Go Bag Checklist: What to Pack in Case of an Emergency Evacuation

What to Pack for Emergencies (The Ultimate Go Bag Checklist)

If you only had a few minutes to evacuate your house, would you be prepared? If you asked me before the Palisades and Eaton fires, I would have said kind of. But after hearing the stories of thousands of people losing everything they own and having to pack my own Go Bag due to the threat of a fire, not being prepared is not an option.

I know what you’re thinking, “Isn’t this a travel blog?” And you would be absolutely right. However, as someone who loves a list and loves to be prepared, I consider this to be tangentially related since it involves packing. Here’s how to pack a Go Bag in case of an emergency.

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What is a Go Bag and Why Do You Need One?

A Go Bag is an easy to carry bag that has everything you need if you have to leave quickly due to an emergency. Think of it as a combination of a first aid kit and a weekender bag. It should contain items like clothes, toiletries, food, water, first aid supplies, money and important documents.

Don’t live in a place at risk of wildfires? I had the same thought too and I live in Southern California. I didn’t really think I would have to worry about them until I was less than 3 miles away from one. A Go Bag isn’t just for wildfires. You can use them in any emergency situation, such as an earthquake, flood, house fire, etc.

When to Pack a Go Bag

The best time to pack a Go Bag is before you need one. When I had to pack my Go Bag during the 2025 Los Angeles fires, I wasn’t prepared. When panic sets in (or as my therapist calls it “when your lid is flipped”) you don’t think straight. And if my mom wasn’t staying with me at the time, I would have forgotten a lot of important things. So if you’re reading this, now is the perfect time to pack a Go Bag.

Choosing the Right Size Go Bag

Your Go Bag should be large enough to carry 3 days worth of supplies. Your Go Bag doesn’t need to be fancy or pretty. The most important thing is that it’s easy to carry and maneuver. While you can use a suitcase, a duffle bag or large backpack with a volume of 25-30L, is ideal.

I used my Calpak Luka Duffle Bag, which holds 25L, for my clothes and valuables. The Osprey Daylite Duffle 30 would also be a good option since you can carry it like a duffle or a backpack. If you have multiple people in your home, each person should have their own Go Bag.

The Ultimate Go Bag Checklist

Here’s everything you should pack in your Go Bag. Are some items more important than others? Yes. Do you need everything on this list? I’d rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. Start with the basics and go from there. Once your Go Bag is packed, store it in an easily accessible location. (That means not in the attic.)

Clothes & Shoes

You don’t have to buy any of these items new. Go through your closet and find items you don’t wear as much or you won’t miss.

Clothing — You should have at least on change of clothes in your Go Bag. Your clothes should be comfortable and warm, like a sweatshirt and sweatpants. (This is an evacuation, not a fashion show.)

Underwear — Someone posted a picture from their local Target after the Los Angeles fires and the entire underwear section was wiped out. I’m the type of person who packs 12 pairs of underwear for a weekend trip. That math absolutely applies to my go bag. If you’re more sensible than I am, a couple of pairs will do.

Shoes — You’ll want to pack a pair of sturdy, closed toe shoes, like sneakers. An older pair of shoes would work well here.

Socks — As Lieutenant Dan said in Forrest Gump: “Take good care of your feet.” Same idea applies here.

Toiletries & Prescriptions

I won’t list out all the toiletries that should be in your Go Bag. When I packed mine, I grabbed the toiletry bag I use when I travel, which contained 90% of what I needed. And don’t forget to pack any medications or prescriptions you may need!

First Aid & Medical Supplies

First Aid Kit — You can buy a small, packable First Aid kit on Amazon.

Face Masks — The air quality after the LA fires was awful. Libraries and drug stores, like CVS and Walgreens, were providing free N95 masks, but having some on-hand is a good idea.

Food & Water

Most sources recommend you have 3 days worth of non-perishable food and 3 gallons of water per person. If you have pets, you’ll need even more water.

For canned goods, make sure you pack a can opener in your go bag so you can actually eat them. And don’t forget to pack eating utensils, too. You’ll also want to set a reminder to check the expiration dates. You don’t want expired food that you can’t eat.

