(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Kitchen Table Kibitzing: Ready. Set. GO. [1] ['Excorpflunky', 'Zct.Life', 'Egberto Willies'] Date: 2026-08-27 I am not prepared for a disaster. How about you? Whether it’s flooding, a wildfire, an earthquake, or an extreme heat event that sends you to a cooling center, having a ‘go bag’ at the ready with 72 hours worth of supplies has been touted for years now as one of the most important things you can do for disaster preparedness. If you’re anything like me, the thought of putting together a backpack stuffed with suggested gear is daunting: I haven’t had much success with previous attempts. A backpack was never enough. I ended up with a roller bag and a backpack as well as a bag of kibble for my dog. The crate was always too big to fit in the car. The sleeping bag they recommend didn’t fit; yet another thing I’d have to carry. So no way was I prepared for an emergency in which I might have to walk. I ate the energy bars during a power outage and I no longer take any of the medications I stockpiled. They are also expired. The water supply has long since unpotable. In the past, I’ve ordered pre-assembled go bags and even purchased one compiled for two as a Christmas present for my daughter. We don’t even know where they are now. How about you? Do you have a ‘go bag’ at the ready or are you, like me, procrastinating about it? Would it inspire you if we checked in on each other for motivation? I spoke with a friend of mine who is a retired fire lieutenant about disaster preparedness. She and her partner not only have duffel bags at the ready stocked with survival gear; they also have a large container outside their house full of supplies to survive an earthquake. They also have a checklist of the things they’d take if they received a five minute warning, a 30 mnute warning, one hour warning or three hour warning. The five minute waring list includes important papers, medicines, water, purse, keys, cell phone and charger, cash in small denominations, pets with carriers , food and leashes, clothes, shoes, hats, hearing aids, flashlights and extra batteries, checkbooks, and bills to pay. Another thing she mentioned, which I almost always do, is to never let the gas tank on the car get below 1/2 full. *** If you can get past the paywall, the New York Times Wirecutter published The Best Gear for Your Go Bag, an extensively researched guide outlining the most important supplies you’ll need that can fit into a backpack. They fall into these categories: “water, shelter, fire, food, first aid and hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE), lighting, communication, and tools.” The article conveniently provides links for you to order their recommendations. The crew that assembled the guide recommended against purchasing ready made kits; instead, they say you’ll need to personalize based upon your particular situation and needs. You may already own many of the items on our list, things such as a backpack, a flashlight, hand sanitizer, garbage bags, and energy bars. In addition, the vast majority of the recommended items cost less than $20, so you can build your bag over a period of time to lessen the impact on your monthly budget. From first aid kits and Cliff bars (they have a one year shelf life) to water purification kits and emergency sleeping bags, the guide is comprehensive though still overwhelming. As we recommend in our guide to car emergency kits, it’s a good idea to keep a warm blanket in the car. That, or any old bedding, can add warmth and comfort if you end up in an emergency shelter or camped out in your vehicle. But again, disasters are unpredictable, so we believe it’s prudent to also include some lightweight backup options for warmth and shelter in your ready bag. Our recommendations will work whether you’re pulling the car over for a few hours of sleep or you’re evacuating on foot and you find yourself in a camping situation, but they are the bare-minimum option. This is definitely a category in which you should customize your pack to your own situation and climate. *** From Ready.gov, the basic supplies suggested for your go bag: Water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation) Food (at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food) Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert Flashlight First aid kit Extra batteries Whistle (to signal for help) Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air) Plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape (to shelter in place) Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation) Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities) Manual can opener (for food) Local maps Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery *** Tens of thousands of Americans have faced evacuation orders this year. In Spokane, Washington, 60-65,000 people received orders to vacate or be at the ready to vacate; in the Hawk Fire in Reno, Nevada, 42,000 were ordered to vacate with 45,000 were in warning zones. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/8/27/800088878/community/climate-cafe-ready-set-go/ Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/