Aaron S. is a 48-year-old from Pacific Palisades, California.
In January 2025, he was caring for his 83-year-old father-in-law who has Parkinson’s disease and can barely walk.
When the Palisades Fire erupted, Aaron had no car at the home.
He flagged down a stranger named Jeff for a ride, but they became trapped in gridlock with flames on both sides of the vehicle.
Police ordered everyone to abandon their cars immediately.
Aaron retrieved his father-in-law’s walker and began guiding him down the sidewalk.
After a 15-minute trek through smoke and fire, Aaron made a critical decision: he sat his father-in-law on the walker and wheeled him to safety.
A second Good Samaritan drove them to Santa Monica.
Aaron survived because he improvised urban survival tactics when traditional evacuation failed.
This is why any urban evacuation plan you make needs backup options for every step of the journey.
When wildfires, civil unrest, or infrastructure collapse hit urban areas, you can’t always rely on your vehicle to get you out.
Streets become parking lots, roads get blocked, and precious time runs out.
So, here’s what you need to know about urban evacuation when your primary plan fails.
Urban Evacuation Backup Strategies:
The first critical element is having multiple evacuation routes mapped in advance.
Most people plan one route to safety, usually the fastest highway exit from their city.
But during a real urban emergency, that main route will be jammed with everyone who had the same idea.
You need at least three different routes planned, including back roads, residential streets, and even routes that require you to go on foot if vehicles become impossible.
Practice these routes during normal traffic so you know exactly where they go and how long they take.
Mobility Solutions for Non-Ambulatory Family Members:
One of the biggest challenges in urban evacuation is moving elderly or disabled family members who can’t walk or move long distances.
Wheelchairs are great if you have them, but they’re heavy and hard to push through debris, crowds, or rough terrain.
Lightweight transport wheelchairs, folding utility carts, or even sturdy rolling office chairs can be lifesavers.
Keep these mobility aids accessible near exits, not buried in a garage or storage unit.
The key is having something with wheels that’s light enough to maneuver through chaos.
Assistance Networks:
During Aaron’s escape, two complete strangers made the difference between life and death.
In urban emergencies, community assistance becomes critical.
This takes the form of people giving rides, sharing supplies, or helping carry injured neighbors.
Build relationships with neighbors now so you’re not starting from zero during a crisis.
Exchange phone numbers, discuss evacuation plans, and know who might need help and who can provide it.
Drawbacks to Urban Evacuation Preparedness:
Time Constraints:
Urban evacuations often give you minutes, not hours, to make decisions.
Unlike rural areas where you might see a threat approaching from miles away, urban fires, riots, or infrastructure failures can surround you in 10-15 minutes.
This means you can’t afford to hesitate or debate, you need predetermined decisions and pre-positioned gear so you can move immediately.
Practice your evacuation with a timer to understand how long each step actually takes, just remember, this is in “good” conditions, so it will likely take longer.
Dependency on Strangers:
When your vehicle fails, you become dependent on other people’s willingness to help.
Not everyone will stop, and many people will prioritize their own families over helping strangers.
This is why building community relationships before disaster strikes is so important.
You can’t manufacture trust and cooperation in the middle of an emergency.
Here are your top priorities for urban evacuation backup plans:
Priority 1: Mobility Aids
Invest in a lightweight transport wheelchair or folding utility cart specifically for evacuation.
Keep it near your front door or in your vehicle, not mothballed in deep storage.
Priority 2: Multiple Route Maps
Print physical maps of at least three evacuation routes from your home.
Include walking routes, not just vehicle routes, and mark safe gathering points.
Priority 3: Neighbor Network
Meet your neighbors now and discuss mutual assistance plans.
Exchange contact information and identify who has vehicles, medical training, or special needs.
The reality is that urban disasters are becoming more frequent and more severe.
But preppers know something that most city dwellers don’t: true security comes from having backup plans for your backup plans.
When the primary evacuation route fails, you need to be ready to improvise, adapt, and move on foot if necessary.
