How to Prepare a Go-Bag for Emergency Evacuation
Posted in Senior Health Care Tips
September marks National Preparedness Month and is a good time to evaluate your household’s emergency plans.
Generally speaking, sheltering in place (remaining at home) during an emergency is the safest way to avoid the brunt of a heat wave, hurricane, power outage, or other common emergency scenario. However, if you live in an area expected to be hit heavily by an emergency event, or circumstances make your home unsafe, an early exit to a safe haven will be much easier than evacuating during an emergency event.
In order to make a quick exit and ensure you have whatever you will need during an evacuation, preparedness experts recommend every member of a household maintain a “Go-Bag” with basic supplies needed to sustain an individual for roughly three days. 
Plan your emergency evacuation destination
A well-prepared Go-Bag can make traveling to and staying at a safe haven easier, however you need to know where you plan to evacuate to. As part of your emergency prep, take time to consider friends and family members who live reasonably close to you, but far enough away that they too will not need to evacuate.
For example, if you live in a known flood zone, consider reaching out to friends and family members who live at higher elevations or parts of the city that do not face the same risk of floods. Communicate with these individuals early and ensure they are comfortable sharing their space with you should the need arise. When considering your options, be sure to consider ease of travel and your ability to safely reach this safe haven.
If you are unable to find a friend or family member who can offer support, take some time to review the city’s evacuation centers and locate two or more you can safely reach from your home.
Why pack an emergency Go-Bag?
In the event of an emergency, resources in an evacuation center or friend’s home might be stretched thin. By bringing supplies to sustain yourself, you are freeing up resources for others who may need more support. Additionally, if an emergency event is sufficiently serious, there may not be enough resources for everyone, so bringing your own snacks, medical supplies and comfort items will allow you to stay supplied regardless of the severity of the emergency.
Finding a good Go-Bag
Step one of building a Go-Bag is to find a practical bag or other piece of luggage that you can comfortably carry through adverse conditions. Backpacks, particularly those specialized for hiking or travel, are the most common solution, however rolling luggage or other solutions may make sense based on your individual mobility and strength.
Given that storms are a common cause for evacuation, selecting a bag that is water proof, water resistant, or includes a rain cover is often a good decision. Additionally, consider selecting a bag that is a brighter color or incorporates reflective material in order to make it easier to find in a hurry.
Finally, while fashion takes a backseat to practicality during an emergency, try to select a bag that is somewhat distinctive, or attach an easily-recognizable luggage tag or other identifier to your bag so you can find it easily if you are sharing space with others.
Pack for a long weekend
One of the biggest challenges when preparing for an emergency is knowing when enough is enough. Under packing supplies means you will need outside support, but overpacking supplies can make your actual evacuation more difficult.
Try to strike a balance by aiming for roughly three days worth of supplies. Once your bag is packed, try it on and go for a walk to ensure that it fits comfortably and you can realistically travel on foot while carrying your gear.
Emergency Go-Bag Essentials
The following are items that all Go-Bags should include and generally include things you either cannot easily borrow or find at your safe haven, cannot be replaced, or will be needed to get you to that location.
- Vital documents (identification cards, up-to-date prescriptions, written contact information for friends and family, copies of your deed, birth certificate and other difficult to replace documents.) These should be kept in a waterproof, sealable bag.
- A small amount of cash for emergency purchases
- At least seven days of medication and medical supplies, stored securely and clearly labelled.*
- A backup pair of glasses and/or contact lenses and supplies for seven days.
- A cell phone, charger and backup battery or power block.
- Any medical documentation that can help medical staff better treat any chronic or serious conditions you may have, including a list of allergies, list of current medication you take, and contact information for your doctors.
- A small supply of nonperishable food and water (ideally enough for three days, but this can get heavy, so pack what you can carry.)
- A small flashlight (preferably a long-lasting LED) and a set of backup batteries or power block.
- Personal hygiene items – preferably in travel-sized amounts.
- A spare set of keys for your home.
- Lightweight rain gear like a packable poncho or jacket.
- Three days’ worth of spare socks and undergarments.
- One additional set of outerwear, i.e. a pair of pants and a shirt.
- A small battery-powered AM/FM radio for emergency announcements.
- A notepad and pen, including a sheet of paper with contact numbers for all family members.
On Medical Supplies*
When packing medical supplies, consider everything you use on a daily basis, including, for example, continence supplies, blood testing kits, and other consumable items. If you take prescription medication, be sure to rotate your Go-Bag supply out for new medication every month or so to avoid passing their expiration date.
If your medication requires special storage, like refrigeration, keep your Go-Bag supply in a separate container in your home’s refrigerator along with ice packs to help keep them cool during your evacuation. To avoid forgetting medication that requires special storage, consider leaving visible notes on the outside of your Go-Bag and the inside face of your front door reminding you to collect them.
If you use an assistive device like a cane, rollator, or wheelchair, make sure to label these items with your name and contact information. If you use a powered mobility device like an electric wheelchair, keep a spare charger in your Go-Bag, and consider storing a charged backup battery nearby so it can be quickly stowed on your chair before you go.
Nice-to-haves
If you’ve packed your supplies according to this guide, you may already be surprised at the overall weight of your Go-Bag. After taking a test walk with your bag, think about what you can downsize or rearrange to make the pack more manageable, or consider switching to a rolling bag if the test walk proved challenging.
Packing for Pets
Every member of your household should have a Go-Bag, including your pets. If you have pets, check ahead that your nearest evacuation centers will accept pets, and if they do not, consider reaching out to pet groups in your community to find someone who can shelter them if you need to evacuate.
When packing for a pet, bring the following:
- A current color photo of you and your pet (in case you’re separated)
- Copies of medical and vaccination records
- Proof of registration/ID information, adoption, proof of purchase and microchip information
- Physical description of your pet, including species, breed, age, sex, color, distinguishing traits, and any other vital information about characteristics and behavior
- Animal first aid kit, including flea and tick treatment and other items recommended by your veterinarian
- Food and water for at least three days
- Food and water dishes
- Collapsible cage or carrier
- Muzzle* and sturdy leash
- Cotton sheet to place over the carrier to help keep your pet calm
- Comforting toys or treats
- Litter, litter pan, and litter scoop
- Plastic bags for cleanup
Emergency preparedness strategies are built into all levels of our service, starting with every client’s first free in-home RN Assessment, ongoing emergency preparedness training exercises and every client’s emergency communication binder, providing clients with complete and fully updated records of known medical conditions, prescriptions and other vital information they will need in order to evacuate safely.
To learn more about SelectCare and how we’ve helped New Yorkers overcome challenges great and small since 1985, call SelectCare, read testimonials from past and current clients, or request a free in-home health care guide today.