October 27, 2025
it’s time to revisit the contents of our emergency backpacks or bags. Once every six months or so, these need to be updated and all of the things that are becoming dated need to be replaced!
At a minimum, you’re going to need to have different clothing. If you live somewhere that gets truly cold, consider packing a set of long underwear, and some warm socks. A hat and gloves are never wrong…
Take a good look at all of your prescription medications, and your OTC medicines too. They should be at least six months from their expiration date; if this is the bag that you would grab any time between now and the arrival of spring, assume at least six months.
Back-up batteries for your phone are essential! Power outages are inevitable, and being away from home means being away from electrical outlets…
Face masks! I personally have to consider the problem of tear gas (honest to pete, what is this world coming to?), but for many of us, we’re more in need of something warm, something that minimizes exposure to smoke or other pollutants, and that protects you from flying germs and other critters when in crowded areas. I’m suggesting that you get white masks, which don’t seem as menacing as black ones.
For those of us who deal with both cold and the need to cover our faces, Buff fabric tubes are handy, comfortable, and very versatile…
My most likely emergency would be heading to the suburbs because a family member has been hospitalized. I would therefore want to be certain to have a book or two (I read books on my phone, which seems to work well, except for the whole exposure to blue light). Do you need something to entertain small children?
And what about pets????
And snacks? Something that will keep for six months, satisfy your hunger, and appeal to the really picky in your crowd…
Many of you can stash these things in your car, if it’s most likely that you will drive away from the bad stuff toward safety. Those of us who will probably drive, but possibly walk or take mass transit, should keep our bags COMPLETELY ready to go, and close to the door.
What else? I’m always sure that I’m forgetting something essential…
I promise that Wednesday and Friday will be dedicated to expanding the Four T’s in brown, and pondering things much more fun than emergency preparedness!
love,
Janice
p.s. Ten years ago, I looked at how one might wear a down vest. Speaking of which, a down vest is a handy thing to have in an emergency bag! If nothing else, stuffed into its own pocket, it makes a nifty little pillow…
Just wondering whether any UK followers have an emergency bag like this? I used to just think that if I grabbed my handbag from the hall, it would be enough.
As I’ve got older and on vital prescription meds, I’m wondering whether I should have a better prepared bag? I would still need to grab my handbag which has my driving licence and bank cards in it.
Other things that I might put in it: a small “Nokia” style phone would be a good idea. An umbrella. Fold-up shopping bag. Spare prescription glasses and sunglasses (low sun in winter makes driving hazardous).
I don’t (as yet) Beth but I am mulling the idea over. Brought home to me a few weeks ago when there was a house fire down the street. My first thought was “What would I grab? Two cats and my handbag” but though the folk that were evacuated were only out of their homes for six hours…what if it had been longer? What if it had been cold? Or teeming with rain? Food for thought here!
SPARE GLASSES!!!! I broke my glasses (well, they really just broke on their own, and fell off of my face while I was walking down the street!) in Edinburgh, and it took two days to get them replaced. I remember Edinburgh in a soft, romantic haze…
hugs,
Janice
Also in the UK. In my car I have my bag (work clothes, play clothes, towel, jewellery, undies, socks, charger, toothbrush, old comfy but nice shoes, cloth pads), a toys bag (board games, lego box and short books), and an everyone else bag (spare play clothes for everyone else in my family; the children’s clothes are in the next size up). I also have an adult light jacket and a blanket, often used for picnics.
Umbrella, sunglasses, torch, snack food and water and spare scout scarf are in the glove box.
Everyone laughs, then they need my bags! Hospital trips, travel sickness, child runs into the sea fully dressed, impromptu meal out and children need entertainment, parents are ill and need you to visit in a hurry, dropping lunch on your blouse before a big presentation… first aid kit is always in my handbag so don’t worry about that.
Zaidie, thanks for all the suggestions!
My late husband was a West Point graduate and Army Ranger. He always had these “Go Bags” in every season and always included our dogs…and for a few years….our dogs and a rabbit. I’ll admit, I’ve been extremely lax in this since he died in 2018. You have inspired me to start again
big hugs to you, ma’am…
and lots of love,
Janice
Thank you. It is what it is. My (adult) children learned well from their Dad and both have go-bags for themselves, their spouse and their pets.
Yes. The Army “Go Bags” are still in every daughter’s car. The drives to/from campus prepared with battery chargers, tire inflators, emergency rations, lights, water, puffer jacket, hat/gloves, bright ball cap, small Bible, deck of cards 🤣
Susu, thanks for the reminder!
A most useful reminder – many thanks.
Keeping a stash of prescription meds would be a challenge given how insurance limits quantities. How do people manage it?
I must admit – I’ve forgotten and/or skipped enough doses that I’ve got about a two week cushion. Not recommended! But one can ask their doctor for a 90-day prescription; all of mine are 3 months…
hugs,
Janice
About the blue light on your phone. You can change the setting to amber which I have set from 8 pm to 6am bec I like to read at night.
