Bug-Out Bag Checklist

For most emergencies, the right move is staying home. Your house has your food, water, beds and tools. See why you should stay home the first 72 hours. But sometimes you have to leave: a chemical spill, a fire, a flood, a gas leak, or an evacuation order. When that happens, you might have minutes. That's what a bug-out bag is for.

01The goal

A bug-out bag should get one person through about 72 hours away from home, wherever you end up: a shelter, a relative's house, a hotel, or a car. It needs to be:

• Packed and ready, by the door or in the car.
• Light enough to carry a few miles if you had to.
• One per person, with kids carrying a small one.

02Water

• Water bottles or a hydration bladder, a couple of liters.
• A filter or purification tablets to treat more. See water purification.

03Food

• Three days of easy food: energy bars, nuts, jerky, peanut butter packets, dried fruit. Food you'll actually eat, with no cooking needed.
• A small stove and fuel are optional; most people won't need them for 72 hours.

04Clothing

• A change of clothes, including socks and underwear.
• Rain jacket.
• Warm layers (hat, gloves, fleece or puffy) in fall and winter. In the Midwest, a cold-weather layer stays in the bag most of the year.
• Sturdy shoes if you won't be wearing them.

05Shelter and warmth

• An emergency blanket or bivy.
• A small tarp or poncho.
• Hand warmers in winter.

06Light and communication

• Headlamp and extra batteries.
• Phone charger and a small power bank.
• A small battery radio (or one with a crank).
• A whistle.

07First aid and medicine

• A small first-aid kit. See building a real home first-aid kit.
• A week of any prescription medicines, if your pharmacist and insurance allow an extra supply. Rotate them so they don't expire.
• Glasses or contacts.

08Documents and money

• Copies of ID, insurance, and medical info in a waterproof bag, or on an encrypted thumb drive.
• Cash in small bills. Card machines and ATMs don't work without power.
• A list of phone numbers on paper. Your phone might die.
• A paper map of your area with two ways out of town marked.

09Tools and hygiene

• Multi-tool or knife.
• Duct tape wrapped around a water bottle or pen.
• Hand sanitizer, toilet paper, wipes, toothbrush.
• N95 masks.
• Lighter or matches in a waterproof container.

10What to leave out

People overpack. Leave out:

• Heavy gear you've never used.
• Huge knives and "tactical" gear that doesn't help you get to a shelter.
• More food than you need for three days.

A bag you can't carry is worse than no bag.

11Pets and kids

• Pets: food, water, leash, carrier, vaccine records, and a photo of you with the pet.
• Kids: a small bag with snacks, a comfort item, a change of clothes and an ID card with your phone number.

12Keep it fresh

Check the bag twice a year, when the clocks change: rotate food and water, check batteries, swap seasonal clothes, and update medicines and documents.

A bug-out bag is the backup plan. Your home is still the main plan. See 72-hour kit checklist for Midwest families for the stay-at-home version.

Related: Bookmark Your Utility's Outage Map Before the Storm