So yesterday we had our first notable earthquake in generations, and suffice to say, we didn't handle it very well. Next month we've got the tenth anniversary of 9/11, and this weekend we're now being told to batten down the hatches in preparation for the possible arrival of Hurricane Irene (the city's tips on preparing are here!). But all of these visions of cataclysm have us wondering...has anybody actually bothered to make one of those "go bags" that we're all supposed to have?
An informal poll here at Gothamist HQ found that no, nobody has one (though at least one of us has a crank-powered radio just in case). That doesn't mean that you (and we) shouldn't. They certainly aren't hard to put together! Different places have different suggestions for what should be in a "go bag," but a pretty basic bag should probably include:
A flashlight
A radio (battery or crank operated)
Batteries
Dust mask
A pocket knife
Emergency cash in small denominations (and quarters for phone calls!)
A change of clothes and sturdy shoes
A map marked with your family's emergency meeting place
Some water and non-perishable food
Paper, tape and markers (in case you need to make a sign)
A toothbrush and toothpaste
A list of emergency contact numbers (in a zip lock bag)
A list of any medical conditions you and your family might have (in a zip lock bag)
A copy of your health insurance and ID cards (in a zip lock bag)
An extra pair of eyeglasses or any other vital personal items
A first aid kit
Extra medication if you take any
Photos of family members and pets for identification purposes
And extra keys to your house and vehicle/bike locks
That shouldn't be that hard to put together, right? And yet nobody we know seems to have one—and even stranger, nobody seems to have a particularly good reason not to. Other than laziness, that is. Hmmm, maybe we'll finally get around to making our bag tonight?
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adding to the above list 1) tylenol 2)soap 3)cell phone, extra ones if any charged w/ chargers 4)dental floss + toothpaste 5)nail clippers 6)a towel 7)a light jacket 8)pillow 9) a watch 10) adult diapers if you want to be extra precautionary 11) a dinasour condom to wear over your head in case you meet the mayor when you are about to get on your evacuation boat. why? coz you want to distract him before he wants to... I dont know...:/ 12) purity ring. ok you can stop reading now. jajajajjajajajjajajajjajajjajaj
"Survival kit contents check. In them you'll find:
- One forty-five caliber automatic - Two boxes of ammunition - Four days' concentrated emergency rations - One drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills - One miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible - One hundred dollars in rubles - One hundred dollars in gold - Nine packs of chewing gum - One issue of prophylactics - Three lipsticks - Three pair of nylon stockings.
Shoot, a fella' could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff."
You left off the bicycle. When the fecal matter hits the rotating air moving device public transit will cease functioning, and all those cars will block the bridges, but bikes will still be able to move, just like in NOLA after Katrina, and Japan after the earthquake/tsunami this spring, allowing escape from the city. To where or what is another question. My Go Bag is located in convenient distance from my bike in the garage.
I agree about the bike, but you need basic bike maintenance/repair skills/tools/supplies. You also need food. A bike can only go as long as its engine has fuel.
I sort of live out of luggage because I'm constantly commuting and traveling all over the NorthEast, so my entire car is a "go bag." :) Minus the important documents and spare keys.
lady green
Tinsnanna here We have 7 Go Bags..3 small school like Backpacks ones in the Car..1 camping one in the Truck ready to go 3 more in the house all ready to go.. We full there w inexpensive stuff first, then better things as we can.. but old changes of clothes are free!! :0) so thats were we stated from doller tree flashlights soap old towels..yard sale items like that :)
CurmudgeonNYC
They should also include some retro porn to keep us busy when the apocalypse hits. I may be out of my house but Ill still need to rub one out. Trust me, a 1994 issue of Penthouse will be better than a .45 automatic.
EricBoucher
I carry most of those things on a regular basis just because. I don't know if it was the scouts or just movies that cause me to do this but I am always prepared.
pendejito
Due to New Yorks tough gun laws (for those law abiding citizens), all I have in my bag are my machete and baseball bat, and a motorcycle to boot. And yes, I would get all my necessities from those lacking machetes, baseball bats, and well, guns.
tom9d
I just have a closet where I keep all my camping equipment. So...sort of the same thing, just not in a bag?
Sugarbop
Hope you have a canoe in there. Cause your tent will float away.
redo_undo
I just checked that city map and it turns out I live in the highest risk area for flooding in the city. But I live on the 11th floor. So yea.
That is a serious apocalypse bag. Even making one would make me depressed.
Sugarbop
Reading this made me depressed. Especially the "pictures for identification purposes"...
luke_1
double post
Jabberwiki
Started to put one together. Didn't finish it.
Ragingsemi
My "Go-Bag"...
18G of water 15days worth of food for myself, my wife, our cats and dog Tons of Cliff bars Water Purification tablets Bottle of scotch more batteries than my local bodega police issue mag light 4 containers of mace police scanner radio 2-way radios first aid kit.....
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