What is a Grab & Go Bag?
A grab & go bag is a personal evacuation kit designed to sustain you for a short period if you need to leave home quickly. You'll hear them referred to by many different names: an evacuation kit, 72‑hour kit, bug‑out bag, go bag, or a grab & go bag. They all serve the same purpose: pack essential items in advance so you can grab the bag and get out fast. Post Katrina, FEMA now recommends that you prepare for as many days as is reasonable, considering that you will have to take your supplies with you.
Helpful Recommendations
Here are some helpful suggestions to start the process of planning your grab & go bag. There are careful considerations to be made before assembly begins. Thinking it through ahead of time ensures you will have what you need and can carry.
Take time to plan
If you need to leave your home quickly, panic can set in and it could be hard to gather what everyone needs in a timely manner - if you're given enough time to even try. Planning now when you have time to think, will ensure that your bag will include all the essentials.
- One should be created for every family member regardless of age.
- It should be highly mobile, minimalistic, lightweight, and packable.
- While there are core essentials for all bags, each family member may have their own special needs which need to be factored in.
- Pack for a minimum of 72 hours - more if you can.
- If you pack for a longer period, keep the overall weight of the bag in mind.
Weight matters most if you need to evacuate on foot. If you can drive away, it's less of a worry. Packing with attention to weight ensures you will have what you need most in either scenario.
What Type of Bag is Best?
There is no need to spend a lot of money, and it can be what is easiest for the individual. Options include:
- backpack
- tote
- plastic bin
- duffel bag
- suitcase
- container on wheels
While determining the type of bag for each family member, consider physical ability. All bags may be placed in your family car, or everyone may have to carry them while walking.
If you have a small child, consider using a bag that you can wear, enabling you to use your hands to carry or help your child. If possible, take your children on small backpacking adventures starting at the age of 3. This will help them get used to carrying their own packs.
Packing your grab & go bag
Here are some helpful suggestions for putting your grab & go bag together.
Packing tips
- Make sure to gather enough items to last you for at least 3 days. Learn more about helpful grab & go items.
- Ziplock bags come in many sizes and are helpful for packing like-items together. This also protects your belongings from moisture.
- Before packing the contents into your grab & go bag, use a non-smudge marker to label each plastic bag with its category (like food or hygiene). This is helpful for quick identification when you need something from your bag.
- At the top of your bag, place a flashlight and a grab list. This is a list of items you need to take with you but can't store in your bag. Use this list as a checklist and verification that the items needed are gathered and taken. These items might include medication stored in the fridge, your cell phone, etc. Make sure you've left enough room in your bag for these remaining items.
Weight considerations
Choosing a manageable weight is key to making a go bag truly “grab & go”. These ranges represent upper limits, not targets. Lighter is always better if your essentials are covered.
- Children: 10-25% of body weight (younger kids should stay at the low end)
- Youth and Adults: 20-25% of body weight
- Fit Adults: 25-33% of body weight
- Consider real‑world movement - A bag that feels fine for a few minutes can become difficult over distance, stairs, or uneven terrain. If you may need to walk far, aim for a lighter load.
- Test the weight - Put the packed bag on, walk around, try stairs, and adjust as needed. This simple test prevents surprises during an evacuation.
- Adjust for individual ability - Age, fitness, and mobility vary widely. Everyone should carry what feels realistic for them.
- Keep kids’ bags light - Children should carry only light personal or comfort items. Adults should handle heavier essentials.
- Distribute weight across family members - Stronger adults take heavier items, teens take moderate loads, and kids carry minimal items.
- Container weight counts - Some containers, like hard-sided or rolling containers, add weight before you pack anything.
Best Storage Location
Keep your family's grab & go bags together in one place where they can easily be found and grabbed on your way out. Store in a cool, dry environment.
Tips for Rotation
- Check your bags twice per year.
- Keep a list of expiration dates on all contents.
- Rotate expired items like food, water, medications, etc.
- Check children’s clothing for proper fit and adjust as needed.
- Switch-out clothing seasonally as the weather changes.
