How to Make a Go-Pak for Any Emergency
Years of experience with survivors who were prepared—and those who were not—shows that the most important thing anyone can do to be prepared is to have a Go-Pak—a bag with the essentials you will need for any emergency. In this guide, you will learn how to put together your own basic disaster Go-Pak.
What Is a Go-Pak?
The materials in your Go-Pak should be functional, durable, and as lightweight as practical. You don’t need to go to a sporting goods store and buy an expensive new version of everything in the following lists. You probably have most of the items already, and most of the rest are available at the drug store or a general retail outlet.
You can build your own Go-Pak or buy one ready-made. Building your own Go-Pak is as easy as buying a backpack and filling it. Clothing is best packed using Space Bags or a similar packing and storage bag that allows you to suck or squeeze the air out and keep the clothing clean and dry. Similarly, you should keep liquid toiletries in zip closure bags. (It’s not a bad idea to use a second bag as insurance that nothing leaks from a spill in the first.) Finally, all documents should be in a third waterproof bag.
The following lists show the supplies you need for one person. If you’re preparing Go-Paks for several people, consider having a separate Go-Pak for each person.
Clothing
In general, clothing made of natural fibers is better than clothing made of synthetic fibers. It’s more durable, easier to repair if it rips, and more comfortable in extreme conditions. Natural fibers are a little easier to wash in field conditions, which can be good if you’re stuck in a shelter or on the road for an extended period. Here is a list of necessary personal clothing:
- Hat (to prevent sunburn and provide shade, and to keep the rain out of your face)
- Closed-toe shoes (to protect your toes)
- Jacket with hood
- Poncho (or rain coat and pants)
- Long trousers, one pair (to protect your legs)
- Shorts, one pair (cooler for hot weather)
- Long-sleeved shirt, one (to protect arms and prevent sunburn)
- Short-sleeved shirts, three (cooler for hot weather)
- Underwear, three or more
- Socks, three pairs or more
- Large bandanna, one or more (to prevent sunburn)
Miscellaneous Safety Items
The miscellaneous items are the minimum basic tools you should have on hand for survival purposes:
- Lock and key (to keep the Go-Pak locked when you’re not using it)
- Personal first-aid kit
- Extra sets of car and house keys
- Knife, lockable
- Multi-use tool (such as a Leatherman or Gerber)
- Work gloves (to protect your hands during clean-up or heavy work)
- Face mask or dust mask (to protect your lungs during clean-up or heavy work)
- Flashlight and batteries
- Whistle (to signal and call for help)
- Compass
Personal Gear
The personal gear in this category is mostly toiletries. You could live without all these, but you’re likely to feel a lot better with brushed teeth and clean, brushed hair:
- Waterproof watch, preferably with an alarm
- Sunglasses
- Extra set of prescription glasses
- Personal hygiene items
- Bar soap
- Shampoo
- Razor blades
- Shaving cream
- Deodorant, unscented
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss
- Comb, brush, unbreakable mirror
- Toilet paper
- Lip balm
- Hand lotion, unscented
- Sunscreen, unscented
- Insect repellent—pump type, unscented
- Flip-flops or some other shower shoe
- Biodegradable laundry detergent
- Anti-fungal foot powder and moleskin (for blisters)
It’s not essential, but you may want to avoid pressurized cans of toiletries. They’re bulky and they can be a fire hazard if near an open flame. Use things such as stick or roll-on deodorant and tube or pump shaving cream.
Medications
Medications include a two-week supply of prescriptions that you or anyone in your family needs, as well as general OTC medications that make life a little easier:
- Prescriptions (a two-week supply at least)
- Aspirin
- Antacids (Maalox/Mylanta/TUMS)
- Antihistamines (Benadryl or Zyrtec)
- Tylenol
- Decongestants
- Imodium (anti-diarrheal medication)
Miscellaneous Sustenance Items
In addition to toiletries and medications, you’ll also want to pack a number of additional supplies for staying away from home and normal services for an extended period:
- Towels (large and small)
- Washcloth
- Books, reading material, crosswords, Sudoku
- Inflatable pillow
- Handi-wipes, unscented
- Laundry bag and clothespins
- Safety pins and sewing kit
- Waterproof matches and fire starter material (no flammable fluids!)
- Electrical tape
- Parachute rope, 20 feet
- Extra shoelaces
- Water-purification tablets
- About 72 hours’ worth of high-nutrition snacks and pocket snacks (such as trail mix, gum, dried fruit, and hard candy)
- Notebook, pens, pencils
- Cup (pocket size, collapsible)
Communication Supplies
You may want to pack a number of communication supplies. At a minimum, you need the following:
- Small portable radio with headphones
- Roll of quarters for a payphone
- Cell phone charger (12-volt car and 110-volt wall outlet)
You may also want to get walkie-talkies, which are available at many retail outlets. (Some cell phones offer walkie-talkie style operation, but they may depend on the cell system being in operation.)
Information and Important Papers
Carry the following documents with you or in your Go-Pak at all times when you’ve evacuated and are on the road or in a shelter.
- Driver’s license
- Insurance policy documents
- Medical insurance cards and information
- Vehicle and real estate titles
- Birth certificates, Social Security cards, and passports
- Credit cards
You should also have copies of several sets of records that may be difficult to replace.
- School records for everyone in the family who’s in school. (In a major disaster, it’s possible that the school and records will be destroyed.)
- Medical and immunization records for everyone in the family. It’s likely that copies of these will eventually be available, but if someone needs emergency medical care while you’re evacuated, having medical records handy may save someone’s life. Medical records are especially important if you need to prove that you have to carry syringes, equipment, or some types of medication.
- Mortgage, boat, auto, and personal loan information, including ID number, monthly payment amount, company contact information, and address. (If the mortgage or loan is in one person’s name, make sure you get something set up with the lender company that allows another authorized person to talk about the account even if the primary person’s not there.)
- Credit card numbers, including exact name on the card, expiration date, authorization code, company contact numbers, and monthly due date. You can put a password on your accounts to make it harder for someone to use your card. Do that, but don’t write the access passwords down anywhere.
- Bank and brokerage account numbers and the branch names and contact numbers.
- Marriage certificates and custody documents. If someone in your family needs emergency medical care or there’s a question about reclaiming your children at a shelter, these documents can smooth the way by proving that you’re authorized to do these things.
Armed with this Go-Pak, put in an easily accessible place, you will always have peace of mind and will be prepared for any disaster.
From The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Disaster Preparedness by Dr. Maurice A. Ramirez, DO, and John Hedtke
