Chapter 10. Building a Practical Go-Bag
A go-bag is a portable collection of essential supplies that can be taken quickly when a household must evacuate. It may be useful during a wildfire, earthquake, flood, hazardous-material incident, gas leak, prolonged power outage, or another emergency that makes remaining at home unsafe.
Residents of Pleasanton, Dublin, Livermore, San Ramon, Danville, Sunol, and surrounding Tri-Valley communities should prepare go-bags before an emergency occurs. When an evacuation warning or order is issued, there may not be enough time to search for medication, identification, chargers, clothing, and other necessities.
A practical emergency go-bag does not need to be expensive, attractive, or perfect. Begin with a bag you already own and essential items already available in your home. Add and improve supplies gradually.
Choose a Bag You Can Carry
A backpack, duffel bag, small wheeled suitcase, or another durable container may work. Choose something household members can transport without assistance. A bag that is too heavy to lift into a vehicle or carry for a reasonable distance is not practical.
Different household members may need separate bags. Adults and older children can carry appropriate personal supplies, while one bag may contain shared items. Clearly label bags without displaying sensitive information where strangers could see it.
Keep go-bags in an accessible location near a normal exit. Do not store them behind heavy objects, in a locked area, or somewhere that may be difficult to reach quickly. Some households also keep basic emergency supplies in their vehicles or workplaces.
Water and Food
Pack drinking water in containers that will not leak. Water is heavy, so balance the amount carried in a go-bag with the household’s ability to transport it. Store additional emergency water at home when space permits.
Include nonperishable, ready-to-eat food that household members can safely consume, such as:
- Nutrition or granola bars
- Dried fruit
- Nuts or seed products when allergies are not a concern
- Crackers
- Shelf-stable pouches
- Canned food with a manual can opener
- Infant, child, or medically appropriate food
Consider allergies, diabetes, swallowing difficulties, religious practices, and other dietary requirements. Check food and water regularly and replace expired, damaged, or heat-exposed items.
Medications and Health Information
Essential medications are among the most important go-bag supplies. When possible, maintain an emergency supply consistent with instructions from the prescribing professional, pharmacist, health plan, and applicable rules. Do not place medication in a bag and forget about expiration dates or storage requirements.
Include a current medication list showing each medicine’s name, dose, schedule, purpose, pharmacy, and prescriber. Add information about allergies, medical conditions, implanted devices, emergency contacts, and health-insurance coverage.
Plan separately for refrigerated medicine, oxygen, mobility devices, hearing-aid batteries, eyeglasses, contact-lens supplies, and other medical needs. Ready.gov provides additional guidance for people with disabilities and access or functional needs.
Identification and Important Records
Place copies of important documents in a waterproof pouch. These may include:
- Government-issued identification
- Health-insurance cards
- Prescription information
- Emergency contact details
- Household and vehicle insurance information
- Pet vaccination or ownership records
- Children’s information
- Relevant medical or accessibility instructions
Protect sensitive information carefully. Paper copies can remain available if a telephone is lost, uncharged, or damaged. Secure electronic copies may provide an additional backup, but they should not be the household’s only method of access.
Light, Power, and Communication
Pack at least one flashlight rather than relying solely on a mobile telephone for light. Include compatible replacement batteries and check them periodically for damage or corrosion.
Each bag should contain appropriate charging supplies, including telephone cables, wall adapters, vehicle adapters, and a charged portable power bank. A battery-powered or hand-crank radio can provide official information when cellular service, electricity, or internet access is unavailable.
Keep a printed list of telephone numbers, evacuation zones, meeting places, and the household’s out-of-area contact. A small notebook and waterproof pen can help record instructions and changing information.
Clothing, Hygiene, and Protective Supplies
Include seasonally appropriate clothing that fits the intended user. Useful items may include:
- Sturdy closed-toe shoes
- Socks and undergarments
- Long pants and a long-sleeved shirt
- A warm layer
- A lightweight rain covering
- Work gloves
- A hat
Pack basic hygiene supplies such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, menstrual products, diapers, wipes, incontinence products, and small waste bags.
Well-fitting masks may help reduce exposure to airborne particles, depending on the hazard and the user. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that a properly fitted N95 or P100 respirator can reduce exposure to wildfire-smoke particles, although respirators do not protect against every gas or vapor. People with medical concerns should seek professional guidance about appropriate respiratory protection. CDC wildfire-smoke guidance
First Aid and Cash
Include a basic first-aid kit containing adhesive bandages, sterile gauze, medical tape, antiseptic supplies, disposable gloves, and other items household members know how to use. Emergency supplies do not replace professional medical care. Call 911 for serious injuries or immediate threats to life.
Carry a modest amount of cash in small denominations. Electricity or communications failures may prevent stores, fuel stations, or transportation providers from processing cards or electronic payments. Secure the cash discreetly and periodically confirm that it remains in the bag.
Add Household-Specific Supplies
A standard emergency-kit checklist cannot reflect every household. Add supplies for:
- Babies and young children
- Older adults
- Disabilities or medical conditions
- Service animals and pets
- Cultural or religious needs
- Language and communication needs
- Emotional comfort for children
- Essential work or caregiving responsibilities
Pet supplies may include food, water, medication, a leash, carrier, waste bags, identification, and vaccination information. Families with horses or livestock need a separate evacuation plan because feed, trailers, loading time, and destinations cannot be addressed adequately through an ordinary go-bag.
Finally, review every bag at least twice a year. Replace expired food, discharged batteries, outdated documents, outgrown clothing, and changed medications. Charge power banks and confirm that every person can carry or move the bag assigned to them.
A go-bag supports evacuation; it should never delay it. If an evacuation order is issued and the bag is inaccessible, leave without it and follow official instructions.
Helpful Hint
Build a useful basic bag first. Do not delay preparation because you are trying to create a perfect or expensive emergency kit. Begin with identification, medication, water, food, a flashlight, charging supplies, clothing, and household necessities, then improve the bag over time.
Important Safety Reminder
Use your go-bag to prepare before an emergency, not as a reason to remain in danger. During an emergency, follow current instructions from authorized public-safety agencies. Leave promptly when ordered, even if your bag is incomplete or unavailable.
Important Preparedness and Safety Notice
This chapter provides general preparedness education, not real-time emergency instructions. Conditions, evacuation zones, routes, shelters, road closures, and public-safety directions can change rapidly. During an emergency, consult current information from authorized public agencies and follow all instructions issued by emergency officials. Call 911 for an immediate threat to life, active fire, serious injury, crime in progress, or another urgent emergency.
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