Building a Go-Bag That Fits Your Real Life

September is National Preparedness Month, a yearly reminder to get ready for emergencies before they happen. In New England, that can mean a coastal storm, a long power outage, a burst water main, a building fire or a gas leak that clears a whole block for an afternoon. In almost every one of those situations, the people who cope best are the ones who can walk out the door in five minutes with what they need.

That is the job of a go-bag: a single bag, packed ahead of time, that holds the essentials for roughly the first day or two away from home. It is different from a stay-at-home kit, which is bigger and meant for sheltering in place. This guide walks through building a go-bag that fits your real life, not a perfect checklist you will never finish.

Start With the Bag Itself

The best go-bag is one you can actually carry. A sturdy backpack is usually better than a rolling suitcase, because stairs, snow and crowded sidewalks are hard on wheels. If someone in your household uses a wheelchair or walker, a bag that hangs securely from the chair or a small rolling cart may be a better fit.

• One bag per adult if possible, so no single person carries everything.
• A smaller bag for older kids with a few comfort items and a snack.
• Something bright or easy to recognize, so you can find it in a dark closet.
• A consistent spot near the main exit, not buried in the basement.

The Core Checklist

These items cover most households. Adjust the quantities for the number of people and the length of time you might be away.

1. Water and food: a few bottles of water and shelf-stable snacks such as granola bars, nut butter packets, crackers and dried fruit.
2. Light: a flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries. Skip candles, which are a fire risk in shelters and unfamiliar places.
3. Power: a charged power bank and charging cables for each phone in the household.
4. Information: a small battery or hand-crank radio, so you can hear updates if cell service is spotty.
5. First aid: a basic kit with bandages, gauze, pain reliever, antiseptic wipes and any personal items such as blister pads.
6. Clothing: a change of clothes, socks, a warm layer and a rain jacket. New England weather can swing fast, even in September.
7. Hygiene: toothbrush, toothpaste, travel soap, hand sanitizer, menstrual products and a small towel.
8. Cash: small bills, since card readers and ATMs may not work during outages.
9. Copies of key documents: stored in a waterproof bag or on a password-protected drive.
10. A written contact list: phone numbers on paper, because a dead phone means no contacts.

Make It Personal

The generic list is a start. The real value of a go-bag comes from the items specific to your household. Walk through a typical day and ask what you could not go without.

• Medications: a few days of prescription and over-the-counter medicines, plus a printed list with names, doses and the prescribing office. Ask your pharmacist how to keep an emergency supply on hand safely.
• Glasses and hearing aids: a spare pair of glasses and extra hearing aid batteries.
• Mobility and medical devices: chargers, spare parts and instructions for anything the household relies on.
• Babies and toddlers: diapers, wipes, formula or food, a bottle and a small toy.
• Pets: food, a leash, a collapsible bowl, waste bags and a recent photo of each animal.
• Comfort: a book, deck of cards, earplugs or headphones. Waiting is easier with something to do.

Packing for Apartment and Triple-Decker Living

Many people in Boston and surrounding cities live in apartments, triple-deckers or older multi-family homes. That shapes how you prepare.

• Keep the go-bag light enough to carry down several flights of stairs, since elevators may be off in an emergency.
• Know both exits from your building, including back stairways and fire escapes.
• Agree on an outdoor meeting spot with housemates, such as a specific corner or a neighbor’s porch.
• If you share a building with older neighbors, consider asking whether they have a bag ready and whether they would like help putting one together.

Keep It Fresh

A go-bag packed three years ago may hold expired snacks, dead batteries and clothes that no longer fit. Build a simple refresh routine.

1. Pick two dates each year to check the bag. Many people use the weekends when the clocks change in spring and fall.
2. Swap out food and water before expiration dates and eat the old snacks.
3. Test the flashlight and radio, and recharge the power bank.
4. Update medications, contact lists and document copies.
5. Rotate clothing for the coming season.

Practice the Grab

Knowing where the bag is matters as much as what is in it. Once or twice a year, try a short drill: set a timer for five minutes and see whether everyone in the household can grab their bag, shoes, keys, phone and any pets and meet at the door. Talk afterward about what slowed you down. Was a pet carrier stuck behind boxes? Did anyone forget their glasses? Small fixes now prevent real stress later.

Children often find drills less scary when they have a role, such as carrying the flashlight or checking that the pet leash is in the bag. Keep the tone calm and practical.

Building a Go-Bag on a Budget

Preparedness does not require buying an expensive pre-made kit. Most of what goes into a good bag is already in your home.

• Use an old backpack or duffel instead of buying new.
• Add one or two items each grocery trip rather than buying everything at once.
• Collect travel-size toiletries from trips or ask friends for extras.
• Check local libraries, community centers and city or town emergency management offices, which sometimes share free preparedness guides and checklists.
• Pair up with a neighbor to split bulk purchases like batteries or water.

Make It a Neighborhood Project

Preparedness is stronger when it is shared. A building or block can host a simple go-bag night where neighbors bring what they have, compare lists and help each other fill gaps. Someone may have extra flashlights, someone else may know how to set up phone emergency alerts, and an older neighbor may welcome help carrying supplies up the stairs. The goal is not perfection. It is making sure that when the unexpected happens, everyone on the street can get out the door ready.

For general emergency information, many people bookmark their city or town emergency management page and the federal Ready.gov site. For help finding local services after an emergency, Mass 211 can connect residents with resources.