All of the extreme winds and spreading wildfires burning across Southern California are leading to numerous Evacuation Warnings and Mandatory Evacuations for many Californians. If you’re glued to the news and feeling a bit helpless while watching all these devastating fires unfold, take action to protect yourself and your loved ones right now. Preparing for possible evacuations will give you peace of mind.
Table Of Contents
🚨What is a Go-Bag?
One way to prepare for emergency evacuations is by packing a Go-Bag, a backpack or bag filled with your essentials and personal documents. The bag should contain everything you would need for an extended stay away from home with at least 72 hours worth of essential supplies. Each person in a household should have their own Go-Bag.
Additionally, the bag should be light enough to be carried for short periods of time. If it’s too heavy to easily lift it, it needs to be lightened. Having a bag already prepared to go could be a critical factor in a quick evacuation situation.
🚨How To Pack a Go-Bag
It’s advisable to use a backpack or other easily carried bag that can stay packed with essentials. Go-Bags should contain the following:
🎒Food and water
- 3 gallons of water per person
- 3-day supply of non-perishable food
- Utensils
- A can opener
🎒Personal Belongings
- 3 days worth of clothing
- Sensible shoes
- Small toiletry kit
- Sanitary pads and tampons
- A blanket or sleeping bag
- Extra car and house keys
- Comfort items and things to pass the time, such as stuffed animals, board games, and books if space is available.
🎒Emergency Items
- A paper map with at least 2 evacuation routes
- Battery-powered flashlight
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio
- Extra batteries
- Laminated list of emergency phone numbers
- Multi-purpose tool
- A whistle to signal for help
- Bucket
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and toilet paper for sanitation purposes
- A small fire extinguisher
🎒Electronics
- Cell phone
- Chargers for all electronics
🎒Medical Items
- N95 and KN95 masks work best for smoke and air pollution.
- Glasses & contacts
- Small First Aid kit
- Medications
- Prescriptions
- Medical and dental records
🎒Documentation
- Passports & Visas
- Marriage, birth, adoption and naturalization certificates
- Driver’s license
- Insurance policies, registrations, and titles
- School records
- An inventory of household items
🎒Money
- ATM & credit cards
- Cash
🎒Additional Items If Applicable
- Laptop
- Valuables that are easy to carry
- Family photos and irreplaceable items
- Personal computer data on hard drives and disks
🚨Pack a Separate Go-Bag for your Furry Friends
Don’t forget your pets! They need their own supplies as well. It’s best to have everything prepared ahead of time including a pet carrier, so you can easily be ready to go at a moment’s notice.
- 3 gallons of water per pet
- 3-day supply of pet food
- Collapsible bowls for food and water
- Pet meds
- Vaccination records
- Copies of your pets’ microchip information
- Poop bags for dogs or a litter box for cats
- Extra collar and leash with pet ID
- Blanket or portable pet bed
- Pet toys
- Current photos of your pets in case they get separated from you
You can get even more information here on the Ready for Wildfire checklist.
But remember, if you must evacuate with no time to grab any of your belongings, please just go. There is no material possession that is worth risking your life for. Be prepared and stay safe!
Read more: How To Stay Safe During SoCal Wildfires: Resources & Centers