One of the most common roadblocks when decluttering is the thought of, “Well, what if I need this?”
And that’s a valid thought to have! We just tend to have that thought about…literally every item we own.
To give you a little peace of mind–and to be prepared for “what ifs,” rather than randomly anxious about letting things go–today we’re talking about go bags.
What is a go bag?
A go bag is a collection of items for the case of things like an emergency evacuation. If a hurricane, forest fire, or other disaster causes you to flee your home, what are you taking with you?
It can be a good idea to be prepared ahead of time!
A go bag contains things like a first aid kit, non perishable food, copies of important documents, wet wipes, a hand crank radio, sturdy shoes, pet food, and personal hygiene items.
Think about the documents you’d need most if your house burned down–birth certificates, social security cards, maybe even some family photos.
Now think about what you’d need if you had to leave in a hurry without packing a bag. Let’s say, for a week. You’d want the basics, like bottled water and something to eat, but what about extra contact lenses? Hand sanitizer? A toothbrush? A first-aid kit?
You want to keep your bag relatively small and easy to carry, so try to think of what items would be most important and effective to have with you.
What to keep in your emergency supply kit.
What supplies do we want to have with us in our emergency kit? Here are some ideas.
First aid kit. With antiseptic, bandages, pain killers, and basic emergency injury supplies.
Sturdy footwear. Sometimes, in the case of emergency evacuation, you’ll find yourself hiking long distances. If you’re stuck in flip-flops, that’ll be a bit of a pain. You might put in a relatively new, but broken in, pair of hiking boots or walking sneakers.
Battery powered radio. A hand crank radio would be great here, so you don’t have to worry about extra batteries or corrosion. You’ll want a way to stay aware of what’s happening, and if all else fails, a radio will be your best bet.
Copies of important documents. Some people like to keep their passports in their emergency bags. You’ll also want a copy of birth certificates and other important, irreplaceable or difficult-to-replace documents. Some will pack cash or traveler’s checks in case credit and debit cards aren’t usable.
If you may become responsible for someone else’s child (say a niece or nephew), it’s good to have a photo of you, the child, and a parent, with your names and relation to the child labeled on the back. This can help if you need to retrieve the child from an evacuation area without the parent present.
Non perishable food. Things like MREs, bagged tuna, SPAM, and other foods that can stay good for a long while without taking up too much space in your bag are great ideas. Even just a few pieces might make a big difference while you seek a more permanent situation.
Water. You might bring bottled water, reusable water bottles, or a filtration system.
Thermal blankets. Thermal blankets don’t take up much space and can be great in an emergency. Likewise, large, long-burning candles can keep a space above freezing (I recommend keeping both in your car, if you’re ever traveling through cold areas).
Personal goods. Toiletries, extra underwear and socks, contact lenses, an extra pair of glasses, prescription medication.
Tools. A good multi-purpose tool or Swiss army knife serves many functions. You may also want a bigger knife or hatchet.
Instructions. Consider any information you’d need to access with a phone or computer, and get a physical version of it. This could be foraging guides, medicinal information, or printed directions to various places. You can also keep a list of names and contact information for relevant people, in case you’re unable to access your phone.
Protective equipment. Masks, gloves, goggles, plastic sheeting, moist towelettes, hand sanitizer, paper towels, and other things you might feel is relevant as P&E or sanitary equipment. Think of the common disasters in your area, or reasons you might flee your home, and prepare for those likelier scenarios.
How to upkeep an emergency supply kit.
Now, it’s important to do some basic regular maintenance for your go bag. Having the bag packed is only step one.
Routinely go through it to swap out old items for new ones. For example, anytime you buy a new product to replace the one in your house, put that one in the bag and use the old bag supplies.
This will stop you from wasting anything, plus ensure that the supplies in your bag will last when needed.
Best go bags.
Duffle bags can usually hold more things, and they’re good for car emergency bags, but if you need to evacuate on foot, a backpack will do you much better. If you have multiple family members, maybe they each have their own backpack prepared, too.
Hiking bags are great. But for a more affordable option, diaper bags are comfortable to carry with lots of room and pockets. I like this one:
Prioritize comfort, portability, and storage space.
Emergency supply kit for car.
Your car has lots more space for storing supplies, but different considerations. I recommend having a go bag in your house, as well as additional supplies in your car. You never know where you’ll be when emergency strikes, or if you’ll have access to your vehicle.
Next, let’s learn how to pack an emergency car kit.
