WHAT SHOULD YOU PUT IN A GO-BAG?
PHOTOS OF GOOD GO-BAGS
The temptation is to put everything you can think of in your Go-Bag, but to avoid a very heavy and very cluttered bag, editing is a very good idea. I had a friend walk into my apartment one day, and he said to someone with him “Hmmm… everything she owns is in a pile in the living room floor. She must be going camping!”
That is the difference between camping and packing to go. You only want the essentials for perhaps 72 hours. The following is a list I put together several years ago. Much of it is for those of you who plan to shelter in your own home.
EMERGENCY KITS– Have a 72 hr. Kit or an emergency bag that you can grab if you need to (bug out bag or go bag)
WATER– At least 5 or 6 gallons of water per person ( seems excessive but in truth we do need more than 1 gallon per person per day, which is what most lists have, remember we are talking about washing, toileting ,cooking, everything)
You can also fill up bathtubs. Alternatively, you can fill up plastic containers and even better, a 50 gal. plastic drum with spigot.
Don’t forget that your water heater has 50-60 gallons of drinkable water too! Make sure that you keep the tools needed by the water heater- tape them to the water heater with instructions on how to use them.
Have water purification tablets, a good water filter pitcher and spare filters on hand
Have Two Weeks of food – dehydrated, canned , pre- packaged or frozen if you are sheltering in and have electricity, DO NOT FORGET THE CAN OPENER!
Two Weeks of Supplies-
Hygiene supplies– toilet paper, tissues, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, paper towels , also if there is no sewer functioning, have a big five gal. painters bucket with big trash bags and 2 weeks worth of kitty litter to use in your “luggable Loo”. A Snap On toilet seat is available at camping stores, and Wal Mart
FIRE STARTERS, AND ENERGY SOURCES -matches, cigarette lighters, batteries of various sizes- a solar charger is a great idea to have. Cotton balls dipped in Vaseline make very good fire starters too. In a pinch, oily snack food like corn chips can start a fire- just light one and be amazed!
Camp Stove with fuel for two weeks, an outdoor grill may be good also and charcoal or a fire ring and wood- in a pinch, an old tire may work for this
Solar/battery/hand cranked radio and lantern. Make sure it gets weather alert stations , which is the main reason to have a radio. Head Lamps are good, too and small but powerful LED flashlights are easy to use. Oil or Kerosene Lamps are good too but require constant monitoring, as does a candle. Make sure any candles are in fire-proof containers
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS and other over the counter meds as needed , enough for two weeks
GENERATOR- if you are sheltering in place , this is worth its weight in gold. Make sure to have enough fuel for two weeks if possible.
GASOLINE- fill up cars if a storm is in the offing.
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS- Have one for the car, and one for your kitchen or food prep area
CASH, PERSONAL PAPERS , PASSPORT, ETC. IN PAGE PROTECTORS- Medical information ,allergies, medical conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes etc.- these can be on a flash drive and worn around your neck
FIRST AID KIT- a real one, folks, not a box of bandaids!
CUT DOWN TREES THAT ARE LIKELY TO FALL ON YOUR HOME IN STRONG WINDS!
GUNS AND AMMO, or other form of self-protection in case of looters
MAPS in case of Bugging out!
KNOW LOCATION OF SHELTERS IN YOUR AREA
HAMMER, NAILS, SCREWS, SCREW DRIVERS, TIN OR WIRE SNIPS, PLIERS, RUBBER GLOVES AND COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF DUCT TAPE!
PLASTIC TARPS – TWO OR THREE IN CASE OF BLOWN OUT OR BROKEN WINDOWS POST STORM
For your Go-Bag, you should have a minimum of the following-
- several flashlights with extra batteries. Head lamps are great also, as they leave your hands free.
- Maps of the area you are evacuating to
- cell phone and charger
- extra money
- Mylar pouches of potable water- they weigh less than a bottle
- trail mix or protein bars, easy to carry snacks
- weather radio for NOAA updates.
- important papers such as health and insurance information on a jump drive or copied and in page protectors
- can and bottle opener, knife or multi-tool
- rain poncho and survival blanket or bivy sack
- phone numbers of area you are traveling toward
In my next post, I will talk about the “Saffir-Simpson Scale”, and more tips regarding preparation before the storm arrives. Remember- always PRAY, PREPARE AND IMPLEMENT your plans! Until then, keep your eye on the weather and news and may God bless!
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