Emergency Preparedness: How to Pack a Go Bag Kit

How quickly could you evacuate your home in an emergency? If you could only bring what you can carry in a backpack, what would you include? If you've never thought through these questions before, it's time to learn how to pack a go-bag kit. 

What Should a Go Bag Include?

Think of your Go Bag as a carry-on for emergencies. It should be light enough that you can carry it without help. Make sure it contains everything you need for 2-3 days. The U.S. Department of State recommends having three-days' worth of supplies ready to go. We'll cover all the essentials below

Keep in mind that a Go Bag is for short-term emergencies, not long-term survival. Also, make sure you pack your items in a proper bag. Avoid using a plastic bag, which can tear easily. If you're interested in equipping yourself for CBRN threats or learning how to pack a Bug Out Bag, check out our article on that here. 

Basic Items for Your Go Bag

In some ways, your Go Bag is like any basic overnight bag. Consider what you would take to camp out - your prescription medication, a change of clothes, food and water, a phone charger. 

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Of course, we're talking about an evacuation situation and not a recreational trip. A key part of emergency management is to ensure that you do not stuff your bag with too many things. So, we need to make sure the bag's contents contain essential survival gear that it might be difficult to obtain if there's a weather threat, fire, flood, or other difficulty.  

Essential Supplies You May Need

What are the basics required to survive? Food, water, and shelter. You can pack enough shelf stable food and water in one bag to last you a couple of days, especially if you have access to your car.

For food, consider shelf-stable foods that don't require cooking, like freeze-dried foods and protein bars. Extra blankets, a change of clothes, a coat or rain jacket, and an extra charger and battery can all be good choices. Throw in some water purification tablets in there too, since you won't know when you might need them.

In the modern world, obtaining shelter usually means accessing your money and identification. 

Recently, Hurricane Beryl caused evacuation orders across Texas. Because of the increased demand on gas and hotel rooms, prices jumped up almost 300% as Texans competed to get out of the danger. 

Just having some cash in your wallet probably won't cut it during an evacuation situation. Make sure you have access to your credit cards, extra cash, and a copy of all your major identification records just in case you need to prove your identity at an emergency shelter. 

Checklist for a Comprehensive Emergency Kit

If you're serious about an emergency kit that can help you leave in a hurry and is easy-to-carry, consider the following:

• No-cook food, like protein bars and freeze-dried meals
• Phone charger 
• Flashlight and extra batteries 
• Prescription medications 
• Hand held radio 
• Coat or rain jacket
• Hat and gloves, depending on your climate
• Bottled water or a portable filter 
• Copies of ID for each family member
• Credit cards and cash 
• Portable first aid kit 
• Utility knife 
• Blanket(s) - or a sleeping bag, if you have room
• Basic toiletries (toothbrush, hand sanitizer)
• Whistle (for signaling for help) 
• Glasses or contacts 
• Pet food & water dish 
• An inventory of your household belongs (for insurance claims)
• N95 mask 
• Wet wipes 

How to Pack Your Emergency Go Bag?

Organization is key - you don't want to be digging around in a cavernous duffle bag during a power outage or flood! We'll cover how to choose the right bag, pack it effectively, and keep everything organized. 

Choosing the Right Backpack or Duffle Bag

You want to pick a portable bag that's waterproof, practical, and sturdy. It should be large enough to hold supplies for everyone in your family but light enough that you can tote it for extended periods of time. Backpack straps are ideal for this. In case of emergency, you can pack multiple bags. Spread out the supplies between two or more bags carried by adults and teens. 

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How to Efficiently Pack a Go Bag

You can pack enough supplies to last for 72 hours or more if you pack effectively. It's important to do this ahead of time, since you might need to leave with very little notice and you don't want to waste time packing after the evacuation order has already been given. 

Organizing Your Go Bag Contents

You want your go bag packed and ready to go at a moment's notice. Waterproof bags or plastic containers are ideal for keeping different categories of items organized. They can also be reused. 

Consider choosing a bag with different zippered compartments for clothes, shoes, food, and medication. You can further protect these items with waterproof containers. 

Which Emergency Supplies Are Essential?

If you are trying to pack as lightly as possible, make sure you are still including the most important items. 

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Medicines and First Aid Essentials

The Red Cross reports that people often forget to pack their medication in the chaos of an evacuation. 

A three-day supply of all prescription medicine is the bare minimum. If you live in a remote area, a seven-day supply is recommended. Remember, supply chains may be disrupted during an emergency. 

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Medical needs vary widely, so take your household's particular situation into account. Here are the essentials you don't want to leave home without:

• OTC painkillers
• RX medication (7-day supply) 
• Bandages
• Antibiotic ointment
• Disinfectant wipes
• Compress dressings
• Non-latex gloves 
• Tweezers
• Roll of gauze
• Burn ointment 
• Instant cold compresses 
• Glasses or contacts 
• Plastic baggies with ties (for disposing of human waste) 

Purchasing a ready-made first aid or packing a compact bag can ensure that these items don't take up much space in your go pack. 

Important Documents to Include

Your kit should include copies of important documents. We recommend storing all of these documents safely in the cloud and then making paper copies for your pack. 