Bottled water should be fine, but the quality can change since the plastic can degrade. Just make sure you store it in n a cool, dry place and not in sunlight.

Important Documents

While I was packing my Go Bag as the Sunset fire burned, I had to rifle through stacks of papers to find my mortgage documents, car pink slips, and house deeds. If I only had a few minutes to get out of my house, this is the last thing I would want to deal with.

After some searching on Amazon, I bought this fireproof and waterproof document folder. I put all the important documents I would need to grab in the event of an emergency. It also comes with a lock for added protection.

At the very least, your documents should be stored in something that is waterproof. You may also want to have digital copies stored on an encrypted thumb drive or external hard drive. (Put it in your Go Bag, too!)

What about storing important documents and items at a bank in a safe deposit box? I recently saw this Instagram post from Nicole Lapin, a money expert who lost her home in the Palisades fire. Bank safe deposit boxes are NOT fireproof. They are fire-resistant and can only withstand temperatures up to 350 degrees for a limited time. Those items are also not FDIC insured.

Copies of Identification Documents — This includes passports, driver’s license, birth certificate, social security card, etc. 

Insurance Policies — Make copies of your insurance policies, such as medical, auto and homeowners or rental insurance. Physical copies will come in handy if you have to discuss your policy over the phone.

Pet Supplies

Pet Carriers — In general, you should store pet carriers in an easily accessible place. I put both of my cat carriers near the front door in case we had to evacuate. 

I saw so many posts on NextDoor about cats escaping from their carriers when people were evacuating. (This is my worst nightmare.) To avoid this, double check that your carrier is secure. If you have a soft-sided carrier, make sure there are no holes in it. And for added support, hold the carrier underneath.

Pet Food — Bring enough food for a couple of days. This will be especially important if your cat eats prescription food.

Pet Medication — Pet medication will probably be one of the last things you grab before evacuating. To make it easier, keep all of your pet medications in one place.

Water Bowls — I bought these collapsible water bowls after I realized I didn’t have anything for my cats to drink out of. That would be a problem since one of my cats has hyperthyroidism and drinks a lot of water.

Litter and Litter Box — While packing up my car, I remembered what goes in must come out. Luckily I had a spare litter box and a 40 pound bag of unopened litter. Once the fires settled down, I ordered smaller bags that I plan to keep with my Go Bag. I’ve also used this kind of litter box, which doesn’t require liners and is super easy to clean.

Misc Items

Evacuation Routes — If you watched the news, you probably saw how awful traffic was when Palisades residents evacuated. Even the Sunset fire caused a massive gridlock in Hollywood. Experts suggest you have two evacuation routes marked out on a map so you can quickly evacuate the area.

Cash — If the power goes out or networks are down, your credit card or ATM card will be useless. You should have anywhere between $150-$300 per person, although some experts recommend even more. Smaller bills, like $1 and $5 bills, are ideal since it may be hard to get change from larger bills. I also read that you should also have coins, so I also keep a $10 roll of quarters.

Flashlight or Headlamp — This will come in handy if the power goes out. (I have this one.)

Batteries (AA and AAA) — Set a reminder to make sure they haven’t expired.

Tech Cords and Chargers — If you have an electronic organizer for traveling, consider making a smaller one for your Go Bag with cell phone and laptop chargers. This charging adapter cable kit would also be a good addition to your Go Bag.

Power Bank — Power usually goes out in emergency situations. A Power Bank will help you stay charged in those situations. (I have this one and it usually holds a fairly decent charge even if you haven’t used it in months.)

Toilet Paper — It’s never a bag idea to have an extra roll of toilet paper. Sanitary wipes would also work and take up less room. (I use these when I travel.)

What About Photos and Irreplaceable Items?

If you have to evacuate and you have time, you can grab items like family photos and other irreplaceable items. (If you haven’t considered digitizing your photos, now would be a good time.) For insurance purposes, you should record a walkthrough of your home to document all of your items. You’ll want to store this footage on an external hard drive.

Do you have a Go Bag packed? Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments!

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