Four things you need to know about evacuation

  • Posted on: 5 November 2015

Evacuation planning is triggered by a different set of circumstances which require different responses. Along with the confusion and the changing circumstances, one must be flexible enough to adjust- a plan provides direction on how to deal with varying levels of emergency and crisis.

Here are some of the main elements of any evacuation plan RedCrow thinks you should know:

1- A Crisis Management Team (CMT) must implement and manage the evacuation process:

A CMT detects early signs of crisis, identifies potential threats and thus manages the evacuation procedure. A CMT should include different representatives of the organisation’s departments. Simultaneously, it should also be led by an in house or an outsourced security expert.

2- Assessing the threat level is vital and should be consistent:

We break down the threat level to four parts:

Threat Level One  (1) –Caution-  Indicates a distant threat and is usually noticed by incidents such as, small-scale demonstrations and extempore uprisings within the surrounding areas.

Threat Level Two (2)  –Alert–  Indicates a mild threat level, and it can be detected through security problems in residential areas and a difficulty of movement between areas.

Threat Level Three (3) –Emergency– Indicates an imminent threat level and is usually identified by civil insurrection: Violence aimed at officials and representatives of the government, destruction of specific governmental buildings, riots and looting etc.

Threat Level Four (4) –Crisis– Indicates an “Operation Shutdown” which can be detected by hostile environments, difficult travel situations, enforced curfews and martial laws and embassy shut downs.  

3- Discerning between a gradual deterioration and a sudden deterioration

A gradual Deterioration may require a pre-planned withdrawal based on the detection of an early warning- this will lead to a phased evacuation set on a wider timeline.

A sudden Deterioration may require an immediate evacuation, or a ’stand fast’ order until the situation can be assessed. The primary evacuation destination will be and should be to a safe place that is pre-determined.

4- Keep a prepared list of necessities and essentials to bring with you including:

  • Passports/Visas  
  • Driver’s license
  • Cheque books
  • Cash (small amount)   
  • Credit cards
  • Prescribed medicine
  • General personal items
  • Cell Phone/charger
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evacuation