As we creep into tornado season in the upper Midwest, I’m reminded to make sure I have my emergency go bag is ready. I’ve kept one since 2020, and thankfully I’ve never had to use it. But still, it sits in my closet ready to go at a moment’s notice. And the peace of mind it brings me is so worth it.
A go bag is simply a bag you keep full of items you would need during a short emergency event. Food, water, a change of underwear—it’s all there in the bag so that if you need to leave home unexpectedly, you have what you need. If you’ve ever wanted to be more prepared for an emergency but didn’t know where to start, this is the post for you.
Table of Contents
Here’s Everything You Need In Your Emergency Go Bag
Bag
My go bag is a plain black sport backpack with multiple compartments. I bought it years ago and can’t find its exact dimensions, but my best guess is it holds about 27 liters. It has padded straps and is generally pretty comfortable.
Food & Water
Note: the food and water included in this prep are not enough to meet the average man or woman’s intake needs for a single day. The goal here is to carry enough to last until you reach your safe location so as not to overweight the bag.
- Water (at least 2 liters)
- Energy bars
- Trail mix
- Electrolyte packets
Health & Safety
Account for minor injuries either during the emergency event or immediately after by bringing a first aid kit to treat wounds. Don’t forget any prescribed medications, as an emergency is not the time to go cold turkey on anything you normally take. Face masks and hand sanitizer can help during unsanitary conditions.
- First aid kit
- Prescribed medications
- Face masks
- Hand sanitizer
Personal Care
This is just your typical personal grooming kit—soap, toothpaste, and baby wipes because you may not have access to toilet paper. Folks who menstruate should take care to pack some extra essentials.
- Soap
- Microfiber towel
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Sunscreen
- Chapstick
- Baby wipes
- Tissue packets
- Menstrual pads, tampons, cups
Clothes
Pack clothes that are lightweight and layerable. In the case of actually leaving your home with your bag, try to grab a coat and shoes that match the weather outside.
- 2 pairs each of underwear, socks
- 1 pair of pants
- 1 long-sleeve shirt
- 1 short-sleeve shirt
- 1 hat
Tools
My favorite tool in my go bag is a portable radio able to pick up a signal from the National Weather Service. In the case of no cell reception, a weather radio tuned to the frequency of your local National Weather Radio All Hazards station can warn you of imminent danger. Don’t forget a phone charger and power bank to extended the use of your electronics.
In the case of internet outages, paper maps and prints of your important documents are also useful.
- Weather radio
- Power bank
- LED flashlight
- Batteries for flashlight, radio
- Phone charger
- Mylar blankets
- Duct tape
- Multi-tool
- Whistle or other noise-maker
- Cash
- Paper maps
- Notebook & pens
- Photocopies of important documents like driver’s license, passport, insurance cards, credit cards, and pet vaccination records
Pet Care
If you have a pet you’ll want to plan for them too. In my own emergency plans I include a disposable litter box for my cat and a list of hotels near me that accept pets, their addresses and phone numbers.
- Leash & harness
- Airline-approved pet carrier
- Dry pet food (easier to carry than wet)
- Collapsible pet bowls
- Pet waste bags
- Disposable litter box kit (cardboard box, litter, liner bags)
My entire prep fits into a backpack and a tote bag. Add on my cat in her carrier and it is a moderately heavy load, but it has everything I need to get to a safer location. I keep this bag in my hallway closet and I go through it every few months to switch out food or medication that is close to expiring.
Download a printable version of the checklist:
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