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Evacuation planning guide
Grab bag checklist: what to keep ready
Last reviewed1 September 2026
Evidence standardOfficial public guidance first
PublisherAirborne Media & Consultancy Ltd
A grab bag is a small, portable set of essentials for situations where authorities tell you to leave home or where you may not be able to return as planned. It is different from a full household emergency kit: your home kit can support several days of disruption; a grab bag must be light enough to take quickly.
Essential medicines and health items
Take regular medicines and essential equipment according to your personal continuity plan. Keep prescription information accessible. Do not change dosage or treatment because of an emergency-planning website.
Water and simple food
A portable bottle of water and suitable snack/ready-to-eat food can help while travelling to safety. A grab bag is not intended to carry your entire multi-day household water stock.
Phone, charger and backup power
Include the correct charging cable and a charged portable power bank if practical. Keep important numbers on paper as well.
Clothing and basic protection
Seasonally appropriate layers, practical footwear and rain protection where relevant. Local hazard guidance may recommend additional equipment.
Hygiene and household-specific items
Hand sanitiser, basic personal hygiene items, infant supplies, pet essentials and other items that your household cannot reasonably go without for the journey to safety.
Do not delay evacuation to collect a bag
If emergency services or local authorities tell you to leave immediately, follow their instructions. A grab bag exists to make leaving easier when there is time to take it; it must never become a reason to delay.
Decide where you would go
A bag without a plan is incomplete. Agree a meeting point and one or more possible destinations, such as friends/family or a location identified by local authorities. Consider transport, school/child collection, pets, mobility needs and what you would do if mobile networks were unavailable.
One bag per person or a household bag?
Official guidance varies. New Zealand Get Ready recommends grab bags for everyone in the household, while UK Prepare suggests keeping items you might need to take in a spare bag. Use an arrangement that members of your household can actually carry. For children, the priority is not to overload them.
Keep it current
Review the bag with the rest of your emergency supplies. Replace expired food/medicines, recharge power banks, check clothing sizes, update document copies and confirm contacts. Keep the bag accessible but secure.
Local guidance first
Evacuation requirements vary by hazard and location. Flood, wildfire, storm, earthquake, tsunami and civil-emergency instructions can differ. Follow your local government/emergency-management authority for where to go, what route to use and when to leave.
See also: household emergency-kit guide · maintaining supplies · sources.