Go bags, also known as bug-out bags are bags or bins filled with essentials like food, water, and medical supplies that are ready to grab and go in case of emergency. When natural disaster strikes the last thing you want to worry about is how you’re going to get supplies like food & water. Having the essentials ready could help relieve some panic and anxiety and let you focus instead on keeping calm, keeping safe, and getting through.
But if you’re new to prepping for disaster, you might be wondering how to go about making the ultimate go bag. What goes in a bag can vary between people. Some people keep it slim with just important documents, extra cash, some light first aid supplies, and some protein bars, while others pack it with survival tools like Swiss army knives, tents, and duct tape. What your go bag ends up looking like will likely be based on which perceived emergency you’re packing for. But, despite some customization there are a few essentials that are good to have in any go bag.
Food & Water
How much? What type? Common questions when thinking about packing food and water for some unknown evacuation.
When it comes to water, you’ll want to pack enough for all the members of your household to stay hydrated and for sanitation purposes. Ready.gov recommends a gallon of water per person and enough for several days.
When thinking about how much and what type of food to pack you’ll need three-days worth of non-perishable food that doesn’t require any cooking, according to USA News. Might be tempting to fill your go bag with only your favorite foods to bring you comfort in case of emergency, but you have to make either a) they have a long shelf-life or b) you are constantly swapping them out with new ones before they hit their expiration dates.
Consider these options for your bag: ready-to-eat canned foods (meat, fish, veggies, fruits), protein bars, dried fruit, dry cereal and granola, nut butters, non-perishable pasteurized milk, dried meat ( jerky or freeze-dried), infant food (if applicable). When able, try going for lighter options like tuna packets instead of cans, advises Backdoor Survival, it’ll be easier to carry and maneuver. Also, don’t forget to pack a manual can opener!
Medical Supplies
Being medically prepared is extremely important during an emergency, so pack an extensive first aid kit. If you’re using a kit already in the house, be sure to check that nothing’s missing before packing. Also include personal medical items like prescription medication, EpiPens, and inhalers. It’s a good idea to pack some masks as well, especially in the era of Covid.
Personal Supplies
When you’re trying to get all the essentials ready for an emergency, personal items can sometimes get overlooked. Don’t forget to pack things like an extra pair of eyeglasses, contacts, hygiene products, and an extra set of keys (house, car, safety deposit box). Pack some extra phone chargers and charged battery packs for phones as well. Pack a few sets of comfortable clothing, socks, and underwear as well.
Documents/ Money
The last thing you need after making it through a disaster is to find all your important documents destroyed. Make copies of social security cards, birth certificates, and anything else that’s hard to replace. Alternatively, USA News suggests scanning and uploading everything to secure cloud storage.
Aside from important documents, living in the cell phone generation often means that we don’t have any numbers memorized. A good idea is to write out a list of important numbers – laminate or put in a Ziplock– and add it to your go bag. I’d also highlight any emergency contacts on that list.
Safety Supplies
Safety tools are things like Swiss army knives, multitools, flashlights, hand crank radios and extra batteries.
Shelter/Comfort Supplies
The types of supplies you’ll need for sheltering really depends on what you anticipate the evacuation process to be. If you expect to be at a center or hotel then you likely won’t need a tent, tarp and duct tape but you still might want to consider sleeping bags, pillows, and travel blankets.
It could be a long time before things get back to normal and you and your family could be left waiting for a while so pack some things to keep you entertained: books, cards, games, etc.
This is a very broad overview of the things that you might need if you have to evacuate your house for any reason. Might seem a little daunting to gather all these supplies, but once it’s done you won’t have to worry about not having what you need in an emergency.
