Fires, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes. No matter where you live in the world, chances are you and your home have some risk of experiencing a natural disaster. We are at the mercy of mother nature, but a good plan gives you a leg up in the game. When it comes to preparedness, it can only make you safer.
Seconds count in a mandatory evacuation situation, and I for one do not want to be scrambling to pack a suitcase and try to decide what valuables to grab as we run out of the door. That’s why I have a solid plan in place for our family.
But where does one begin? What are the things that you definitely want to have in a disaster bag? I’ve got a list of tips to help you formulate your own plan, as well as suggestions for what to pack in a “to go” bag.
Tip #1 – What NOT to Take in Your “To-Go” Bag
I’m starting out with what you should leave behind, safely. For years we’ve had a fire and waterproof safe in our study. It doesn’t contain valuable jewels or anything close! Instead, we store birth certificates, social security cards, passports, our marriage license, etc. I don’t want to bother with lugging these important documents with us in the event of an emergency, but in the worst case scenario, they should survive whatever is happening around the safe.
Tip # 2 – Family Heirlooms
If there are things that are precious, even if not valuable, organize them in a box that is easy to grab on your way out. Take stock of things that might be around the house in various locations, and move them all together into the same spot. For instance, if you would be devastated to lose your great-aunt’s broach, make sure to have it in your disaster bag, or somewhere you won’t forget it.
Tip #3 – Photographs
It’s a good idea to back up all of your digital photographs onto cloud storage away from any harm, or if not, at least to a physical hard drive that you can store in your safe or disaster bag. Ditto for any photo albums, or photos that you consider family heirlooms- make sure to have backups.
Tip #4 – A Suitcase
This one is a little tricky. When I first began devising my plan, I thought I’d pack a bag and stash it in the closet so I could simply grab it on my way out. But as I got started, I realized that it’s difficult to pack clothing for an evacuation, not knowing how long you could be gone, and what weather conditions will be like, to ensure appropriate clothing. Instead, what I do is have a list of items to pack, tucked into the suitcase that I would want to bring. That way, I can quickly toss items of clothing into the bag without wasting time. Make sure to list toiletries, and also eyeglasses or contact lenses, if you wear them. Of course, you’ll also want to make sure you have your wallet, keys, phone and chargers on that list as well.
Tip #5 – Medications
Don’t forget to have any necessary medications with you when you leave. It’s also a good idea to have copies of the prescriptions handy in case you need to refill.
Tip #6 – Don’t Forget About Your Pets
If you have a cat, dog, or other pet, you’ll need to pack for them, too, and bring everything they need for time away from home. In this case, I keep a bag of dog food, enough for a week, packed in a bag along with a leash and poop bags. I set a reminder to freshen the food every few months.
Tip # 7 – Plan Your Route
Not knowing where you are going once you load up your car can add stress and danger to the scenario. Learn your evacuation route for your neighborhood, and identify the location of the nearest shelters, hotels, or friends who would be willing to take you in.
What Else to Take in Your “To-Go” Bag
Finally, here’s a short list of emergency items that you can have ready in your “go bag.”
- Flashlight and batteries
- Non perishable food
- Bottled water
- First aid kit
- Cash
Additional Resources
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Basic Disaster Supplies Kit