National Preparedness Month: Be Prepared to Evacuate with a Go Bag

In the event that you need to evacuate your home due to fire, flooding or some other emergency, it's important to have essential supplies for each member of your household ready to go in a portable kit. Many of these materials can be found around your home or even at a dollar store: 

• Copies of your important documents, such as insurance cards, photo IDs, birth certificates, deeds, and proof of address. Keep these in a waterproof and portable container. 
• Extra set of car and house keys.  
  
• Credit and ATM cards.   
• Cash, especially in small bills (ones, fives and tens).  
  
• Bottled water and ready-to-eat foods, such as energy or granola bars.   
• Flashlight and extra batteries.   
• Battery-operated AM/FM radio and extra batteries (You can also buy wind-up radios that do not require batteries.)  
• Medication. Be sure to refill medications before they expire. Fill out a Health Information Card or keep a list of the medications each member of your household takes, why they take them, and their dosages. Also keep copies of all prescriptions, and your doctors’ and pharmacist’s contact information.   
• First-aid kit.   
• Sturdy, comfortable shoes, lightweight rain gear, and a mylar blanket.   
• A copy of your Household Emergency Plan with important contact and meeting place information.  
• A small regional map (Emergency Evacuation Route Map).   
• Personal care items: hand sanitizer, feminine products, toothbrush and toothpaste, toilet paper and wipes.  
• Special care items, including child care supplies, items for special needs and pet supplies.

For more information on emergency preparedness, visit the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management at www.phila.gov/ready.