A go bag is a pre-packed bag with everything you need to survive for at least 72 hours if you have to leave home quickly. The core contents cover six categories: water, food, documents, first aid, communication tools, and clothing. What you pack beyond those basics depends on your household, including whether you have kids, pets, or medications to account for.
Water and Food
Water is the single most important item. The CDC recommends storing at least one gallon per person per day for three days, and a two-week supply if you can manage it. That’s a minimum of three gallons per person just for the short-term kit. Pregnant women, people who are sick, and anyone in a hot climate should plan for more. If you have pets, they need their own water supply on top of that.
For food, you want shelf-stable options that don’t need cooking or refrigeration. Good choices include canned tuna or chicken, jerky, dried fruit, granola bars, peanut butter, crackers, rice cakes, and powdered milk. Retort pouches (the foil packets you see with chili, chicken, or tuna) are lighter than cans and just as shelf-stable. Aim for roughly 2,000 calories per adult per day. Pack a manual can opener if any of your food requires one.
Documents and Cash
In an evacuation, you may need to prove your identity, access financial accounts, or provide medical history without internet access. The U.S. Department of State recommends packing physical copies of: passports and visas, birth and marriage certificates, driver’s licenses, insurance policies, vehicle registrations, a power of attorney and will, immunization records, and school records for children. Pet records and proof of ownership belong in here too.
Store these in a waterproof pouch or zip-seal bag. A USB drive with scanned copies adds a backup layer that weighs almost nothing. Keep small bills and coins as well. ATMs and card readers go down during power outages, and cash may be the only way to buy gas, food, or supplies in the first days of an emergency.
First Aid and Medications
A basic first aid kit covers adhesive bandages in multiple sizes, gauze pads, medical tape, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, tweezers, scissors, and disposable gloves. Add an instant cold pack, a triangular bandage for making a sling, and over-the-counter pain relievers.
Prescription medications deserve special attention. Pack at least a three-day supply, ideally more, along with a written list of each medication’s name, dosage, and prescribing doctor. Glasses, contact lenses with solution, hearing aid batteries, and any medical devices you rely on daily (inhalers, EpiPens, blood glucose monitors) should go in the bag too. The American Red Cross advises checking expiration dates regularly and replacing anything that’s used or outdated.
Communication and Power
A hand-crank or solar-powered weather radio that receives NOAA broadcasts is one of the most reliable tools in a go bag. Cell towers can fail, but NOAA stations transmit emergency alerts continuously. Many portable emergency radios combine a flashlight, a USB charging port for your phone, and an SOS alarm in one device.
Beyond the radio, pack a portable battery bank (fully charged), a phone charging cable, a whistle for signaling rescuers, and a basic set of extra batteries. Write down important phone numbers on paper. Your phone’s contact list is useless if the battery dies and you’re borrowing someone else’s phone.
Clothing and Shelter
Pack one full change of weather-appropriate clothing per person: underwear, socks, a base layer, and an outer layer. Sturdy closed-toe shoes are essential if you’re evacuating in a hurry and might grab the bag while still in pajamas. Add a rain poncho or lightweight waterproof jacket, a warm hat, and work gloves.
For shelter, include an emergency Mylar blanket (sometimes called a space blanket) per person. These weigh almost nothing, fold to the size of a deck of cards, and reflect up to 90% of body heat. A small tarp and some paracord give you options for improvised shelter if you end up outdoors longer than expected.
Tools and Hygiene
A multi-tool or basic knife handles dozens of tasks. Round out the tools section with a headlamp (hands-free light beats a flashlight), duct tape wrapped around a pencil to save space, waterproof matches or a lighter, and local maps in case GPS is unavailable.
For hygiene, think about what you’d need if showers and running water disappeared for several days: travel-size toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, hand sanitizer, a small towel, feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, and a few gallon-size zip-seal bags for waste disposal. Moist towelettes help with basic cleanup when water is limited.
Additions for Infants and Young Children
If you have a baby, the CDC recommends packing at least one large pack of diapers, two packs of baby wipes, baby powder, and diaper rash cream. Families using formula should check their emergency kit monthly because babies grow fast and their intake changes. Replace formula that’s approaching its expiration date with a fresh supply. Breastfeeding parents should include one or two boxes of disposable nursing pads.
For toddlers and young children, add a comfort item like a small stuffed animal or blanket, child-appropriate snacks, and any specialized medications. A copy of each child’s medical and immunization records belongs with your documents.
Additions for Pets
Pets need their own mini go bag. The CDC recommends a two-week supply of food stored in a waterproof container, a two-week supply of water, a two-week supply of any medications, and a one-month supply of flea, tick, and heartworm preventative. You’ll also need a leash, collar with ID tags, and harness.
On the document side, pack photocopied veterinary records including rabies certificates, vaccination history, a medical summary, and prescriptions. Include your pet’s microchip number and the microchip company’s contact information, proof of ownership or adoption records, and a physical description noting breed, sex, color, and weight. Boarding instructions are useful if you end up in a shelter that doesn’t allow animals and someone else needs to care for your pet temporarily.
How Heavy Should the Bag Be?
A go bag packed with water, food, and gear gets heavy fast. Research on safe backpack loads suggests keeping the weight at or below 10% to 15% of the carrier’s body weight to avoid pain and injury, especially if you might be walking long distances. For a 160-pound adult, that’s roughly 16 to 24 pounds. For children, staying at or below 10% of their body weight is the safer threshold.
If your full kit exceeds those limits, split supplies between two bags or use a bag with a hip belt that transfers weight off your shoulders. Prioritize water and medications as the heaviest non-negotiable items, then fill remaining weight capacity with food, documents, and gear.
Keeping Your Bag Ready
A go bag only works if it’s current. Review and rotate perishable supplies, including food, water, batteries, and medications, every six months. An easy way to remember is to tie it to daylight saving time changes or another twice-yearly event. Check that clothing still fits everyone in the household, update documents after any major life change (new address, new passport, new prescriptions), and verify that battery banks and electronics still hold a charge. Store the bag somewhere accessible, like a front closet or by the garage door, not buried in a basement storage room you’d have to dig through during an emergency.