Guide Leaving safely

How to leave safely: plan, roads and help abroad

Sometimes the safest option is to leave for a while: to relatives in another city, to Latvia or to Poland. With a plan prepared in advance, you can leave calmly and quickly.

Prepared by the InCaseMap team Updated

In short: decide in advance where you will go and plan two routes. Have a valid passport or ID card, some cash and at least half a tank of fuel. On the road, follow official instructions and check road disruptions. In Latvia and Poland the emergency number is also 112, and if you lose your documents or get into trouble, the Lithuanian embassy or consulate will help. Border crossings, fuel stations, rest areas and embassies in all four countries are on the InCaseMap map, which works offline too.

When it makes sense to leave

If the authorities announce an evacuation, follow their instructions — they come first. Otherwise the decision is yours: for example, when there is no electricity or heating at home for a long time, when a flood is coming, or when you and your family decide to stay somewhere safer for a while.

Plan in advance

  1. Decide where you will go: to relatives in another city or abroad. Agree on it with them in advance.
  2. Plan two routes — one may be closed. Save them on the map on your phone.
  3. Agree on a meeting point with your family in case you leave from different places.
  4. Find your nearest evacuation point — departures are organised there for people without transport.
  5. Keep your car's tank at least half full. Fuel stations on the InCaseMap map: 10,242. Find the cheapest fuel by fuel prices, and for an electric car — free charging stations.

Documents and money

  • A valid passport or ID card for every family member, children included. Keep copies of important documents on your phone too.
  • Latvia, Poland and Lithuania are in the Schengen Area, but border checks can be temporarily reintroduced — always carry an identity document.
  • Cash and a bank card. ATMs on the InCaseMap map: 11,813.
  • Medicines and prescriptions, driving licence, car documents and insurance.

On the road

Before you leave, check road disruptions and public cameras: they show whether the road is clear. If a bridge is closed, the map shows other bridges (5,281). Border crossings on the InCaseMap map: 45; you can see which are open and which are closed.

Plan stops for a long journey. Rest areas along Polish motorways with toilets, fuel stations, cafés and overnight stays are marked on the map: 416.

Help abroad

  • In Latvia and Poland, as everywhere in the European Union, the emergency number is 112.
  • If you lose your passport, are hurt or get into trouble, contact the Lithuanian embassy or consulate. Those in Latvia and Poland on the InCaseMap map: 13.
  • Public radio broadcasts official information without internet: in Latvia — Latvijas Radio 1, in Poland — Polskie Radio Jedynka. You will find the frequencies on the map.
  • Tell your relatives where you are and mark “I'm safe” in your family group.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a passport to travel to Latvia or Poland?

A valid passport or ID card is enough. There are usually no checks within the Schengen Area, but they can be temporarily reintroduced, so always carry your document.

Where do I go if I lose my passport in Latvia or Poland?

To the Lithuanian embassy or consulate. They will help you get home. The InCaseMap map shows Lithuanian embassies in Latvia and Poland.

Does InCaseMap work in Latvia, Estonia and Poland?

Yes. The map covers Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland: shelters, water, hospitals, fuel stations, border crossings, rest areas and other places. In the app they stay on your phone even without internet.

Sources

This text summarises official guidance and does not replace instructions from the authorities. During an emergency, follow announcements from LRT and the authorities.

You may freely use this text and its data, commercially too — just add a link: <a href="https://incasemap.com/en/leaving-safely">InCaseMap</a> (more)

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