www.npr.org Open in urlscan Pro
2a02:26f0:480:a82::1155  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

Accessibility links
 * Skip to main content
 * Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

NPR 24 Hour Program StreamOn Air Now
 * Hourly News
 * Listen Live
 * Playlist

 * Open Navigation Menu
 * 
 * 
 * Newsletters
 * Sign In
 * NPR Shop
 * Donate

> Close Navigation Menu
 * Home
 * News Expand/collapse submenu for News
   * National
   * World
   * Politics
   * Business
   * Health
   * Science
   * Climate
   * Race
 * Culture Expand/collapse submenu for Culture
   * Books
   * Movies
   * Television
   * Pop Culture
   * Food
   * Art & Design
   * Performing Arts
   * Life Kit
   * Gaming
 * Music Expand/collapse submenu for Music
   * Hip-Hop 50
   * Tiny Desk
   * All Songs Considered
   * Music Features
   * Live Sessions
 * Podcasts & Shows Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows
   Daily
    * Morning Edition
    * Weekend Edition Saturday
    * Weekend Edition Sunday
    * All Things Considered
    * Fresh Air
    * Up First
   
   Featured
    * Rough Translation
    * Louder Than A Riot
    * It's Been a Minute
    * Life Kit
   
    * More Podcasts & Shows

 * Search
 * Newsletters
 * Sign In
 * NPR Shop

 * 
 * Hip-Hop 50
 * Tiny Desk
 * All Songs Considered
 * Music Features
 * Live Sessions

 * About NPR
 * Diversity
 * Organization
 * NPR Network
 * Support
 * Careers
 * Connect
 * Press
 * Ethics

How to make your own emergency go bag Natural disasters can happen anywhere with
little to no notice. FEMA and the Red Cross say everybody should have an
emergency go bag prepared.


WEATHER


A GO BAG IS AN ESSENTIAL TOOL DURING NATURAL DISASTERS. HERE'S HOW TO BUILD YOUR
OWN

August 24, 20235:34 PM ET

By 

Kaity Kline

Enlarge this image

In this Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, photo, Lexi Montgomery poses with supplies she
has purchased in the event of another storm, in Miami Beach, Fla. Hurricane Irma
was the first hurricane that Montgomery ever experienced. Alan Diaz/AP hide
caption

toggle caption
Alan Diaz/AP


In this Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, photo, Lexi Montgomery poses with supplies she
has purchased in the event of another storm, in Miami Beach, Fla. Hurricane Irma
was the first hurricane that Montgomery ever experienced.

Alan Diaz/AP

Sherri McKinney, the national spokesperson for the Red Cross, knows just how
unpredictable natural disasters can be. She lived through the deadly Nashville
tornadoes in 2020 – the 6th costliest tornado in U.S. history. 25 people died,
over 300 were injured, and the city suffered 1.6 billion dollars in damage.

The tornado hit overnight quickly and unexpectedly, leaving McKinney and others
without any time to evacuate ahead of it touching down.

"Emergencies are more common than people may think, and disasters happen
anywhere and any time. It can even begin in someone's own home," said McKinney.

McKinney says that proper preparation can make navigating a disaster event less
difficult.

"Being prepared for any type of emergency or disaster can make the difference
between life and death," McKinney added. "We can't stress that enough. Have a
plan, have a kit, and know how to evacuate your area."

After a disaster happens, it could take days before first responders are able to
reach people. And it's usually friends or neighbors in your community who can
get to each other first.

Lea Crager, FEMA's Ready Campaign Director, says there are still steps you can
take to prepare yourself for situations where your access to medical assistance
is limited.

"That's why we tell people [to] take a CPR class, have a first aid kit, know
that if something happened in your neighborhood or community, you may be having
to help some of your neighbors or they may be having to help you," said Crager.

Crager added that the more prepared you are as a community, the easier it is on
first responders. Because there are only so many resources to go around.





A GO BAG IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR EMERGENCY PREP


The Red Cross is helping recovery efforts in Maui, and McKinney is stationed
there. Following a disaster like the Maui fires, McKinney says people are most
in need of food, water, and clothing.

"I think people may think they're ready when something's going to happen. But
they usually haven't taken the time to know where a few key items are in their
house or things they might need in case of an emergency," said Crager. "You kind
of take for granted that everyone will know what to do. But when real events
happen, a lot of times, people are stressed and don't think as clearly."

