Go Bags and Personal Readiness: What to Pack and How to Prepare
When disaster strikes, you might have minutes to leave — not hours. A tornado warning gives you roughly 10–15 minutes. A wildfire evacuation order can come with even less notice. The people who get through these events safely aren't the ones who start packing when the sirens go off. They're the ones who packed weeks ago.
This guide covers what to put in your go bag, how to figure out what disasters are most likely in your area, and region-specific packing lists so you're prepared for the threats that actually apply to where you live — no matter which of the 50 states you call home.
What Is a Go Bag?
A go bag (also called a bug-out bag or 72-hour kit) is a pre-packed bag with everything you need to survive for at least 3 days away from home. It should be:
- Ready at all times — packed and stored near your front door or in your car
- Grab-and-go — you should be able to pick it up and leave in under 2 minutes
- Self-contained — assume you'll have no access to stores, ATMs, or utilities
The Essential Go Bag Checklist
This is based directly on FEMA's official Ready.gov disaster supply kit recommendations:[1]
Water and Food
- Water: 1 gallon per person per day for at least 3 days
- Food: 3-day supply of non-perishable items (energy bars, canned goods, dried fruit, peanut butter, crackers)
- Manual can opener
Light and Communication
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio with NOAA Weather Radio and tone alert
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Cell phone with charger and portable power bank
- Whistle (for signaling help if trapped)
Safety and Health
- First aid kit
- Prescription medications (at least a 7-day supply, ideally 30 days)
- Eyeglasses / contacts
- Dust masks or N95 respirators
- Pain relievers, antacids, anti-diarrhea medication
Documents
- Copies of insurance policies, IDs, and bank records in a waterproof container
- Cash in small bills ($200–$500 minimum — ATMs and card readers may be down)
Shelter and Clothing
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket per person
- Complete change of clothing with sturdy shoes
- Rain gear
Sanitation
- Moist towelettes, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes
- Garbage bags and plastic ties
- Feminine hygiene items
- Soap
Tools
- Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
- Duct tape
- Plastic sheeting and scissors (for emergency shelter-in-place)
- Local maps (don't rely solely on phone GPS)
For Families
- Infant supplies: formula, bottles, diapers, wipes
- Activities for children: books, small games, comfort items
- Pet food, water, carrier, leash, medications, ID/microchip info
Know Your Risk: What Disasters Are Likely in Your Area?
Not everyone faces the same threats. Before you customize your go bag, figure out what you're actually preparing for.
FEMA National Risk Index
The single best tool for this is FEMA's free National Risk Index at hazards.fema.gov/nri. It covers 18 natural hazards at the county level and shows your area's risk for each one.[2]
Hazards covered: avalanche, coastal flooding, cold wave, drought, earthquake, hail, heat wave, hurricane, ice storm, inland flooding, landslide, lightning, strong wind, tornado, tsunami, volcanic activity, wildfire, and winter weather.
Risk Profiles by Region: All 50 States
Gulf Coast / Southeast
FL, LA, TX coast, AL, MS, GA, SC, NC
Primary threats: Hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, extreme heat
Hurricane season: June 1 – November 30. Have your kit ready by May.
Tornado Alley / Central Plains
TX, OK, KS, NE, IA, MO, AR, IL, IN
Primary threats: Tornadoes, hail, severe thunderstorms, flooding
Peak season: March – June. Oklahoma averages 50+ tornadoes per year.[3]
Southwest / Mountain West
AZ, NM, NV, CO, UT
Primary threats: Wildfire, extreme heat, flash flooding, dust storms
Wildfire evacuations can come with minutes of notice. Keep your bag by the door.
Mid-Atlantic / East Coast
VA, MD, PA, NJ, DE, DC, NY, CT, RI, MA
Primary threats: Hurricanes, nor'easters, flooding, winter storms
Dual risk: hurricane season (summer/fall) and winter storms (Nov–Mar).
Upper Midwest / Great Lakes
MN, WI, MI, OH, WV
Primary threats: Blizzards, ice storms, flooding, tornadoes, extreme cold
Lake-effect snowstorms can dump 2–3 feet in 24 hours.[4]
Pacific Northwest
WA, OR
Primary threats: Earthquakes, wildfires, flooding, volcanic activity, landslides
The Cascadia Subduction Zone could produce a 9.0+ earthquake at any time.[5]
California
CA
Primary threats: Wildfires, earthquakes, mudslides, drought, flooding
Wildfire season runs year-round in Southern California. Earthquake risk is constant statewide.[6]
Northern Plains / Rockies
MT, WY, ND, SD, ID
Primary threats: Blizzards, wildfires, flooding, extreme cold, hail
Winter temperatures can reach -40°F. Vehicle go bags are essential.
New England
ME, NH, VT
Primary threats: Winter storms, nor'easters, flooding, ice storms
Extended power outages from ice storms are common — plan for multi-day heating loss.
Deep South
TN, KY
Primary threats: Tornadoes, flooding, severe storms, winter ice
Tennessee's "Dixie Alley" sees some of the deadliest tornadoes in the country.
Alaska
AK
Primary threats: Earthquakes, tsunamis, extreme cold, wildfires, avalanches
Alaska has more earthquakes than all other states combined.[7] Remote areas may have no road evacuation routes.
Hawaii
HI
Primary threats: Hurricanes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, flooding, earthquakes
Island geography means limited evacuation options. Go bags should include boat/water supplies if coastal.
