With several neighbourhoods needing to be evacuated during the Cape Fire, the conversation of what you take with you has been a hot topic, so we are discussing the “go-bag”.
Global (19 April 2021) – Natural disasters are happening more often than we like, so it is key to always be prepared. We are not suggesting everyone become doomsday preppers but having a little backpack stashed aside in case of emergencies won’t hurt.
With the Cape Fire blazing as we type and many families preparing to evacuate should the fire keep moving along the mountainside, we have decided to discuss what can go inside a “go-bag”.
Often one is asked, “if you had to leave home and take only three things, what would you take?“. The answers always vary depending on what someone holds most dear. But in reality, there are more than three important things, so having them in one convenient place helps quite a bit.
Firstly, before packing a “go-bag”, it is good practice to keep all important documents in one easy to carry folder. This folder should have all birth, marriage and death certificates relevant to your family. It should also include any qualifications, copies of insurance papers or passports, and all other official documentation such as car papers, lease agreements or financial papers. The admin of having to replace any of these is added stress when trying to sort out life after a disaster.
Once that is done, getting a go-bag ready is pretty easy; let’s take a look. It would be best if you had the following in case of an emergency and enough to supply your family.
- Water, enough for everyone in your family until you get to safety.
- Food, something non-perishable that is light and filling.
- A torch (keep batteries aside to avoid corrosion).
- A small first-aid kit, include a burn kit.
- A whistle to call for help.
- Masks in case of dust, smoke or ash.
- Charger cables and a fully charged power bank.
- Waterproof ponchos.
- Money, to be able to pay cash for things if power is out.
- Any prescription medication needed by the family.
- If you have a pet with you, a water bowl, an extra collar and sachets of pet food.
You will need to maintain your “go-bag” to ensure everything inside it is ready at any moment. Regularly check batteries and expiry dates of medication and food.
Also, train your family to be ready to move should they need to. Every family member should know where the bag is located and perhaps have their own bags ready to go.
In most cases, we hope that one never needs to use the bag, but preparation makes moments like these much more manageable. What are we missing from the list? Let us know in the comment section.
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