Evacuation Map Requirements

Evacuation maps can be life saving preparedness tools in the event of a disaster or emergency. One of the most important functions that needs to occur as soon as a disaster such as a fire or flood is realized is getting people to safety as quickly and effectively as possible. Knowing how and where to go is the key to a successful evacuation. Evacuation maps provide the guidance required to get out of a dangerous area safely.

Fastest Routes

• The primary goal of an evacuation is to make sure that everyone gets out of the area of danger as quickly and efficiently as possible. There need to be maps, drawings and written instructions that advise residents of an area how to leave the immediate area and which routes are the fastest ways to safety.
  For wide area evacuations that require vehicle transportation, you should choose primary roads that are built for the influx of traffic that an evacuation would produce. Choose highways and major roadways for the evacuation route that is to be listed on the map.
  For localized evacuations, which usually occur within a building, the evacuation map should illustrate the fastest ways out of the building from every area. Utilization of stairs and primary doors will provide the fastest way out.

Alternate Routes

• You need to designate alternate routes out of an area as a backup to the fastest routes in the event they are inaccessible as a result of the disaster or emergency. For example, in the event of a flood or hurricane, some of the primary roads and routes that are to be used in the event of an evacuation may not be accessible or safe due to the conditions created by the disaster. This would mean that an alternate way out would need to be used.
  Alternate routes are essential in planning evacuations in both larger areas and buildings or facilities. An alternate way out of harms way can be an important life-saver when people are trying to get to safety.

Designated Safe Areas

• An evacuation is intended to get people out of the danger zone in question, but telling them where to go once they get out is also important. For example, if there is a flood or hurricane, you would need to make sure that people in danger knew to evacuate the immediate area, but also to make sure that they were at least a certain distance from the evacuation zone. This information is crucial because it provides instructions about how far people must travel in order to be considered within a "safe zone". For a building or facility the designated safe area would be a parking lot across the street or perhaps at the end of the block, depending on the situation. For small scale evacuations, having a designated area for everyone to reconvene helps with making sure everyone who needed to evacuate got out safely and successfully.