Having grown up in a hurricane and tornado-prone area and having endured many an evacuation, I can tell you that the best go-bag is one that's always near you, and is so small that it won't occur to anyone to try and make you leave it behind. Mine is an old crossbody purse that hangs on my bedroom door, although I might upgrade that to my seldom-used SCB at some point. I carry:
- An envelope with copies of my ID documents, recent vaccinations for my dogs, a copy of the title to my car, and other important bits and bobs.
- An extremely basic first aid kit (Pepto, Advil, Neosporin, Band-Aids, stuff like that).
- Spare usb cord, wall charger, and Anker Powercore charger.
- A flash drive with backups of all my important docs, an ancient mini-mp3 player (need my tunes!) and some earbuds.
- A "backup wallet" with an old drivers license, a spare credit card, my passport, and about $300 cash.
- A small Eagle Creek packing cube with spare socks, underwear, and a mini hygiene kit (disposable toothbrush, mini floss, deodorant, folding hairbrush).
- Spare glasses (An older prescription, but close enough to get by for a few days).
- A keychain with small flashlight and assorted multitools. (Gerber Shard and Leatherman PS last time I checked).
It hangs next to my favorite hoodie. My shoe rack is next to it. In the event of a house fire or extremely sudden evacuation, I could have most of what I need to get by on hand with little trouble. (Your actual EDC/purse/laptop bag should also be nearby if possible.
For best results, mix with a few other "modules" located in other places. I keep a PCSB at work with a travel-friendly dress, thick leggings, nice sweater, and decent flats and boots. I keep a ton of survival-y gear, including an extensive first aid kit, warm quick-drying clothing, and old hiking boots in my car, along with survival rations and water.
If you're planning for the kind of event where you think you might have to go to a shelter or leave the area for some time, I wouldn't necessarily pre-pack. I'd make a list and post it somewhere where it can always be found, like an unobtrusive spot on the fridge. I'd make sure that my stuff was organized in such a way that I could pack quickly and efficiently and be out the door in under 15 minutes. My packing cubes are stored next to my clothes. My travel toiletries live full-time in a 3DCOC. My sleeping bag is next to my A45 on my closet shelf, above a folding dog crate. Assorted snack bars are in a basket in my kitchen, above a case of bottled water and next to my shop bags. There's a stuff sack with sample dog foods and treats hanging next to my dogs' leashes. With a comprehensive list, evacuation can be easy. Drop the sleeping bag and a cube of clothing into the A45. Toss in the crossbody bag, the toiletries bag, the bag of dog food, and a shop bag with some snacks and a few bottles of water. Put the backpack on, dogs on their leashes, snag your EDC and the dog crate, and get out.
is going to be, if it’s global nuclear then the old saying about putting your head between your legs and kissing your … goodbye will very well apply. 