evacuate

Evacuate is a verb meaning to remove people or animals from a place of danger to a safer location. In emergency management, evacuation is a planned or rapid movement away from threatened areas, intended to reduce exposure to hazards. The word derives from Latin evacuatus, past participle of evacuare, meaning to empty out; English usage dates to the 16th or 17th century.

Evacuations occur in response to natural hazards such as floods, wildfires, hurricanes, or severe storms; technological or industrial incidents such as chemical spills or radiological releases; and security threats including armed conflict. They can be total, with all occupants leaving, or partial, targeting specific zones. Evacuations may also involve pets, livestock, and dependents who require assistance.

Planning and execution: Effective evacuation relies on hazard assessment, clearly defined evacuation routes, designated assembly points, and established shelter or reception centers. Authorities issue alerts and orders, including evacuation advisories and mandatory evacuations, and coordinate transportation, traffic control, and communications. Evacuation plans consider accessibility for children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and households without private vehicles. During or after an evacuation, accountability measures such as headcounts, check-ins, and reunification efforts help locate and reconnect separated individuals. Medical care continuity and provisions for sheltering, food, water, and sanitation are commonly addressed.

Related concepts include sheltering in place when staying indoors is safer than leaving, and post-evacuation processes such as return and recovery. Examples of evacuations appear across disaster management histories, from wildfire responses in rural areas to hurricane evacuations along coastlines.