Evacuate - The Smart Way

Louise Daniels only evacuated seven miles. It proved to be just the right distance.

Source: AARP.org | May 25, 2006

Preparedness Principle: Evacuate—the smart way.

Who: Louise Daniels, 80

Where: Naples Land Yacht Harbor

Hit by What Storm: Wilma

What Happened: A longtime mobile home resident, she remembered the damage inflicted by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Following experts' advice, she evacuated "tens of miles, not hundreds of miles"—in fact, only seven miles, and stayed with friends from church for a week. Even only seven miles away from her home, storm damage at her evacuation location (a solidly built brick home) was much less severe.

It Got Better When: She only evacuated a short distance. Wilma ripped the carport off her mobile home, "opening it up like a sardine can," she says. But her friends' brick home "only had some trees down." Power soon returned, stores were opened, and she was nearby to check on things at her home.

Words to weigh: At 80, she still drives, but is reluctant to evacuate a long distance. "A hundred miles in my car? No, no. I hardly drive anymore—I do drive to the store and the doctor. A hundred miles? No."

Related Articles

• Five Steps for a Safe Hurricane Season
  Follow these five steps to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property during the Florida hurricane season.
• Review your insurance
  It's boring. If you don't do it, you may wish you had.
• "Harden" your home against hurricane winds
  Pick the right type of hurricane shutter to protect your home.
• Prepare two hurricane kits
  One helps if you evacuate. The other helps when you get home.
• Evacuate—the smart way
  Evacuate tens of miles, not hundreds of miles
• Provide for your pets
  Make plans to take care of your pets.
• Document your home and possessions
  Photograph your home for insurance records.

Other Resources

• FloridaDisaster.org
  This site provides links to county evacuation route maps