What to Pack in Preparation for an Evacuation
Tip: Invest in a backcountry or other large backpack that you can wear and go, or a rolling suitcase with sturdy wheels that can navigate over dirt, rocks, glass, and other ground debris in case driving away is not possible.
Here’s a categorized list of packing essentials:
Personal Essentials
A copy of your ID and other important documents (birth certificates, passports, house deed, etc)
Cash in small bills and copies of the bank & credit cards in your wallet (front & back)
An extra set of keys to your home and car
A change of clothing - What would you want to be wearing if you need to sleep outside at night? Think lightweight “warm layers” to include long pants, long-sleeve shirt, jacket, small sun hat/beanie/gloves, long socks, undergarments, athletic shoes, a handkerchief for clean-up.
Eyeglasses or contact lenses
Headlamp - Keep new batteries in a baggie or zip pouch outside the headlamp so that they don’t corrode and leak, leaving you without power when you need it most.
Good quality multi-tool with a knife and can opener
A small notepad and pen. Include in it the addresses and telephone numbers of family and friends in case you no longer have access to your cell phone, and important account login information.
A local map with pre-marked evacuation routes from your home. Don’t rely on your phone being able to navigate for you.
Communication
A portable radio and batteries - Keep new batteries in a baggie or zip pouch outside the radio
Charging cables for your cellphone, a portable cellphone battery pack, and/or a solar charger
Food and Water
Water: one gallon per person, per day (three-day supply for evacuation)
Water filter - This one is my favorite lightweight version that rolls up really small and is easy to toss in a backpack.
Reusable water bottle
Food: nonperishable, easy-to-prepare items, such as dehydrated food, which is lightweight to carry (three-day supply for evacuation).
Baby supplies, if applicable
Pet supplies, if applicable.
Gallon-size ziplock bags to securely store and contain toilet paper and miscellaneous you may acquire along the way (also helps to prevent contamination, and can store liquid in an emergency.)
Health and Medicine
A list of all medications you, your family, and pets need, including prescriptions and other important medical information & health insurance cards. Need pet insurance? It can be useful anytime (like when my dog Newton ate two discs of Abuelita chocolate).
Medication, supplies and home-use medical devices
First-aid kit with ample cleaning wipes, wound wraps, burn and cut medication
N95 or similar quality masks to protect from wildfire smoke, contaminated fallout debris, and COVID risks in crowded indoor space (like an evacuation shelter).
Hand sanitizer
Always Pack for Your Pets
Make sure TODAY that they have a collar & tag with their name & your contact number, and are microchipped so they can be scanned in case they get lost, run off in fear, and lose their collar (it happens all the time). Make sure that your contact information is updated on the microchip (contact your local SPCA to microchip your pet.)
A carrier for each pet (a pet sling can be useful for carrying a small animal in front while wearing a backpack).
A backpack for your pet can aid them in carrying some of their own belongings.
Vaccination and medical records, proof of ownership, a current photo, contact information for the pet’s veterinarian
Three day supply of food, treats, and water. Kibble in a Ziploc bag is easier to carry than canned food
Lightweight food bowls and water bowls that can be attached to a backpack with a carabiner for easy access
A reusable bottle of water for your pet
Medications and instructions on dosing
Pet waste disposal bags
Reusable travel towel and/or paper towels
Leash/collar/harness/muzzle
Blankets and/or pet sleeping bag
Toys
For more information on transporting pets, larger animals and livestock, check Cal Fire’s animal evacuation guide.
An avid backpacker, I would personally pack similar to how I would going out into the wilderness for 5 days (except leave the bear canister and bear spray at home.) Take a look at what REI suggests for backcountry packing for more ideas.
How to get information during emergencies
Sign up to get your county’s wireless emergency alerts.
Download the FEMA App to receive real-time weather alerts, find emergency shelters, prepare for hazards, and more.
Monitor Cal Fire’s online incident map and download its app.
Listen to NOAA Weather Radio, which broadcasts information from the nearest National Weather Service station
Follow the Bay Area National Weather Service’s alerts on X
Consult the county-by-county list of regional safety alerts, Receive mobile alerts from local agencies by texting your ZIP CODE to 888777
This list does not include things personal to you. One backpack or one suitcase per person may not be enough, and that is why is it important to get started gathering items and see how it would all fit. You don’t want to wait for an emergency to realize how much you cannot take with you. Preparing in advance aids the process of paring down to the absolute necessities that you can carry, whether you evacuate by car or by foot with your kids and pets in tow. Forward this list to friends and family, and add this webpage to your phone or computer home screen for reference.
Need help getting things together? Contact me to schedule a time to talk about your emergency preparation needs.