While most of us haven’t been asked to evacuate during the past week, I’m willing to bet that many of our readers have a relative or a friend that is one of the two million people asked to leave their homes in the coastal areas of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
Several years ago, my wife was vacationing in Myrtle Beach with her family when Hurricane Floyd approached the coastal area. Evacuating from a heavily populated coastal region can be a danger in itself. She and her family heeded warnings from officials and left the area immediately as did many others. Even though they were among the first to leave, interstates and roadways were clogged and impassable. It took her 11 hours to drive from Myrtle Beach to Roanoke, typically a 6 hour journey.
If you believe that evacuation is imminent, make the following preparations before you begin your journey
- Fully charge your cell phone.
- Buy bottled water and food. State officials recommend having at least a three day supply on hand.
- Pack and label all medications.
- Know where you are going. If you are not staying with friends and family members, make a reservation at a hotel. Check in with the hotel so that your room will not be sold to another person if you are late.
- Communicate your plans and route to friends and family members.
- Have a paper map available. During any evacuation you may encounter a detour. If your GPS or phone are not working, you will be able to refer to the paper map for guidance.
- Make sure your car’s maintenance is up to date. Check oil level and tire pressure. You may have to idle on the interstate for long periods of time.
- Take extra cash. If power is knocked you may not be able to use a credit card or write a check to pay for food, water or gas.
During the Evacuation
- You will be driving in heavy, stop and start traffic. Be patient. Keep calm and stay alert.
- When you stop for long periods of time, you may think it is a good time to update your status- DON’T DO THIS! Traffic can start moving again with no notice and you will enrage other drivers if you do not keep up with traffic. This is also considered texting and driving which is illegal in most states.
- When traffic begins to move again, resist the urge to speed up quickly. Proceed with caution.
- Remember most accidents occur during lane changes. Use extra caution especially when changing lanes in heavy traffic.
If you or someone you love has been hurt in an accident that was due to the negligence of someone else, call The Thomson Law Firm for a FREE consultation. (540) 777-4900
