What do you have in your "go" bag?

[springhasspringed]

I'm trying to put together a bag that I can grab if I needed to evacuate my flat in any situation. I've got my passport, 3 days of underwear, a pair of leggings, a top, socks, my medication, painkillers, toothpaste, I need to buy a toothbrush as mine is electric.

What else is essential?

I take it that your cats don't go outside?

One of the worries I had when CatOfHate was still alive was whether I'd be able to take him with me. He was what we call an "indoor-outdoor cat", meaning that he had a flap to go outside whenever he liked, which is pretty standard in the UK because we don't have wolves/bears/alligators/cougars/etc. I was always worried that he'd be out when I needed to box him up.

Pets make it hard. I asked a mate who had been told to evacuate how it went. She said “we were just getting into the car when the cat jumped out so we got out, too”. 🤷‍♀️

This is a woman in her late sixties and a woman in her nineties. Were they expecting to just stand under the water bomber?

I have 2 indoor cats. No idea how I'd manage if I had to evacuate. I live alone and one of them is heavy so I'd barely be able to carry them.

@springhasspringed
I live in a block of flats. When we had cats I had some soft pet carriers that looked like gym bags - as well as carry handles they also had a cross body strap. I practiced putting each cat in a bag and wearing one over each shoulder. It would work well in an emergency evacuation.
Similar to this one https://amzn.eu/d/03LRS2S8

Why do people pack passports?

Aren’t they illegal to carry in public?

Photo identification. Particularly those who don’t have a driver’s license. If your house burns down, you have to regain everything. And for your children, parents, other dependents. If there is one form of ID you don’t have to replace, it’s a big thing. Also, surviving a disaster is extremely traumatic to a lot of people. Your mind can just go completely blank. Presenting with a passport means someone official with a computer can look you up and all of a sudden, they don’t need to ask you questions - it’s all there in front of them.

@selffellatingouroborosofhate we live in a bird sanctuary, so all cats are required to be either indoors, in a catio, or leashed.
Even still, when we had our tsunami drill, it was harder to catch the cat than you'd think, especially with an alarm going.
The reality is, if it gets really terribly bad, the cat and dog will have to be left behind.

First aid kit, water tablets, water purification system, wind up radio, toiletries, a good water absorbing sheet (just because i dont know what else to do with it!!), a lifesaving blanket, spare batteries, the swedish leaflet about emergencies (in english). A very sharp knife.

Would pets be allowed into the emergency accommodation?

@TheSandgroper but a house fire or flood can happen at any time & most people don’t carry their passports with them. If I woke up and my house was alight there’s no guarantee I would even get the grab bag, might not be able to grab it or leave that exit.
What other disasters would require you to have ID but no access to your home? I’m obviously talking from a UK perspective where we don’t have tsunamis, tornadoes, etc.

This also confuses me! Is this a kit to survive living outdoors hence the water purification system? What about shelter?

My go bag is more like a hospital kit eg change of clothes, toiletries, charger

What you say is true but if you do need to leave in a hurry (I see plenty on the news of gas bottle/battery fires), life is easier if you have a go bag than if you don’t. most of the time, you have two minutes to get your car keys and handbag l. If your go bag is stored in a useful spot, you will run past on your way out. So, it’s in the right spot to be grabbed as you leave.

And, yes, you can’t plan for absolutely everything. But you can plan and prepare for a lot of things. Plans are all very well but preparation according to your plans is better. https://www.reddit.com/r/preppers/comments/11p2d6z/people_who_actually_had_to_break_out_their_go_bag/

Your house might never, ever burn down but you still insure it. You might never have a traffic accident but your car is still insured.

@TheSandgroper that link talks about a kettle & sweets 😆 Although it also mentions clothes so i’m on the right track there.

When would you need to evacuate your flat? What are you anticipating or worried about?

@Mumtobabyhavoc my bag has been used for hospital visit. The ambulance does give you time to pack but head space was lacking for me. Thankfully I am better now.

https://qbeeurope.com/news-and-events/press-releases/uk-fire-brigades-tackling-lithium-ion-battery-fire-every-five-hours/

After the Christchurch earthquakes, people were told to poop in plastic bags so a roll of those is useful if services might be cut off.

I've also heard that it is good to grab your laundry basket if you have to evacuate - as long as you have washing facilities. You know the clothes in there are used, fit etc.

Row or three times a year I have to travel long distances for work. My go bag is pretty extreme in case I break down or have an accident on a really remote road in the bush. My car has an emergency gps button but reception is very spotty in the areas I am describing.

I keep a backpack with two Life Bivvies clipped to the top in the boot. A big one to use as a tent and a small one to cover my sleeping bag. Assuming I stay in the car, they are orange and one can be put on the roof to make the car more visible from a helicopter. Probably overkill, but it gets very cold where I live.I keep a compact, thermal blanket in the bag
a couple of sets of thermal clothing and socks in ziplock bags. I also have two small, super-bright clip on torches with red emergency flash. Protein bars and a couple of small, wide-mouth, compactable waterbottles. I have a waterproof fire steel firestarter thingy and a multitool/armyknife doodad. I have a snakebite kit clipped on as well.

I have two or three power banks charged in my car that I would take in an emergency. With my phone. They have cables attached so I don’t need to worry about that.

I have a professional first aid kit hanging from the back of the passenger seat in case I have an accident. I have added a haemostatic bandage and an Israeli army tourinquet in case I am bleeding heavily and need to wait for help.

On my back seat I keep a box containing 4-6 packets of instant meals, like pasta or rice. Several small chocolate bars and some dried apricots or peaches. I also have electrolyte tablets and water purifying tablets, several disposable silver thermal blankets (can be a tarp, to collect water and even keep light rain off. Rope and rope clips. I have a tiny portable butane stove, a couple of canisters and cooking pot. Several days worth of medication, plus ibuprofen, paracetamol and antihistamines just in case. Also bug spray, sunscreen and a hat. I keep a laminated printout with my name and contact details and my next of kin in the bottom of this box also.

It's in the house

In a bag designed to grab in an emergency or is that not we are talking about on this thread? 😆

.....does it really need explaining? In the event of an emergency that needs me to use said go bag, then I will happily take the chance. Also, the kind of emergency I am planning for means it's likely that the police/authorities will have other priorities.

@Cuiriossirso what emergency are you planning for?

Emergency hospital for me, such a pain trying to get someone else to find stuff buried in your home