Emergency Go Bag Checklist
Everything your family needs to grab and go in the first 72 hours of an emergency.
A go bag is a packed backpack you can grab on the way out the door during an evacuation, storm, wildfire, or other emergency. Pack one per family member, store it somewhere easy to reach, and check it twice a year. Here is everything that belongs inside.
Water & food
- Bottled water — as much as you can comfortably carry (plan around 4 liters / 1 gallon per person)
- Water purification tablets or a filter straw
- High-energy food for 3 days: energy bars, nuts, dried fruit, canned goods
- Manual can opener, utensils, and a cup
- Special foods: baby formula or dietary needs
First aid & medication
- A stocked first aid kit: bandages, gauze, antiseptic, tweezers
- Prescription medication for at least 7 days, plus copies of prescriptions
- Pain relievers, anti-diarrhea tablets, and any allergy medicine
- Disposable gloves and face masks
- Spare glasses, contact lenses, or hearing aid batteries
Documents & cash
- Copies of IDs, passports, and insurance cards in a waterproof pouch
- Cash in small bills — ATMs and card readers fail in outages
- A written list of emergency contacts and meeting places
- USB drive with scans of important records and family photos
- A paper map of your area with evacuation routes marked
Tools & light
- Flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Phone chargers and a charged power bank
- Whistle to signal for help
- Multi-tool, duct tape, and work gloves
Clothing & warmth
- A full change of warm clothes per person
- Sturdy closed shoes and spare socks
- Rain poncho or waterproof jacket
- Emergency blanket or compact sleeping bag
- Toothbrush, soap, wet wipes, and hand sanitizer
Family & pets
- Baby food, diapers, and wipes for little ones
- Pet food, a leash, and a copy of vaccination records
- A small game or comfort item for each child
- Spare house and car keys
- A copy of your family emergency plan
Frequently asked questions
- What is an emergency go bag?
- A go bag is a backpack packed with the essentials your household needs for the first 72 hours of an evacuation: water, food, first aid, documents, light, and warm clothing. It stays packed by the door so you can leave in minutes.
- What should be in an emergency backpack?
- Water and high-energy food for three days, a first aid kit and personal medication, copies of documents and cash, a flashlight, radio, and chargers, plus warm clothing and hygiene basics. The full checklist above covers each category.
- What is the difference between a go bag and a bug out bag?
- A go bag covers roughly 72 hours and assumes you are heading to a shelter, family, or a hotel. A bug out bag is built for longer self-sufficiency away from infrastructure and adds shelter, fire, and navigation gear. Start with a go bag — it is the one every household needs.
- How often should I update my go bag?
- Check it every six months: rotate expiring food, water, and medication, swap seasonal clothing, and update documents. ReadyPack tracks expiry dates and reminds you before anything goes stale.
Build your go bag with ReadyPack
ReadyPack turns this checklist into a living packing list: add items with expiry dates, get weather-based suggestions, see the total weight, and share the bag with your family in one tap.