Go Bag Checklist for National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month, and it’s a good reminder that emergencies and disasters can happen at any time. You should always be prepared to pick up and go when you need to – and the best way to do that is to have a packed-and-ready go bag in your car, near the front door or in another convenient spot, like your workplace.

Having a go bag – a backpack stuffed with emergency essentials – can help prepare you for the unexpected, and there’s no better time to put one together than National Preparedness Month. Your go bag should contain basic emergency supplies to help you and each member of your family survive until you can reach shelter or your designated rendezvous point. Here’s how to build one.

How to Choose a Go Bag  

Picking the right go bag, which is essentially a tactical backpack customized with the gear you need, is half the battle. If you need more gear than one bag can hold to cover everyone in your family, add a sling pack – another family member can carry it, or you can throw it over your own shoulder. Another option is to have each family member pack their own go bag to ensure everyone is prepared at all times.

Here are the basic features every go bag needs:

• MOLLE system so you can connect extra packs, pouches and gear depending on each unique situation or environment
• Compression straps to hold down puffy gear like poncho liners
• Zippered front and main compartments, and dividers inside
• A built-in hydration compartment
• A cinching waist strap and sternum strap to make carrying easier
• A grab-and-go handle

Simplify your search with a ready bag that’s engineered for emergencies, like bags with the RUSH™ Tier System built right in.

Go Bag Checklist

Having the right go bag, sling pack or a Bailout Bag isn’t enough – you also need to pack it right. Here are the basic items to put in any go bag:

• Battery-operated or crank radio
• Cash
• Emergency blanket
• Extra batteries for radios
• Extra keys to your house and car
• Extra socks
• First-aid supplies
• Flashlight
• High-powered snacks
• Important documents in sealed plastic bags
• Knife
• Lighter and matches
• Medications
• Multi-tool
• Personal toiletry items
• Spare chargers for electronics
• Water purification tablets
• Waterproof bags

Other items to include depend on the type of emergency you’re preparing for – you may need things like a shelter-half, a water purification kit or a sleeping bag. It may not always practical to pack a go bag for every member of your family, either. If you have limited space, you may have to compromise on optional items or use a MOLLE system to affix extra pouches and packs to the outside of your bag.

Extra Survival Gear for Your Go Bag

If you have enough room, here are some optional items that can make an emergency evacuation a little less difficult:

• Can opener and utensils
• Canned food
• Chem lights
• Complete IFAK
• Full shelter
• Hand sanitizer
• LED headlamps
• MREs
• Poncho
• Survival blankets
• Tactical gloves
• Toilet paper

With the right gear in your go bag, you can ALWAYS BE READY for what comes your way. Remember to keep your batteries fresh and medications up-to-date, and reevaluate your bag’s contents each season to stay prepared. For more severe disasters and emergency situations, consider keeping a bug out bag on hand, as well.