CNN – When wildfires rage, hurricanes bear down, flood waters rise and that big earthquake finally strikes, it’s critical that you and your family members are ready to evacuate.
Perhaps the most important thing to bring with you: A “go bag” full of emergency supplies. Go bags exist to save you from having to run around and gather items when a threatening situation is imminent.
These bags are designed to provide everything a family of four needs to survive for several days after a disaster, especially if tried-and-trusted services aren’t available.
The bags don’t have to be bags at all – they can be boxes, cartons, or crates, so long as they contain all of the important supplies.
The contents of a family’s go bag could mean the difference between life or death, depending on how bad a situation becomes, according to Jonathan Sury, project director for field operations and communications at the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University’s Earth Institute.
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“Having yourself and your family be prepared will ease the burden on our response system but also make you more mentally ready for what lies ahead,” Sury said.
Disaster preparedness certainly is an important topic; a 2015 NCDP survey indicated that only 35% of respondents had an adequate disaster plan and supplies.
And September is National Preparedness Month, which means now is a great time to put a plan together.
Most of the items disaster preparedness experts suggest you include in a go bag are things you can find around your house. You also can purchase items separately, or as part of package kits designed to offer one-stop shopping.
Whichever strategy you choose, the FEMA website says a basic emergency supply kit should include:
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• One gallon of water per person, per day
• Three-day supply of non-perishable food per person and per pet
• Your family’s prescription medications
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio
• Flashlights
• First-aid kit
• Wrench to turn off utilities
Some of the items on extended lists include emergency blankets, extra cash, solar cell-phone chargers and a multipurpose tool such as a Leatherman or Swiss Army knife.