In short: A go bag is a ready-packed bag of essentials you can carry if you're told to evacuate, including on foot or public transportation. Based on Ready.gov, pack water, snacks, a flashlight, radio, first aid kit, phone charger and backup battery, medicines, copies of important documents, cash in small bills, clothing and sturdy shoes, plus items for children and pets. Keep it where everyone knows, and keep a separate kit in the car.
Key facts
- Ready.gov advises building a go-bag with all the essentials you might need, so you don't need to scramble in an evacuation, and making sure everyone knows where it is stored. Source
- Ready.gov suggests keeping a half tank of gas in your car at all times, and a full tank if an evacuation seems likely, because gas stations may be closed or unable to pump during power outages. Source
- Ready.gov notes that most public shelters allow only service animals, so identify a place to stay that will accept pets. Source
- Ready.gov advises having small bills on hand because ATMs and credit cards may not work during a disaster. Source
- The FEMA App is free and can help you find a nearby shelter if you need to evacuate. Source
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Most emergencies are best handled at home. Sometimes, though — a hurricane, a wildfire, a flood — local officials ask people to leave. If that's on your mind, a go bag is the calm answer: one bag, packed in advance, so you can walk out in minutes with medicines, documents and phone power instead of scrambling. Ready.gov's evacuation guidance recommends exactly this, and you may also hear it called a "bug out bag". This checklist follows Ready.gov and FEMA advice.
What is a go bag?
Ready.gov advises you to build a go-bag with all the essentials you might need, so you don't need to scramble in an evacuation, and to make sure everyone in your household knows where it's stored. It specifically suggests a bag you can carry if you evacuate on foot or by public transportation — so keep it to what you can actually lift and walk with.
A go bag is not the same as your home supplies:
| 72-hour home kit | Go bag | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Staying at home for at least 3 days | Leaving quickly |
| Size | Bins or a closet shelf | One bag per person or household that you can carry |
| Water | 1 gallon per person per day for 3+ days | A few bottles to carry |
| Key items | Water, food, radio, light, sanitation | Medicines, documents, phone power, cash, clothing |
If you haven't built a home kit yet, start with our 72-hour kit checklist. Many items overlap.
Go bag checklist: essentials
Drawn from Ready.gov's basic kit list and evacuation advice, scaled down for carrying:
- Drinking water — a few bottles per person
- Non-perishable snacks such as bars, nuts and dried fruit
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio
- First aid kit
- Whistle
- Dust mask
- Cell phone charger and a charged backup battery
- Moist towelettes, hand sanitizer and garbage bags
- Local maps, with your evacuation routes marked
- Paper copy of your family emergency plan and key phone numbers
- Cash in small bills
Ready.gov's Get Tech Ready page advises having an emergency charging option for your phone and other devices.
Personal items for each person
- Prescription medicines and a current medication list
- Prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution
- A complete change of clothing for your climate
- Sturdy shoes
- A warm blanket or sleeping bag, if you can carry it
- Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
- Soap and disinfecting wipes
When you leave, Ready.gov suggests wearing sturdy shoes and protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts and a hat.
Which documents should go in a go bag?
Ready.gov's financial preparedness page suggests gathering financial and critical personal, household and medical information. Put copies in a waterproof bag:
- Photo ID
- Birth certificates and Social Security cards
- Military service records, if relevant
- Insurance policies (home or renters, auto, health)
- Housing payment records and income or tax information
- Health insurance details, immunization records and medication lists
- Contacts for your bank, insurance agent, doctors and other service providers
- Pet ID and records
Ready.gov also suggests storing important documents in a safety deposit box, on an external drive or in the cloud, and its Get Tech Ready page recommends a secure, password-protected drive or cloud storage. Ready.gov's financial page offers a free Emergency Financial First Aid Kit to help organize these papers. Our emergency binder guide covers which papers to copy.
On cash, Ready.gov advises keeping a small amount at home in a safe place, in small bills, because ATMs and credit cards may not work during a disaster.
