Great Shira a few other things you mentioned, but I’d like to elaborate a little bit. Sometimes you have absolutely no time to get out of your home especially in an instance of fire. Well, the list above is very comprehensive. I would suggest having one bag that you grab extremely quickly with the really important stuff the other things with food and water and all of that if you have time get that . When I say no time, I mean a matter of five minutes. We went through a home fire and lost our house and by the time we realized our house was on fire. We had less than five minutes to get the dogs and our daughter out before the smoke overwhelmed .and electricity may not be available. Just suggest jewelry, printing out necessary contacts and also making sure that all your photos are online outside of your iCloud. It’s also important after going through the hurricanes where you lose Internet to make sure you have significant amount of cash available in Highlands they were cash only for 2 to 3 weeks. It is shocking to realize how much we rely on the Internet for a credit card transactions, gas, etc..
In addition to the aforementioned, I keep sneakers, hat & an empty backpack in my trunk in case I'm forced to leave my car and walk (earthquake + fire country)
From Santa Barbara, thank you for pulling this together. I’ve felt overwhelmed by trying to figure out what we need but thinking we need to do it sooner rather than later. 🤍🤍🤍
Great list! I would maybe add a few days worth of clothing, undergarments, sleepwear and jackets. Socks. Extra sneakers. Soaps and shampoo just in case!
Thanks Shira. Also never thought it wouldn’t be necessary for us but last Christmas a terrible fire doors down from me at our condo and another time had to evacuate immediately with a pet.
2 ideas.. know what hotels are pet friendly- we didnt know..
And for me I realized I need to keep my safe deposit KEY in the fireproof bag. Can be reposted there after each non emergency use. Thanks for that.
I read a year ago that one day the army will be used to cope with our environmental disasters.
This is a great list. Start small and most of us don't even have to leave the house to start.😁 A backpack is a fantastic go bag: a change of clothes, documents, a small first aid kit, phone charger, snacks, a water bottle and medications. It helps keep your hands free to carry something else when you only have minutes to go. You can use any empty jug or glass jars to hold water, as long as they've been cleaned well. I keep my bag in the back of my car in colder months along with a blanket.
Fantastic advice. A really good tip I read elsewhere is use glass jars as a matter of routine to store your pantry dry goods - the food is better protected from damp in the event of flood. The corollary to that is fill any empty jars with water, because even a small jar of water can make a differing thirsty person.
I have all of our important documents in one folder, and all of our digital photos are on 2 portable hardrives, but i don't have anything else ready to go in an emergency. It's not something any of us want to think about, but we will be rally grateful that we did if something happens. Thank you for the fantastic detailed list, it is much appreciated. I hope that your family and friends are all safe.
It’s important to have a kit but it’s equally important to have a plan. Does everyone in your household know what your exit strategy is? Have you practiced it? With the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events increasing, we all need to have a plan in place and know that we could execute that plan within a moment’s notice. Here in Ohio, we experienced an increase in tornadoes last year. Do I have a plan? I should. We all should. Thanks Shira for getting us thinking about putting together an emergency kit and a plan.
Thank you, Shira. You consistently provide us with valuable information. I have your three books set aside on a shelf in my kitchen. I refer to them often. I appreciate the work you do and for sharing with all of us.
So good. I'd add that in a disaster you might need to make an insurance claim. Great tip is just heard: Have notebook where you write down all the actions you take: who did you talk to at insurance company and what was said, collect phone numbers for insurer and others in the whole process. I can see just writing all your steps you are taking, and what next need to do, would help you stay calm during the stress of a disaster. So I'm including a blank notebook and pens in a grab-and-go bag.
I saw a similar post this week from a woman who experienced a fire sharing advice with folks in LA. She suggested to take a video of home with cabinets and drawers open for insurance purposes. I would suggest this beforehand and, if there is time, updating it while packing. Also, the fire rated containers can’t likely sustain the prolonged heat and intensity of the LA fires so bring the container with you if you don’t have to leave immediately. On a note of my own, our landline is now the voice over IP (VOIP) with Comcast so I noticed we got a warning that 911 accuracy isn’t the same.