When it comes to a properly stocked go bag, McKinney suggests packing several
essential items. Your go bag should be ready with a three-day water supply per
person. Make sure that you have foods that are shelf-stable and don't have an
expiration date. You should also include first aid supplies.

"We heard of people leaving here with burns on their legs and arms. To have that
emergency kit with product in it that you can treat a quick burn or a quick cut
is critically important sometimes," McKinney said.

It's important to start slowly building an emergency kit that you can keep
nearby, such as in your garage or closet. You can start by buying one item at a
time. Or you may opt to create a full list of items you need in your go bag and
purchase them in bulk. No matter how you choose to build your go bag, the Red
Cross says a go bag should have enough items in it for your entire family for
three days.

But the amount of food and water you should have is dependent on where you live.
Some local or state officials ask for you to have more than three days of items.

"If you live on an island like Puerto Rico, they request you have 7 to 10 days
worth of supplies," said Crager. "If logistical chains are broken, it's going to
take longer to get aid and relief to some areas. So if you're in a more rural
area, you're probably going to need more than someone who's in an area where
you're going to have resources readily available."


CLIMATE


HOW CANADIAN WILDFIRES ARE WORSENING U.S. AIR QUALITY AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO
COPE


NATIONAL


LESSONS MAUI CAN TAKE FROM OTHER STATES TO PROTECT AGAINST FUTURE WILDFIRE
DISASTERS

You can visit the Red Cross website for a full list of basics to have in your
own go bag.

These items include:

1. Water: one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation.)

2. Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare (3-day supply for evacuation)

3. First aid kit

4. Medications (7-day supply) and medical items.

5. Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical
information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth
certificates, insurance policies)

6. Family and emergency contact information.

FEMA emphasizes that everybody will have a different list because everybody's
needs are different.

"What my mom needs in her bag or what your coworker needs are all going to be
different things. Do you have a pet? Do you have children? Do you have
prescription medication? Look at what your needs are and what you're going to
need to be able to leave your house," said Crager.



While stocking their go bags, people often forget about their medications. When
there's a disaster, The Red Cross will replace any and all medications, as well
as medical equipment, eyeglasses, and other health needs. "We do see people many
times evacuating and they leave that all behind," McKinney said.

Another common item to forget is personal documents like a renter's agreement or
the deed to your house. Crager says that FEMA always tells people to save backup
copies of these documents in the cloud.

If you don't want to start an emergency kit from scratch, McKinney says the
American Red Cross has go kits or emergency kits on their website redcross.org.
She says they make great gifts for weddings, Christmas, and for people who are
going to be new homeowners.

"It's really important that we think of that kind of gift as a gift of life,"
she said. "To make sure that we're protecting our loved ones."

But FEMA stresses that a ready-made go bag needs to be customized to your needs.
Crager suggests you sit down and go through the bag with your family to make
sure it has all your essential items.



DON'T FORGET TO CRAFT A DETAILED EMERGENCY PLAN


And while building an emergency go bag is crucial, McKinney emphasizes the
importance of also talking to your family and making an emergency plan to stay
in touch if you're separated during a natural disaster.

It's important to include your children in these conversations too. Tell them
someone they can reach if they can't reach you, where they should go, and where
they can meet up with you again.

"If a disaster happens, people think they're going to be with their children.
And we're seeing more and more that disasters can happen while kids are at
school or at an after-school program. And parents can't reach their kids," said
Crager. "So have those conversations where everyone would know the roles we
would play and what we'd have to do if we were separated."

Treye Green edited the digital version of this story.

