During bushfire season I keep an overnight bag with pyjamas, a change of clothes, toiletries, pouch of ID (eg passport), and non-perishable food (muesli bars, &c). On Catastrophic Warning days, I add some perishable food (orange or apple, sandwich, &c), water, laptop and purse, and just stash it in the car if I have to go out. The whole thing saves on packing if I go away for the weekend, too...
Some things for consideration:
- long sleeves and long trousers for evacuation. I'm not sure why this is, but it was drummed into me pretty soundly as a child at school.
- evacuation point? Where I live, there are designated "community hubs", usually a school hall or gym, which are considered to be safer during a fire if you can't get out of the area, or you're billeted in one in a neighbour non-endangered area if you can, but most people just go and spend the day with friends or relatives (or stay for a few days or longer if the fire does get to there house).
- livestock and pets? We put the cats in carry-cages and take them with us in the car, and then open all the gates so the rest of the livestock can run if they have to. Last time we were evacuated, the fire didn't get to us but we ended up with someone else's goat in our yard the next day...
I've never been evacuated for more than a day and all that is more than sufficient. Most of the time we just go to a neighbouring town, once down into the city for the day (which we would have done anyway), so food and water aren't so much of an issue.
The first thing to think about is, "
What do I need to get through 24 hours?" What do you usually take if you go away overnight? Change of clothes and toiletries, basically. Prescription medications.
The second thing to think about is, "
What do I absolutely need to save if I lose everything?" Most things can be replaced. Material possessions. But think about forms of ID and things you're sentimentally attached to - a favourite toy for a child, family photos. I remember back before digital photography, we had a box of negatives to take with us. Oh, and a phone-book or some other list of contact details for friends and family. Mind you, that's probably as defunct as needing a box of negatives these days, since people will probably have them on their technology.
Answer those two questions, and that's what you need to take with you if you're evacuated.
One other thing I take with me - my swag. Yes, I know that word has a different meaning outside Australia but I understand it's fairly similar to a bivvy sack. A waterproof tarp like an overlarge sleeping bag, and inside a self-inflating mattress and sleeping bag. It lives in the car anyway, though, as it's a far cheaper form of accommodation when travelling than a motel and it's quicker and easier than a tent!
You've probably got similar information more relevant to where you live, but here are some sites and information from my area:
How to prepare for a bushfire
Bushfire Plan - ABC Emergency (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Prepare for bushfire :: CFS
Prepare Before the Bushfire Season
http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare
https://www.qld.gov.au/emergency/safety/fire/
