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The Bug-Out Bag List Essentials You’ll Want In an Emergency

Bug-Out Bag List Essentials
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updated: September 18, 2024

As extreme weather, like hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, and tornados, becomes more common, the need to be prepared ahead of a natural disaster does too. Having a packed bag of supplies (often called a "bug-out bag” ready to go at a moment’s notice can help you (and your family) feel more secure when the elements are out of control.

“More Americans expect that a major disaster will impact them or their family than in previous years, but we’ve not seen an increase in household emergency planning alongside this awareness,” stated Nicolette Louissaint, Ph.D., executive director of Healthcare Ready, in a press release addressing its national survey on preparations for a disaster. “For the fourth year in a row, this poll reveals a gap in preparedness at an individual level and emphasizes the need to improve readiness to ensure residents are prepared for the disasters that will inevitably come.”

According to FEMA’s 2023 National Household Survey on Disaster Preparedness, 48% of Americans have taken the time to prepare for a disaster by assembling or updating supplies in case of an emergency.

After my community experienced extreme flooding in our area last summer, I decided that having some essentials in an easy grab-and-go bag wasn’t the worst idea, so I jumped at the opportunity to take a deep dive into this topic.

The basics of a bug-out bag

What is a bug-out bag?

A bug-out bag contains essential items you or your family will need for at least 72 hours (according to FEMA) should you have to quickly evacuate your home during a natural or man-made disaster. Bug-out bags typically contain items that you may need if you cannot return home and are forced to set up a camp or safe zone.

You can purchase pre-made bug-out bags, like this one from Uncharted Supply Company, or make your own using a weatherproof backpack large enough to hold all your gear. If you buy a pre-packed bag, check whether it only contains supplies for an individual or if it can support more than one person.

You can find bug-out bags designed for teens and kids, too, although every bug-out bag should contain items specific to you and your family.

THE SEVENTY2® Pro Survival System

THE SEVENTY2® Pro Survival System

24BattlePack Tactical Backpack | 1 to 3 Day Assault Pack | Combat Veteran Owned Company |40L Bug Out Bag (Black Camo)

24BattlePack Tactical Backpack | 1 to 3 Day Assault Pack | Combat Veteran Owned Company |40L Bug Out Bag (Black Camo)

DASH Bugout Survival Kit for Teens

DASH Bugout Survival Kit for Teens

Emergency Zone - Keep-Me-Safe Children's Deluxe 72-Hr Emergency Survival Kit - Royal Blue

Emergency Zone - Keep-Me-Safe Children's Deluxe 72-Hr Emergency Survival Kit - Royal Blue

How does a bug-out bag differ from a go bag?

Many people consider bug-out bags and go-bags to be similar, but some survival specialists do not, citing that a go-bag is usually smaller and contains items you might need for 24 hours, like a change of clothes, a wallet with identification, flashlight, basic first aid kit, cash, and paperwork, anything you might need for the time it takes you to reach an emergency shelter. A bug-out is typically larger and designed to hold items you’ll need for a few days and more gear overall.

The point of both bags is to have what you need on hand to leave your home in case of an emergency. And if packing multiple bags seems too overwhelming, in theory, a bug-out bag could simply contain whatever you might put into a go-bag.

As mentioned, some people consider a go-bag or bug-out bag the same, while others do not, but I’ve gathered a list of gear that could potentially be split into two bags or simply packed into one all-powerful bug-out bag to get you and your family through a natural or man-made disaster where you have to leave your home.

Essential items to pack

Most bug-out bag materials are designed to keep you and your family safe in the wilderness versus taking shelter in an emergency facility, so I’ve included items like tents, ground clothes, and fire starters.

If your emergency evacuation plan involves sheltering in a hotel, family or friend's home, or a FEMA shelter, you may not need to include everything on this list, but I’ve included the items recommended by FEMA, survival specialists, and travel organizations that assist in emergencies. In addition, use your best judgment according to your personal circumstances to pack the best bug-out bag for you and your family.

