What to expect when you have to evacuate

by Sarah Tipton

As the clean-up begins in Louisiana from the chaos caused by Hurricane Ida, many residents are wondering if they have a home to return to. The governor urged all evacuees not to returnBut many of them have reached a point where they can no longer stay away from their homes.

When disaster strikes, uncertainty is the hardest thing to come to terms with. There is no set plan, only hope that there is something to return to and something to salvage. But, if you had to evacuate, where should you go? How far should you be from your home? The farther the distance, the greater the uncertainty. The closer we got, the more dangerous it was.

Where and how far is the evacuation?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends that a safe hurricane evacuation route should take you 20 to 50 miles inland. For many Louisiana residents, they went to neighboring states to calm the storm. Now that state officials have estimated that power won’t be restored for weeks and have said there will be ongoing gas and supply disruptions, many people are beginning to realize that this is a long-term situation.

Think about how much money it would take to live in a hotel and eat out for two weeks or even an entire month. in a Article – Commodity About the topic posted by NPRA seven-day eviction could cost $2,000!

Joshua Beer, whose research team at Old Dominion University in Virginia has surveyed thousands of people since 2011, when Hurricane Irene threatened the state’s southeast coast, said. “Many middle- to low-income families don’t have money or credit,” he said. When they return home they find it difficult to pay rent or mortgage. Those with the fewest means often wait the longest to evacuate. By the time they do that, the cheapest hotel rooms are gone, and the most expensive rooms are farther away.”

Prepare by having an emergency fund. Setting aside some money for a rainy day can make all the difference if you have to evacuate. For more information, please click on the link below:

Learn how to create an emergency fund here.

Offline Survival Toolkit (Announcement)

When evacuating:

• If possible, evacuate to a friend’s or family home in a non-risk area within your county or parish.
• Next, try a hotel. Some hotels have special eviction rates. Check with hotels before booking a room. Some hotels have even waived room charges for evacuees like this Hotel in Austin.
• Airbnb rentals are a great way to secure short-term housing during evictions. In 2012, she launched Airbnb Open Homes, a disaster relief program that encourages Airbnb hosts to provide free temporary shelter to those affected by natural disasters, and the program is still running. These things can go quickly, so keep in mind that time is of the essence.
• As a last resort, go to a public shelter. Remember that shelters are not designed for comfort and do not usually accept pets.
• Temporary housing should be considered by city and state evacuation plans. Cities most likely to receive evacuees—those located near climate-prone areas that provide housing and other infrastructure that can support the influx of hundreds of people—should consider how to provide shelter and incorporate potential climate displacement before a severe weather event occurs.

Disaster can happen at any time, but having a plan complete with an emergency fund can help you avoid the worst of any crisis. Nothing you do to prepare in advance will only make it worse, so take your time making plans and learn how to save in any potential emergency.