What To Put Into Your Go-Bag

What Goes in Your Go-Bag?

While most people agree on what goes in a go-bag initially, three are some items you may not need, or may not need to worry about. If you are going somewhere, and that place has a good abundance of food, for instance, you may want to leave some of that out. This also goes for water. If you are going to be close to a water source, you may not need to worry about water; just how to make sure it's safe to drink, cook with, and use for personal hygiene.

We will give you a list of what most people have in their go-bags, and you can certainly add or deduct from there.

Basic Disaster Supplies Kit

To assemble your kit store items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag. Make sure everything is waterproof that. And for food, make sure it's rodent proof as well.

A basic emergency supply kit may include the following recommended items:

• Water (one gallon per person per day)
• Food (minimum 3 days per person)

• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
• Flashlight
• First aid kit
• Extra batteries
• Whistle (to signal for help)
• Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape (for shelter, if needed)
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
• Wrench or pliers  
• Manual can opener (for food)
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

Additional Emergency Supplies

Consider adding the following items to your emergency supply kit based on your individual needs:

• Face masks (for everyone ages 2 and above), soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes to disinfect surfaces
• Prescription medication
• Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids, or laxatives
• Prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution
• Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, and diaper rash cream
• Pet food and extra water for your pet
• Cash or traveler's checks
• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
• Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes
• Fire extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
• Paper and pencil
• Books, games, puzzles, or other activities for children

Maintaining Your Kit

After assembling your kit remember to maintain it so it is ready when needed:

• Keep canned foods in a cool, dry location.
• Store perishable foods in tightly closed plastic or metal containers.
• Rotate your food and replace any out-of-date items
• Re-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family’s needs change.

Kit Storage Locations

Since you do not know where you will be when an emergency occurs, prepare supplies for home, work, and cars.

Home – You may be asked at some point to shelter-in-place, so having items at home on hand will be very convenient if this happens. At home, you can pack away more items and keep them handy in case of a power outage or something happens to disrupt food supply or your ability to go to the store.

Car – Keep something in your car in case you end up stranded somewhere and will need to stay put in your vehicle. Special precaution needs to be taken with food since it will be getting hot and cold along with the temperatures outside. Make sure you check on this kit more frequently.

Work – Most of us drive our cars to work so you could use what is in your car for work, but you will need to add a change of clothes and some comfortable walking shoes to this kit. Make sure it contains a few doses of any prescription medication and that your items are not out of date.

It is easy to put together something that would work for a go-bag, then you can add to it as you find items that you feel you would need.