Go Bag

If you need to leave your home, be ready to go as quickly as possible. Having a Go Bag in an accessible place ensures that you and your family are prepared for whatever situation arises.

Go Bag Guidelines

  • Each member of your household should have his or her own Go Bag.
  • Go Bags should be easy to carry and sturdy.
  • Go Bags should be stored in an easily accessible location.
  • Ideally, you should keep a Go Bag at your home, in your car, and at work.
  • Go Bags should be prepared for any time of year.
  • Go Bags should be updated every six months.

Go Bag List

  • Bottled water
  • Non-perishable food
  • Manual can opener
  • Flashlight
  • Battery-operated AM/FM Radio
  • Extra batteries (necessary types)
  • Pocketknife
  • Whistle
  • Extra house and car keys
  • Blanket
  • Raingear
  • Hat
  • Comfortable, sturdy shoes
  • Warm clothes
  • Prescription medication for a week, with copies of your prescriptions
  • List of doctor(s) and phone numbers
  • Small first-aid kit
  • Extra pair of glasses or contact lenses 
  • Extra hearing aid(s) and batteries
  • Toilet paper
  • Plastic garbage bags
  • Soap
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Copy of your communications plan
  • Regional map
  • Paper, pens, and tape - in case you need to leave a message somewhere
  • Dust mask
  • Cash - preferably in small amounts
  • Coins for pay phones
  • Credit and debit cards
  • Copies of important documents in a waterproof container (IDs, insurance information, proof of address, passports, etc.)
  • Recent family photo for identification purposes - make sure everyone's face can be seen clearly
  • Items for members of your family, especially children, seniors or people with functional needs, and pets.

Also visit the Emergency Management homepage for tips on making a backpack survival kit from the Blizzard Wizards of Kennedy Elementary.

Emergency management content on the Butte-Silver Bow website was developed drawing heavily from and updating the excellent resources offered on the Ready Illinois website produced by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and partner organizations.