How To Pack A Go Bag And Why You Need One

Go bags sitting ready for disaster1

Join our newsletter

What is a go bag?

A go bag is a prepacked bag with essential items to grab when you evacuate a location. It should always be packed and accessible. This go bag should be able to keep you alive for three days. 

If you are working internationally or on a disaster response team, your go bag will be a little different. We’ll cover that soon. 

Why do you need to prepare a go bag?

Go bags are a good way to ensure your survival during an emergency. Common reasons for using a go bag include evacuating because of flooding, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, political tension, riots, and other events that can make staying home a vulnerability instead of a safe haven.    

What is a go bag not? 

This is not the bag you stuff everything and the kitchen sink into. If you plan on bringing all of that, keep it ready to go in your vehicle. A go bag should be a streamlined bag with life safety items in it, typically enough to keep you alive for 24-76 hours. You should be able to pick it up instantly on your way out of the house. 

We’ve added a couple of links to this article for products we keep in our go bags (the water bottle and Leatherman multi-tool). The government wants us to let you know we receive a commission if you purchase them from us. 

Items to pack in your go bag

The priorities for a go bag are food, water, health, and shelter.

  • Food that is high in calories and easy to eat
  • Water and/or water purifier
  • First aid kit 
  • Copies of IDs and insurance paperwork
  • Flashlight 
  • Phone charger
  • Battery bank
  • Multi-tool 
  • Cash 
  • Tent/tarp
  • Whistle 
  • Matches/Lighter 
  • Weather appropriate gear nearby (poncho, coat, gloves)  

High-calorie food

You can go all out and pack high-calorie survival food or you can just toss some snickers and granola bars in there. Add a little variety to your pack by having some carbs for quick energy and some proteins to keep you from crashing. 

Addicted to caffeine? Now isn’t the time to get a headache from a caffeine withdrawal. Pack one of those drink flavor mixes that come with caffeine. 

Water or water filter/purifier

You can survive several weeks without food. Going without water for 3-5 days will get you in serious trouble even in the most ideal environment. If you’re in a hot and strenuous environment, dehydration can set in within 30 minutes to a few hours. 

Water must be a priority when packing your go bag. It’s recommended to have 1 gallon of water per person per day for disasters. Carrying this much water may not be practical, especially when you need to move quickly.

Water filters or purifiers can help with this. These will let you clean any water you come across. 

Sawyer Water Filter Bottle
Sawyer Water Bottle

Sawyer makes a convenient water bottle that has a filter built into it. The Sawyer water bottle is our go-to for disaster relief and emergency preparedness.  

Other options include the LifeStraw and purification tablets. Purification tablets will take some time to work, the LifeStraw requires a moderate amount of suction and isn’t ideal for all situations.

Leave water near your bag so you can grab it on the way out. Depending on your climate, you may ‌want to keep some in your car as well.   

First aid kit 

You’ll want a first aid kit with the basic bandages and medications. 

Prescriptions

Be sure to grab your prescriptions on the way out of the house. 

Extra set of glasses/contacts

Keep your spare set of glasses or contacts in your bag. You’ll always know where they are.

Copy of IDs and insurance paperwork

Keep a backup of important documents such as:

  • Driver’s license
  • Passport
  • Marriage certificate 
  • Birth certificate 
  • Power of attorney 
  • Will 
  • Current medications 
  • Medical history 
  • Insurance policies 
  • Emergency contacts with phone numbers 

Make it a lightweight digital archive by scanning them onto a thumb drive.

Flashlight 

Having an actual flashlight will give you a lot more visibility at night than your phone provides. It will also save your phone’s power. Some flashlights can function as a power bank, strobe light, flash S.O.S., charge from sunlight, or be hand cranked.  

Battery bank

Our cell phones have become an essential part of our disaster preparedness. A dead phone will help no one though, so be sure to have a fully charged power bank in your bag. 

Phone charger

Don’t forget to pack the cable.

Multi-tool 

Pocket knives can come in handy for many situations. Multi-tools take preparedness to the next level.

Take the one we carry, for example. The Leatherman Signal has 19 different tools on it. Instead of having multiple items, we’ve got three of the items we listed in one little tool.

-Knife
-Whistle
-Firestarter 

All in one spot with a 25-year warranty. 

Leatherman Signal and Case
Leatherman Signal

Staying mobile and surviving in a disaster may just come down to having the right tool. Having one tool that does multiple jobs is one way to keep your pack light and manageable. 

See our full review on the Leatherman Signal

Cash 

Disasters can take out electricity and needed communications lines. Cash is going to be your best way to pay for things if the credit card readers are down. Keep small bills too in case change is unavailable. 

Whistle 

A whistle is a great way to signal others. 

Matches/Lighter 

Stay warm or start a signal fire. You can buy regular matches or get a stormproof rated match that burns longer and stays lit in wet and windy conditions. 

Survival blanket

Survival blankets help you retain heat. Hypothermia is deadly. Having a way to stay warm can increase your odds of survival.

Defense weapon/deterrent

Have a ‌defense item that you are comfortable using. This may be a firearm or pepper spray, anything to give you the upper hand if your situation warrants it.

Prepare your cell phone 

You’re already bringing your cell phone. Why not make it more useful during a disaster?

There are several apps you should have on your phone. 

Try out your go bag

Grab your bag and head out on a hike. Could you easily carry it for a few hours? If something happened on the trail, do you have a way to treat wounds, stay protected, and create a shelter? 

Living with a preparedness mindset

Having a plan for a disaster doesn’t mean you live in fear all the time. I have a fire extinguisher in my home; it doesn’t mean I wake up every day thinking my house may catch on fire. If my house catches on fire, I know what to do. 

Living with a preparedness mindset means you know things can go wrong. In fact, they have gone wrong for many people before. Disasters happen. Being prepared for them increases your odds of survival.

Some things you should always do to be prepared include:

  • Keep your car filled up-at least half a tank.
  • Have 2 weeks of food and water at your home.
  • Have plenty of power for your phone.  
    (I try to have 2 weeks’ worth of power for my phone as well)
  • Have a good first aid kit.
  • Have a weather radio. 
  • Know what your family plans to do during a disaster and when communications are down.
  • Know how to turn off your utilities.
  • Have a map of the local area. 

A go bag can add a little peice of mind during a disaster. You have everything you need to survive if you ever need to evacuate.

Join our email to hear about new resources to help you stay on top of severe weather outbreaks

Join our newsletter

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *