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June – November
When the order comes, you have minutes — not hours. Your evacuation bag should already be packed, by the door, ready to grab. Here's exactly what goes in it and why.
📏 The Go-Bag Rule of Thumb
Pack for 72 hours of self-sufficiency — water, food, shelter, warmth, communication, and documents. The bag should be light enough to carry quickly but comprehensive enough to keep you going if shelters are full or roads are jammed.
One bag per adult. Kids get a small day pack with their own snacks, a stuffed animal, and an ID card.
💧 Water & Food (72 hrs)
- 3 liters of water per person (minimum) — use sealed 1L bottles
- LifeStraw or Sawyer water filter — backup when supplies run out
- 9 meals per person — calorie-dense bars, pouches, or cans that require no cooking
- Manual can opener if you're packing cans
- Mountain House or Backpacker's Pantry freeze-dried meals
- Energy bars and peanut butter packets
📄 Documents & Money
- Passports and government-issued IDs (copies + originals in a waterproof sleeve)
- Birth certificates and Social Security cards
- Insurance cards and policy numbers
- Property deed or lease agreement (copy)
- $200–$500 cash in small bills — ATMs go down
- List of emergency contacts, doctors, medications (written, not just on your phone)
- Waterproof document bag or dry bag — hurricane water gets everywhere
🏕️ Shelter & Warmth
- Emergency Mylar blankets — 2 per person, compact and light
- Change of clothes for 3 days — pack sturdy shoes and rain gear
- Small tent or tarp + cordage if shelters are unavailable
- Sleeping bag rated for the climate (optional but recommended if shelter is uncertain)
📡 Communication & Power
- Midland ER310 hand-crank NOAA radio — works with no power
- 20,000mAh portable power bank — keep it charged year-round
- Backup phone charger cables
- Headlamp with extra batteries (LED, 200+ lumen)
- Whistle (for signaling in darkness or debris)
🩺 First Aid & Medications
- 7-day supply of all prescription medications in original containers
- 100-piece first aid kit
- OTC pain relievers, antidiarrheal, antihistamine, and antacids
- Prescription glasses or contacts + solution
- Hand sanitizer and N95 masks (mold spores are common post-storm)
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