Bags, Storage, and Maintenance

A brown hiking backpack with multiple straps and compartments, holding a water bottle in a side pocket, placed on a stone surface outdoors, with a grassy area, a blue truck, and buildings in the background.

Choosing Your Go-Bag

The Container

What to look for:

  • Size: 40-60 liter backpack for adults, 20-30 liter for kids

  • Comfortable: Padded shoulder straps, hip belt

  • Durable: Water-resistant material, strong zippers

  • Accessible: Multiple compartments, easy to grab items quickly

  • Portable: You need to carry this, potentially for miles

Good options:

  • Hiking backpacks (REI, Osprey, North Face)

  • Military surplus backpacks (very durable, affordable)

  • Large duffel bags with shoulder straps (if you can't carry backpack)

  • Rolling suitcase (only if evacuation will definitely be by car)

Not ideal:

  • Fashion backpacks (not durable enough)

  • Plastic bins (not portable)

  • Garbage bags (not organized or durable)

Budget tip: You don't need expensive gear. You can often thrift a used backpack with sturdy straps for 10 dollars or less. What matters is that it's comfortable to carry and holds your supplies.

Organization Tools

Use these to stay organized:

  • Packing cubes - Compress clothes, keep items separated

  • Ziplock bags - Waterproof individual categories (documents, electronics, first aid)

  • Stuff sacks - Color-code by category

  • Small containers - Pills, batteries, small items

Label everything: Write contents on ziplock bags with permanent marker

Weight Management

Your packed go-bag should be:

  • No more than 25-30 lbs for adults

  • 10-15 lbs for children

  • If you can't comfortably carry it for a mile, it's too heavy

How to reduce weight:

  • Choose lighter food options (dehydrated instead of canned)

  • Carry water purification instead of gallons of water

  • Use multi-purpose items (phone can be flashlight, camera, radio)

  • Remove packaging (repack items in ziplock bags)

  • Be ruthless about "nice to have" vs. "need to have"

Where to Store Your Go-Bag

Ideal storage locations:

Primary location:

  • By your main exit (front door, garage door)

  • Somewhere you pass daily

  • Grab-and-go accessible

  • Out of reach of young children (if contains medication or tools)

In your vehicle (if space allows):

  • Keeps it with you if you're away from home

  • Already packed if you need to evacuate from work

  • Rotate items more frequently (heat affects shelf life)

Consider having multiple:

  • One per family member

  • One at home, one at work

  • One in each vehicle

DON'T store:

  • In attic or basement (may be inaccessible)

  • In a locked room (wastes time during evacuation)

  • Anywhere you have to think about where it is

Maintenance: Keep Your Go-Bag Ready

Every 6 Months (Set Calendar Reminder)

Check and rotate:

  • ☐ Food - Replace items within 6 months of expiration

  • ☐ Water - If using water bottles, dump and refill

  • ☐ Medications - Check expiration dates, rotate to fresh

  • ☐ Batteries - Test and replace if weak

  • ☐ Phone chargers - Make sure fully charged

  • ☐ Clothing - Adjust for season, growing children

  • ☐ Documents - Update any changed information

  • ☐ Cash - Still there? (Kids sometimes "borrow")

Test functionality:

  • ☐ Flashlight works

  • ☐ Radio works

  • ☐ Multi-tool is in good condition

  • ☐ Zippers and backpack still functional

After Using Your Go-Bag

If you use your go-bag in a real emergency:

  • Immediately restock everything used

  • Replace anything that got wet or damaged

  • Update your packing list based on what you wished you'd had

  • Discuss with family what worked and what didn't

Packing Your Go Bag