Kansas City, MOHIGH 63°F
LOW 42°F
Kansas City, MOHIGH 63°F
LOW 42°F
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Emergencies: Prepare a "Go Bag"
What is a “go bag”?
A “go bag” is slightly different than the emergency supplies you keep at home. You’ll use it if you need to leave your home. These items need to be in a portable bag (like a backpack or other easy-to-carry container with handles) and ready to move with you, in case of evacuation.
If you have many people in your family, it’s a good idea to have more than one backpack. That way, you can divide up the supplies. You want to make sure the bags are easy to carry and don’t get in the way of evacuation.
Important Documents
If there’s a big disaster, these documents could be the only records your family has. So don’t forget the big stuff! Keep everything in a waterproof, easy-to-carry container, like a light plastic box or sealed folder.
- Emergency contact info
- Important phone numbers (doctor, dentist, family, friends)
- Personal identification cards (license, passport, social security cards)
- Medical records (prescriptions, allergy info, immunizations, etc.)
- Insurance, wills, contracts, and other legal documents
- Bank/financial information (account numbers, credit card info, stocks, bonds, etc.)
- List of valuable assets (jewelry, appliances, technology, etc.)
Survival Items
Many of the supplies in your go bag will be similar to your home emergency supplies. The difference is that these supplies need to be ready to move. Don’t weigh yourself down, but pack enough supplies for a day or so.
- Food
- Water
- Money/Cards (credit or debit cards)
- First aid kit
- Medication
- Flashlight (with extra batteries)
- Extra keys (to your house and car)
- Clothing (especially waterproof jackets and sturdy shoes)
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- Child care supplies
- Tools (waterproof matches, duct tape, scissors, flares, pen, notepad, garbage bags, bleach)
