How To: Build a Go-Bag

An emergency kit with bottled water, canned food, first aid items, a flashlight, and electrical tape.

Much like when you take a vacation, you want to be prepared for everything! Some people pack extra underwear, some people bring backup battery packs for their phones. These same principles apply to being prepared for emergencies and natural disasters with building a go-bag.

What is a go-bag?

Simply put, a go-bag is something you can easily grab in the event of an emergency or natural disaster that has everything you need for a few days. Most people use a backpack, duffel bag, or something that’s easy to grab and carry when you’re in a hurry. We’d recommend you make sure whatever you choose is sturdy and preferably waterproof or watertight.

Why is a go-bag important?

Go-bags are important to have prepared ahead of time because when disaster strikes, every moment counts. If you need to evacuate your home due to a wildfire, you may not have time to pack and sort through everything. This allows you to grab the important things as quick as possible and get to safety.

What do you need to pack?

This is a broad question. It varies person to person, and family to family. Here are some basics we recommend including in your go-bag:

Clothing for a few days

You don’t need to bring half your wardrobe but prepare for the elements. Bring extra underwear and socks, a pair of pants or shorts, a shirt or two, and a jacket or hoodie. It’s a good idea to go through your go-bag once a season and include things you’d need for the weather. If it’s spring, you might want to grab a rain jacket, or if it’s winter you might want a heavier coat.

Non-Perishable food and water

If you have access to a car, we recommend you keep a case of bottled water in the trunk. This comes in handy in all seasons and all evacuation events. It’s important to stay hydrated! If you don’t have access to a car, throw a couple bottled waters in your pack, and a water filtration system like LifeStraw.

Bringing food that has a long shelf life and is easier to put in your pack is key. If you must evacuate your home, chances are you’re not going to be thinking about nutrition and your next meal in the moment. Things like high protein granola bars, soups, and other shelf stable items are great to carry!

First Aid and Medications

You should always have a first aid kit handy. You’ll never know when you need a band-aid, gauze, or antiseptic wipes. Your local grocery store should carry a few options. Amazon also offers a bunch of different kits to fit your different needs. We recommend you get a first aid kit with a little bit of everything.

If you take medications regularly, or a member of your family does, it’s essential to carry a few days’ supply of it, especially if you’re taking things like Insulin or need an EpiPen. If your medication needs to be cooled or refrigerated, these Frio pouches are a great alternative to carrying around a bulky cooler or ice packs. Having other basic medications like ibuprofen, heartburn relievers, and baby aspirin is also a good idea to carry.

Miscellaneous

There are a few other items that are good to keep on hand in case of an emergency or sudden evacuation.

Again, if you have access to a car, we recommend keeping a blanket or two in the trunk. Even those hot summer days can be chilly at night! If you need to evacuate in the winter, you’ll also want to keep some warm gloves or hand warmers in your car, trust us, you’ll be glad you did! In addition to other “for car” items, we recommend you have a road safety kit. This includes things like emergency flares, a tire pressure gage, spare tire and jack, jumper cables, and some sort of reflective items you can set up around your car if it becomes stuck or dies, such as cones.

Other items you might want to include in your go-bag are external battery packs, a phone charger, a flashlight, and batteries. It’s a good idea to keep a flashlight in your car too, and keep one on your person. You’ll likely grab your wallet on your way out the door, we recommend keeping some extra cash in your go-bag too. Smaller bills like $20’s are great.

This last one is totally optional, but pack some sort of entertainment! Uno cards or other playing cards are great to add for some entertainment at the end of the day. The best part is playing cards don’t take any power so you can conserve your resources in other areas!

Overall, being prepared is the best thing you can do when you must evacuate on a moments notice. You may get an alert from agencies like FEMA on when you need to evacuate, which can buy you some time. We hope these go-bag tips help you plan and prepare for emergencies and natural disasters! For more tips, tricks, and information be sure to follow us on social media.