Evacuations

Help us to keep everyone safe by listening to the advice from your local authorities and staying away from evacuated areas until you have been cleared to return.

Stay informed

The decision to evacuate communities is made by municipal and provincial authorities. The situation may change at a moments notice.

The Government of Alberta lists all communities which are under evacuation orders and advisories. To check to see if your community is being advised to prepare for evacuation, has been ordered to evacuate, or has been cleared for return visit: https://www.alberta.ca/emergency or phone toll-free 310-4455.

Pre-evacuation steps for property safety

To assist law enforcement in safeguarding your property and belongings during an evacuation, remember to LOOK at it, LOCK it, and LOG it.

LOOK at it

Make sure you walk around your property to check for open gates, damaged fences, open windows, unlocked doors, or things that may need repair that leave your property vulnerable.

Look at the lights around your property and make sure they are in working condition. Do you have enough lights to illuminate your property? Are they shining brightly enough to offer a large field of vision?

Make sure your security devices (cameras, alarm sensors) are in good working condition with fresh batteries in devices that need them.

If possible, ensure there is clear and open sightlines from the road to your home and around your property. Clear sight lines remove the opportunity for thieves to conceal themselves and allow law enforcement to see your home without having to enter your property.

LOCK it

Thieves look for opportunities, don't give them any. Ensure that you secure all of your valuables.

Secure all vehicles, doors, and windows on your property. Ensure you have proper and working locks on all doors and windows around your property. Replace any rusted or damaged locks. Secure outdoor structures: If you have sheds, garages, or other outdoor structures, ensure they are securely locked. Store valuable tools, equipment, or vehicles inside, if possible. Reinforce doors and windows by using additional locks, deadbolts, or security bars to make them more resistant to forced entry.

LOG it

Take photos of each room of your home and any belongings of value that you have.. Keeping a visual record of your items will help the police and your insurance company if anything is lost or damaged.

Record the serial numbers of expensive items you have in your home or yard. This information can help officers return stolen items to you when they are located. It is also helpful should you need to make an insurance claim.

Make copies of important documents like: birth and marriage certificates, passports, licences, wills, land deeds, and insurance. Take photos of family members in case you need to make a missing persons report.

Keep copies of these important documents both inside and outside your home. You might want to put them in a fireproof safe, safety deposit box or give them to friends and family who live out of town.

Evacuation "go" bag

In an emergency, you will need some basic supplies. You may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. Alberta Emergency Preparedness has great tips and advice.

You may have some of the items already, such as food, water and a battery-operated or crank flashlight. The key is to make sure they are organized and easy to find.

Make sure your kit is easy to carry and everyone in the household knows where it is. Keep it in a backpack, duffle bag or suitcase with wheels, in an easy-to-reach, accessible place, such as your front hall closet.

Here are a few basics to include in your bag:

• First aid kit
• Flashlight
• Chargers for phones and other electronic devices
• Battery powered radio with batteries, or emergency crank radio
• Pet food, pet supplies and water for any of your furry friends
• Birth certificates, passports, marriage certificates- any paper-based documents that you need and are important to you.
• Sanitation supplies (personal hygiene products)
• An extra set of car keys
• Eye glasses or contact lenses
• Medications
• If you do not have a list of contacts in your phone and instead store those numbers in an address book, make sure to bring it so you can let people know you are okay
• Change of clothing (three day minimum)
• Face masks or coverings to avoid breathing in smoke and other circulating debris
• Three-day supply of non-perishable food and three gallons of water per person
• Main and alternate evacuation routes to get to your safe location

Vehicle safety

Make sure to put gas in your vehicle and try to keep a full tank. You should have enough fuel to get to a safe location in case of an immediate evacuation.

Never leave your car or truck running unoccupied with the keys in the ignition.

Most vehicle theft can be prevented by making sure your vehicles are locked when not in use even if the vehicle is stored in a garage. Never leave your keys inside your vehicle

Do not leave anything of value in plain sight. If stopping for the night, remove all valuables from your vehicle and store them in a safe location. Do not leave personal items unattended overnight.

Use an anti-theft device or alarm on your vehicle - for example, a steering wheel locking device.

Try to park in busy, well-lit areas.

When your vehicle is unoccupied remove items that have personal information like registration papers.

Report auto theft immediately and provide police with make, model, and licence plate number - having this information logged somewhere will make it easier to report.

Extra preparations you can make

Take a USB or external hard drive, and back up any important files or documents you may have on your home computer.

Make sure all your personal devices are fully charged. This includes laptops, cell phones and tablets.

Your family may not be together when an evacuation occurs. Plan how to meet or how to contact one another and discuss what you would do in different situations. Arrange for each family member to call, e-mail or text the same out-of-town contact person in case of an emergency.