Also, while toys might not be on the top of an essentials list, a deck of playing cards, dice, or a small foldable travel board game, as well as coloring books or reading materials, might not be a bad idea to toss in, especially if you have kids or teens.

Bug-out bag basics

Three days worth of food, snacks, and water

Beef or other kinds of jerky, granola and protein bars, oatmeal packets, bags of nuts (if you don't have allergies), and peanut butter are all good options for your bug-out bag. Freeze-dried treats and ready-made camping meals, cans of beans, and other shelf-stable items are good choices, too. If you have kids, add some snacks and comfort treats, too. Don’t forget your pets, too; they will need food and snacks. Plus, you will need one gallon of water per person or pet per day — be sure to set aside enough portable water.

Grass-Fed Salt & Pepper Beef Jerky

Grass-Fed Salt & Pepper Beef Jerky

Kate’s Real Food Organic Granola Bars - Snack & Share Variety Pack (2.2 oz, Pack of 12) - Organic Energy Bars Made with Gluten Free Oats - Non GMO, Soy Free, Whole Grains, and All Natural

Kate’s Real Food Organic Granola Bars - Snack & Share Variety Pack (2.2 oz, Pack of 12) - Organic Energy Bars Made with Gluten Free Oats - Non GMO, Soy Free, Whole Grains, and All Natural

Mountain House Classic Meal Assortment Bucket

Mountain House Classic Meal Assortment Bucket

First aid kit

This should be at the top of your list, so I put it at the top of mine. The American Red Cross sells 73-piece first aid kits on Amazon, and I like this one from L.L. Bean because everything is contained in a lightweight and waterproof bag. My kids always like to carry their own mini first aid kits, too, like this one designed for kids from Adventure Medical Kits, and they love the tiny ones from Welly, too.

American Red Cross 9165-RC First Aid Only Be Red Cross Ready First Aid Kit, 73 Pieces

American Red Cross 9165-RC First Aid Only Be Red Cross Ready First Aid Kit, 73 Pieces

Adventure Medical Kit Ultralight/Watertight First Aid Kit

Adventure Medical Kit Ultralight/Watertight First Aid Kit

Welly Quick Fix, On The Go First Aid Kit, Assorted Bandages, Ointments, and Hand Sanitizer, Three Color Bandages - 2 Pack

Welly Quick Fix, On The Go First Aid Kit, Assorted Bandages, Ointments, and Hand Sanitizer, Three Color Bandages - 2 Pack

Can opener

Buy a hand-held can opener (if you don’t have one attached to a multitool).

KitchenAid Classic Multifunction Can Opener / Bottle Opener

KitchenAid Classic Multifunction Can Opener / Bottle Opener

Power card

A power card, like a Battarix, is a one-and-done charging card that can fit into your wallet. This single-use card is for extreme emergencies when all the power is down. It stays pre-charged for eight years with proper storage and can provide power to Androids and iPhones without needing additional adaptors.

Battarix
Battarix Power Card

Battarix Power Card

Toilet paper and antibacterial wipes

This is for when nature calls during a disaster, plus it allows for easy clean-up in the car or at a shelter.

Honest Sanitizing Alcohol Baby Wipes, 15 Count, Grapefruit Grove

Honest Sanitizing Alcohol Baby Wipes, 15 Count, Grapefruit Grove

Paper maps

If the GPS goes down with the power grid, owning paper maps of your area could be handy.

Flashlight

Personally, I would pack one small flashlight per person in my bug-out bag, plus one or two large, high-beam, and weatherproof flashlights like this one.

Energizer LED Tactical Flashlight TAC-700, Ultra Bright IPX4 Water Resistant Flash Light, Rugged Metal Body, Manual Focus (Batteries Included)

Energizer LED Tactical Flashlight TAC-700, Ultra Bright IPX4 Water Resistant Flash Light, Rugged Metal Body, Manual Focus (Batteries Included)

Small sewing kit

Safety pins are considered an important part of a safety kit to fix rips conveniently.

