Planning for Multiple Emergency Situations

Understanding the actions you may be directed to take during an emergency is critical.  These protective actions would be directed by emergency personnel to help protect public health and safety.  

Download our Actions in an Emergency Fact Sheet

Terminology

Becoming familiar with terminology before disaster strikes will allow you to quickly take action upon direction from local officials. Emergency officials will decide whether to evacuate or shelter in place areas based on the nature of the emergency. Remember, preparing for emergencies in advance is the best way to help protect yourself and your family.

Evacuation Warning

Alerts community members in a defined area of a potential threat to life and property from an emergency incident. Be prepared to evacuate. 

  • Individuals who need extra time to evacuate, or those with household pets large animals, should consider evacuating when a warning is issued. You should also start gathering important items for your family and pets. 
  • Depending on the emergency, there may not be time to issue an Evacuation Warning.  If you receive an Evacuation Warning, gather your family, pets and emergency supplies and prepare to leave. If you know you need assistance evacuating, don't wait until an Evacuation Order is issued, leave now.
  • Residents living in an Evacuation Warning area may come and go from their homes, but should be prepared to Evacuate if ordered. 
Evacuation Order

Movement of community members out a defined area due to an immediate threat to life and property from an emergency incident. Evacuate now.

  • Although residents cannot be forced from their homes, residents can be prevented from entering an Evacuation Order area using public roadways. 
  • Based on the situation, immediately following an Evacuation Order, some two way traffic may be allowed to let residents aquire essential items and pets from their homes.  Once residents have left an Evacuation Order area, return will not be permitted.  

Note* In some counties this can also be called a Mandatory Evacuation.  
Shelter in Place
Directing community members to stay inside their current location if a situation does not allow for evacuation or when an evacuation could cause a higher potential for loss of life.
Closure
Prohibiting usage or occupancy of a defined area such as a park, beach, or road due to a potential or actual threat to public health and/or safety. Used when public officials want to limit recreating public in the case of a potential emergency.
Repopulation
The return of community members to a previously evacuated are for unrestricted use. Only after the threat has been mitigated, infrastructure and utilities are secured, and emergency services have approved of the return.
Reentry
The temporary reentry of community members for a designated time to an evacuated area i.e. to feed livestock in a potentially contaminated or at-risk area.
Relocation
The long-term or permanent relocation of a population from a defined area due to prolonged threat to public health and/or safety.