The Department of Public Safety is offering tips each week of National Preparedness Month. This week we look at what to take with you in an emergency.
If you had to leave home quickly, what would you take?
Most of us would probably grab our phone, keys and wallet. After that, things may get a little less organized. That is where a go bag can help.
A go bag is a portable collection of supplies you may need if you have to leave on short notice. It does not need to prepare you for every possible situation. It should cover your essential needs, fit your circumstances and be light enough for you to carry.
Start with the essentials
You do not have to build the perfect go bag in one afternoon. Begin with items you already have and add to it over time.
Consider including:
- Water and ready-to-eat food that will not spoil quickly.
- A flashlight and extra batteries.
- A charged portable power bank and the cables you need.
- A basic first aid kit.
- Necessary medications and copies of your prescriptions.
- A change of clothes, sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate layers.
- Personal hygiene supplies.
- Copies of identification, insurance information, emergency contacts and other important records.
- A small amount of cash in smaller bills.
Choose food you will actually eat and check expiration dates periodically. Keep as much water as you can reasonably carry, along with additional emergency water at home. If you include a portable filter or water-treatment product, follow its directions carefully. Not every product makes every water source safe.
Make it your bag
A useful go bag is personal. Think about what you would need if you could not return home for several days.
That might include spare glasses, hearing-aid batteries, mobility-device supplies, communication cards, menstrual products, infant supplies, or backup power for medical equipment. Remember supplies for service animals or pets, too.
You may also want to include a family photograph, book, deck of cards, or another small comfort item. Emergencies are stressful, and a familiar item can make an unfamiliar situation a little easier.
Put it where you can grab it
Store your go bag somewhere easy to reach, such as near an exit or in a designated closet. Make sure everyone in your household knows where it is.
Set a reminder to review it twice a year. Replace expired food and medicine, recharge the power bank, update documents, and change clothing as seasons or personal needs change.
Preparedness does not require buying everything at once. Find a bag, add a few essentials, and build from there. The best go bag is not the most elaborate one. It is the one you can find, carry, and use when you need it.