review the family communications plan (https://firesafemarin.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ Family_Comm_Plan_508_20150820.pdf )
   5. Load the car, etc.
3. Schedule a weekend for the practice
4. Residents are given an address to email or text photos
5. Consider prizes for best photos

1. Firewire Leadership chooses a date and time to hold the practice
2. Consider holding this practice on an evening. Weekend day time practices often conflict with family activities
3. Residents are informed that they will evacuate to a specific site
   1. Consider holding organizing a social activity at the site to attract more residents: food, etc
4. Residents drive, walk or bike to evacuation site
5. Residents register when arriving at the site
6. Plan one or more wildfire safety presentations led by Firewire leadership for residents when they arrive
7. This is also an important opportunity to:
   1. Get updated contact information
   2. Encourage residents tosignup for Alert Marin
   3. Get feedback on the exercise:
      1. i)  Was communication okay?
      2. ii)  Suggestions to make it better?
      3. iii)  Time it took you to get ready?
      4. iv)  What were the issues?

All Sheriff patrol vehicles are now equipped with the Hi/Lo siren, a European style 2-tone siren, that will only be used to alert residents of an immediate evacuation during emergencies such as wildfires, floods and other disasters.