Chapter 24 · Vehicle evacuation
24.4 What to load and in what order
Load in this order of priority. If you only have 5 minutes, you leave with level 1. If you have 30 minutes, you get to 3. With hours, you complete everything. (Printable "5-minute" list: chapter 26, Appendix G.)
| Level | What | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Life (5 min) | All the people, the pets on leash and harness, everyone's medicines (including the pets'), glasses, hearing aids, cell phones and chargers, keys, wallet, 72-hour backpacks (chapter 2). | Medicines and documents in the cabin, within reach. Never in the trunk. |
| 2. Documents and money | Waterproof bag with IDs, policies, rental agreement, car titles, pets' vaccination records; cash in small bills; credit card; encrypted USB drive (chapter 2, sections 2.10 and 2.11). | Carried by an adult, not left in the parked car. |
| 3. Water and food | Water for the trip for people and pets (plan on at least 1 gallon [3.8 L] per person per day; for pets, extra water and their bowl); food that needs no cooking; pet food for several days. | A cooler with water within reach; the rest in the trunk. |
| 4. Pet gear | One carrier or car safety harness per pet, spare leashes, waste bags, a bed or blanket that smells like home, a collar with an ID tag, and a recent photo of each pet. | Carriers secured on the back seat or in the cargo area. |
| 5. Clothing and toiletries | Clothes for 3 days or more, closed-toe shoes, a rain jacket, toiletries, toilet paper, wipes. | Soft bags, on the bottom. |
| 6. Extra gear | Radios, extra flashlights, tools, a water filter, sleeping pads, a camp stove (outdoor use only). | Whatever fits without blocking your view. |
| 7. Keepsakes and valuables | Irreplaceable photos (better if digitized), jewelry, hard drives. | Only if there is time left over. |
Weight and loading
- Respect the load capacity. The label on the driver's door frame shows the maximum combined weight of occupants and cargo. With several adults on board, a compact car can be close to the limit before you load any luggage. Overloading lengthens braking distance, overheats the tires, and increases fuel use.
- Heavy items low and forward in the trunk or cargo area (water jugs, canned food), up against the seat backs.
- Nothing loose in the cabin: in a hard stop, a water jug is a projectile. If your vehicle's cargo area is open to the cabin, use a cargo net or barrier.
- Do not block the rear window or the mirrors.
- Roof rack: only light, bulky items (blankets, clothes); respect the limit for the rack and the roof listed in the manual.
