What is a go bag?
A go bag is a packed bag you can grab in minutes if you have to leave home quickly, holding the essentials to get through the first few days — water, food, light, medicine, documents and cash.
Go bag — A go bag is a packed bag you can grab in minutes if you have to leave home quickly, holding the essentials to get through the first few days — water, food, light, medicine, documents and cash.
In more detail
It's different from a home emergency kit. The home kit is for sheltering in place and can be large; the go bag has to be light enough to carry and ready by the door or in the car.
Most guidance, including Ready.gov and Canada's Get Prepared, focuses on the same core: water, non-perishable food, a flashlight, a radio, a first-aid kit, medicines, copies of documents and some cash.
The part people forget is information: who to call, allergies, medication names and doses, and an out-of-area contact. Phones die; a printed card doesn't.
What to do about it
- Pack one bag per person, light enough for them to carry.
- Add a week of any essential medication and a written list of doses.
- Put copies of ID and insurance in a waterproof bag.
- Check it twice a year — when the clocks change is an easy reminder.
Family Ready: Emergency Plan
A free offline Emergency Card and a household plan, readable by someone else in a hurry.
Get it on the App StoreQuestions people ask
- What's the difference between a go bag and an emergency kit?
- The kit is for staying home; the go bag is for leaving fast.
- How often should I check it?
- Every six months, replacing water, food, batteries and medicine before they expire.