Your emergency go bag needs these essential preparedness contents; checklist for wildfires, more

The Smith River Complex Fire burns near Patrick Creek Lodge in Gasquet, California in late August 2023.Courtesy: InciWeb

It’s time to update your emergency go bag, a backpack with the essentials you need to reach safety in case of a fire or other disaster like an earthquake, hurricane, tsunami, floods, a wildfire or other extreme weather. If told to evacuate, grab your portable go bag, which should be lightweight enough for you to carry in case you have to walk or use public transportation.

Despite what you may hear, you do not need to haul gallons of water or days’ worth of food if you are staying at a shelter, another home or lodging.

Shelters most likely have food, water, first-aid supplies and toilet paper, but not your lifesaving medicines, driver license or some other form of identification, and spare keys to your house and car.

• Where are wildfires happening? Keep tabs with our live wildfire tracker map

• 5 steps you can take right now to be ready for Oregon wildfire season

Time spent getting ready now can get you safely on your way in an emergency. People who are rushed or panicked may forget a vital item like respirator masks that protect from wildfire smoke or bring too much. Every thing is replaceable, say disaster experts, except people and animals.

Check your emergency go bag every six months and replace medicines that will soon expire, says the Milwaukee Health Department. If you don’t have a sturdy, lightweight bag, Redfora.com sells a 3.8-pound Ready 2 Go Bag (on sale at $39.99), a compact sling bag with essential supplies and space for personal items.

Here’s how to make all of this easier on you and your household.

Redfora.com sells a Ready 2 Go Bag (on sale at $39.99), a compact sling bag with essential tools, supplies, food and water.Redfora

“Knowing when to leave, what to take, where to go and how to get there will help keep you and your family from being caught in smoke, fire or road congestion while evacuating during a wildfire,” according to Oregon’s Ready Set Go.

Emergency preparedness experts suggest, at minimum, three actions you need to take now to improve your family’s safety during and after a disaster:

Print out or keep links such as these resources:

It’s hard to think clearly when you’re told to evacuate. This makes it critical to put together a compact, waterproof, durable go bag filled with hard-to-replace essentials like medicines, spare glasses or hearing aid, and a portable phone charger that you can grab as you race out the door.

Keep bags as light as possible by including only essentials:

— Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

[email protected] | @janeteastman

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More wildfire prevention tips:

• Best-rated air purifiers with HEPA filters to buy online, or pick up locally, to improve indoor air quality in your home

• The latest news on wildfires and wildfire smoke dangers in Portland and around Oregon

• What to know about flame-retardant wool, denim and other clothing options

• What you need to know about home inventory and insurance after a fire or other disaster

• Wildfire risk when buying an Oregon home: How to evaluate fire safety, or prepare your current property

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