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Admittedly, and I don’t know why, building a Go Bag feels like a big undertaking. How do you assemble at least two weeks’ worth of basic necessities and your most valuable possessions? I suppose in the same way you do anything else – one step at a time.
For the next six weeks, I want to build our Go Bags incrementally by focusing on the six “P’s.” What are they? I’m so glad you asked:
Okay, fine… I suppose you could argue that’s closer to eight P’s, but I recommend we stay consistent with the organizations that recognize six (like the Los Angeles Fire Department, the Colorado Springs Fire Department, CAL FIRE, Oregon Wildfire Response & Recovery, and many more). No matter how many P’s you count, they include the items you need to have packed and ready when it’s time to go. People and Pets Fortunately, we’ve already completed a lot of the work associated with the first of the six P’s. Way to go! In Week 2, we prepared to evacuate with pets. In Week 3, we identified emergency evacuation routes and shelter locations. In Week 6, we built our Get Home Bag (the bag that lives in our vehicles or outside of our homes and, if push comes to shove, already contains the basic items we want for evacuation). In addition to what we’ve done in past weeks, Oregon Wildfire Response & Recovery lists food, water, hygiene, sanitation, clothing, and comfort items as the things to gather to fulfill the first P. I raided my 20-year-old backpacking supplies and here is what I collected for myself:
Of course, your items will look different depending on your needs and the needs of other people and animals in your care. Don’t forget about:
Another courtesy would be to attach a sign to the door for first responders to let them know the people and pets have fully evacuated. Cost: $0 - $$$ (Depending on the supplies you may need to buy now) Frequency: Check your supplies semi-annually, and add or swap any items right away How are you getting yourself, family, roommates, neighbors, and pets ready? What items did I miss? Are there any other useful resources you recommend? Let me know in the Comments. Important Disclaimer: I am not a fire preparedness professional. I am merely sharing my research, opinions, and what I find that applies to my geographic and personal situations in hopes that it will help others. Please make sure that whatever steps and advice you follow are what is best for you.
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May is Wildfire Awareness Month and, since Saturday May 3rd was Wildfire Community Preparedness Day (#WildfirePrepDay2025), what better way to keep the activities going than to learn what to do around your property just prior to an evacuation (the pre-evacuation stage)? These are the steps that will hopefully help reduce damage to your structure but, very importantly, will also support the responding firefighters.
Days-to-Hours Before Evacuation: If you anticipate an evacuation alert, or if you choose to evacuate on your own and there is time after you’ve packed everything in your vehicle:
Hours-to-Minutes Before Evacuation: If you only have a little time to do a few things after the vehicle is packed, here is what is recommended:
Cost: $0 - $$$$ (Depending on the supplies you need to buy now, such as hoses, a ladder, buckets, and materials to cover vents) Frequency: Check your supplies annually, but you’ll only need to take the listed steps if you prepare to evacuate. Even though this isn’t a particularly long list, this is a lot to remember if you’re experiencing a great deal of stress due to the potential threat of wildfire. What tips do you have to remember what to do when it officially becomes pre-evacuation time? For example, will you create a checklist and tape it to a door or include it in your “In Case of Emergency” binder? Do you have a mnemonic or a song that helps you remember the important steps? Let me know in the Comments. References:
Important Disclaimer: I am not a fire preparedness professional. I am merely sharing my research, opinions, and what I find that applies to my geographic and personal situations in hopes that it will help others. Please make sure that whatever steps and advice you follow are what is best for you.
I’ll address a “Go” Bag in a future #FirePrepFriday but, this week, I want to share what I call my “Get Home” Bag. In my mind, a Go Bag is what I have packed and stored in my house – it includes emergency essentials and is among the things I would quickly grab after receiving an evacuation alert. A Get Home Bag, on the other hand, is always stored in my vehicle. That way, if an emergency occurs while I’m away from home and out in town or in the wilderness… whether it’s a wildfire, a blizzard, or just a flat tire… I have supplies I can use to get back to the house.
Here are the items in my Get Home Bag:
Here are the additional items I keep in my vehicle:
Cost: No Cost - $$$$ (depending on what you already have and what you need to add to your supplies) Frequency: Check your Get Home Bag at least semi-annually. If you have items like mine, you need to ensure the batteries aren’t dead, the medical supplies aren’t expired, and you have weather-appropriate clothing (for example, in your location, you may not need several blankets, gloves, or the warmest jacket you have). What’s in your Get Home Bag? What do you recommend I add to mine? Share your thoughts in the Comments. Important Disclaimer: I am not a fire preparedness professional. I am merely sharing my research, opinions, and what I find that applies to my geographic and personal situations in hopes that it will help others. Please make sure that whatever steps and advice you follow are what is best for you.
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Krista West has been at the intersection of the remote sensing, wildland fire, and science communication communities since 2016. One of her main goals is to help emergency responders and the community members they serve. Archives
August 2025
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