When help is delayed, preparation matters. An emergency go-bag is a portable bag of essential supplies you can take when you need to leave home quickly. Also called a survival bag or evacuation bag, it should reflect your household, local risks and ability to carry it, not just a list of gadgets.
This Grit Force Kits guide helps you plan for the first 72 hours, distinguish carry-away supplies from home reserves, and identify what to add to a premade kit. Follow instructions from your local emergency authorities during an incident. A bag supports your evacuation plan; it does not replace one.
Emergency go-bag checklist at a glance
Use this as a starting checklist, then adjust quantities for each person, your destination, transport and local guidance.
- Water and food: drinking water and non-perishable, easy-to-eat food; a manual can opener if needed.
- Light and communication: flashlight or headlamp, spare batteries, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, phone, charging cable and charged power bank.
- First aid and health: first-aid supplies, personal medication, medication list, glasses and other essential medical items.
- Clothing and weather protection: a change of clothes, rain protection, suitable layers and an emergency blanket.
- Hygiene: wipes, hand sanitizer, toothbrush, toothpaste, tissues, menstrual supplies and waste bags.
- Documents and money: protected copies of identification and important records, printed contacts, local map, spare keys and cash in small denominations.
- Simple practical tools: whistle and a suitable multipurpose tool.
- Personal additions: infant supplies, accessibility-related equipment, and food, water and supplies for pets or service animals.
These categories draw on Ready.gov's emergency supply kit guidance and the American Red Cross survival kit checklist. Those are US resources; use your local authority's advice for regional hazards and evacuation arrangements.
Why plan for 72 hours?
The American Red Cross recommends a three-day supply of food and water for evacuation and a two-week supply for home. A 72-hour plan is a useful starting point, not a promise that help will arrive within three days or that every household needs the same kit.
A portable go-bag is not the same as a home emergency kit
A go-bag needs to be accessible and manageable when leaving home. A stay-at-home kit can hold bulkier reserves. Plan both rather than assuming every household supply must fit inside one backpack.
How much water should you plan for?
Ready.gov recommends storing one US gallon of water per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation. That is about 3.8 litres daily, or roughly 11.4 litres across three days. Needs vary with age, health, activity and climate.
That quantity is a substantial load before adding food or equipment. Do not assume a small bottle in a product photo meets your needs. Plan how water will be carried or transported, what reserves stay at home, and what reliable water access is available at your planned destination. Follow local instructions rather than assuming you can refill anywhere.
What to pack and why
Food you can actually use
Choose non-perishable, easy-to-eat foods your household can tolerate. Account for allergies, dietary needs and preparation requirements. Include a manual can opener if carrying cans. Check the number of people and days covered rather than relying on the number of packets alone.
Light, information and phone power
Pack a flashlight or headlamp, compatible spare batteries, a radio suitable for local broadcasts, and phone charging equipment. Ready.gov includes these items in its basic kit recommendations. Test them before packing and keep the correct cables together.
First aid and personal health needs
A general first-aid pouch does not replace personal medication or medical equipment. Include a medication list, relevant medical information and essential items such as glasses. Ask your healthcare professional or pharmacist how to plan medication supplies, storage and any temperature-sensitive requirements.
Clothing, hygiene and weather protection
Choose clothing and rain protection for your climate, with sturdy footwear accessible nearby. Add hygiene supplies and a blanket appropriate to your plan. Do not treat an emergency blanket, poncho or compact shelter as guaranteed protection in every condition.
Documents, contacts and cash
Keep essential document copies protected from water, with securely backed-up copies where appropriate. Add printed emergency contacts, a local map, spare keys and cash. The Red Cross evacuation guide includes these practical items alongside medical and household essentials.
Personalize your bag for your household
- Babies and children: account for feeding, diapers, clothing and a small comfort item.
- Older adults and people with disabilities: plan for mobility, communication, medication and essential equipment, including how it will be carried or powered.
- Pets and service animals: include food, water, medication where needed, leash or carrier, bowls and identification information.
- Different local risks: review your authority's advice for floods, storms, earthquakes or other hazards. Equipment is not a substitute for timely evacuation or a safe route.
What a premade emergency kit may still need
A premade kit can be a starting point, but compare its actual contents and quantities with your household checklist. Do not assume that a bag labelled “survival” or “emergency” includes food, water, medication or supplies for every member of your household.
Before buying or packing, check:
- Which items and quantities are included, and how many people they serve.
- What you must add yourself, especially water, food, documents, medication and personal clothing.
- Whether batteries, charging cables and consumables are supplied.
- Whether the packed weight is manageable and there is room for personal additions.
- Whether you understand how to use the equipment.
To compare options, review the contents of our Go Bag Emergency Kit, explore a first-aid kit, or browse emergency preparedness supplies. Select products to fill an identified need, not simply to add more equipment.
Common go-bag packing mistakes
- Packing more than you can carry: try lifting and carrying the packed bag before relying on it.
- Forgetting personal essentials: generic tools cannot replace medication, documents or accessibility needs.
- Confusing home reserves with portable supplies: plan water and transport explicitly.
- Relying on unfamiliar equipment: test lights, radios and chargers before an emergency.
- Leaving the kit unchecked: expired food, depleted batteries and changing household needs can make yesterday's packing list unsuitable.
Keep your go-bag ready to grab
Store it in an accessible place known to household members. Set a recurring reminder to review expiry dates, battery charge, clothing sizes, contact details and medication arrangements. Recheck after using supplies or when household needs change. Follow manufacturers' storage and maintenance instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Is a go-bag the same as a survival bag?
The terms often overlap. For this guide, a go-bag means portable evacuation essentials. Focus on actual contents and intended use rather than the name on the bag.
Does every family member need their own bag?
Organize supplies around who can carry them and what each person needs. Clearly identify personal essentials and plan how to support anyone who cannot carry a bag independently.
Can I buy one kit and be finished?
Check its contents first. Most household plans require personal additions and ongoing checks, regardless of whether you start with a premade kit or assemble your own.
Sources and further reading
This is a general preparedness guide compiled by Grit Force Kits, not an official emergency instruction or a claim of endorsement by the organizations below.
- Ready.gov: Build a Kit
- Ready.gov: Water
- American Red Cross: Survival Kit Supplies
- American Red Cross: Getting Ready to Evacuate
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