Good afternoon folks from smokey California. These fires here in California have demonstrated the urgency in making sure one is prepared in the event of an emergency. Having spent a long time in and around the military, I am fully aware of the ramifications of not being prepared. It is easy, however, to get complacent and think that a bad day will never arrive for your own homestead. These fires have shown that it no longer matters where you live, whether it be in the mountains, in the ‘burbs, or on Hollywoodland’s luxurious hillsides. If fire or mother nature wants to get you, it will find a way. You had better have your shit together.
So the wife asked if I had anything in the way of prepped supplies in the event we ever had to Evac immediately. Embarrassingly, I did not. I had thought of it many times, but never taken the time to really think about what I would need and actually put it together. It is easy to neglect it. But when I could see that she was genuinely concerned from the fires this time around, I knew there was no more bullshitting allowed. I had to get it done. So for my family of two adults, one toddler, two cats, and a dog, here is what I have come up with as an emergency Go Bag, something that I can keep at arms reach and grab immediately in the event we have to bug out of the house.
Bag: There are a shit ton of bags out there. You can go to all these fancy Survival websites and spend 100’s of dollars on a cool bag with six thousand pockets and zippers and pouches and will probably wipe your butt for you if you ask it to. If you want to spend that kind of coin, cool. If not, just find any backpack. I have an old assault backpack from my military days that I am using. It ain’t sexy, but it gets the job done for a Go-Bag.
Medical/First Aid Pouch: We found a first aid kit on Amazon. Has all the requisite items like gauze, band aids, medical scissors, bandages, tourniquette, some motrin or advil for the pain, and even threw in some allergy meds and NyQuil. Your bag may not be used for quite a while, if ever, so ensure that you periodically rotate in news meds, as they will expire after a few years.
Knife: Get a knife that can cut shit. Also, one that can be used to defend yourself.
Headlamp/Flashlight: Get yourself a heavy duty flashlight or headlamp, something that can shine bright as shit and take a pounding. Surefire is a great place to look. Headlamps are great because if allows for freedom of mobility of both arms, which can never be understated. Always keep extra batteries around.
Glowsticks: Neon glowsticks are a great substitute in the event your flashlight breaks or batteries go dead. Also, at night time, turn them into necklaces for the kids and yourselves, to make your family identifiable to oncoming traffic or perhaps others who may be searching for you.
Lighter/Matches: Anything that can start a fire. Lighters are obviously easy to use, but do run out of fluid in them, so keep that in mind.
Water/Food: I have three humans in my family, so I have three bottles of water in my kit. Take as much as you think is necessary. Remember, one aspect overlooked is that dehydration is extremely common in the cold. You need to keep drinking water especially when it is cold. I also put in snacks, like chips ahoy cookies and nutter butters. Canned goods are great as long as they don’t take up too much space. If you are woken up in the middle of the night and have to move fast, your adrenaline will keep you moving at first. However, after that wears off you will find yourself lacking energy. So you will want something quick and easy to munch on to restore your energy.
Animal provisions: If I am bugging out of my house, my animals are coming with me. I may not be able to have the time to grab leashes or collars or things like that, so having a spare set in your kit is ideal. I have an extra harness and leash for each cat, as well as a leash for the dog. I also have a Zip Loc bag of food for both, because you never know what will be available where you are going. In times of emergency, people are concerned about other people and oftentimes, the animals are overlooked. If they come with you, though, you better have a plan for them.
Sunscreen: I live in California, so the sun is always shining. Sunscreen is just smart to have on your person. Also, during the winter it is very easy to forget how much attention your skin is getting from the sun. Use it on all exposed areas of your body, especially for the kids.
Spare Clothes: If you can fit it, have a spare change of clothes in your kit for everyone in your family. If not, maybe have a set of clothes already stashed away in your car. At the very least, keep a set of clothing for the little ones. My daughter is three. Her clothing is not very big so I put a spare set of pants, shirt, underwear, and socks in a Zip Loc bag and rolled it up. Too easy. Also, cold weather gear such as beanies and gloves are small and easy to tuck away.
Misc: Towel, baby wipes, kleenex. For all the spills and messes of course. Heat blanket. Again, an item from my military days but extremely useful. Mine doubles as a heat blanket and a signal device, as the bright orange paneling can be seen from space. Very useful and compact. Rope or some type of cord is vital as well, for a multitude of uses. Zip ties are always handy.
Documents: While they are not part of my Go Bag, my important documents are still a consideration. I have consolidated important documents in a spot that I know I can reach given the necessity, and grab very quickly. This way I am not running all over the place looking for my passport here, my marriage certificate there, and the family’s birth certificates in six different filing cabinets. Keep that stuff together, preferably behind a secured door. I have a fire and water proof safe that at the very least stands a chance of surviving an emergency just in case.
So that is the rundown of my Go Bag. I packed that shit in tightly and tossed it under my bed. Since it is mobile, it is also great to be able to just toss it into my car and have it on the road in case of emergencies. You don’t really know where emergencies are going to strike, so having a lightweight-mobile platform is ideal. I have lived on the West Coast with fires and earthquakes; the Northeast with Nor’Easterns; the Southeast with hurricanes and half an inch of snow; and the Midwest with the threat of tornadoes. In each of these locations, the bag I have provided myself now would suit all of my needs no matter where I am. Depending on my situation, I may add or subtract from it. Right now, the fires are so bad that the smoke has overcome the area in which I live. Having a respiratory mask in my kit would probably be extremely beneficial. I also live in the suburbs with easy access to nearby grocery stores, so maybe I don’t need as much food and water provisions. But if I were to hit the road and head up the hills, then adding more water and food would most likely be necessary. So think about where you are, where you may be going, and plan accordingly. But having a basic loadout of gear at the least, is better than not having anything in an emergency.
