Evacuations
Evacuations may be issued because of wildfire, flooding, hazardous materials, law enforcement activity, or other emergencies. Conditions can change quickly. You may not receive every evacuation level, and you do not need to wait for an official notice if you feel unsafe.
No active evacuation notices are currently posted for Benton County. If an emergency occurs, check the Stay Informed page for verified evacuation information, affected areas, shelters, road closure information, and other public safety updates.
Oregon evacuation levels
Oregon uses three evacuation levels based on the threat and how quickly people should act.
LEVEL 1 – BE READY means there is danger in your area. Prepare to evacuate.
Steps to follow if you receive a Level 1- Be Ready notice:
Stay informed and check official updates. Pack your go-bag and plan more than one route. Check on loved ones and neighbors if it is safe to do so. Consider leaving early if you need extra time or need to move pets or livestock.
LEVEL 2 – BE SET means there is significant danger in your area. Be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
Steps to follow if you receive a Level 2- Be Set notice:
Finish loading essential items only if it is safe to do so. Keep your phone charged and tell loved ones where you plan to go. Leave now if you need extra time, have limited transportation, or need to move animals. Do not wait for another notice if you feel unsafe.
LEVEL 3 – GO NOW means there is extreme danger in the area. Leave immediately.
Steps to follow if you receive a Level 3- Go Now notice:
Do not delay to gather belongings or protect your home. Follow official route and destination instructions. Emergency responders may not be able to help if you choose to stay. Do not return until officials say the area is safe.
How will I receive evacuation information?
Use more than one way to receive information. During an active emergency, Benton County may share updates through:
- Linn-Benton ALERT – location based emergency notifications by phone call, text message, and email.
- The Benton County Stay Informed incident page
- Official Benton County and Benton County Sheriff’s Office social media
- FlashAlert and local news media and radio
- Monitor Watch Duty or Genasys Protect for updates
- The Benton County Call Center at 541-766-6200, when activated
Recommended action: Create or update your Linn-Benton ALERT profile. Add your home, workplace, school, and other important locations. Add more than one contact method such as text, phone call, and email.
Sign up for Linn-Benton ALERT
Linn-Benton ALERT is the emergency notification system used by Benton and Linn Counties. If is address-based, so alerts can be sent to people with registered locations in an affected area. Traditional landline numbers are automatically included, but mobile phones, email addresses, and additional locations must be added through an Everbridge Community Profile.
Manage your profile or sign up for Linn-Benton ALERT
Plan before an evacuation
Do not wait until an evacuation notice is issued to decide where you will go. Make a plan now and practice it with the people in your household.
1. Decide where you will go
- Choose at least two possible destinations, such as a friend or family member’s home, a hotel, or a public shelter.
- Choose a meeting place near your home, outside your neighborhood, and outside your community.
- Identify an out-of-area contact who can help household members reconnect if local calls do not go through.
2. Know more than one way out
- Identify at least two routes out of your neighborhood.
- During an evacuation, use main roads unless officials direct you otherwise.
- Follow current evacuation instructions, road closures, and traffic controls. A route shown on a planning map is not a guarantee that the route will be open.
- Do not use gated or designated emergency routes unless emergency officials have opened them and directed you to use them.
3. Plan for anyone who may need more time
Include children, older adults, people with disabilities, people with medical or mobility needs, and anyone with limited access to transportation. Ask family, friends, neighbors, caregivers, or service providers in advance who may be able to help. If evacuation becomes possible, leave early.
4. Plan for pets, services animals, and livestock
Take pets and service animals with you when you evacuate, and move livestock early. Keep carriers, leashes, medications, vaccination records, feed, water, and needed trailers or equipment ready. Identify animal-friendly destinations before an emergency.
5. Pack a go-bag
Keep a small kit where you can grab it quickly. Start with the five P’s: People, Pets, Pills, Photos, and important Papers. Add:
- Medical devices, glasses, and basic first aid supplies
- Identification, keys, cash, and payment cards
- Phone chargers and backup battery packs
- Water, snacks, clothing, sturdy shoes, and hygiene items
- Supplies for babies, older adults, and people with additional medical needs.
Visit the Plan and Prepare page for details on go-bags, evacuation plans, and more.
When an evacuation notice is issued
- Read or listen to the complete message. Confirm the affected area, evacuation level, and destination information.
- Tell household members where you are going. If possible, use text messages to reduce demand on phone networks.
- Take your go-bag, medications, identification, essential medical equipment, pets, and service animals. Secure your house and property.
- Leave early if you need more time, have limited transportation, or need to move animals.
- Use main roads and follow instructions from emergency personnel. Do not take shortcuts or use closed, gated, or emergency routes unless directed.
- Drive carefully. Watch for emergency vehicles, smoke, debris, flooding, downed power lines, and changing road conditions.
- Do not return until officials announce that it is safe.
Road information: During an active emergency, check the Benton County Stay Informed page for incident-related local closure and alternate-route information. Check TripCheck for state highway conditions. Conditions can change quickly; follow posted signs and instructions from emergency personnel.
No. If you feel unsafe, leave. Conditions can change quickly, and you do not need to wait for an official evacuation notice.
No. You may receive one level and then another, or you may receive a Level 3 notice with little or no warning. Follow the instructions in the most recent official message.
Check the address, zone, or map included with the official evacuation message. Use the evacuation map links provided in the message, or check the Stay Informed page because evacuation boundaries may change.
Leave early: this includes people with medical, mobility, access, or transportation needs; families with young children; older adults; and anyone moving pets or livestock. At Level 2, people who need extra time should leave rather than wait for another notice.
Make a transportation plan before an emergency. Ask family, friends, neighbors, caregivers, or service providers who may be able to help.
During an emergency:
Call 911 only when there is an immediate threat to life or safety.
Visit the Stay Informed page for current transportation information.
Call the Benton County Call Center if it has been activated.
Identify animal-friendly places before an emergency. If you have livestock, move them early whenever possible.
During an emergency, check the Stay Informed page and Benton County Sheriff’s Office social media for shelter and animal-resource information.
During an emergency, check your Linn-Benton ALERT message for road closures and alternate routes. Updates will also be posted on the Stay Informed page and Benton County Sheriff’s Office social media.
Check TripCheck for state highway conditions. Planning maps do not show current road conditions. Never assume a route shown on a map is open.
Return only after officials announce that the area is safe. Continue to watch Linn-Benton ALERT and the Stay Informed page for re-entry information.