Extreme weather conditions, disastrous natural phenomena such as earthquakes and hurricanes, turmoil and civilian unrest may, at some point, affect your expat life to such an extent that it may be necessary for you and your family to undergo emergency evacuation. The process of getting out of your host country quickly and under the threat of a disaster is scary, and unless you have a plan in place, you run the risk of panicking and not focusing on what鈥檚 most important: your and your family鈥檚 safety. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for emergency evacuation.
Know where to find information and advice
Your home country should have a government-run department which is responsible for protecting the citizens' rights and interests no matter where they are in the world. For example, for the United Kingdom, this authority is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. These offices are usually offering information and advice via their website and instant messaging regarding international dangers and threats to keep their citizens up to date and help them make decisions such as an emergency evacuation.
News websites are also a valuable source of information in case of an emergency. However, not all news agencies are reliable 鈥� the accuracy of their news production depends on the country they are established in, their global outreach, principles and values. In case of an emergency evacuation, your local embassy or consulate will receive evacuation instructions immediately from your country's government, so know how to reach out to them. Nevertheless, in times of emergency and panic, all nationals will be trying to contact the embassy, which may delay effective communication. Another efficient way to stay informed is to have a reliable contact outside your host country, who follows the news and can transfer the information to you.
Stay in touch with friends and family from back home
Staying in touch with your friends and family from back home is an excellent way to fight homesickness, and to stay up to date with the happenings in your home country. Also, in case of an emergency, having people from outside your host country who are aware of your whereabouts at most times can prove to be life-saving. Keep people from back home informed regarding where you are, what the crisis is about, and what are your plans, so if they don't hear back from you for a while, they will know what to tell to the authorities and help to speed up the investigation. 聽
Have emergency phone numbers at hand
Every country has its emergency telephone numbers to contact the police, fire brigade, coastguard, and ambulance. Also, there are universal emergency numbers, which cover all four emergency services. For example, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mauritius, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Zimbabwe and other popular expat destinations use the same official 999 emergency number. The European Union's emergency number is 112, but the calls are answered by 999 operators. It is also useful to know the phone numbers of a couple of airlines which fly to your home country, the international airports of your host country, and your embassy's or consulate's.
Keep all important documents at one place
In the event of an emergency, you should take with you your and your family's passports and identity cards, birth certificates, insurances, credit cards, and any investment or business-related papers. If your passport has expired or has been lost, you may be able to apply for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) or an Emergency Passport (EP) at your embassy. However, be aware that the process, especially in a time of crisis, may delay your evacuation. To be issued with an ETD you will need proof of identity, passport photos, and tickets (if issued); also, you will be asked to pay a fee. A useful practice to keep your important documents safe is to have digital copies of them, which you can access at any time from anywhere.
Prepare an evacuation bag
In an emergency, time and space are unfortunately against you. Thus, to avoid last minute packing and the anxiety that comes with it, it's wise to have a to-go-bag ready with the essentials at all times. If you are unsure what to pack in it, try to answer the following question: 鈥淚f I only had ten minutes to get out of my home, what would I take with me?鈥� Also, when thinking about the items you should take, keep in mind that you may never be able to come back to your home again.
Make the bag as light as possible, as these are the things you will have to physically carry in an emergency, which may involve very bad environmental conditions (e.g. floods, fire, non-existent infrastructure, etc.). A few things are a first aid kit, prescribed drugs, water, torch and batteries, mobile phone and charger, a list of emergency numbers, high-energy and long shelf life food, sanitary items, and valuables such as jewellery, cash, etc. Each family member should have their own evacuation bag to help you split the weight among all of you. If you have children, remember that a stuffed toy may be unimportant for you but for your child it may be their most valuable item.
Have a backup plan for your pet
Pets are part of your family, and therefore they should also be included in your evacuation plans. You and your family have to be mentally prepared for the worst eventuality which may mean that you won't be able to take your dog or cat with you if you have to leave your host country urgently. In this case, have a backup plan, which involves a safe and trustworthy place where you can leave your pet until you are able to come back to collect it. This place can be a local friend's home or a charity. If the situation allows you to take your pet with you, remember to pack in your emergency bag its passport, vaccination records, some food, and prescribed medicine. If you haven't microchipped your pet yet, do so, as for most countries the microchip is a requirement to be able to bring your pet inside the country.
