Disasters can happen quickly and without warning. Your safety start with preparation and awareness.
Being prepared by keeping essential documents in a ready-to-go emergency evacuation bag ("Go Bag") can make a significant difference during recovery. Having quick access to important records and information allows you to respond more effectively and reduces stress during an emergency.
Be Prepared for Evacuation
Assess your household needs: consider different ages of household members, special dietary or medical needs, disabilities and access needs. PLAN AHEAD - see the printable Pre-Evacuation Preparedness checklist and our Immediate Evacuation (when leaving & at your evacuation destination) checklist.
Document your evacuation plan: Create a family emergency plan that best fits your household needs. See the printable " Our Emergency Family Plan".
The plan should include:
- Contact List: Communication through cell phone may be difficult after a disaster. Ensure you have important numbers written down.
- Meeting Point: Provide a location that your whole family knows.
- Evacuation Route: Have more than one route (if possible) in the event that there are issues with your main route.
- Out-of-state Contacts: Useful to have in case you need to evacuate to their household or update them on your family's status.
Discuss the evacuation plan with your family: provide copies of this plan to all family members and keep it posted where it is visible.
Have an emergency kit (Go Bag") with supplies ready: Keep this kit in a designated place inside your home and have it ready in case you have to leave your home quickly. See the printable "Go Bag" Checklist.
Stay informed with alerts: Download a local city, county or state app for your phone, or listen to the local radio stations. See the available list of emergency alert systems in NM cities/counties.
Protect and store important documents: See the printable list of important documents to protect (English & Spanish).
Recommended Storage Methods
- USB Drive (digital copies): Scan important papers and store them on a secure USB drive.
- Safety Deposit Box: Keep original documents in a bank safety deposit box for maximum protection.
- Fireproof/Waterproof Box or Bag: Store documents at home in a container designed to withstand fire and water damage.
- Keep both digital and physical copies when possible.
- Use password protection or encryption for digital files.
Additional Resources:
State encourages New Mexicans to enable emergency alerts - NMDHSEM
Incendios Forestales Lista de Verificación de Preparación
Wildfire Preparedness Checklist
Emergency_Evacuation_Planning_Guide_for_People_with_Disabilities.pdf
Making an Emergency Plan | Emergency Preparedness and Disability Inclusion | CDC
People with Disabilities | Ready.gov
How to Reach Us!
If you’re facing a disaster-related legal issue, we’re here to assist you. Here’s how you can contact us:
- Call our Disaster Hotline at 1-855-204-2569, Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or leave a message 24/7.
Email the Disaster Legal Services Team at disasterlegalservices@nmlegalaid.org.