Kids, pets and access needs
Babies and children (from Ready.gov's kit list):
- Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream
- A book, game or puzzle and a comfort item
- A copy of the family plan in their backpack
Pets. Ready.gov says that if local officials ask you to evacuate, your pet should evacuate too, and its evacuation page notes that most public shelters allow only service animals. Plan ahead for a pet-friendly hotel or a friend's home, and pack:
- Food and water for several days, and any medicine
- Spare leash, collar and ID tag
- Copies of records and a recent photo of you with your pet
Disability and medical needs. Ready.gov's disability guidance suggests adding:
- Several days' supply of prescription medicines
- Hearing aids and spare batteries
- A charged extra battery for a power wheelchair or medical device
- Copies of insurance and Medicare cards
- Laminated cards with phrases or pictograms, if they help you communicate
Car emergency kit
Ready.gov suggests a portable emergency kit in the car. Its car safety page lists:
- Jumper cables
- Flares or a reflective triangle
- Ice scraper
- Car cell phone charger
- Blanket
- Map
- Cat litter or sand for tire traction
Add water and snacks for the drive. Ready.gov also suggests keeping a half tank of gas at all times and a full tank if an evacuation seems likely, because gas stations may be closed or unable to pump during power outages. It suggests taking one car per family to reduce congestion.
If you don't have a car, Ready.gov says to plan now how you'd leave, and to talk to family, friends or your local emergency management office about what resources may be available.
What to do when you're told to evacuate
From Ready.gov's evacuation page:
- Follow local evacuation instructions and listen to a battery-powered radio
- Take your go bag and emergency supply kit
- Leave early enough to avoid being trapped by severe weather
- If time allows, contact the out-of-state contact in your family plan
- Close and lock doors and windows
- Unplug electrical equipment such as TVs and small appliances; leave freezers and refrigerators plugged in unless there is a risk of flooding
- Shut off water, gas and electricity only if your home is damaged and you're instructed to
- Leave a note saying when you left and where you're going
- Check on neighbors who may need a ride
- Follow recommended routes — don't take shortcuts, and don't drive into flooded areas
Ready.gov's shelter page says mass care shelters often provide water, food, medicine and basic sanitation, but you should still plan to take your emergency supply kit with you. The free FEMA App can help you find a nearby shelter.
Where to keep it and when to check it
- Keep the bag near an exit, somewhere every adult knows about.
- Check it when you review your family emergency plan — Ready.gov suggests reviewing your kit needs every year.
- Swap snacks and water before their dates, update medicines and document copies, recharge the backup battery, and change clothes for the season.
If you live on the coast, see our hurricane preparedness guide, and visit the US preparedness hub for the full set.
Limitations
This is general information based on Ready.gov and FEMA guidance, not professional advice. We haven't tested any products. In an emergency, always follow instructions from local officials and call 911 if life is at risk. Evacuation zones, routes and shelter arrangements differ by state and county, so check your state and local emergency management agency.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a go bag?
It's a bag of essentials packed in advance so you can leave quickly if you're told to evacuate. Ready.gov suggests a go-bag you can carry if you evacuate on foot or by public transportation.
Is a go bag the same as a bug out bag?
They're the same basic idea: a ready-packed bag for leaving home in a hurry. Official US guidance uses 'go-bag' and focuses on practical essentials — medicines, documents, water, light and phone power.
What documents should go in a go bag?
Ready.gov's financial preparedness advice lists photo ID, birth certificates, Social Security cards, insurance policies, medical information and medication lists, and key contacts. Carry copies in a waterproof bag and store digital copies securely.
How much cash should I keep in a go bag?
Ready.gov doesn't give an amount, but it advises keeping a small amount of cash at home in a safe place, in small bills, because ATMs and credit cards may not work during a disaster.
Can I take my pet to an evacuation shelter?
Ready.gov says most public shelters allow only service animals, so plan ahead for a pet-friendly hotel or a friend's home. If officials ask you to evacuate, your pet should evacuate too.
What should I keep in my car for emergencies?
Ready.gov's car kit list includes jumper cables, flares or a reflective triangle, an ice scraper, a car phone charger, a blanket, a map, and cat litter or sand for tire traction.
Sources
- Ready.gov — Evacuation
- Ready.gov — Build a Kit
- Ready.gov — Financial Preparedness
- Ready.gov — Get Tech Ready
- Ready.gov — Car Safety
- Ready.gov — Pets and Animals
- Ready.gov — People with Disabilities
- Ready.gov — Shelter
- FEMA — Mobile Products (FEMA App)