Is Your 'Go Bag' Ready?

[Demovictory9]

Is Your ‘Go Bag’ Ready?
Climate-related emergencies like hurricanes, fires and floods are becoming more frequent. Here’s how to prepare whether you need to evacuate or hunker down.


No matter where you live, every home should have a ‘go bag’ and a ‘stay bin.’ The go bag is what you grab when you have to leave the house in a hurry, whether it’s to get to the emergency room or to evacuate because of a fire or hurricane. The stay bin is a two-week stash of essentials in the event you have to hunker down at home without power, water or heat.


-------------

The hardest part about creating a go bag is getting started. You don’t need to do it all at once. I started with a Ziploc bag and placed my passport, birth certificates and other important documents inside. Then I added an extra pair of reading glasses. Last year, I added a phone charger to my go bag because an emergency room doctor told me it’s the single most requested item in the E.R.

I also added some masks, which we all need now because of Covid-19, but you might also need a mask if you’re fleeing a fire or a chemical spill. I remember on Sept. 11, after the first tower fell, a New York City bakery distributed hundreds of masks to those of us stranded in the area to protect us from breathing in the ash and fumes.

Recently, I upgraded my go bag to a more sturdy Stasher reusable silicone bag and added some emergency cash (small bills are best). I also added a list of phone numbers to reach family members and friends in the event that I end up in the E.R. The list is useful if your phone battery dies, too. On Sept. 11, I used a pay phone to reach my mom in Dallas, because it was the only phone number I could remember.

The Go Bag


The Stay Bag


https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/02/well/go-bag-essentials.html?action=click&algo=bandit-all-surfaces-variants&block=trending_recirc&fellback=false&imp_id=566949202&impression_id=ddd44098-0c73-11ec-945c-afe62ea37dff&index=0&pgtype=Article&pool=pool%2F91fcf81c-4fb0-49ff-bd57-a24647c85ea1®ion=footer&req_id=775539849&surface=eos-most-popular-story&variant=0_bandit-all-surfaces-variants

20 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	yes, have a Go Bag ready
	0 (0%)
	no
	13 (65%)
	sort of
	7 (35%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[Enter stage left]

1. Yes, our go bag is ready...

we live in our motorhome & watch weather & fire reports daily.

We can be ready to move with 30 minutes notice, with 80 gallons of water, solar & generator for power, & a 4 door refrig for food.

It's a interesting lifestyle, not for everyone...but works well for us.

[wyn borkins]

2. Medication Details

Perhaps also consider for your Go-Bag, a detailed listing of any medications you are taking OR those dear to you are taking. This listing should have the dispensing doctor's name, address, and phone number in addition to the pharmacy name, address, and phone number as well.

[catrose]

8. And the prescription number

After Katrina I helped people replace their meds. It was easiest at national chain pharmacies and with this info.

[wyn borkins]

20. Absolutely

And thank you for this most-necessary advice as well as for helping others in their times of need (!!!).

[marybourg]

3. I don't have a "go bag" because at nearly 80,

with multiple serious food intolerances, I’m not “going”.

[wyn borkins]

4. An Emergency Might Make You "Go"

So it would not hurt nor would it be difficult to assemble something simple (like stashing a few items in a friendly purse near the door) in the event you are dragged kicking and screaming out of your residence...

[alphafemale]

5. And keep your gas tank as close to full as you can.

My trunk is already full of camping gear. That is for recreation, but it is a great place to keep it.

My cat is vital. There is also a cat pail and litter in the the trunk because of the rapid succession of hurricane seasons.

I may need to think my cash aversion, and just set a bit aside. In bills easily exchanged.

[Demovictory9]

7. I violate the gas tank full rule often

[alphafemale]

13. I know that can seem daunting on a tight budget.

But once an emergency evacuation is ordered gas is something that going to go from scarce to nonexistent the fastest.

[smirkymonkey]

6. K&R

[Amishman]

11. No, but I can't think of a disaster that would make me leave

My house is well away from the coast, so hurricanes aren't a concern.

On high ground so flooding isn't a concern. (Nearest town would be under 300 feet of water before I had flooding concerns)

While I'm in the woods, we have ample separation from house to treeline that I'd stay put with a forest fire. Climate change seems to be making PA wetter, so this is really unlikely anyway. Not to mention the chunk of woods my house sits in is 100 acres or a little less, surrounded by corn and hay fields. Not likely to get an apocalyptic west coast type of fire here, forests are too broken up by development.

Well water, septic sewage, and a good backup generator too.

[GoCubsGo]

12. Do you have a nuclear power plant within two hundred miles of your home?

Or a chemical plant of any sort nearby? Or, railroad tracks that carry tanker cars? The next town over from me had a train carrying chlorine derail. The chlorine gas that leaked from it forced hundreds of people from their homes for weeks. It killed about a dozen people. See also: Lac-Megantic train disaster. Derailments of trains carrying hazardous materials are not uncommon. There are also dozens of examples of chemical plant leaks that forced people from their homes. And, since you live in PA, you should be familiar with Three Mile Island... And, Chernobyl, which is an extreme example, but an explosion at a plant here could potentially result in a similar situation.

And, let's not forget about earthquakes... Those can happen anywhere.

[Amishman]

14. I'm pretty safe from most of those too

50 mi to the nearest nuke plant - but I am up wind. If there was a disaster big enough that they are evacuating out that far, you have a humanitarian crisis beyond anything ever experienced and I still might be better off staying put. Three Mile Island no longer operates, I was downwind from them.

Train tracks? Eight miles maybe? Also up wind.

Not much hazardous industry here; corn, cows, and Amish.

Earthquake? After the shaking stops it's cleanup. I'd be better off staying put on account of the supplies I have at home, plus friends and family in the area.

[GoCubsGo]

19. Fifty miles ain't all that far when it comes to nuke plants.

And, the wind changes directions. Good luck to you.

[Demovictory9]

21. Zombies aliens

[DVRacer]

15. Two things come to mind

When I hear “go” bag:
1. All the apocalypse wishing Trump loving Asshole’s that talk about their military style gear bag. That they can’t wait to seem to use including firearms.

2. Taco Bell drive thru

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

16. My long term camping gear is always ready to go.

Most of it always stays in my old Jeep Cherokee. Disposable bic lighters kept in a waterproof container are far superior to waterproof matches. 12 volt phone chargers/USB cables that work from car cigarette lighters that charge phones while driving are useful. Small battery operated LED camping lanterns are a much more efficient and dependable source of light than candles. A quality multi-tool is a handy item in an emergency.

Excellent post, thanks. Couldn't read the article though, because of paywall.

[sir pball]

17. If you camp regularly, just keep your pack ready.

I go on backpacking trips a couple of times a year, after cleaning up after each trip I just re-pack my backpack. Tent, water filtration, clothing, food and cooking gear, all ready to strap on with literally no notice.

[Deep State Witch]

18. We have a Stay Bin

We have a "Stay Bin", with mostly bottled water. We also have solar panels feeding into our battery backup, so we can have some electricity. We need to put a Go Bag together, though.