• Social Security cards
• Birth certificates
• Marriage and/or divorce certificates
• Renter's agreement
• Home deed
• Car titles or leases 
• Vaccination records
• Prescription
• List of important digital accounts and passwords
• Copies of the front and back of your credit cards
• Wills 
• List of important phone numbers 
• Bank documents 

Store these in a waterproof pouch in your back so they don't get damaged on the go. 

Source: Pixabay

Emergency Food and Water Supplies

The rule of thumb is one gallon of water per person per day in case of emergencies. This is generally enough for drinking and for sanitation, like washing. You might need more if you are in a fire risk area or an area prone to droughts or earthquakes. 

Again, the bare minimum is three-to-seven days' worth of supplies per person. This can add up to a lot of weight if you are packing for a household of several people. Lighter-weight items like protein bars, peanut butter crackers, or freeze dried meals can be a good supplement. Focus on nutrient-dense, high-protein foods. 

If you plan to rely on canned goods for your shelf-stable food storage, then don't forget to pack a can opener in your bag! 

How Do I Ensure My Go Bag is Ready?

There's no point in preparing a go bag if you can't reach it when it's needed. Many disasters give very little warning. For example, when a tornado warning is issued, you typically have less than 10 minutes to seek shelter. 

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Storage Tips for Your Emergency Kit

Designate a specific, easily accessible spot for your bag, like a low shelf or on the floor of a closet. Don't bury it beneath boxes and bags in the basement. 

Clearly label your emergency kit and make sure all household members know exactly where it is. They may not be able to reach you during a disaster. 

Consider keeping an emergency kit in your car as well. You may not have time to return home in an evac situation. Check out our article here for more details on a complete car emergency kit. 

Regularly Updating Your Go Bag

Many people purchase a ready-made kit and then go years without looking into it. This is a huge mistake. Food and medication expire and need to be rotated out. 

Household composition changes - perhaps your kit once included infant formula, but now your child is four and Grandpa has moved in. Your kit should be updated to reflect the needs of your household right now. 

Once you've assembled your kit, set a reminder for every six months on your phone's calendar. Check everything in your kit, remove food and medicine and replace with new supplies. Make sure no pests have made it into the kit.

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Testing Your Go Bag in a Real-life Scenario

How do you know you've done a good job assembling your Go Bag? Run a test. We recommend emergency drills for all family emergency plans every six months. 

Choose a scenario - like tornado, flood, injury, or terrorist threat - and see how quickly family members can access the emergency kit and identify the components they need. 

Consider first-aid and CPR classes for all family members. In the event of an emergency, first responders might be overwhelmed. You could be a crucial resource for your neighbors if you're properly trained and prepared. 

What Special Considerations Should I Keep in Mind?

You can't go wrong starting with the basics we listed above. To truly customize your kit and be prepared to leave your home quickly, consider the extra items below. 

Preparing for Specific Disasters

While we want to plan for unexpected events, your bag should be customized to your particular risk factors if possible. Severe weather, fire, and hurricanes can all provoke evacuations, but you might need different supplies to cope with them.

For example, if you live in a hurricane zone, then waterproof items are crucial. You might want to include a few tarps, plastic ponchos, and mosquito repellant in your bag. On the other hand, if you're in an earthquake-prone area, masks and gloves are a survival necessity. You might need to dig through rubble. 

For a global threat like a CBRN disaster, consider something like our EvacPak Survival Kit, which includes a gas mask, filter, and iodide pills. 

Take a little time when assembling your kit to research the threats in your region. Studies show that people living in hurricane areas were well aware of the threat, but people vulnerable to wildfire or flooding were not. Don't be caught unaware. 

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Special Needs for Children and Pets

Your kit should include items for children and pets, who can't usually carry their own supplies or help out much in a disaster. 

For pets, remember to include: 

• Pet food
• Water dish
• Extra water 
• Leash and collar 
• Copies of registration tags
• Copies of important medical info

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Children are smaller than adults and might eat less, but keep in mind that in an emergency situation they might be resistant to trying something new. Consider including appealing foods, like chocolate protein bars, or a colorful kids' water bottle. 

Emergency evacuation is scary at first, but quickly becomes boring. A few entertainment items are a good thing to include and don't add much weight to your bag, like:

• Deck of cards
• Notebook and crayons
• Small toys or a stuffed animal 
• Candy 
• Character bandages 
• Colorful blankets
• Battery-operated game 
• Mini flashlights 

These can comfort children and keep them distracted if you need to wait somewhere until it's safe to return home. They can also come in handy if you need to supply first-aid to a neighbor's child who might not know you well. 

Customizing Your Go Bag for Personal Requirements

The best go bag is ultimately the one that is personalized for your requirements. Keep in mind specific medical conditions or personal preferences. Items that people often forget include:

• Hearing aids and batteries
• Infant formula and bottles 
• Allergy-safe food
• Extra glasses
• Gloves and masks

Don't be a Statistic

Source: FEMA

Almost half of Americans don't have any emergency plan in place. You can greatly increase your chances of staying safe simply by preparing the essential emergency supplies in a secure, easy to access location in your house and car.