Prepared is better than perfect
A "Go Bag" is simply a bag of essential supplies that you can grab quickly if you need to leave in an emergency. The goal is to help you get through the first few days of a disaster, with the essentials you may need until you can return home or access further support.
Keep your Go Bag somewhere that is easy to access. In an emergency, you may only have a short amount of time to leave, so avoid hiding it away at the back of the garage where it will be difficult to grab quickly.
It can also be a good idea to have a separate Go Bag at your place of work or car. Depending on your situation, this may be smaller and lighter, particularly if its main purpose is to help you get home safely, more on that later.
A Simple Place to Start
We have prepared a simple, easy-to-read Go Bag checklist to help you get started.
Download Emergency Go Bag Checklist
You don't need to break the bank or buy everything at once. Think of your Go Bag as something you can build over time. Start with an old small backpack, the essentials, then add to it as your budget allows.
Our checklist is deliberately kept simple. There are plenty of other useful items you may want to add, including:
- A multi-tool
- Plastic bags for waste
- A lighter
- Paracord or lightweight rope
- Duct tape
- A tarp or small tent
- A sleeping bag
- A small portable gas stove
- A portable radio
- High-visibility vests
The list could go on and on, but the goal of this checklist isn't to overwhelm you or make emergency preparedness feel expensive or complicated.
The most important thing is to tailor your Go Bag to you, your family, your needs and your budget. Consider the people who will be using it, including children, pets, or anyone with specific requirements.
A Go Bag that isn't perfect is still far better than having no Go Bag at all.
Think About the Purpose of Each Bag
Not every Go Bag needs to be the same.
A Go Bag you keep at home may contain more supplies, while a bag kept at work may be smaller, simpler and lighter. For example, if your main goal is to have what you need to safely get home, you may not need to carry the same amount of equipment as you would in a bag designed for a longer evacuation.
Think about where you are likely to be, where you may need to go, and what you could realistically carry.
One important thing to remember: you may have to carry your Go Bag some distance. A huge bag packed with everything imaginable won't be much use if it is too heavy or impractical to take with you.
Start simple, pack what you can realistically carry, and build from there.
Don't forget the kids! For school age children their bag may have just some water, snacks and a few clothes. With the bulk of other essential items in adults' bags. Tailor for the age of your children.
Download and Use Our Go Bag Checklist
Use the Ration Ready Go Bag Checklist as a starting point when building or reviewing your emergency supplies. Tick items off as you pack them, and revisit your bag regularly to check your supplies and update anything that has changed.
The checklist is designed to be a starting point, not a one-size-fits-all solution. Your emergency kit should work for your household, your situation and your budget.
Prepared is better than perfect. Start where you can, add to it over time, and make sure your emergency supplies are there when you need them.
