Pre-test options:

Determine if the test should be planned or announced. A planned event is one where the entire family knows the day and time of the evacuation. An unannounced event is one where the family knows there will be a test, but the day and time is not known to all family members. Note: You can always run two events several months apart. One event can be planned and announced, and a following event can be planned (by the parents) and unannounced.
Determine the destination. Should the test be an evacuation to a local, ‘in town’ pre-determined destination or a ‘leave town’ pre-determined destination?
Determine if the test should be an easy test or a hard test. The difficulty of the test should be up to each family or the parents (if children or others are involved). Easy test or hard test is completely up to the planners of the test. For example, if you choose to evacuate to a local hotel, you have options to limit the accommodations at the hotel, such ask
No TV or electronics at the hotel.
No ordering of food or using the vending machines. Use whatever you packed in your go bags.
Do not use the showers or the faucets or other pleasantries in the hotel room. It’s up to you as to how strict you want to make the test!)
Determine an end time of the test. Example: if check out time is 11:00 am on the next morning, plan to use that time as the end time of the test or simply announce that “Electronics may be used after 8 am (or another time) the next morning.
Designate a scribe or someone to take notes during the exercise, listing things you learned during the test, things you wished you had taken with you and/or things you found out really didn’t need in your go bag.

Announce and activate the test!

This can be as simple as, “The test or the evacuation exercise starts now, or in 10 minutes or in 30 minutes!”
Announce the limitations of this test such as: “Bring your go bags only. No electronics or phones during test. No TV or other electronics are allowed while sheltering in place at the evacuation destination.

During the test

Make sure everyone lives only off of the contents of their go bags.
Re-iterate the pre-determined rules of the test such as “no electronics, do not leave the room(s) you evacuated to”, etc.
Remind the participants of the end time of the test and exactly when limitations of the test will be lifted.
If you brought other forms of entertainment (e.g., playing cards, board games, books to read, coloring books and crayons for younger children), be sure to document what was beneficial to have with or what you wished to bring along the next time your run a test or had to deal with the real thing.

After the test

Meet briefly as a couple, a family, or the team of participants. Determine what worked and what did not work?
If you pre-selected a test scribe before the event, review the scribe’s notes and discuss them with everyone involved.
Based on the learning experience, update your evacuation plan, revise you go bags if necessary and consider options for your next test.

How to Test that your Evacuation Plan will work – the Overnight Test

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