When a disaster strikes, you might need to evacuate your home quickly, so it’s important to pack a go-bag full of essentials beforehand.
But that does not mean you need anything fancy.
Wiggins: “You don’t need to buy the official, you know, space food emergency preparedness kits.”
Nadia Wiggins is with Listos California, an initiative of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
She says a go-bag should have nonperishable foods like canned soup or oatmeal, along with drinking water or a water purifier.
You should also pack photocopies of any important documents, such as your ID and insurance coverage.
Print out a map of your neighborhood and highlight evacuation routes and places you might be told to go for support.
Wiggins: “Somewhere where in an emergency, if I was told by firefighters, EMTs or other personnel to evacuate my home, I know the way and I know how to get there without GPS, without my phone, without a car.”
Other items in a go-bag can include cash, a first-aid kit, batteries, a flashlight, a blanket, and tarps or ponchos.
As climate change brings more extreme weather, it’s important to be prepared before disaster strikes.
Wiggins: “I keep a small tote bag with these things. I put it in my trunk out of sight. And I still feel a lot of peace of mind knowing that I have the bare minimum in my car.”
Reporting credit: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media
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