What is a Grab & Go Bag?
A grab & go bag is a personal evacuation kit designed to sustain you for a short period if you need to leave home quickly. You'll hear them referred to by many different names: an evacuation kit, 72‑hour kit, bug‑out bag, go bag, or a grab & go bag. They all serve the same purpose: pack essential items in advance so you can grab the bag and get out fast. Post Katrina, FEMA now recommends that you prepare for as many days as is reasonable, considering that you will have to take your supplies with you.
Helpful Recommendations
Here are some helpful suggestions to start the process of planning your grab & go bag. There are careful considerations to be made before assembly begins. Thinking it through ahead of time ensures you will have what you need and can carry.
Take the time to carefully plan
If you need to leave your home quickly, panic can set in and it could be hard to gather what everyone needs in a timely manner - if you're given enough time to even try. Planning now when you have time to think, will ensure that your bag will include all the essentials.
- One should be created for every family member regardless of age.
- It should be highly mobile, minimalistic, lightweight, and packable.
- While there are core essentials for all bags, each family member may have their own special needs which need to be factored in.
- Pack for a minimum of 72 hours - more if you can.
- If you pack for a longer period, keep the overall weight of the bag in mind.
Weight matters most if you need to evacuate on foot. If you can drive away, it's less of a worry. Packing with attention to weight ensures you will have what you need most in either scenario.
What Type of Bag is Best?
There's no need to spend a lot of money, and it can be what is easiest for the individual. Common options include:
- backpack
- tote
- plastic bin
- duffel bag
- suitcase
- container on wheels
While determining the type of bag for each family member, consider physical ability. All bags may be placed in your family car, or everyone may have to carry them while walking, depending on the situation.
If you have a small child, consider using a bag that you can wear, enabling you to use your hands to carry or help your child. If possible, take your children on small backpacking adventures starting at the age of 3. This will help them get used to carrying their own packs.
Packing Tips
- Make sure to gather enough items to last you for at least 3 days. Learn more about helpful grab & go items.
- Ziplock bags come in many sizes and are helpful for packing like-items together. This also protects your belongings from moisture.
- Before packing the contents into your grab & go bag, use a non-smudge marker to label each plastic bag with its category (like food or hygiene). This is helpful for quick identification when you need something from your bag.
- At the top of your bag, place a flashlight and a grab list. This is a list of items you need to take with you but can't store in your bag. Use this list as a checklist and verification that the items needed are gathered and taken. These items might include medication stored in the fridge, your cell phone, etc. Make sure you've left enough room in your bag for these remaining items.
Weight considerations
Choosing a manageable weight is key to making a go bag truly “grab & go”. These ranges represent upper limits, not targets. Lighter is always better if your essentials are covered.
- Children: 10-25% of body weight (younger kids should stay at the low end)
- Youth and Adults: 20-25% of body weight
- Fit Adults: 25-33% of body weight
Other things to keep in mind
- Consider real‑world movement - A bag that feels fine for a few minutes can become difficult over distance, stairs, or uneven terrain. If you may need to walk far, aim for a lighter load.
- Test the weight - Put the packed bag on, walk around, try stairs, and adjust as needed. This simple test prevents surprises during an evacuation.
- Adjust for individual ability - Age, fitness, and mobility vary widely. Everyone should carry what feels realistic for them.
- Keep kids’ bags light - Children should carry only light personal or comfort items. Adults should handle heavier essentials.
- Distribute weight across family members - Stronger adults take heavier items, teens take moderate loads, and kids carry minimal items.
- Container weight counts - Some containers, like hard-sided or rolling containers, add weight before you pack anything.
Best Storage Location
Keep your family's grab & go bags together in one place where they can easily be found and grabbed on your way out. Store in a cool, dry environment.
Tips for Rotation
- Check your bags twice per year.
- Keep a list of expiration dates on all contents.
- Rotate expired items like food, water, medications, etc.
- Check children’s clothing for proper fit and adjust as needed.
- Switch-out clothing seasonally as the weather changes.