Your Emergency Go Bag
Keep Your Go Bag Close At Hand
80% of house fires happen at night. And during widespread disasters like wildfires and earthquakes, it’s not unusual for power to be disrupted. When you wake up, it may be dark and your home or apartment may be without electricity.
Pack a bag that’s easy to carry and store it under your bed for just these types of situations. What you put in your bag is as individual as you are. But every bag should contain:
- Flashlight – in case the lights are out – with extra batteries
- Old pair of sneakers – if you’re in bed, chances are your feet are bare. In a fire, you won’t have time to look for shoes, but you’ll need them. In an earthquake, things might have fallen, windows could be broken. You don’t want to cut your bare feet, so have a good pair of sturdy shoes/sneakers in your bag.
- A warm sweater or jacket – you might need to evacuate, and be out of the house for hours. You’ll need to stay warm.
- Whistle – or any inexpensive, non-electronic noise maker. If you’re trapped, you’ll need a way to alert rescuers where you are.
72 Hours Of Supplies
The bag described above is good for quick evacuation. But it’s also an excellent idea to have a more comprehensive kit packed and stored for disasters where you’ll have to be away from home for much longer, or you’ll have to make due in your home for several days without the basic necessities like running water, electricity or gas.
In situations like widespread disasters, the fire department might not be able to respond to your emergency because of much greater emergencies in other parts of the city. You need to be ready to survive on your own for at least 72 hours.
