Wildfire Evacuation Packing List

When the order comes, what you grab depends on how much time you have. This is the calm version of that decision, sorted by the clock. Print it, save it, share it. Hope you never need it.

5 minutes — grab and go

Drop everything

If the order is immediate, this is all. Walk out the door.

People and pets. Priority one. Everything else is replaceable.
Phone and charger.
Wallet or purse — ID, credit cards, cash.
Prescriptions.
Keys — car, house.

30 minutes — add to the basics

Take a breath

Important documents — passport, insurance papers, birth certificates, social security cards. Best case these live in one folder you can grab. If not, prioritize ID and homeowner’s or renter’s insurance.
Eyeglasses, hearing aids, medical devices.
Laptop and any external hard drive.
Change of clothes per person, plus sturdy walking shoes.
Pet carrier, leash, food, water bowl, vaccination records.
Cash in small bills — at least $100. Gas stations may be cash-only in outages.
Water and snacks for the road.
Spare phone chargers, including a car charger.

Hours — add what cannot be replaced

You have time

Irreplaceable photos. The actual albums and prints. Digital ones don’t need to come.
Sentimental items that genuinely matter — wedding rings, family quilts, kids’ baby books, a craft project you’ve poured months into.
Jewelry and small valuables.
Extra clothes — one change per person per day for three days.
A few comfort items if kids or pets will sleep somewhere unfamiliar.

What to leave

Furniture, appliances, electronics you can replace.
Stacks of books, magazines, papers.
Clothes you don’t actually wear.
Pantry food beyond a day’s worth.
Anything you’ve been meaning to donate.
Anything that takes more than 30 seconds to pack if time is tight.

The mental check before you drive away

People accounted for?
Pets accounted for?
Phone charged or charging in the car?
Does someone outside the household know where you’re headed?
Can you refill prescriptions if you can’t come home for several days?

If you get the order, leave when they say leave. Most regret stories from wildfires aren’t about what people forgot. They’re about waiting too long.

This is general guidance — always follow your local emergency orders and the instructions from your fire department. For more practical adulting resources, visit the Tools & Resources page or join the Level Up Life community.