Category I: Survival
Baseline survival in your Go Bag means having your basic bodily needs covered, plus a few items that will help you MacGyver your way out of a bad time. We’re aiming to meet your whole family’s basic needs here, including your kids and pets.
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Recommendations vary, but the staples are a combination of food, water, protective gear, and tools:
- 3-days’-worth of water and food
- Utensils
- Disposable masks, including N95 masks
- Crank-handle radio/USB charger
- Rope or paracord
- Multitool with knife
- Flashlight
- Bandana
- Work gloves
- Goggles
- Poncho
- Emergency blankets
- Paper maps
- Spare external battery and chargers for cellphone and laptop
- Extra eyeglasses/contacts
- Compact first-aid kit
- Sanitation supplies (toilet paper, wipes, pads/tampons, diapers, hand sanitizer)
- Carabiner
- Compass
- Matches or lighter
- Survival instructional manual
This part can be super easy thanks to prepackaged kits.
Seriously, if your eyes are glazing over while you read this list, there is no shame in the prepackaged kit game. They can also be more cost effective than purchasing items individually.
If your emergency plans are a priority, but you’re short on time, a good option is to purchase pre-made kits now and then fully customize them by adding items later when you have more time.
Survival’s not so daunting now, is it? Crossing category 1 off your list just requires a bit of investment and a little thought about how to best use the space in your family’s Go Bags. Learning how to poop outside might be a bigger challenge, but you’re up to it.
Pro tip: Some items, like a first aid kit, might cover the whole family, so you can decide how many to order and how to distribute them. Whether you’re making your own bags from scratch or buying prepackaged bags, make sure you’re getting enough survival items for all of the people and pets in your group for three days.
Of course, a kit you get online is not a complete Go Bag. You’ll need to add your Important Papers and you’ll want to consider what you’ll need for your Physical and Emotional Wellbeing.
