Vehicle Evacuation Planning

For most households, a private vehicle is the primary evacuation method — and it comes with significant advantages. It provides shelter, carries your supplies, moves at pace, and keeps the family together. It also comes with significant vulnerabilities: fuel dependency, route dependency, and the potential to become a liability in congestion or flooding.

Planned vehicle evacuation is dramatically safer than improvised vehicle evacuation. This guide ensures your vehicle and your plan are ready before the emergency occurs.

⚠️ Never drive into floodwater. Just 15cm (6 inches) of water can cause you to lose control of a vehicle. 30cm (12 inches) can float most cars. Half a metre of fast-moving water can sweep an SUV off the road. Turn around. Do not drown.

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Pre-Event Vehicle Preparation

The best time to prepare your vehicle for evacuation is now — before any emergency is forecast.

Mechanical readiness

Item	Check Frequency	Action
Fuel level	Always above half tank	Fill when below half during risk periods
Tyre pressure and condition	Monthly	Check and inflate to manufacturer spec
Engine oil	Every 3 months	Top up or change as needed
Coolant level	Every 3 months	Top up only when engine is cold
Battery condition	Annually	Test battery; replace if over 4 years old
Brake condition	Annually or per manufacturer	Listen for squealing; check fluid level
Wiper blades	Every 6 months	Replace if streaking in rain
Spare tyre	Every 6 months	Check inflation; ensure jack and wrench present
Emergency kit in boot	Annually	See below

Vehicle emergency kit (keep in the boot permanently)

• Jumper cables or jump starter device
• Reflective warning triangles or road flares
• Tow rope or tow strap
• Basic tool kit (socket set, zip ties, duct tape)
• Fire extinguisher (small, rated ABC)
• Window breaker and seatbelt cutter (accessible from driver's seat)
• High-visibility vest (one per adult)
• Extra water (2 litres minimum, stored in car)
• Snack food (non-perishable)
• First aid kit
• Warm blanket (one per person)

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The Fuel Problem

Fuel stations become overwhelmed in the hours after an evacuation order is issued. Queues of 2–4 hours are common. Some stations run dry within 12–24 hours.

The solution: always keep your tank above half.

This is the single most important vehicle preparedness habit. A full tank (even "only" half) gives you 200–400km of range before you need fuel at all. In most evacuations, this is enough to reach safety without stopping.

Fuel storage

If you wish to store additional fuel at home:

• Use only approved fuel storage containers (red for petrol, yellow for diesel)
• Store in a cool, ventilated area away from living spaces and ignition sources
• Add fuel stabiliser if storing for more than 30 days
• Rotate stock by using it in your vehicle and refilling the container
• Check local regulations — many jurisdictions limit how much fuel you may store at home

Vehicles with alternative fuel: Diesel vehicles often have easier fuel access during shortages. Electric vehicles are vulnerable to power outages — maintain a higher state of charge in risk periods. Hybrid vehicles are well-positioned.

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Loading Priorities

In an evacuation, loading speed matters. Know what you are taking before the emergency occurs.

Loading order (fastest to access last, most important first):

1. All household members — everyone is present and ready to go (this takes longer than people expect)
2. Go-bags (pre-packed, kept near the exit)
3. Medications (prescription medications are irreplaceable in a crisis)
4. Pets (in carriers; leads attached)
5. Laptops and hard drives (irreplaceable data)
6. Documents not in go-bag (originals from fireproof box)
7. Additional water and food if space allows
8. Important personal items (only if time allows — do not delay departure)

Do not waste time loading: Furniture, large appliances, sentimental items that cannot fit quickly, non-essential clothing. Your life, your family, and critical documents and medications are what matter.

Time yourself. Practice loading the car in 10 minutes. You will find what slows you down and solve it before the emergency.

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Route Planning

A single evacuation route is a point of failure. Plan at least three routes out of your area:

Route planning principles:

1. Identify primary route: The fastest and most direct route to your destination (family, shelter, hotel)
2. Identify alternate route 1: Alternative direction, avoiding motorways and main roads (prone to gridlock)
3. Identify alternate route 2: Completely different direction — for scenarios where the primary threat blocks the first two routes
4. Know the chokepoints: Bridges, tunnels, motorway on-ramps, and railway crossings are where evacuations stall. Know where they are on each route and plan around them.
5. Print the routes. Do not rely on GPS or phone signal — both may fail during a major emergency.
6. Drive the routes in advance. Knowing a route from a map is different from knowing it from experience.

