How to Prepare an Emergency Grab & Go Kit

Make a checklist and gather all items that should be included in your emergency grab and go kit. When choosing them, remember that in such times when basic public services may be disrupted, a family must be equipped with needed supplies like water, food, medicines, basic tools and other necessities for survival and personal sanitation.

The items needed include ready-to-eat and easy-to-store food, drinking water, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlights, spare batteries, first aid kit, can opener, scissors, pen, local maps, spare keys, moist towelettes, basic clothes and jackets, prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, toilet paper, garbage bags, plastic bags, blankets, cash, prepaid phone and charge cards, list of emergency numbers, phone charger and/or extra phone batteries and pet food for family pets. You may also consider adding sleeping bags, books, small puzzles or board games, playing cards and other portable entertainment items which could be beneficial for individuals facing stressful times.

Prepare a plastic envelope where you can safely place documents and lists of phone numbers, addresses and email addresses of families, friends, schools, work, medical and financial advisors, utilities and service providers, hospitals, doctors, pharmacies and media (radio and TV). Also, write down current prescriptions and medical histories of the family. Gather all information about your credit cards, bank, brokerage, mortgage and bank accounts and their contact numbers, websites and emails.

Assemble copies of passports, birth and marriage certificates, current photos of each family member, health insurance policy information, claim forms and copies of insurance cards. Note that the important documents in your emergency grab and go kit must be photocopies and not the originals. Keep the originals in a safe place inside the home like in a fire-proof safety box.

Select an easy-to-carry plastic storage container, small travel luggage, duffel bag or small- to medium-size backpack or camping bag for portability and mobility when an emergency forces you to leave home or go to a safer place within the house. Such types of containers and bags can generally withstand harsh surroundings. the container should also have a handle and/or shoulder strap.

Pack most of the items as you would normally pack them for an out-of-town trip or excursion. Put the most immediate emergency and survival items and tools like flashlights, scissors, first aid kit, local maps and spare batteries in the most accessible areas in the storage container or bag, such as in pockets or on top of the main storage area.