Hurricane Evacuation: What the Whole Community Can Do

Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida last night, bringing punishing winds and rain. As the storm barreled across the Gulf of Mexico earlier this week, millions of Floridians were under mandatory evacuation orders. Some followed these orders, while others hunkered down and prepared to ride out what was expected to be one of the largest hurricanes on record.

Why would someone choose not to evacuate in the face of life-threatening consequences?

Recent RAND research has shown that people often have good reasons for staying put, such as transportation difficulties, the costs associated with evacuating, or trouble finding support or shelter for their pets. What's more, evacuation orders can be complex, written in the wrong language, or communicated using the wrong channels. And in some cases—particularly in historically marginalized communities—people might not trust the messenger.

All this makes evacuation a “whole community” effort, says RAND's Aaron Clark-Ginsberg. Everyone has a role to play. To start, government officials issuing evacuation orders have an obligation to provide messaging that’s clear, appropriate, and detailed. They should also work to reduce barriers to evacuating. Civil society supporting affected communities can amplify government messages and provide people with direct support.

People who are under an evacuation order should follow government sources to stay up-to-date on the specific guidance provided. And finally, people who know someone who is under an evacuation order should check in to make sure they’re evacuating and offer to provide support: a place to stay, food, or simply empathy and comfort.