Routes and disaster types

Disaster Type	Route Consideration
Flood	Know which roads are in flood zones — they close first
Wildfire	Wind direction dictates safe routes — stay upwind and crosswind
Hurricane	Government may implement contraflow (both lanes one direction) — check before departure
Nuclear event	Move perpendicular to wind direction, not directly away from source
Civil unrest	Avoid large gatherings, main urban roads; take residential routes

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Traffic and Congestion Management

Mass evacuations create significant traffic. Planning reduces your exposure to it.

Leave early. This is the single most effective strategy. People who leave at the first notice face a fraction of the congestion that people who leave after a mandatory order face. Pre-event departure is significantly faster than post-order departure.

If caught in gridlock:

1. Turn off the engine when stationary for extended periods (conserves fuel; reduces overheating risk)
2. Stay with traffic — do not drive on the shoulder (illegal; emergency vehicles need it)
3. If overheating occurs: turn on the heater to draw heat from the engine; pull over and open the bonnet when safe
4. Do not lose tempers or make aggressive manoeuvres — accidents in evacuation traffic cause blockages affecting thousands of people

Time of departure:

• Night evacuation is often faster (less traffic) but has visibility, navigation, and fatigue risks
• Aim to be at your destination before dark if possible
• If you must drive at night, take rest stops — fatigue is a major crash risk

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Carpool Coordination

Not everyone has a vehicle. Coordinating carpools in advance is both a community service and a resilience measure.

Establish in advance:

• Which neighbours, family members, or friends would need transport
• How many additional people your vehicle can carry (and how this affects load capacity)
• An agreed meeting point (not on the road — a driveway or car park)
• A communication method that doesn't rely on phone signal (pre-agreed time and place)

Registered evacuation assistance: Many localities have registries for people with mobility limitations who need transport assistance. Check your local emergency management website.

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Breakdown During Evacuation

Breakdowns during an emergency evacuation are high-stakes situations.

1. Signal clearly. Activate hazard lights immediately. Pull as far off the road as possible.
2. Place warning triangles. At least 30 metres behind the vehicle, particularly on curves.
3. Assess the problem. Flat tyre: change with spare if safe to do so. Overheating: stop engine, wait 20–30 minutes before opening radiator.
4. Do not stay in the vehicle if on a motorway or high-speed road — wait at a safe distance from traffic.
5. Contact roadside assistance if signal is available.
6. Flag down help if critical. Emergency personnel in evacuations will prioritise breakdowns with vulnerable occupants (infants, elderly, medical needs).
7. Transfer essential items to another vehicle. Go-bags, medications, and documents — leave the rest.
8. Continue on foot if necessary. Know how far you are from the nearest safe point. Keep this in mind when planning routes.

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If You Cannot Drive

When a personal vehicle is not an option:

• Public transport: Buses, trains, and ferries may run special evacuation routes. Monitor official channels.
• Community transport: Churches, community centres, and NGOs often coordinate transport during evacuations.
• Taxi and ride-share: May be overwhelmed and unavailable. Do not rely on these as your primary plan.
• Pre-arranged carpool: The most reliable alternative to your own vehicle.
• Walking: If all else fails, on-foot evacuation to a nearby shelter is preferable to remaining in a threatened building. See the on-foot evacuation guide.

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Quick Reference

Situation	Action
Fuel tank is less than half	Fill it now — do not wait for an emergency
Evacuation order just issued	Grab go-bags, load people and pets first, documents second, leave immediately
Caught in gridlock with overheating engine	Turn on heater; pull over when safe; do not open radiator immediately
Floodwater on your planned route	Turn around — do not drive through any depth of floodwater
Tyre blows out on evacuation route	Signal, pull over, change if safe; if motorway, stand behind barrier
Breakdown with no fix possible	Transfer go-bags and medications to another vehicle or continue on foot
Multiple family members in different locations	Pre-agree a meeting point; do not drive into danger to collect people
No fuel available at stations	Use reserve supply; adjust route to find open stations; conserve by driving steadily
Driving at night during evacuation	Rest stops every 2 hours; avoid fatigue; use high beam on unlit roads
GPS fails or signal lost	Use printed maps; follow official evacuation signage