Experts Reveal the Must-Have Emergency Go Bag Essentials

The Importance of Being Prepared

When it comes to personal safety, no one ever wants to imagine that the worst could ever happen to themselves or their loved ones. However, whether you live in an area prone to natural disasters or not, having essential survival items on hand can make a huge difference when push comes to shove. Earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis and other worst-case scenarios might not seem like they could happen to you, but as many who have survived such events would tell us, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Not only does having something like an emergency go-bag or survival kit on hand provide peace of mind, but it can also keep you and your family safe from harm in a wide range of events, including the most unexpected. “Disasters can happen anywhere, anytime — even in someone’s own home,” said Stephanie Fox, a spokesperson for the American Red Cross. “Having the supplies needed to navigate the emergency can allow for a quicker and calmer response. And now, with the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-driven disasters, it’s more important than ever for families to be prepared.”

She emphasized that the Red Cross strongly encourages everyone to have an emergency preparedness kit filled with the proper supplies they may need in the event of an emergency or disaster. In her opinion, having two different options on hand is ideal: one with essentials to sustain your family for three days in a backpack or tote bag, and a more substantial option stocked with two weeks’ worth of supplies.

“Each individual or family should stock their emergency kit to accommodate their own personal needs,” she said. “Food, water and any prescription medication are extremely important components to a kit.” She added that special considerations should be made for those most vulnerable in your family unit, such as children, the elderly, the disabled and pets.

Survivalist, author and television host Ky Furneaux is a proponent of researching past natural disasters in your area to determine what kind of potential emergency situations you might find yourself in. “Are you in a flood plain? Is there a history of bushfires? Are you on the coast where you could get hit by hurricanes? This will give you an idea of what you need to prepare most for,” she told The News Pulse. Even if there is no history of natural disasters where you live, she said, it is a good idea to have a go bag ready in case your area gets struck by a “once-in-a-lifetime event.”

While there are many pre-made survival kits and go bags available for purchase, Furneaux believes the best survival bag is one that you have put together yourself. She said that “too many people have survival bags that they have bought as-is, and they don’t know what is in them nor how to use all of the contents. By tailoring your own bag to your own needs, you will always know what you have and how to use it.”

Wilderness self-reliance educator and traditional skills practitioner Donald Dust gets millions of TikTok views on this very topic. He agrees with Furneaux that making your own is the best way to go. He argued that pre-made “bug-out” bags can be gimmicky and give people a false sense of security, but that “there is a self-reliance factor people will find when they research, plan, educate and train with their bug-out bag.”

All of the experts agreed that emergency bags should contain copies of important travel and identification documents. Dust also recommended scanning them and loading them into your Cloud account, along with sending paper copies to relatives who live away from you. He also noted that you should never fill the pack itself all the way up. “Leave room for things that could be provided at relief centers or objects that might be added along your route of travel,” he said.

Furneaux also emphasized that the single most important survival item (besides a blade) is having a good mindset. “If you can stay positive and be adaptable, then you have won half the battle.” Dust echoed these sentiments, explaining that “your mental ability to stay cool, calm and collected is essential. Having the ability to logically say ‘it’s time to go’ is a must...The mind is super powerful and if you have prepared yourself mentally, physically and emotionally, you will live.”

Essential Items for Your Emergency Go-Bag

Below, we’ve compiled a selection of essential survival items for creating your own emergency go-bag inspired by our experts’ suggestions. They include everything from fire starters to popular multitools, fresh undies, headlamps, solar charging stations and more. It’s a great jumping-off point when creating your own survival bag and you’ll be able to have peace of mind knowing that you and your family have practical resources close at hand should disaster strike.

Recommended Supplies

• A large capacity backpack – Each individual in your home should have their own pre-packed pack. This military-style backpack is as durable as it is comfortable with many versatile compartments.
• A pair of emergency whistles – These double-tubed emergency whistles can be heard at a long distance and are lightweight and water-resistant.
• A portable hand crank NOAA weather radio – A combination radio and charger that allows you to create electricity to charge it and other items.
• Yeti Rambler one gallon jug – A large capacity water bottle that can be clipped to the exterior of a bag and used as a pot to boil water.
• A multitool – Made with stainless steel, this multitool is versatile, strong, durable and easy to use safely.
• A rechargeable waterproof lighter – Easily recharged and ideal for starting fires whenever necessary.
• Rael organic cotton pads – Essential for individuals who menstruate, these pads are made of organic cotton and unscented.
• A neck gaiter – Lightweight, breathable and versatile, this set of two can be used to keep warm, shield from dust and debris, and keep cool on warm days.
• A pair of signal mirrors – Durable and compact, these mirrors can alert others to your location if necessary.
• A LifeStraw – Filters even the grimiest water so it's drinkable and protects against bacteria, parasites, microplastics, dirt and more.
• A set of headlamps – Powerful, hands-free LED lights that can last up to 10 hours with AAA batteries.
• A portable LED flashlight – Water-resistant, bright and long-lasting with a zoom feature for focused lighting.
• A first aid kit – Absolutely vital, this kit includes essentials for small cuts, wounds, minor pain and GI issues.
• A flint fire starter – Ferro rods are a must, offering between 8,000 and 12,000 sparks or possible fires and being impervious to weather conditions.
• A pack of water bottles – Ideal for larger, more long-term kits, this 24-pack of Essentia water should live in your car, garage, shed or emergency storage box.
• A pack of batteries – Slip some batteries into your pack to keep your gear going.
• A solar-powered charging bank – Durable and compatible with smartphones, tablets, cameras and other devices.
• A field compass – Manual magnet compass with a ruler scale for precise route mapping.
• A road atlas – Clear, up-to-date road maps for all 50 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico.
• Hand sanitizer – Essential for disinfecting hands or gear whenever possible.

These items can serve as a solid foundation for your emergency go-bag. As Dust put it: “You never know when you will get that knock on the door.”