A “Go Bag” is a basic collection of items needed to take with you in an emergency, including communication tools, identification, clothing, toiletries, food and water, tools and medical supplies. You never know when disaster is going to strike. Preparing for various potential emergencies can be stressful, so you should edit the bag to your needs based on the environment in which you live. It is always best to keep things compartmentalized in case you have to shelter in place and then later evacuate. You should consider a to-go bag as a last-resort cache and resist the temptation to raid your bag when you need something on a non-emergency basis.
MAKING THE KIT
A heavy-duty, yet light, duffel bag. If you have a backpack you are no longer using, this can work. Ultimately, you want a bag that is large enough to carry the necessary items but not be filled. Browse the list of recommended items below and determine what you must buy and what you already have.
Copy of Passport
Copy of Driver’s License
Medication List & Extra Meds
Copy of insurance Card/policies
Bank Account Records
Pictures of your family (including pets) for identification when separated
Cash
Family Communication Plan/Meeting Place
Bottled Water
A mechanical (charcoal filter) or chemical (most commonly iodine) method of water purification. Iodine lends a bitter taste to water, but mechanical purifiers consume more space in your pack.
Non-Perishable Food (granola bar, energy bar)
Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
Battery Operated Flashlight and extra batteries
Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
Pet-care supplies
Infant-care supplies
Elder-care Supplies
Toiletries
Hand Sanitizer
First-aid Kit
Tissues
Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
Whistle
Regional Map
Clothing
Blankets
First aid kit
Whistle to signal for help
Dust masks to help filter contaminated air
Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
Cell phone with chargers
A Swiss Army Knife as they are small and light and come with a use for various different tasks.
Put items in resealable plastic bags to ensure they stay dry in the event of a flood. Store the bag in a safe place where it can be accessed quickly.
TIPS:
1.Make arrangements for places to stay well ahead of time. Make a deal: If there’s an emergency/evacuation, they can come to your home or you to theirs. Crashing on someone’s sofa or camping in their yard is infinitely preferable to a public shelter.
2.Pay attention to the news. If there is a fire burning nearby, or violent weather coming, consider staging a few things in boxes to be ready for an evacuation. Consider evacuating BEFORE it is mandatory, and you’ll have a much better time compared to people who wait until everyone else is leaving and get stuck with traffic and shortages.
3.Consider well ahead of time what you’d take if you had a day’s notice, a couple of hours’ notice to pack the car, or five minutes’ notice to evacuate. Make a plan and a checklist.
4.If you have to take medications, make sure you keep them all in one place and can sweep them into the go bag without any searching. Refill your prescriptions before you’re nearly out of them.
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