Bags
What
- One bag per person (including children)
- If your children are too young to carry their own bag (or you may end up carrying it for them) consider a larger bag for yourself
- For adults consider camping backpacks or rolling suitcases which can carry more weight and are easier on the back than a regular backpack
Where
- Use what you have, especially when you are starting and your kit is smaller
- Check your local thrift store, ours had backpacks for $2
Paperwork
What
What
- A rotation checklist. One per family. Laminate it so you can write/erase with a wet-erase marker.
- ID tags. One per bag (multiple per family).
- Fill in personal contact details
- Attach a family photo to the back. (The purpose of the picture is in case your children are separated from you, it may help others locate you faster in a group.)
- Enclose in ziploc bag to protect it from water (or laminate it if you have a personal laminator) and attach to the zipper of your bag.
- Emergency Contact Numbers sheet. One in each adult's bag. This has the numbers of your local police & fire departments handy. I enclose a blank one, write in your local numbers.
- Family Emergency Plan: Make a plan for where your family will meet and who they will call. See the form here. Make a copy for each bag. Also take a picture and store in your cell phone.
- Emergency checklist. One in each adult's bag. This list will help you think through everything you need to do in the event of an emergency.
At the end of the first month you should have empty bags ready to fill, ID tags on those bags, and all of the paperwork above filled in and dropped in the appropriate bags. If you have any questions or suggestions leave them in the comments. Thanks!