Fiskars Assorted Safety Pins - Assorted 3-Size Safety Pin Set - Sewing Accessories and Supplies - 75-Piece

Fiskars Assorted Safety Pins - Assorted 3-Size Safety Pin Set - Sewing Accessories and Supplies - 75-Piece

Fishing gear

A collapsible fishing kit, like the Sougayilang Fishing Rod Combo, provides what you need to fish in fresh or saltwater. Plus, it’s collapsible, so it won’t take up too much space in your bug-out bag. If you find yourself seeking shelter near a lake, stream, or pond, you’ll be happy you have it.

Sougayilang Fishing Rod and Reel Combos with Telescopic Fishing Pole Spinning Reels Fishing Carrier Bag for Travel Saltwater Freshwater Fishing

Sougayilang Fishing Rod and Reel Combos with Telescopic Fishing Pole Spinning Reels Fishing Carrier Bag for Travel Saltwater Freshwater Fishing

Whistles

Pack a few emergency whistles on lanyards that each passenger can wear if necessary.

4 Pack Emergency Whistles, Loud Shrill Safety Whistle with Reflective Lanyard for Outdoor Climbing Hiking Camping Fishing Boat Kayak Life Vest Jacket Boating Water Survival Rescue Signaling (Orange)

4 Pack Emergency Whistles, Loud Shrill Safety Whistle with Reflective Lanyard for Outdoor Climbing Hiking Camping Fishing Boat Kayak Life Vest Jacket Boating Water Survival Rescue Signaling (Orange)

Duct tape

A roll of duct tape can patch holes or tape things down in high winds. It’s considered an essential item for survival situations.

Trash bags

Heavy-duty contractor bags can be used for trash and as a ground cloth or tarp if you don’t have them.

Reli. Contractor Trash Bags 55 Gallon Heavy Duty | 20 Bags w/Ties | Construction Garbage Bags | Industrial | Extra Large/Big | Black

Reli. Contractor Trash Bags 55 Gallon Heavy Duty | 20 Bags w/Ties | Construction Garbage Bags | Industrial | Extra Large/Big | Black

Resealable bags

A package of multisized resealable bags is always useful on trips, so I would put these resealable bear bags in my bug-out bag.

Bear Bags for Food Backpacking- Odor Proof Storage Bags 7.87 Mil Reusable No-Odor Ziplock Barrier Bags Fit Home Organization Camping, Food Storage (2pack)

Bear Bags for Food Backpacking- Odor Proof Storage Bags 7.87 Mil Reusable No-Odor Ziplock Barrier Bags Fit Home Organization Camping, Food Storage (2pack)

N95 or other face masks

Pack a supply of N95 masks to protect you and your loved ones against viruses.

KN95 - 5 Layer Face Mask 10 pcs black Filtration>95% with Comfortable Elastic Ear Loop Non-Woven Polypropylene Fabric, Protection for Essential Workers

KN95 - 5 Layer Face Mask 10 pcs black Filtration>95% with Comfortable Elastic Ear Loop Non-Woven Polypropylene Fabric, Protection for Essential Workers

Batteries

Make sure to have batteries for any item that might run out of juice.

Rayovac High Energy AA Batteries (60 Pack), Double A Batteries

Rayovac High Energy AA Batteries (60 Pack), Double A Batteries

Lantern

A good camping collapsible camping lantern can be a source of additional light. These solar ones by Kizen come in a pack of two.

KIZEN Solar Camping Lantern - LED Lanterns for Power Outages, Camping Lights, Emergency Flashlight - Collapsible Lamp, Rechargeable W/Solar or Plug

KIZEN Solar Camping Lantern - LED Lanterns for Power Outages, Camping Lights, Emergency Flashlight - Collapsible Lamp, Rechargeable W/Solar or Plug

Ground tarp and tent

A ground tarp and tent may take up too much space in your bag, but you can toss them in your car in case you end up camping after you evacuate.

Canteen or water bottles

Each person and furry friend in your car should have a collapsible water bottle or canteen. Also, pack water purification tablets.

Hydaway Collapsible Water Bottle - 17 fl. oz.

Hydaway Collapsible Water Bottle - 17 fl. oz.