Thanks for the reminder – I really need to do this. Honestly, you could remind us twice a year forever and it would never get old – as technology/ surroundings / lifestyle / age changes, new items would be discovered and deemed irreplaceable. I like the suggestions – umbrella was a good one. I’d add passports (hey, you never know), some cash, perhaps something of intense sentimental value? How do we feel about jewelry? Are we assuming we can come back to the house someday?
How do you manage for clothes? My instinct would be to put something seasonally appropriate, but not my favorites (because that’s what i would be wearing in regular rotation!) – but then I feel like I would be really unhappy “bugged out” and stuck with my non-favorites. Thoughts?
I always carry my passport. I’m sure it isn’t safe, but I keep it in my handbag.
Ready to travel at a moment’s notice!
love,
Janice
Likewise Janice, there’s something incurably romantic about being ready to travel at a moment’s notice!
Excellent advice, Janice! Thank you for the reminder ☺️
Thank you for the reminder. I recently found an old backpack and loaded it with extra dog stuff. i need to update our bags too. I’m sure I have better options for clothing.
How interesting that you keep your passport in your handbag. Speaking of which, maybe you could do a post on handbag contents and packing light but smart. Do I really need chewing gum? A pen AND a pencil? Sunscreen? I like my bag to feel light and comfortable, but still have useful stuff with me. Anyone else interested?
I really like this idea!
I like this idea – however I try to reduce the load in my handbag, it always seems to be too much!
Cash is a good thing to remember. My kids joke that they don’t need to worry because mom/grandma will have plenty on her. Hurricanes and the problems that come with are the most common “bug-out” where I’m from. And we usually have plenty of warning. Fill the car with gas, have bottled water, sunscreen and bug spray helpful. Also charcoal and lighter fluid for when you can start cooking the food that is defrosting b/c you have no power for days! We need not worry about freezing:)
I was thinking that each of us will have different things in our bags – living on the 48th floor, charcoal and lighter fluid would not be something I would EVER remember. But you’re right; thawing food can be cooked and salvaged! Well, at least some of it can…
hugs,
Janice
Amanda, I finally left the South bc I could not cope with all the unknowns! However, California (my home state) has its own conundrums!
I live in New Zealand and our most likely events would be flooding in storms, tsunamis as we are on the edge of a tectonic plate, earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. I packed go boxes which live under the kitchen bench and they contain long life food, small gas camping stove, lanterns, bottled water, spare batteries. We also have a handled box with all our essential papers that can just be lifted. This contains things like birth certificates, copies of passports and all our ownership and insurance documents. I confess I hadn’t thought about a bag of clothes so that might have to be prepared and put somewhere easy to grab. Our car has a first aid kit, an air pump, jump leads, power bank and water bottles. Thank you for bringing up the issue as we can get quite lax bout such things.
Essential documents are important; I’m so glad you mentioned them!
hugs,
Janice
Don’t remember where I heard about doing this, but I keep digital copies of all important paperwork and documents on a USB drive. Some things just sit in a folder forever (birth certificates, SS card, diplomas, real estate documents, tax returns, etc) and others are updated as necessary (passport, drivers license, will, power of attorney, etc). Things to update on a yearly schedule include pictures of the fronts and backs of credit cards, resume/CV, list of phone contacts and addresses, etc.
I have a second USB for digital photos in monthly folders. There’s also a folder for sentimental things like snapshots of kids artwork or saved essays saved throughout the years, a few old love letters and other items that can be photocopied or photographed (like handwritten recipe cards and favorite Christmas tree ornaments).
Since I’m self-employed, I also have a rotating supply of portable hard drives that I use as backup for my client files. I keep the most current one in my go bag and swap it out every time I do another backup. This I learned the hard way – always have a double redundant backup file system!
Same goes with my digital photos except that I make two separate identical backups and keep one in my go bag and the other off site. I add the photos from the USB drive to the hard drives once a year.
Thanks for the reminder about pets! In May we added a rescued dog to our family so the food and spare leash I had packed for one dog would be inadequate for two.
This might sound over the top but I have hiking booties from a previous dog. I bought them with post earthquake debris in mind. No way could I carry a 100 lb labrador and now I have a 50 lb GSD/lab mix. She probably needs a set for post-tornado travel.
If your feet need protection, their feet need protection! Not OTT at all…
love,
Janice
We are living in Vancouver, in an earthquake zone, so we’ve always had a bag or suitcase ready to go. Now it’s a backpack, easy to pick up and go. Spare cash, radio with batteries, candle and matches, snacks, hat, masks, rain poncho, emergency blanket, etc., etc.
And of course, water!!
Excellent topic.
It’s recommended here to have a supply of food. In my bag, I keep a small pouch with emergency medication, gloves and plasters, tissues, a hair tie, a folding knife, and a spork (spoon and fork) – I’ve needed these many times.
I also have a folding brush and, of course, my wallet with all the essentials.
I only saw one mention of a radio in the comments, with batteries. If there is a major local/national emergency, as opposed to a domestic one, you may need to get government announcements over the radio. I therefore have on hand a radio that can be solar or wind-up powered. Also, I have a power bank that can be charged by USB or solar power and can double as a fairly powerful light if required.