Preparing for Emergency: GO Bin
Being prepared for emergencies is essential, especially if you live in an area where natural disasters such as wildfire, earthquakes, tornado and hurricanes are recurring.
Please note: Today I’m discussing preparing for wildfires, because that’s the natural disaster that our family faces each year. If you are located in an area that has a high probability of natural disaster I encourage you to sit down and figure out what you need to be prepared. Check your state’s website, search out blogs, speak to fire departments. Spending a couple of hours now researching and putting together your own emergency bin and go bag will ensure that you and your family are safe.
GO bag
Preparing for Emergency Evacuation
Our family is located outside San Francisco in beautiful Marin county, California. Steps away from Napa and Sonoma counties, the coast and stunning state parks, we enjoy spending as much time as possible out in our community exploring. Around the fall things change. Wildfires start to ignite which makes our normal, everyday life impossible.
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In fall 2019 PG&E introduced public safety power shut offs when the threat of wildfires igniting were high due to weather conditions. We lost complete power for 3 days and some neighbours were without electricity for up to 3 weeks. Business shut down, including grocery stores. Some stores sourced generators to re-open but were only able to accept cash or checks. The air quality index reached hazardous which meant we couldn’t go outside and needed to ensure doors and windows were sealed. Our local police department normally communicates with the public over NIXLE on cell phones, but with no electricity cell phone towers didn’t work, which sent us all scrambling for radio’s so if we needed to be evacuated we would no in advance
And now listen, I don’t wanna be a downer here, but it’s time to start preparing for the 2020 fire season.
The Emergency Bin
Back in December I started putting together my emergency bin. I wanted to have something that was easy to move around, large enough to hold all the equipment I thought we may need during fire season and easy to throw into our car if we needed to evacuate. I also wanted something that could go hand in hand with my ‘GO’ bag (or get out bag) for emergency evacuations. I sat down and wrote out a list of things we needed, and bellow is what I came up with. I completed my bin in January 2020 and continue to add to it as I see necessary.
Family and children activities
I wanted to set aside several activities for my daughter. I chose games and entertainment that will be totally new to her, so she will be more engaged for a longer period of time.
Fireproof document folders
We have two of these babies. One to store passports and cash, the other stores important document and a backup of my computer hard drive. Check out this article on preparing your finances for a natural disaster to help get your finances ready!
Emergency lighting
Inflatable solar powered lanterns and magnetic spotlight.
Portable solar charger
I took a long time researching the solar charger that would work for our family, and I’ve been impressed with this one so far! Lets see how it does this summer.
Walkie-talkies
A gift from my best friend to my daughter, these now live in our emergency bin for short range communications.
Cold, flu and allergy medications
Supplies for any sickness that may happen during fire season.
Bits and bobs
AM/FM Radio
Adapter for our VW E-Golf so we can use it as a giant battery
Two small pocket flashlights incase we need to travel during night time
Batteries
A supply of AA and AAA batteries so we can keep things charged.
Face masks
Again let me say I prepared my emergency bin back in December/January. I picked up N-95 face masks to help with smoke inhalation, I had no idea of the upcoming pandemic. There is one for myself, Husband and a child size for my daughter, along with additional filters.
Additional steps we take
We stop purchasing food for our chest freezer and freezer in July. From July on we try and eat everything from the freezers so if/when power goes out we won’t have a bunch of spoiled food. Yes, we could get a generator for the house but it’s just not feasible at this time.
Canned goods. We stock up on canned soup, fruit and veggies which we can heat up on our gas stove.
Cash. I have a cash envelope sinking fund for fire season. Each month, I withdraw a predetermined amount of cash from our bank account which I then store in the envelope. Once its full, I place the envelope into our fireproof bags.
Emergency action and escape plan. Super important to have a plan of action in place in case we have to be evacuated and are separated.
I hope this post was helpful to you. Do you have anything additional you include in your emergency bin or bags? Let me know in the comments or social media.
Keep your stick on the ice,
Lauren
