If the wildfires that continue to rage in Los Angeles have taught us anything, it's that life can change in an instant. One minute, my parents were safe in my childhood home; moments later, the Palisades Fire was barreling down the canyon with the fire line right behind their house and a mandatory evacuation order, which they're still under five days later. Thankfully my parents were prepared. Growing up in L.A. meant that we'd experienced a handful disasters—there were the 1992 riots, countless wildfires, and of course the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. (Fun fact: I was at my first sleepover in Northridge right at the epicenter when that hit, and at first thought my friend was playing a trick on me and shaking the bed. Our school was completely destroyed, and we were hosted by a nearby elementary for an entire year before being able to return.)
Needless to say, at the Simmons household we always had a pair of sneakers and a flashlight under our beds and a go-bag at the ready, which meant my parents were as prepared as one could be to go when the evacuation order was sent.
Oftentimes in the case of emergency, there's little to no time to pack up and go. And there's no real indicator if or when you'll be coming back home. That's why it's important to be prepared. Having a go-bag is no longer just for doomsday preppers; it's the smart thing to do.
Though a go-bag for evacuations will differ a bit from a typical adventure survival kit, many of the same principals apply. Last year I took a one-day critical survival skills training course with Thomas Coyne, the founder of the Thomas Coyne Survival School, who emphasized that with little to no gear in tow, common injuries and getting lost can turn quickly into survival scenarios. That's why it's essential to have not only food and means to filter water, but a legit first aid kit, sources for light and power, reliable means of navigation, and protective gear to keep you and your family, including your furry friends, safe. (There's more to it than that of course, which we break down in detail with help from San Francisco outdoors and survival enthusiast Sam Osborn here.)
I've built this checklist of what to pack in your go-bag, but if you'd rather opt for a ready-made option, there's a great one from Uncharted Supply Company, which includes 60 professional-grade survival tools designed for two. Of course, I hope you never need it. But it's always better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
In strength and kindness,
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