Part 3: Have a plan ยท Chapter 12
Deciding when you'd leave
Make these decisions before a fire starts, while you have time to think. Chapter 3 explains the warning and order levels and the alert systems.
An order comes first
If officials issue a mandatory Evacuation Order, leave. The county calls it a lawful order to evacuate and remain out of the area 1. Your own triggers cover the time before an order.
Your triggers
LA County says to leave early enough to avoid fire, smoke and road congestion, and not to wait to be told 1. The county's page doesn't list triggers, so write your own. These come from what it says:
- An Evacuation Warning covers your address. The county says everyone should be set to go at that stage, and people who need more time should leave now 1.
- You feel you're in danger, whether or not an order has come 1.
- Someone in the household needs extra time to get out. The county says to be ready to leave early, even before official notice 2.
- You keep horses or other large animals. The county says to evacuate them when the warning is issued, and not to wait for an order 3.
Two routes out
LA County says to have several routes in case fire, emergency vehicles or equipment block one, and to choose a route away from the fire 1. Write down at least two. Ready.gov says to pick destinations in different directions 4. It also says to keep a half tank of gas in the car at all times, and to plan on one car per family to cut congestion 4.
A meeting place and a destination
The county says to designate a meeting location outside the hazard area 1. Its family plan adds an out-of-state contact 2. For where to go, it lists a low-risk area such as a prepared neighbor's or relative's home, a Red Cross shelter or evacuation center, or a motel 1.
Pets and livestock
Ready.gov says many public shelters and hotels don't allow pets, so know a place that does before you need it. It also says to line up a neighbor, friend or relative who can evacuate your pets if you can't 5.
For horses, the county says to arrange shelter at two locations far apart, keep a truck and trailer ready with a full tank, and know who is moving your animals and where they're going 3. It doesn't endorse sheltering large animals in place 3.
Alerts
Ready.gov says to have several ways to receive alerts. Wireless Emergency Alerts need no sign-up 6.
Sources
1. County of Los Angeles Emergency Management, "Preparing for Wildfires." https://ready.lacounty.gov/fire (read 2026-11-09)
2. County of Los Angeles Emergency Management, "Family Emergency Plan." https://ready.lacounty.gov/family-emergency-plan/ (read 2026-11-09)
3. County of Los Angeles Emergency Management, "Horses and Large Animals." https://ready.lacounty.gov/horses-and-large-animals/ (read 2026-11-09)
4. Ready.gov, "Evacuation." https://www.ready.gov/evacuation (read 2026-11-09)
5. Ready.gov, "Pets." https://www.ready.gov/pets (read 2026-11-09)
6. Ready.gov, "Wildfires." https://www.ready.gov/wildfires (read 2026-11-09)