Ready for the Next Extreme-Weather Catastrophe? Here’s How to Pack a ‘Go Bag.’

Extreme weather is happening more frequently across the country, as we have seen this year with Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic impact on Asheville, North Carolina, November’s wildfires in New York and New Jersey and this month’s fast-spreading Malibu, California, fire. Nearly 20% of all Americans have had to evacuate their homes because of unexpected severe weather, according to a new study by the analytics firm YouGov.

More and more people are looking for a way to protect themselves from the next hurricane, tornado, flash flood or fire. Fortunately, there’s an affordable and easy way to be better prepared: by packing an extreme-weather go bag.

An extreme-weather go bag is an emergency kit you can keep in your home or car — some people make one for each — that’s filled with items that can quickly become invaluable during a crisis, or if you have to evacuate. A properly packed go bag will have the essentials for at least 72 hours, as recommended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It will eliminate the panic of wondering what to bring with you, and it may end up saving your life.

“If you don’t take the time to address these questions before a disaster strikes, you’ll be hard pressed to do so in the rush of a potential crisis,” said Stephanie Fox, a spokesperson for the American Red Cross.

So what should go into your 72-hour extreme-weather go bag?

We’ve compiled a list of some of the essentials. To make our list, we looked at the emergency kit lists published by FEMA, the American Red Cross and local agencies. We also checked out specific product recommendations cheered by Reddit users or published by Wirecutter, a product review website owned by The New York Times Co., which publishes emergency preparedness guides broken down by the type of disaster, whether a hurricane, fire or earthquake. After culling through all of those resources, we narrowed down our go-bag contents to the most essential items that are also affordable (most of our suggestions cost less than $25).

Our basic emergency kit includes durable products that can sit in the corner of a closet, or in the trunk of a car, for years. (Although experts recommend reviewing emergency go bags at least once a year to make sure everything is charged, working and not expired.)

What to Pack in Your Extreme-Weather Go Bag:

Cash

Cash is king during an emergency. Without power, many businesses can’t run credit cards. And if phone networks aren’t working, you won’t be able to use Venmo or Apple Wallet either. So pack enough cash for at least three days, and overestimate when in doubt: Experts recommend anything from $500 to $1,500 per person. Be sure to have smaller bills — it isn’t easy to break a hundred during a hurricane.

Copies of important documents

“Copies of records are one of the more commonly missed items in a kit, in addition to cash,” Fox said. Think: passports, birth certificates, Social Security cards, photos, insurance documents, bank information, a local map and anything else that could cause a huge problem to not have when you need it. Michael Wallace, program director of emergency and security studies at Tulane University in New Orleans, recommends storing them all in a $16 waterproof and fireproof pouch.

Water

During an emergency, you can never have too much water. FEMA recommends 1 gallon of water per person, per day. Put aside one case of bottled water (40 regular-size bottles is about 5 gallons) or one 5-gallon bottle for each family member. Some experts suggest more — a 14-day supply — for hygiene purposes. (Note that many experts prefer canned water to plastic bottles, because of its longer shelf life.) Or, try a collapsible or hard-sided water container, for $20 or less, that you can fill yourself. The $19 LifeStraw Personal Water Filter, a handy way to remove bacteria from river water, can also provide the peace of mind of clean water no matter what.

Nonperishable food for three days.

“You want something that will last for years but can also provide calories if and when you need them,” Wallace said. Protein bars, peanut butter, canned tuna, nuts and dried fruit are all popular options. Wallace packs 3,600-calorie SOS food bars ($6) in his bag. Canned goods work, too — just remember to buy the kind with a pop top, or pack a can opener as well.

Medical necessities

Store an extra supply of all prescription medicines and toiletries — and plan for not just three days but a week since pharmacies may be affected as well. Include an extra pair of eyeglasses and contacts if you use them.

A first aid kit

A lightweight first aid kit, like an all-purpose one available for about $20, should include essentials like gauze and aspirin. But you can scale up with a bigger kit or make your own. The key is organization: You’ll want your supplies arranged in a way that makes it easy to find what you need quickly.

Changes of clothing for three days.

In addition to packing everyday clothes, plan for variable weather by including a rain-repellent poncho, a hat, gloves, thick socks and sturdy shoes. Consider vacuum compressing your clothes with space saver bags (about $20 for four).

A flashlight or headlamp

Pack a flashlight that is small, powerful, durable and waterproof: A $30 LED flashlight and a $20 Black Diamond headlamp get the thumbs up from many kit makers. FEMA recommends also packing an emergency weather radio. Keep everything charged and safely stored away in your go bag. Don’t count on your cellphone in a pinch.

Extra chargers, batteries and power banks

Include backup power sources for cellphones, laptops and any other devices you would be using (such as CPAP machines and breast pumps). Bring extra-long power cables, for when the power source is in an unwieldy location.

Hygiene supplies

If the water supply is interrupted, you won’t be able to wash your hands, take a shower, flush a toilet or clean your food. Pack antibacterial wipes, hand-sanitizing gel, garbage bags, toilet paper, female hygiene products and N95 face masks.

Pet supplies

Too many people forget to pack for their lovable critters. Include at least a three-day supply of pet food in your go bag, along with any medications they need or supplies that will help keep their freaking out to a minimum. You may also want a leash and a pet carrier or a collapsible crate. If your pet doesn’t usually wear an ID tag or a collar, be sure to pack one and put it on them before evacuating. Or have your vet insert a microchip ahead of time ($25 to $60).

A small tool kit or a multi-tool

During an emergency, you might need a wrench or pliers to turn off your utilities, or a knife or scissors to cut through something. The Leatherman brand has legions of fans on Reddit, and Wirecutter recommends a $90 Leatherman multi-tool. A more budget-friendly $23 Gerber multi-tool is also popular. Or, perhaps using items you already own, you can pull together your own tool kit with items including scissors, a serrated knife, pliers, a wrench, a screwdriver, a bottle opener, a whistle and a lighter.