Great Shira a few other things you mentioned, but I’d like to elaborate a little bit. Sometimes you have absolutely no time to get out of your home especially in an instance of fire. Well, the list above is very comprehensive. I would suggest having one bag that you grab extremely quickly with the really important stuff the other things with food and water and all of that if you have time get that . When I say no time, I mean a matter of five minutes. We went through a home fire and lost our house and by the time we realized our house was on fire. We had less than five minutes to get the dogs and our daughter out before the smoke overwhelmed .and electricity may not be available. Just suggest jewelry, printing out necessary contacts and also making sure that all your photos are online outside of your iCloud. It’s also important after going through the hurricanes where you lose Internet to make sure you have significant amount of cash available in Highlands they were cash only for 2 to 3 weeks. It is shocking to realize how much we rely on the Internet for a credit card transactions, gas, etc..
These tips are so incredibly useful - thanks for taking the time to share, and so sorry to hear you lost your home. A unique type of grief. x
In addition to the aforementioned, I keep sneakers, hat & an empty backpack in my trunk in case I'm forced to leave my car and walk (earthquake + fire country)
Great idea, thanks for sharing. x
From Santa Barbara, thank you for pulling this together. I’ve felt overwhelmed by trying to figure out what we need but thinking we need to do it sooner rather than later. 🤍🤍🤍
My pleasure - I'm right there with you. It feels overwhelming, but so important. xoxo
Great list! I would maybe add a few days worth of clothing, undergarments, sleepwear and jackets. Socks. Extra sneakers. Soaps and shampoo just in case!
YES. Updating the post now! x
Thanks Shira. Also never thought it wouldn’t be necessary for us but last Christmas a terrible fire doors down from me at our condo and another time had to evacuate immediately with a pet.
2 ideas.. know what hotels are pet friendly- we didnt know..
And for me I realized I need to keep my safe deposit KEY in the fireproof bag. Can be reposted there after each non emergency use. Thanks for that.
I read a year ago that one day the army will be used to cope with our environmental disasters.
Ahhh - great ideas about the safe deposit key and the pet-friendly hotel research! x
This is a great list. Start small and most of us don't even have to leave the house to start.😁 A backpack is a fantastic go bag: a change of clothes, documents, a small first aid kit, phone charger, snacks, a water bottle and medications. It helps keep your hands free to carry something else when you only have minutes to go. You can use any empty jug or glass jars to hold water, as long as they've been cleaned well. I keep my bag in the back of my car in colder months along with a blanket.
This is so important - updating post now to include a car kit! x
Fantastic advice. A really good tip I read elsewhere is use glass jars as a matter of routine to store your pantry dry goods - the food is better protected from damp in the event of flood. The corollary to that is fill any empty jars with water, because even a small jar of water can make a differing thirsty person.
Brilliant - we love our glass pantry jars - never occured to me they could serve double duty as a water vessel. Thanks! x
I have all of our important documents in one folder, and all of our digital photos are on 2 portable hardrives, but i don't have anything else ready to go in an emergency. It's not something any of us want to think about, but we will be rally grateful that we did if something happens. Thank you for the fantastic detailed list, it is much appreciated. I hope that your family and friends are all safe.
It’s important to have a kit but it’s equally important to have a plan. Does everyone in your household know what your exit strategy is? Have you practiced it? With the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events increasing, we all need to have a plan in place and know that we could execute that plan within a moment’s notice. Here in Ohio, we experienced an increase in tornadoes last year. Do I have a plan? I should. We all should. Thanks Shira for getting us thinking about putting together an emergency kit and a plan.
Thank you, Shira. You consistently provide us with valuable information. I have your three books set aside on a shelf in my kitchen. I refer to them often. I appreciate the work you do and for sharing with all of us.
So good. I'd add that in a disaster you might need to make an insurance claim. Great tip is just heard: Have notebook where you write down all the actions you take: who did you talk to at insurance company and what was said, collect phone numbers for insurer and others in the whole process. I can see just writing all your steps you are taking, and what next need to do, would help you stay calm during the stress of a disaster. So I'm including a blank notebook and pens in a grab-and-go bag.
And... good idea to write down the insurance company phone number in that blank notebook. Along with other essential numbers and addresses.
I saw a similar post this week from a woman who experienced a fire sharing advice with folks in LA. She suggested to take a video of home with cabinets and drawers open for insurance purposes. I would suggest this beforehand and, if there is time, updating it while packing. Also, the fire rated containers can’t likely sustain the prolonged heat and intensity of the LA fires so bring the container with you if you don’t have to leave immediately. On a note of my own, our landline is now the voice over IP (VOIP) with Comcast so I noticed we got a warning that 911 accuracy isn’t the same.