Q&A for How to Evacuate a Building in an Emergency

Buildings will plan and rehearse fire drills, especially in schools with young children, because if a fire actually happens in the building, it's important that everyone knows exactly what to do and where to go. Without a plan in place, there will be chaos, and people are more likely to be hurt or killed in the fire.

Smoke from the fire can kill you by causing asphyxiation from smoke inhalation. Contact with a fire can also destroy your body the same way it does a piece of paper.

It depends on the height of the building and the particular emergency. 30 feet is probably a safe distance for a house, but you may need to go further back in larger buildings or even evacuate the entire area, depending.

The order of evacuation will depend greatly on the reason for evacuation as well as the building's specific emergency plans. Many buildings choose to evacuate from the bottom up as lower floors can be cleared while higher floors are making their way down. All evacuation should be done as quickly as possible, though.

You can design your own floor plan, or you can have someone survey your building. Either way, be sure to use appropriate, universally-recognized symbols, so everyone can understand the plan.

Once a month is recommended, but in the end, it's up your city or state's requirements.

The elevator will probably stop working because the electricity will stop. You will then get stuck inside, for who knows how long. There is also a risk of getting crushed if the elevator drops or gets squeezed by falling building materials. Stairs are usually more stable and don't require electricity to remain functional.

You have 1 to 3 minutes depending on the type of emergency. Go fast, you may only have a few minutes or even less to evacuate before you are seriously hurt or killed. After you have evacuated, do not go back in the building for any reason, not even for people or pets until you are told that it is safe to go back inside.

If you truly can’t get out because all the exits are blocked, then open a window if possible and wave for help to identify your predicament to the firefighters where you are. Then wait for help to arrive and if there is smoke, get low but if there is a earthquake or explosion, then Drop Cover and Hold until it is safe to leave.

Do not enter the building or try to rescue injured people as the explosion could have made the building dangerously unstable and could collapse at any time and you could be severely injured or killed. Instead, evacuate the building and leave rescue to the firefighters and other trained first responders.