Where the Rubber Meets the Road

It is hard for me to consider going anywhere on foot. However, for many people in large cities, cars are not available or even feasible. In addition, your car may be disabled or trapped by falling trees, downed electrical wires or floodwaters.

Even if you start out your evacuation in a car, you may need to continue on foot due to traffic gridlock, rising flood waters, bridge failure, car running out of gas, car becoming disabled, earthquake chasm or car jacking.

Where the Leather Meets the Road

You should be ready to evacuate on foot and carry what you need. You MAY be able to use a wagon, shopping cart or other wheeled storage container, but you MUST have everything you need in one bag that you can CARRY. If you have a family, this means one bag per person. These bags should be packed and put in a central location so that everyone may reach them quickly.

Find a waterproof lightweight backpack that you can carry (all day and night) or that will fit on your walker, bicycle, wagon, wheelchair, whatever. Remember, anything that is not waterproof will increase dramatically in weight when wet, especially the clothes you choose to wear. Cotton is the worst thing to wear.

Packing Your Getaway Bag

Pack and unpack the following items in your backpack until you feel comfortable that you can find everything quickly. A backpack with pockets may be good to organize your belongings. You could split the items between a purse and bag, but one bag would be better.

Necessary Items

  • Laminated map (see Part 3)
  • Laminated list of medical information and contact numbers (see Part 3)
  • Picture ID
  • Money, gasoline card, ATM card (split money up among family members and carry on your person)
  • Meals-Ready-Eat (MREs) -OR- small camp stove/fuel, dehydrated food, mess kit/utensils
  • small water purifier (or water purifying tablets) – water weighs 8+ pounds per gallon
  • space blanket(s)
  • waterproof flashlight(s)
  • waterproof first-aid kit with instructions
  • waterproof poncho
  • waterproof tarp
  • eyeglasses and clip-on sunglasses in hard case and zip lock bag
  • hearing aid in hard case and zip lock bag
  • travel sized toiletries in zip lock bag
  • battery-powered or hand-crank weather band radio with am/fm
  • compass
  • Swiss Army knife
  • all-in-one tool
  • duct tape
  • rope
  • small garbage bags
  • twist ties
  • plastic zip bags
  • candles
  • matches
  • lighters
  • waterproof matches

Place in separate quart sized plastic zip bags:

  • cell phone
  • cell phone chargers (electric and car adapters)
  • extra batteries for flashlight, cell phone and radio
  • magic marker, pens and paper
  • keys to your home, car and lockbox (not all your keys)
  • OTC medicines (aspirin or Advil, antacid tablets, anti-diarrhea, antihistamines, motion sickness pills)
  • Granola bars, energy snacks and/or candy bars

In a large zip bag pack or space bag:

  • one full change of clothes
  • three pairs of socks
  • three pairs of underwear

In another large zip lock bag or space bag:

  • Lightweight, waterproof pants and windbreaker (jacket, gloves and hat if applicable)
  • one pair of comfortable shoes or sneakers
  • one pair of rain boots or galoshes

If you have room left, you may want to include:

  • lightweight tent
  • folded air mattress
  • small umbrella
  • rain hat

Other items that may apply to you:

  • life jacket
  • thermal under garments
  • fireproof shelter
  • gun and ammunition – sad to say, but this was necessary in New Orleans in 2005
  • pet Rx, pet food and leash
  • formula, baby food, diapers
  • Insulin-must be kept cool. There are special cooling packages that you may buy.
If you have young children, practice the emergency drill. If you have teenagers, make sure you have a plan for what they should do depending upon where they are at the time of the emergency. Think about different situations and talk it over.

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