Podcast Summary: Happier with Gretchen Rubin
Episode: More Happier: Happiness Lessons from Evacuation: When We Have to Leave Home Fast
Release Date: February 8, 2025

Introduction

In this heartfelt episode of Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Gretchen Rubin and her cohost, Elizabeth Craft, delve into Elizabeth's personal experience of evacuating from the wildfires in Los Angeles. The conversation is rich with practical advice, emotional insights, and lessons learned from navigating such a crisis. The episode not only offers valuable tips for preparedness but also explores the emotional resilience required during emergencies.

Gratitude for Home and Information Sources

Appreciation of Home
Gretchen begins by expressing newfound gratitude for her home after being evacuated for six nights due to the wildfires.

[01:30] Gretchen Rubin: "Being home. Yeah, as we have talked about, these fires were horrible. So many people weren't able to go home. We were gone for six nights. But now we're home. And I've never appreciated my house more, I can tell you that."

Staying Informed
Elizabeth shares how crucial access to timely information was for her emotional well-being during the evacuation.

[02:13] Elizabeth Craft: "Living in New City and you gave me a link so that I could watch the local news in Los Angeles, KCAL 5 and that was really great because I would just throughout the day tune in and that made me feel more close to just whatever the experience was that you were going through. And that was very comforting to me."

Gretchen emphasizes the importance of knowing your local news sources to stay updated.

[02:49] Gretchen Rubin: "Being home. And the local news. And there's been a lot of talk in LA, Gretchen, about how well the local news did. I mean, these people were out there 15 hours a day. They were facing flying embers. They really put themselves out there, and it was much appreciated."

Lessons from Evacuation

1. Knowing Your Evacuation Zone

Understanding your specific evacuation zone is crucial for timely and organized departures.

[03:20] Gretchen Rubin: "The first thing I'm going to say, which I did not do until the last possible second because it didn't even occur to me, was find out if you're in any kind of situation like this, figure out what zone you're in."

2. Reliable Information Sources

Relying solely on emergency alerts can be unreliable. Instead, proactively seek information through trusted platforms.

[05:43] Gretchen Rubin: "Which really brings me to my next thing. Know your sources of information."

She recommends using apps like WatchDuty and maintaining communication through groups like WhatsApp for real-time updates.

[05:54] Elizabeth Craft: "Yes."

[07:05] Gretchen Rubin: "And people who know people in the police department or the fire department or government, so they have information. And that was incredibly useful."

3. Preparing a Go Bag

Having a pre-packed go bag ensures that essential items are readily available, reducing decision fatigue during emergencies.

[10:02] Gretchen Rubin: "Everybody should have a go bag. We call it packed. So in that bag you want to have a week worth of medicine... clothes, shoes, some cash, a refillable water bottle, etc."

She highlights the importance of making a comprehensive list to avoid forgetting critical items.

[10:54] Elizabeth Craft: "Decision making is tough, and the more stress you're under, the harder it is."

4. Hotel and Accommodation Planning

Identifying potential evacuation sites in advance, especially those that accommodate pets, can streamline the evacuation process.

[13:08] Elizabeth Craft: "Do you think that having it on your 25 for 25 list helps?"

[13:24] Gretchen Rubin: "Yes. That narrows it down."

5. Car Management During Evacuation

Effective car management can prevent delays and ensure smooth evacuation. Gretchen advises parking your car on the sidewalk if you must abandon it and leaving the keys to facilitate emergency vehicle access.

[15:14] Gretchen Rubin: "If you do have to leave your car, pull it over... leave your keys."

She also cautions against leaving evacuation to the last minute to avoid traffic bottlenecks.

[16:20] Gretchen Rubin: "But because everyone's trying to get out of it at the same time, when these evacuations happen, it can take a really long time to go a short distance."

Managing Emotions and Mental Resilience

Elizabeth and Gretchen discuss the emotional challenges faced during evacuation. Elizabeth found solace in keeping her dogs with her, which provided emotional comfort despite the logistical challenges.

[20:48] Gretchen Rubin: "Our two dogs, Nacho and Daisy, were really helpful for the emotional state."

Elizabeth reflects on the importance of maintaining connections and finding comfort in small routines, like walking the dogs, to manage stress.

[22:12] Gretchen Rubin: "They got a lot of walks."

Maintaining Habits Amidst Crisis

The conversation touches on the difficulty of maintaining personal habits, such as Elizabeth skipping her usual Orange Theory workouts during evacuation. However, she found ways to resume her routines post-evacuation by setting clear targets.

[23:10] Elizabeth Craft: "I couldn't put those two things together. So it just wasn't happening."

[24:01] Gretchen Rubin: "For me, the target is everything. That just works for me."

Elizabeth emphasizes the importance of flexibility and self-compassion when disruptions occur.

[25:25] Gretchen Rubin: "Looking back, it's not as if I say, oh, I wish I'd worked that week. I mean, it just wasn't going to happen."

Future Preparedness and Takeaways

Gretchen outlines key steps for future preparedness to ensure a calmer experience during emergencies:

1. Have a Go Bag Ready: Each family member should have a pre-packed bag.
2. Know Your Evacuation Zone: Understand the specific zones in your area.
3. Establish Reliable Information Channels: Join communication groups in advance.

[26:36] Gretchen Rubin: "For my future self, I would have every member of the family have a go bag packed at all times and have that list of things to pack."

Elizabeth suggests that listeners create and share their evacuation lists to foster community preparedness.

Spotlight on Tools

Elizabeth introduces the Habits for Happiness quiz, a tool designed to help individuals identify the most impactful habits to cultivate for increased happiness.

[18:07] Elizabeth Craft: "This habit's for happiness quiz, in a very few number of questions, kind of miraculously reveals to you what would make the biggest difference in your life."

Notable Quotes

• Gretchen Rubin:

  "[05:43] ... Know your sources of information."

• Elizabeth Craft:

  "[02:13] ... that made me feel more close to just whatever the experience was that you were going through."

• Gretchen Rubin:

  "[10:02] ... everybody should have a go bag."

• Elizabeth Craft:

  "[20:48] ... our two dogs were really helpful for the emotional state."

Conclusion

This episode of Happier with Gretchen Rubin offers an insightful blend of practical preparedness tips and emotional resilience strategies drawn from Elizabeth Craft's firsthand experience during the LA wildfires evacuation. The conversation underscores the importance of proactive planning, reliable information sources, and emotional support systems in navigating emergencies. Listeners are encouraged to adopt these lessons to enhance their own preparedness and well-being.

Stay Connected:
For more insights and resources mentioned in this episode, visit happiercast.com and share your evacuation lists with the community to foster collective preparedness.