Are you ready for an emergency?
Pack a "Go Bag!"
By Cynthia Brian
It seems that climate disasters and other catastrophes are occurring at an accelerating rate. If an emergency occurred while you were at home, work, or play, and you are forced to evacuate to another location, would you be prepared or panicked? This scenario could happen anywhere at any time. With preparation, you will be ready to go.
A “Go Bag” is a bag filled with all the necessities you, your family, and your animals will need for one to three days. You will want to pack this emergency kit for every vehicle as well as have an additional one in your home in a closet or space closest to your exit door. The reason for keeping a “Go Bag” in your car at all times is because you may be caught in an earthquake, fire, tornado, flood, or another disaster when you are not at home. By also keeping a “Go Bag” at home, in the event of an immediate evacuation, you will have additional reinforcements.
Here’s what you need to pack an emergency “Go Bag”
In a backpack, small suitcase, shoulder bag, or roller bag pack the following:
First Aid kit (include anti-fungal cream, antidiarrheal meds, eye drops)
Duplicate chargers for phones, tablets, and computers
Copies of important documents including passport, drivers license, credit cards, insurance
Work gloves
Warm gloves
Towelettes
Small towel
Bottled water (1 gallon per person per day)
Thick Blanket
Walking shoes
Socks
Bandanas
Warm jacket
Non-perishable Food (aim for three days per person) Peanut butter, honey, nuts, jerky, protein bars, and dried fruit are good choices.
Personal hygiene kit with a toothbrush, soap, medications, and prescriptions
Matches
Candle
Flashlight and headlamp with extra batteries
Eating utensils and plates
Breathing masks (Niosh-N95)
Clothing change with layers
Reading Glasses
Extra set of keys to home, office, etc.
A Multitool (includes screwdriver, scissors, bottle opener, can opener, and knife)
Pet necessities: food, leash, medications
Cash
Toilet Paper
At your home, have a sign already made with your name, phone number, address, and the words “SAFELY EVACUATED” sitting on top of your “Go Bag” accompanied by a roll of blue painter’s tape. In an evacuation, when you exit your home, tape the sign (time permitting) to the door so the first responders will know that you have left. When told to evacuate, do so without question. Take one vehicle to avoid clogging escape routes. Stay calm.
Other things to do in preparation for an emergency:
• Make a rescue plan with your family and practice an evacuation.
• Decide where you will meet up if separated and where to go in an emergency.
• Back up important documents to the cloud or keep paper copies in a safe deposit box.
• Get a landline phone for emergency purposes only. They work without electricity.
• Know how to manually open automatic gates and garage doors.
• Connect with neighbors to create a support safety team.
• Keep your gas tank full on all vehicles.
• Store your laptop, keys, purse, wallet, and other “must take” items in one place for swift retrieval.
• Sign up for emergency alerts in your area.
Earthquakes may not provide any warning, and a devastating wildfire may give you only a minute or two to grab your family and your bag. Hurricanes, storms, and tornadoes usually provide a few hours of alerts. Natural disasters are on the rise and catastrophes can happen to you. If you are told to evacuate, do so immediately. Your life and the lives of those you love depend on your actions.
Get ready to go!
©2022 Cynthia Brian is a New York Times best-selling author of several books, TV/Radio personality/producer, lecturer, columnist, enrichment coach, and Founder/Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3. In her spare time, Cynthia can be found working in her garden or playing with her barnyard of adopted animals. www.CynthiaBrian.com
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