The New Go Bag: What You Need in Your Emergency Escape Kit

The contents of your go-bag are expanding as weather, natural and even man-made disasters are becoming more common

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Jodi Helmer,

AARP

En español

Published September 18, 2020

/ Updated July 10, 2024

With the most severe hurricane and tropical storm season among us, there's never been a better reason to be prepared.

Folks across the country are facing severe flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, extreme heat and even man-made disasters, like oil spills and chemical explosions.

As these events become more common, people across the country are preparing by keeping a bag — or several — packed with what they’ll need to grab if they must leave home in an emergency.

JoAnn Rash first realized the need for an emergency go bag after a California friend was forced to evacuate quickly during an earthquake. Rash consulted the American Red Cross for recommendations on a disaster preparedness kit in case she and her family ever have to flee their home in Vancouver, Washington. She then found an oversize backpack with lots of pockets and filled it with essentials, from flashlights and batteries to bottled water.

“I felt like we needed to be ready for whatever comes our way,” Rash explains.

Last year was a record year for disasters, with more than 1,000 tornadoes; the deadliest wildfire in more than a century, in Maui, Hawaii; and seven hurricanes making landfall in the U.S. A record tropical cyclone season is predicted for 2024.

As part of his emergency preparedness, Dick Cooper has a generator at his home in Sarasota, Florida. The retired journalist says that if he needs to leave unexpectedly, he could pack a bag and be ready within an hour. All of his 300,000 photos and other important information are backed up on a few external hard drives the size of novels, he notes, so he’d just need to grab those, his computer, medication, clothes and a few other items and he’d be ready to go. “It’s like packing three library books and I’m out the door with all my writing and my photography,” Cooper says.

A heightened awareness of natural disasters has led to better disaster preparedness planning, according to Jonathan Sury, project director for communications and field operations at the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at the Earth Institute at Columbia University. “Investing time and energy into getting prepared will save a lot of stress and fear when a disaster hits,” Sury says.

Packing a go bag is essential for disaster preparedness. Here are important items to include.

1. The bag.

Your carryall must be large and sturdy enough to hold the essentials and small enough to grab on the run. A backpack is a great option. If you’re not able to carry a heavy bag, Sury recommends a duffel bag on wheels.

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2. Food and water.

Add lightweight, nutrient-dense foods, such as protein bars, instant oatmeal, nuts and seeds, and at least one gallon of water per person, per day. Don’t forget a manual can opener and utility knife. A go bag should have enough food and water for at least three days; remember to pack enough for your pets too.

3. Personal essentials.

Purchase travel-size toiletries and a first aid kit. Pack a change of clothing, including a warm, waterproof layer, as well as an extra pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses (and solution). Other items that should be in your go bag are an emergency blanket, scissors, duct tape, work gloves, towels and matches, according to the American Red Cross.

4. COVID-19 needs.

Even though the pandemic as we know it has ceased, cases of COVID continue to pop up, so that makes masks, as well as COVID tests and hand sanitizer essential go-bag items; masks also help filter out ash from fires. However, Sury cautions that only N95 masks will filter out fire particulates that could trigger asthma or allergic responses. Hand sanitizer should contain at least 60 percent alcohol. Soap, antibacterial wipes and a thermometer are important too, Sury advises.

5. Medications.

If there's concern of being evacuated, call your pharmacy and request an extra medication refill. Pack a list of your medications and the phone numbers for your pharmacy and physicians. You’ll also need portable versions of specialized medical equipment, like syringes, CPAP machines and oxygen tanks. If you have to evacuate without notice, the Rx Open website, in partnership with the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs, maps the pharmacies that are open in disaster-stricken areas.

6. Electronics.

Throw in extra phone chargers, a flashlight and batteries. “We recommend hand-crank portable radios,” Sury says. “When all of our lines of communication go down during a disaster, AM/FM radios have proven to be one of the most reliable sources of … communication, and you don’t need to worry about having fresh batteries.”

7. Paperwork.

Make photocopies of essential documents, including passports; birth certificates; driver’s licenses; Social Security and Medicare cards; marriage, adoption and naturalization certificates; title or lease documents; insurance paperwork; and credit and debit card information. Make sure to store these in a waterproof, ziplock bag.

8. Cash.

If natural disasters cause power outages, you may not be able to use your debit or credit cards to make purchases, so add cash to your go bag. Sury suggests “a couple hundred dollars” for a two-member household, to cover gas, food and other last-minute essentials. A combination of small bills and rolls of quarters is ideal in case you need to buy food or water from vending machines.

Keep your go bag in an accessible location, such as a front hall closet or garage, where it’s easy to grab on your way out the door.

“[Packing a go bag] does take an investment of time, energy and a little bit of money,” Sury says, “but the payoff is worth it to have that peace of mind.”