Developing an escape route is very simple if you have already found the hazard-free areas in your house. After choosing these, a map can be devised with exit points around the house or building in which you are in. The routes decided on should also have minimal hazards such as possible shattered glass or uneven ground.

When selecting the ideal routes, be sure to find exit points which are big rather than hard to get through. A main door, for example, could be a very easy exit point. Other suitable exits include patio doors, garage doors, and full wall windows which open out. Try to avoid exits which are small or hard to get through such as windows. If your windows don’t swing open and you would have to bend awkwardly to get through them, they will pose a threat to your escape from the building by making the escape longer. Walking through an open door is much easier and faster, and thus can be performed by everyone regardless if they can in fact get through a small window or if they have special needs such as a wheelchair. Because of this, a big exit point can provide safety better than any small sized exit.

After finding both the safe spots and exit points, a meeting place needs to be arranged upon. Since safe spots have already been identified outside, pick one of them to be a meeting place. Make sure this area is away from buildings, trees, and any other potential hazards. By telling everyone where this meeting place is and by knowing how many people were in the building, you can inform the emergency crews as to how many people are still unsafe.

This brings us to another point. Keeping a record of how many people are in the building. In a residential area, each family should easily remember how many people reside in the house. However, in a business or commercial area, each building may have more than a hundred people inside at a time. It is vital to know how many employees are inside to know how many didn’t make it out in the case of an earthquake, or any emergency for that matter.

Mapping out the escape routes and meeting place is a good idea also. Many people are visual learners and by providing them with a map, they will remember the route easier. Others remember through physically going through the escape; a practice earthquake drill could be very effective for these kinds of people. Auditory learners also exist and by verbally explaining to everyone the plan, this group of people will remember the plan easier.