Emergency Go Bags

September 29, 2021 at 12:22 p.m.
Emergency Go Bags
Emergency Go Bags

The peak of hurricane season is here and for most Floridians, that means being prepared to leave when a storm approaches. Having an emergency kit filled before a potential threat frees your mind from trying to remember what you need at the last moment. This allows you time to secure your home, check on neighbors and those who may need additional help, make sure your electronic devices are fully charged, and your vehicle has at least 1/2 tank of gas. Prepare mentally by acknowledging that disasters happen, and you are potentially at risk.
Prepare, Act Quickly, Stay Safe! For Englewood resident Timothy Brown and his family, those words quickly went from thoughtful reminders to necessary action. Why? Destructive Hurricane Irma was approaching Southwest Florida.  Brown said, “We added some last-minute items to our go bags and packed them in our vehicle, along with extra water and fuel.” Their preparation proved invaluable. “Thanks to having things prepared ahead of time, we were able to make a quick exit and made our way north before Interstate 75 was totally backed up.”
Keep in mind that power, water, and phone may not be available for some time after a storm, even if you are not at risk for flood or storm surge. Also, remember that no power means credit card transactions cannot be processed, so plan to have some cash available. Did you know texting conserves your phone’s battery more than phone calls? Besides packing supplies, such as five days of food, water, medication, eyeglasses, bedding and clothing changes, remember also to include a can opener, masks, disinfectant supplies, pet supplies (including a crate, vaccination records, leash, food & water bowls, and clean-up bags), a hand crank or battery-powered radio that can receive NOAA weather alerts, first aid kit, games & books for entertainment, flashlights, items for personal hygiene, and don’t forget extra batteries! Put important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, personal identification, cash & credit cards, and bank account records in a portable waterproof container and keep it in your possession for safekeeping. For a list of suggested emergency kit supplies and other ways to prepare for a potential disaster, visit fema.gov. Some organizations such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, make it a practice to always be prepared for an emergency, and you can obtain helpful insights at www.jw.org regarding their “To Go Bags”. You also can visit www.fema.gov.