Merino wool hiking socks

Merino wool works in all-weather to keep your feet dry and warm. Smartwool makes them for men, women, and children.

Insect repellent

Make sure to keep bugs away and throw insect repellent into your bug-out bugs.

OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellent V Biting Insect Spray for Outdoor Use 9 oz 2 Count

OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellent V Biting Insect Spray for Outdoor Use 9 oz 2 Count

Sunscreen

Mineral sunscreen will keep you safe from sunburns. Keep in your bag for year-round coverage.

Portable radio

I like this one because it’s inexpensive and has good reviews. It’s also a flashlight and a charging station.

Emergency Hand Crank Radio with LED Flashlight for Emergency, AM/FM NOAA Portable Weather Radio with 2000mAh Power Bank Phone Charger, USB Charged & Solar Power for Camping, Emergency

Emergency Hand Crank Radio with LED Flashlight for Emergency, AM/FM NOAA Portable Weather Radio with 2000mAh Power Bank Phone Charger, USB Charged & Solar Power for Camping, Emergency

Insulated rain jacket

Make sure to pack warm rain jackets for everyone. Patagonia offers a great selection for the family.

Wool hat and gloves

A wool hat and gloves for each family member, plus sun hats, too, should be in your bag.

Salty Lined Beanie

Salty Lined Beanie

Cotopaxi Tech Bucket Hat in Tamarindo/Scuba Blue

Cotopaxi Tech Bucket Hat in Tamarindo/Scuba Blue

Comfortable walking shoes

Personally, I would advise having these on your feet when you walk out the door in an emergency, but sometimes you have to drop everything and run. Make sure to keep hiking boots or comfortable walking shoes in your bag.

Contact lenses and solution

This won’t apply to everyone, but if you wear contact lenses, keep a spare box (in your prescription) and a bottle of saline solution on your bug-out bag list.

Eyeglasses

Your bag should contain sunglasses, a spare pair of readers (or two or three), and your eyeglass prescription to ensure you have whatever you need.

Writing materials

Consider packing pens, paper/notebooks, pencils (because ink pens can freeze), and if you have kids, a small art supply kit, like this one from REI, which comes in its packable mesh and nylon bag.

Outside Inside Backpack Watercolor Kit

Outside Inside Backpack Watercolor Kit

Hand sanitizer

Always have a bottle in any bag to keep germs away.

BAC-D Alcohol Free Hand Sanitizer and Wound Care 1.7 oz. (Pack of 3)

BAC-D Alcohol Free Hand Sanitizer and Wound Care 1.7 oz. (Pack of 3)

Travel shovel

A foldable travel shovel could be useful if you end up seeking shelter in the outdoors.

Toothbrush and toothpaste

A few toothbrushes, dental floss, toothpaste, and even mouthwash should be added to your bag.

Headlamps

A headlamp will give you hands-free light, which can be very useful in an emergency, and double as a reading light at night. This is a good lightweight option with 250 lumens from L.L. Bean.

L.L.Bean Trailblazer 250 Headlamp

L.L.Bean Trailblazer 250 Headlamp

Hand warmers

My family uses these disposable ones when we ski, and we keep a box in our car in the wintertime in case of a breakdown. In case your emergency occurs in cold weather, hand warmers can be a welcome relief when it's freezing out.

HotHands Hand Warmers - Long Lasting Natural Odorless Air Activated Warmers - Up to 10 Hours of Heat - 40 Pair

HotHands Hand Warmers - Long Lasting Natural Odorless Air Activated Warmers - Up to 10 Hours of Heat - 40 Pair

Portable stove

Again, this is on some survivalists' lists of key items, but I’m not sure I would add it if I didn’t have to because of the added weight. REI sells a solid selection of camping stoves if this is a must-have in your bag.

SPRK+ Butane Camp Stove

SPRK+ Butane Camp Stove

Hatchet and field knife

Backcountry carries a Stoke Camp hatchet and firestarter for under $50, plus a wide range of field and camping knives.

