Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Evacuteers

In the event of a mandatory evacuation, how will evacuteer.org contact me for service?

Evacuteer.org Ops Team will submit “Request for Evacuation Support” and “Activation” by phone and email to team Captains and heads of partner organizations, with specified start dates, times, and duty locations.  Team Captains will then relay these messages to individual evacuteers.

If you are not affiliated with any partner organization, your evacuteer.org Independent Captain will contact you. 

How many people use the CAEP?

It is expected that, in the event of a mandatory evacuation, 25,000 citizens without independent means to safely exit the city will use the CAEP.

Where will I be stationed in the event of an evacuation?  What will I do?

During a mandatory evacuation, each evacuteer serves at one of three locations:

  • Pick-Up Points:  At 17 locations across New Orleans, evacuteers register evacuees, tag evacuee baggage, provide evacuees with information, collect data on evacuee activity and relay information to emergency management officials, help load evacuees onto Regional Transit Authority (RTA) buses for transportation to Union Passenger Terminal.
  • Union Passenger Terminal:  Evacuteers escort citizens from RTA buses, process citizens, provide citizens with information and hydration, and assist citizens in boarding transports to regional sponsored shelters.
  • City Hall:  Evacuteers credential media, answer the emergency 311 hotline, and provid Ad-Hoc support to city, state, and federal emergency management officials.

In the event that the CAEP is activated, when would I evacuate?

No evacuteer should feel obligated to stay any longer than he or she feels comfortable.  While some evacuteers continue their service up until the conclusion of evacuation operations, most evacuteers leave a full 24 hours before tropical storm winds reach coastal Louisiana (H+24).  The last evacuteers leave when CAEP is completed, at H+12.

If I volunteer with evacuteer.org, can I stay in New Orleans during a mandatory evacuation?

No.  After completing service with evacuteer.org, all evacuteers leave the city.

Can I use the CAEP to evacuate?

Yes, evacuteers may use the CAEP.  However, the CAEP is intended as a means of last resort, for citizens who have no alternative evacuation plan.  We recommend that evacuteers self-evacuate in personal vehicles.

How long are shifts?  If I am an evacuteer, when will I have time to prepare for my own evacuation?

Evacuteer shifts are seven to 10 hours long, except in instances where that schedule overlaps with nighttime hours.  While this schedule gives evacuteers time to make independent evacuation preparations during off-hours, we strongly recommend that evacuteers make all necessary preparations before showing up for duty with evacuteer.org.

If I serve with evacuteer.org during the CAEP activation, will I be fed?

Yes.  In the event of CAEP activation, each evacuteer will receive MREs (Meals Ready-to-Eat).

What is “H Hour”?

“H Hour” refers to the number of hours remaining before tropical storm force winds reach the Louisiana coast.  In notation, it is written “H+(# of hours remaining).  For example, CAEP is launched at “H+60” – 60 hours before tropical storm force winds reach the Louisiana’s coast.

How will evacuteer.org prepare me for service?

Each evacuteer is required to attend an extensive training program, conducted in partnership and using best practices of the the American Red Cross and Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

What if I have any other questions?

Direct any further questions to hello@evacuteer.org, or to your Ops Team liaison.