Building Your Emergency Bag

Living in certain areas of the United States means that you absolutely must be ready for whenever natural disasters take place. Frequently though, many are caught off guard and end up in a dangerous sometimes fatal situation. All along the coastline of California we see multiple forest fires, in the Mid-West we have great drought followed by flooding and in the state of Florida we have hurricanes and tornados. In the Northern parts of the United States, we frequently see snowstorms and individuals who foolishly get caught in them with no supplies whatsoever.

Considering that most items for an emergency bag can be purchased at the Dollar Tree, Walmart or CVS there is no reason why you can’t throw something together and grab it before heading out in questionable weather. While it’s obviously recommended that you not go out in dangerous weather, if needs must, then take an emergency bag with you.

I’ve compiled a list of the most common supplies that any civilian should be able to throw into a backpack and have it at the ready. It’s advised that you NOT keep an emergency bag in your garage or inside your vehicle. We recommend this as well due to the fact that any foodstuffs will likely become rancid or spoil due to the intensity of heat within vehicles, especially during the summer high temperatures we see in Florida.

You should plan to have at least one bag per person, and you will need to customize the bag based on the age of the individual, their maturity level and their medical needs. An adult bag will potentially require a map, birth certificates, car titles, important family photos, cash along with any other hard to replace items. A child’s bag may not have a lighter, tampons or a pocketknife depending on their age.

Basic Emergency Bag List

• Adult Size Backpack (not a mini or child size due to the amount of space needed)
• Water Bottle (filled)
• First Aid Kit (already prepared kits can be purchased at CVS or Walgreens)
• Flashlight (with extra batteries in a ziplock bag)
• Khaki pants, shirt, socks and underwear (a light jacket can be included if you have room)
• Matches & Lighter (in a snack sized bag, put a length of duct tape around lighter)
• Mug, Spoon, Fork and Knife
• Deodorant, Shampoo, Conditioner (a travel set of bottles can be purchased from CVS or Walgreens)
• Toothbrush, Toothpaste & Floss
• Hand Sanitizer (gel not liquid, in case of spillage)
• A&D Oinment or Diaper Cream
• Baby Wipes & Roll of Toilet Paper (Smash TP so it flat packs better)
• Headlamp, Emergency Jar Candle, Small Flashlight (extra batteries in a ziplock bag)
• Kitchen Trash Bags, 6-8 Paper Towels in a Gallon Bag & Extra Gallon Bags
• Sunscreen & Bug Spray
• Bandana (bright colors that will stand out in emergencies i.e. blue, red, yellow)
• Sanitary Pads, Tampons or other menstrual aids
• Pocket Knife
• Trail Mix, Tuna Fish, Peanut Butter, Granola Bars, Dry Soup Mix
• Face Mask (a cloth one and an N95, just in case)
• Additional Survival Meds: Burn Cream, Anti-Diarrhea Meds, Anti-Bacterial Meds, Calendula Cream, Arnica Gel
• For children: crayons & coloring books, small age-appropriate toys, handheld car games, small lightweight books
• For adults: prescription medications, condoms, magazines, lightweight books, important papers
• Hairbrush & Comb
• Multi Vitamins & Supplements
• Cheap Flip Flops
• Thermometers (various styles)
• Whistle, Outdoor Thermometer, Compass, Magnifier
• Paracord
• Multiple carabiners

If you do a search online, you will discover that there are all sorts of additions for your emergency bag but it’s really all about customization for each backpack carrier. The items were angled more so for Florida weather since I live in Central Florida area.

If you need any help or have questions, feel free to contact me. Happy packing!