Emergency Bag Packed?

[Jules]

Do you keep an emergency bag packed for evacuation in case of a catastrophic event? Do you have a plan?

That’s what I’m going to do today. We should have done this years ago. British Columbia is in a severe drought and wildfires are happening everywhere. We’re also in an earthquake zone. We’re like Washington, Oregon & California, etc. Other states may encourage those in tornado/hurricane prone areas to keep a bag ready to go.

I’m going to use carryon travel suitcases that we no longer use. If something can be replaced like a passport, I’m not going to worry. If my house burned down, I wouldn’t be going on vacation.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/...bc/build-an-emergency-kit-and-grab-and-go-bag

We live in an urban interface. It the area surrounding us went up in flames, we might not even have time to pick up the bag. It’s crazy, but some small fires have been deliberately set.

One thing I said to my husband was the first thing we should do is open the garage door in case the electricity goes out. The door is very heavy and although it can be opened manually you don’t want to be trapped in the garage trying to get out.

 

[Aunt Bea]

Maybe consider keeping your emergency bag in your vehicle during fire season.

I don't have one but I have been thinking about preparing a hospital go-bag that was mentioned by mathjak107 in another thread some time ago.

https://www.homehelpershomecare.com/blog/2016/october/what-s-in-your-senior-care-ready-bag-/

I suppose one bag would be suitable for most emergencies.

My concern would be maintaining the contents of the bag and also the safety of some items while waiting for an emergency to happen.

I should get busy, it's probably better to have an out-of-date bag than no bag.

 

[Alligatorob]

Do you keep an emergency bag packed for evacuation in case of a catastrophic event?

Nope...

Do you have a plan?

Yes, a good supply of whiskey scattered in a number of places, so at least some will survive!

 

[JustBonee]

I don't have an emergency bag packed, but I did put together an emergency check list last year.
I keep it handy, and can grab it and get things together quickly, in 5-10 minutes time.
I always have empty overnight bags, etc. in my closet for packing.

Stay safe @Jules

 

[jujube]

When a hurricane is coming I pack up some stuff to bug-out with.

When I lived in Turkey, I was required to keep a suitcase packed with a tarp, a blanket, my husband's entrenching tool (huh?), two quarts of water, and some packaged food. If war broke out, we were to head for the nearest base and prepare to be interned.

 

[Alligatorob]

When a hurricane is coming

FEMA did a survey back after the 2004 season (the bad one) and found that at Walmart the biggest sellers when hurricane warnings went up were pop-tarts and beer https://www.hurricaneville.com/pop_tarts.html . I grew up in Florida and lived there much of my life, my mother always served us all the ice cream in the freezer to keep it from being lost when the power went out...

 

[Della]

About ten years ago I was in the hospital/rehab home for three weeks. That whole time I was desperate for pajamas, shorts, t-shirts underwear, pen and paper, books. My husband and son came everyday to talk but could never seem to manage those needs. He did go shopping for shorts one time, rehab really wanted me to have a pair, somehow he came away with heavy knee length culottes.

So I had a bag packed with those things until a few months ago when I just got tired of looking at it. Expecting another accident soon.

 

[terry123]

Always have a to go bag in case we have to evacuate. Couple of changes of clothes, meds etc. We have never flooded here in the complex but when a hurricane is headed this way we don't take chances.

 

[Ruby Rose]

Do you keep an emergency bag packed for evacuation in case of a catastrophic event? Do you have a plan?

That’s what I’m going to do today. We should have done this years ago. British Columbia is in a severe drought and wildfires are happening everywhere. We’re also in an earthquake zone. We’re like Washington, Oregon & California, etc. Other states may encourage those in tornado/hurricane prone areas to keep a bag ready to go.

I’m going to use carryon travel suitcases that we no longer use. If something can be replaced like a passport, I’m not going to worry. If my house burned down, I wouldn’t be going on vacation.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/...bc/build-an-emergency-kit-and-grab-and-go-bag

We live in an urban interface. It the area surrounding us went up in flames, we might not even have time to pick up the bag. It’s crazy, but some small fires have been deliberately set.

One thing I said to my husband was the first thing we should do is open the garage door in case the electricity goes out. The door is very heavy and although it can be opened manually you don’t want to be trapped in the garage trying to get out.

Our biggest concern at this time are all the animals here. Gettting our usual requirements of hay is in jeopardy this year. Grazing will be coming to an end as this drought continues. Being alert is the name of the game and prepared.

 

[Don M.]

We've lived in Tornado Alley for decades, and learned a long time ago to be prepared to react quickly when severe weather hits.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

I posted about being ready for emergencies on this forum last year. Here's what I wrote about my emergency bag.
"I remember Mayor Bloomberg talking about keeping a "go bag" ready so I decided to do that. I have a small, rolling suitcase with straps that snap so if the zipper were to fail...no problem. I have clothes in space bags, my medications, eyedrops, water, non perishable food items that can be easily opened, masks, gloves, various personal care items, battery operated radio, Brita water bottle with filters, etc. I also have more meds and eyedrops, a back up battery for my devices and more personal care items in a tote bag that I use as a purse. Along with the go bag, I'll take an insulated lunch bag with more snacks and water."
Adding to that...I make sure my medications and snacks are kept up to date. My clothes are kept in different space bags for Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer. That way it's easy to just switch the bags when the seasons change.