OZ FIELD GUIDE / 05 / MOVEMENT
Evacuation
A departure is easier when the destination and route are already decided.
THE QUICK ANSWER
Follow the evacuation order for your area. Leave early enough to use a safe route; take people, pets, medication, identification, phone and charger, keys, and a few essentials. Know where you are going, tell a contact, and do not take a closed or flooded road.
In immediate danger, contact local emergency services. Current instructions for your location take priority.
01 / DO NOW
First moves.
- 01
Confirm the order
Check the official zone, deadline, route, shelter options, and whether the order includes your address.
- 02
Gather people first
Account for everyone and pets. Take required medication and medical supplies, documents, accessible equipment, keys, and a charged phone. Do not spend critical time packing extras.
- 03
Choose a destination
Go to a trusted contact or designated shelter outside the hazard area. Check pet rules, accessibility, and transport needs.
- 04
Leave and report safely
Use current official routes. Share your destination with an out-of-area contact, keep fuel in the vehicle if relevant, and do not return until authorities say it is safe.
02 / NEXT
When the first minute is over.
Make two destinations and more than one route in advance. Keep a small grab list by the door, especially for medications, pets, and items that cannot be prepacked.
03 / WATCH FOR
The exception that matters.
If a route is unsafe, do not force it. Follow current local instructions or contact emergency services for help. Some hazards, especially radiation fallout, can make immediate travel more dangerous than sheltering; follow the hazard-specific order.
04 / VERIFY
Sources & context.
Osprey Zero wrote this guide from the references below. It is a general starting point, not a live alert. Check the issuing authority for your area; guidance and conditions can change.
Guide updated 02 October 2026. U.S.-based references unless noted; follow authorities where you are.