Choose an out-of-town contact who lives far enough away that he or she is unlikely to be affected by the same event. If you are new to Canada or have recently moved to a new area, make arrangements through friends, cultural associations, or community organizations.

Assign responsibilities: identify who is responsible for what. The first consideration, of course, is saving human life and getting everyone out safely. Discuss who will be responsible for assisting very young or elderly family members during the evacuation.

Have a "go" bag ready in case of an evacuation and have it near the front door so you are able to leave and not waste time searching for things in an emergency scenario. If you have things of sentimental value, that can not be replaced, have those ready to go in an easy to transport container.

Evacuation orders are issued by the municipal or provincial authorities. Authorities will not ask you to leave your home unless they have reason to believe that you may be in danger. If an evacuation order is issued, take your emergency kit, your wallet, personal identification for each family member, and copies of essential family documents with you. Bring a cellular phone and spare battery or charger with you, if you have one.

When evacuating, use travel routes specified by local authorities. Other routes may be closed off for emergency use only or due to wildfires.

If you have time, call or e-mail your out-of-town contact. Tell them where you are going and when you expect to arrive. Once you are safe, let them know. Tell them if any family members have become separated.

If you are out of town, make sure that you have a trusted friend or family member who can access your home to ensure it is secure and remove any important documents that you may need, in the event that an emergency alert is given.

Take pets with you. Lock your home. Follow instructions from authorities.

Do not return home until authorities advise that it is safe to do so.

It is illegal to be on the streets of an evacuated community, and if you refuse to leave your house when the evacuation orders are issued, emergency services may not be available to assist you if the situation takes a turn for the worst.

Pet and livestock safety

Always remember to bring enough food and water for your pets and do not forget any medications they require.

Commercial livestock producers and hobbyists are responsible to have plans for the evacuation of their livestock and be familiar with the information on farm preparedness which can be found on the Government of Alberta Farm animals and livestock preparedness page. Family pets may become stressed or anxious in emergency situations. To keep them safe and avoid them getting out while trying to evacuate, keep them leashed or secured in travel crates as you leave your home.

Returning home after a wildfire does not mean there is no longer a risk. Damage to your home or surrounding areas can create issues you need to be aware of. Here are some things to lookout for when returning home:

• Do not return to your home or business until you have been given the official word by the authorities. Do not rely on feedback from non-official sources like social media, chat groups or word of mouth.
• Have basics supplies with you when you return home: gloves, goggles, bottled water, flashlight, garbage bags and first aid kit.
• Keep an eye out for fire "hot spots" around your home or property. Look for sparks or smoke that may come from your property or roof. Embers can still be carried in the wind, and still have the possibility of catching fire. Also, be aware that there could be ash pits that are still very hot and could burn you, pets, or livestock very easily.
• If you attempt to turn on the power in your home and are unable to gain power, reach out to your local utility company.
• Once you have returned to your home, make sure you do not smell gas within the house. Turn off the power in your home until you have done a full inspection of your home and made sure it is safe. If you do smell gas, vacate your house and call your utility company.
• Do not drink water from your home faucets until officials have let you know that it is safe. If you have a well on your property and it was damaged during the wildfire, make sure it is inspected and repaired before using it.
• Due to damaged areas caused by the wildfire, it is very possible for flooding to occur if heavy rainfalls happen after the fires have ended. Try to avoid natural drainage areas like rivers and creeks, as sudden rainfall can cause sudden flows of water and debris.
• Be watchful for down trees, power poles and any other tall structure that may have become unstable during the fires. Report any power poles that have fallen and do not attempt to remove them or touch any power lines.
• Dispose of any food that was exposed to heat, smoke, or ash. If power was out during your evacuation and food in your freezer has defrosted-throw it away. It is better to be safe than sorry, when it comes to food that has not be properly refrigerated.
• If you're property has been targeted by criminals while you were evacuated, report it to your local RCMP.

Property damage

If you notice there is damage to your property after returning home after an evacuation, here are some things for you to do:

• Take pictures of any damage that has been done inside and outside your home. Ensure pictures are clear and as detailed as possible. These pictures can then be shared with your insurance company to assess the damage for your claim.
• Contact your home insurance broker. A broker can help communicate with your insurance company and get the repairs started on your home quicker than if you try to handle that on your own. Have all the details about the damage ready to go before contacting your broker, simply in an effort to expedite the process.
• Save any receipts that you may have acquired while you were evacuated from your home. Some insurance companies will cover the cost of out-of-pocket expenses due to a government ordered evacuation notice. This can include things like hotel stays, food, and transportation.
• If you notice anything has been lost or stolen, report it to your local RCMP.