When to Leave Instead of Staying
Sheltering at home is not always the right choice. How to tell when to go, and why official orders come first.
This site is about staying home, but staying home is not always the right choice. Official orders come first, every time. If authorities tell you to leave, leave.
Leave right away if
- Officials issue an evacuation order.
- Your home is on fire, or filling with smoke or gas.
- A carbon monoxide alarm sounds. Go outside and call 911 from there. Do not go back in until a qualified person says it is safe.
- Floodwater is rising toward your home.
Plan to leave if
- Your home is too hot or too cold to be safe.
- Someone depends on powered medical equipment and the power will not last.
- Food, water, or medicine is running out and help is not coming soon.
- Someone’s health is getting worse.
- Fire officials suggest going. CAL FIRE’s advice is not to wait for a mandatory order if you feel at risk.
Before you go, if there is time
- Grab your go bag, medicine and documents.
- Keep your vehicle fuelled, or at least half full.
- Follow routes given by officials. Do not drive through a wildfire unless emergency officials direct you to.
- Tell your out-of-area contact where you are going.
- Follow the instructions you were given for utilities. See shutting off utilities.
Where to go
Family or friends, a hotel, or a shelter. In BC, go only to locations named by your local or Indigenous government to access supports. Stay out of the area until officials say it is safe to return.
Checklist
0 of 8 ticked
Decide 0/4
Go 0/4
Everything on this list is ticked. Check it again when you rotate your supplies.
Where to buy
Some links earn me a commission at no cost to you. How this works.
Waterproof pouch for document copies
SentrySafe: SentrySafe Fire and Water Resistant Portable Bag with Zipper, FBWLZ0SSC
A zippered bag sold as fire and water resistant, for keeping IDs, insurance papers and a paper medication list together.
First aid kit with bandages, antiseptic wipes and gloves
First Aid Only: First Aid Only 299 Piece All-Purpose First Aid Kit
A soft-sided kit with a broad mix of common supplies for home use; check contents and replace used items.
First aid kit with bandages, antiseptic wipes and gloves
Adventure Medical Kits: Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker Medical Kit
Sized by the maker for 2 people for 2 days and includes a guide book for when you can't get information online.
Battery or hand-crank radio, with NOAA Weather Radio
Midland: Midland ER310 Emergency Crank Weather AM/FM Radio
Runs from multiple power sources including a hand crank, and receives NOAA weather channels with alert.
Battery or hand-crank radio, with NOAA Weather Radio
Kaito: Kaito KA500 5-Way Powered Emergency AM/FM/SW Weather Alert Radio
Has solar, hand-crank and other power options plus a flashlight and reading lamp.
Sources
- American Red Cross: Power Outage Safety Checklist (PDF) https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/get-help/power-outage/EN_Power-Outage-Safety-Checklist.pdf
- FEMA/Ready.gov: Be Prepared for a Power Outage (PDF) https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2024-03/ready.gov_power-outage_hazard-info-sheet.pdf
- Province of BC: Emergency evacuee guidance https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/preparedbc/evacuation-recovery/evacuee-guidance
- CAL FIRE Ready for Wildfire: Go Evacuation Guide https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/go-evacuation-guide
- American Red Cross: Wildfire Safety Checklist (PDF) https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/local/1_-_Region_News_-_Events/WildfireChecklist.pdf
- Canada.ca: Wildfires, how to prepare https://www.canada.ca/en/services/policing/emergencies/preparedness/get-prepared/hazards-emergencies/wildfires/how-prepare.html
- Canada.ca: Power outages, how to prepare https://www.canada.ca/en/services/policing/emergencies/preparedness/get-prepared/hazards-emergencies/power-outages/how-prepare.html
Updated November 9, 2026