Region-Specific Packing Lists
Start with the essential go bag above. Then add these items based on where you live:
Hurricane Zone (Gulf Coast, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Hawaii)
Add to Your Kit
- Waterproof document container or heavy-duty ziplock bags
- Extra water (Gulf heat and humidity increase dehydration risk)
- Battery-powered fans
- Mosquito repellent (standing water after floods breeds mosquitoes)
- Tarps and plastic sheeting (emergency roof/window covering)
- Extra portable phone chargers / power banks
- Pet carriers with current ID tags and microchip info
Source: Florida Division of Emergency Management Hurricane Supply Checklist[8]
Tornado Alley (Central Plains, Deep South, Midwest)
Add to Your Kit
- Helmet or hard hat — head injuries are the leading cause of tornado fatalities
- Heavy-duty work gloves and sturdy boots (post-tornado debris)
- Thick blankets or quilts (store in your safe room for debris shielding)
- NOAA Weather Radio (critical — tornado warnings give only 10–15 minutes)[3]
- Heavy-duty flashlight with extra batteries
- Whistle or signaling device (in case trapped under debris)
Keep these supplies IN your designated safe room — not somewhere you have to search for them.
Wildfire Zone (West Coast, Southwest, Mountain West, Northern Plains)
Add to Your Kit
- N95 masks or respirators — wildfire smoke protection is critical
- Goggles (eye protection from smoke and ash)
- Extra water — at least 1.5 gallons per person per day in hot/dry climates
- Burn cream, cold packs, extra bandages
- Long-sleeve cotton or flame-resistant clothing
- Cash: $500–$1,000 in small bills[9]
- Extra gasoline stored safely for evacuation vehicle
Keep your go bag near the front door — wildfire evacuations can come with minutes of notice.
Winter Storm / Extreme Cold Zone (Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, Northern Plains, New England, Rockies, Alaska)
Add to Your Kit
- Rubber boots, waterproof gloves, insulated rain gear
- Extra warm clothing layers and mylar thermal blankets
- Waterproof bags for documents and electronics
- Sand or salt for icy walkways
- Snow shovel (keep in car during winter months)
- Carbon monoxide detector (if using any fuel-burning heat source)[10]
- Hand warmers and toe warmers (hypothermia risk in power outages)
- Antifreeze, ice scraper, and jumper cables in your vehicle kit
Before a winter storm: charge all devices, fill bathtubs with water, and set refrigerator/freezer to coldest settings.
Earthquake / Seismic Zone (Pacific Northwest, California, Alaska, Hawaii)
Add to Your Kit
- Sturdy shoes by your bed — broken glass is the most common earthquake injury
- Heavy-duty work gloves
- Crowbar or pry bar (for accessing trapped areas)
- Wrench to shut off gas lines
- Extra water: plan for 5–7 days (infrastructure may be destroyed)
- Whistle (for signaling rescuers if trapped)
- Fire extinguisher (gas leaks after quakes cause fires)
Secure heavy furniture to walls. Know how to shut off gas, water, and electricity.[6]
Flood-Prone Areas (All Regions)
Add to Your Kit
- Waterproof bags for all electronics and documents
- Water purification tablets or portable filter
- Wading boots or waterproof footwear
- Inflatable life vest if in flash flood zones
- Battery-powered sump pump (for home defense if sheltering in place)
Never drive through standing water. 6 inches of moving water can knock you down; 12 inches can sweep away a vehicle.[11]
Your Vehicle Go Bag
If you live in a rural area, have a long commute, or are in a region with extreme weather, keep a separate kit in your car:
- Blanket, extra clothing, sturdy shoes
- Water bottles and non-perishable snacks
- Jumper cables, flashlight, basic tool kit
- First aid kit and medications
- Phone charger (car adapter)
- Reflective triangles / emergency flares
- Ice scraper and small shovel (winter climates)
- Tow strap
Maintaining Your Go Bag
A go bag that's three years old is a go bag full of expired food, dead batteries, and outdated medications. Set a reminder to review it every 6 months — tie it to daylight saving time changes so you don't forget.[12]
Every 6 months:
- Rotate food and water — consume anything expiring soon, replace with fresh
- Check batteries — replace or recharge as needed
- Update medications — swap expired prescriptions, update as prescriptions change
- Update documents — refresh copies of IDs, insurance cards, medical records
- Adjust for season — swap out clothing and supplies for current weather conditions
The Bottom Line
You can't predict exactly when disaster will strike, but you can decide right now how prepared you'll be when it does. Build your go bag this weekend. Check your area's risk profile on the FEMA National Risk Index. Customize your kit for the threats that actually apply to where you live. And set a reminder to update it every 6 months.
The people who get through emergencies safely aren't lucky — they're prepared.
Start with your roof. A strong roof is the foundation of a prepared home. Find top-rated roofers in your city on IKnowARoofer.com and make sure your first line of defense is ready.
References
- Ready.gov — Build A Kit
- FEMA — National Risk Index
- Ready.gov — Tornadoes
- NOAA — Lake Effect Snow
- USGS — Cascadia Subduction Zone
- California Governor's Office of Emergency Services — Cal OES
- USGS — Earthquake Information by State
- Florida Division of Emergency Management — Hurricane Supply Checklist
- Arizona Division of Emergency Management — Prepare Your Kit
- Mass.gov — Nor'easter / Coastal Storm Safety Tips
- Ready.gov — Floods
- REI Expert Advice — How to Maintain Your Emergency Kit