Prepare for Emergency Evacuations by Creating a "Go-Bag"
Assembling or refreshing your stock of emergency supplies before an emergency occurs is smart, and it’s a lot easier than you might think to create an emergency “Go Bag.”
What to put in a “Go Bag”
Start by purchasing a large backpack or a duffle bag with a comfortable shoulder strap, then start to fill it with essential items you already have on hand. Over time, you can purchase additional items for your Go Bag when you do your regular shopping.
Go Bag items make great gift suggestions. For instance, when your children or grandchildren ask you what you want for your birthday, suggest a hand-cranked AM/FM radio or a bright LED-beam flashlight. If you wear glasses, the next time you get a new pair, put the old pair in the go-bag. If you take regular medication, ask your doctor if you can get extra to place in your Go Bag (but be sure to keep the medication up-to-date by using and replenishing it according to the expiration date).
Don’t forget to include some cash, because banks and ATMs will probably be closed or inaccessible in a widespread disaster. Store your Go Bag in an easy-to-access location, such as a closet near your front door. The items in your Go Bag should be extras: you should not need them for everyday use because it’s too easy to forget to put them back after you’ve “borrowed” them from your emergency kit.
Don’t forget to include these items in your Go Bag
A few extra items that are essential but often overlooked for an emergency Go Bag include:
- wallet card with emergency and family phone numbers
- electronic copies of important papers, such as insurance policies, which can be stored on a small USB flash-memory drive
- identification
- a change of clothes for each person
- a non-electric can opener
- first aid kit
- medications with prescription directions
- batteries for cell phones and other items
- toiletries
- plastic bags
- toothbrush and toothpaste
- canned dog or cat food if you have pets
- blankets
These are not all of the items you would need. Take the time to think about and identify what else you use daily in case you had to leave your home suddenly.
Have a plan to connect with your loved ones
One very important point to remember is that your loved ones will be very worried about you following a disaster. And, you might be worried about your loved ones in the affected areas. One task you can accomplish right now is to identify an out-of-area contact for all of you and share that information. Agree that this out-of-area contact will serve as the communication hub for you and your loved ones in a disaster. So, when there is a disaster, you call that household to check-in and report your status (to inform them of your location or the shelter in which you are staying). It also gives you the opportunity to find out who else has checked in, reducing a great deal of the anxiety and worry that happens during a disaster.
Additional Resources
Citizen Voice - www.CitizenVoice.org
(916) 503-3194
Offers a “Safely Out” kit at nominal cost to help you organize your emergency information and inform emergency officials you’ve safely evacuated your home.
FloodReady - www.FloodReady.org
Sacramento County Department of Water Resources web page featuring important flood safety information, flood maps and preparedness tips.
Ready - www.Ready.gov/america/getakit
Lists contents for a robust emergency kit and hosts helpful instructional videos.
Are You Prepared Guides - PDF Downloads
This page also contains the "Are You Prepared?" guides in several languages. These Preparedness Guides were a collaborative effort of Public Health, UC Davis, and several other emergency response agencies and departments in Sacramento County. They provide tips for being prepared for emergencies and disasters while at home, school, work, and in public places. They are intended to serve as a resource for emergency preparedness information for all families and individuals in Sacramento County.