Quick drying underwear

In emergency situations, small comforts often provide large returns — put quick-drying underwear on your list. It’s especially useful if you are dealing with torrential rains, flooding, hurricanes, or other water-related emergencies.

quick-drying underwear

quick-drying underwear

Emergency sleeping bag

Pick up an emergency sleeping bag like this ultralight, extra-thick Mylar space sleeping blanket with a hood and reinforced tape seams. It is small enough to hold in your hand, so it won’t take up too much room in your bag. The name Don’t Die in the Woods Emergency Sleeping Bag says it all. This can also be a blanket, so you don’t have to pack extra ones.

Don’t Die in The Woods - World’s Toughest Survival Bivy [with Hood Extension] Extra-Thick Emergency Sleeping Bag with Ripstop Nylon Stuff Sack - Built with Space Blanket Thermal Mylar

Don’t Die in The Woods - World’s Toughest Survival Bivy [with Hood Extension] Extra-Thick Emergency Sleeping Bag with Ripstop Nylon Stuff Sack - Built with Space Blanket Thermal Mylar

Stainless steel cutlery and dinnerware

I like the one-and-done idea of this camping cutlery set because everything you need fits neatly into one bag, making it easy to add to your bug-out.

Camping Cutlery Set, 8 Piece Stainless Steel Cutlery Set Including Cutlery Spoons Mug Bowls & Plates Rags, Organizer Straps Easy to Carry for Backpacking, Camping, Hiking and Picnics (Blue)

Camping Cutlery Set, 8 Piece Stainless Steel Cutlery Set Including Cutlery Spoons Mug Bowls & Plates Rags, Organizer Straps Easy to Carry for Backpacking, Camping, Hiking and Picnics (Blue)

Over-the-counter medications

When I travel, I stock a mini pharmacy kit with ibuprofen, kids' Motrin, Pepto Bismol, and other OTC medications. I would do the same for a bug-out bag.

Matches and fire starter kit

In case you need to start a fire when you evacuate, a first starter kit, like this one, may come in handy.

Fire Starter Survival Tool - All-in-One Patented Flint and Steel Fire Starter Kit - Ferro Rod Fire Starter with 36" Waterproof Tinder Wick Rope and Steel Fire Striker | Prepared4X

Fire Starter Survival Tool - All-in-One Patented Flint and Steel Fire Starter Kit - Ferro Rod Fire Starter with 36" Waterproof Tinder Wick Rope and Steel Fire Striker | Prepared4X

Compass

Toss a compass in your pack just in case your GPS goes dark.

A-10 NH Compass

A-10 NH Compass

Menstruation products

If there are menstruating individuals in your group, make sure to stock up on sanitary items or a menstrual cup, which will take up much less room.

Multi-tool

A multi-tool is a must-have in a bug-out bag and my friends and I are fans of multitools from Leatherman for the high-quality and durable products.

Signal® Leatherman

Signal® Leatherman

Pack in a waterproof and weatherproof sealable bag

List of contact names and phone numbers

Keep a laminated copy of important contact names, addresses, and phone numbers in a waterproof, Ziplock bag, especially if you have children. This is helpful if you are separated, lose your phone, or otherwise need a hard copy of information.

Cash, checkbook, credit card

Up to $500 or more in cash plus your checkbook can be extremely useful if credit card machines are down in your area. A credit card for emergencies is always a good idea. Having a card designated for your bug-out bag can be helpful if you need to pay for a hotel or transportation — like airline or train tickets.

Photos of each member of the family

Make sure to have photos of each family member (and pets) on hand.

Health records

Make copies of your health records, immunization cards, and other important medical information.

Copies of home insurance information and personal insurance

If you have life and home insurance, keep this information with you as well.

Copies of titles to car and home

You are likely to have your car title in your glove box, but make a copy anyway for your bag, along with copies of the deeds for any homes and properties you own.

Copies of your medical insurance cards

Your insurance cards will likely be in your wallet, but make sure to have copies in a waterproof bag, too.

Prescriptions (for all family members), plus copies of subscriptions

Make sure to have your prescription medications easily available in your bug-out bag, and make copies of the prescriptions in case you need them filled.

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