 * Red Cross
 * FEMA
 * natural disaster

 * Facebook
 * Flipboard
 * Email






MORE STORIES FROM NPR

NEWS

UP FIRST BRIEFING: FLORIDA EVACUATIONS; SUMMER COVID WAVE; HOW TO BEAT JET LAG

WEATHER

IDALIA STRENGTHENS INTO A HURRICANE OFF CUBA AS IT CHURNS TOWARD FLORIDA

NATIONAL

TROPICAL STORM IDALIA: CARS MAY STOP WORKING MID-EVACUATION DUE TO FUEL
CONTAMINATION

WEATHER

TROPICAL STORM IDALIA COULD REACH HURRICANE STRENGTH BEFORE HITTING FLORIDA THIS
WEEK

NATIONAL

LAHAINA WAS EXPENSIVE BEFORE THE FIRE. SOME WORRY REBUILDING WILL PRICE THEM OUT

NATIONAL

'MIRACLE HOUSE' OWNER HOPES IT WILL SERVE AS A BASE FOR REBUILDING LAHAINA


POPULAR ON NPR.ORG

POLITICS

'YOU'RE NOT WELCOME HERE!' DESANTIS BOOED AT VIGIL FOR JACKSONVILLE SHOOTING
VICTIMS

NATIONAL

MAUI OFFICIALS RELEASE 388 NAMES OF PEOPLE UNACCOUNTED FOR IN MAUI FIRE

HEALTH

OZEMPIC SEEMS TO CURB CRAVINGS FOR ALCOHOL. HERE'S WHAT SCIENTISTS THINK IS
GOING ON

BUSINESS

ARMED WITH TRAFFIC CONES, PROTESTERS ARE IMMOBILIZING DRIVERLESS CARS

GLOBAL HEALTH

CORONAVIRUS FAQS: HOW WORRISOME IS THE NEW VARIANT? HOW LONG DO BOOSTERS LAST?

HEALTH

SHE PAID HER HUSBAND'S HOSPITAL BILL. A YEAR AFTER HIS DEATH, THEY WANTED MORE
MONEY


NPR EDITORS' PICKS

LIFE KIT

YOUR BEST ADVICE ON LASTING RELATIONSHIPS OF ALL KINDS

CLIMATE

ANOTHER STRUGGLE AFTER THE MAUI FIRES: KEEPING TOXIC RUNOFF OUT OF THE OCEAN

TECHNOLOGY

META SAYS CHINESE, RUSSIAN INFLUENCE OPERATIONS ARE AMONG THE BIGGEST IT'S TAKEN
DOWN

NATIONAL

THIS CAFE NEVER CLOSED AFTER LAHAINA'S FIRES, EXTENDING A LIFELINE OF NORMALCY

GLOBAL HEALTH

WHATEVER HAPPENED IN ETHIOPIA: DID THE CEASE-FIRE BRING AN END TO CIVILIAN
SUFFERING?

BOOK REVIEWS

'A GUEST IN THE HOUSE' RESTS ON ATMOSPHERE, DELIVERING AN UNCANNY, WILD RIDE



READ & LISTEN

 * Home
 * News
 * Culture
 * Music
 * Podcasts & Shows

CONNECT

 * Newsletters
 * Facebook
 * Instagram
 * Press
 * Public Editor
 * Corrections
 * Contact & Help

ABOUT NPR

 * Overview
 * Diversity
 * NPR Network
 * Accessibility
 * Ethics
 * Finances

GET INVOLVED

 * Support Public Radio
 * Sponsor NPR
 * NPR Careers
 * NPR Shop
 * NPR Events
 * NPR Extra

 * Terms of Use
 * Privacy
 * Your Privacy Choices
 * Text Only
 * © 2023 npr




Sponsor Message

Become an NPR sponsor




COOKIE CONSENT & SPONSORSHIP CHOICES

We and our partners store and access information on your device, such as unique
IDs in cookies to process personal data. You may accept and manage your choices
at any time by clicking `Manage Preferences`, including your right to object
where legitimate interest is relied upon. Your choices will be signaled to our
partners and will not affect your browsing.
By clicking “Accept All,” you agree to the use of cookies, similar tracking and
storage technologies, and information about your device to enhance your viewing,
listening and user experience, personalize content, personalize messages from
NPR’s sponsors, provide social media features, and analyze NPR’s traffic. This
information is shared with social media, sponsorship, analytics, and other
vendors or service providers.


WE AND OUR PARTNERS PROCESS DATA TO PROVIDE:

Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Store and/or access
information on a device. Personalised ads and content, ad and content
measurement, audience insights and product development. List of Partners
(service providers or vendors)

Accept All Reject All Manage Preferences



MANAGE PREFERENCES

We process your data to deliver content or advertisements and measure the
delivery of such content or advertisements to extract insights about our
website. We share this information with our partners on the basis of consent and
legitimate interest. You may exercise your right to consent or object to a
legitimate interest, based on a specific purpose below or at a partner level in
the link under each purpose. These choices will be signaled to our vendors
participating in the Transparency and Consent Framework.
Allow All


MANAGE CONSENT PREFERENCES

STRICTLY NECESSARY OR ESSENTIAL COOKIES

Always Active

These cookies are essential to provide you with services available through the
NPR Services and to enable you to use some of their features. These cookies are
necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.
They are usually set in response to actions made by you that amount to a request
for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in, or filling
in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies,
but some parts of the site will not then work. Without these cookies, the
services that you have asked for cannot be provided, and we only use these
cookies to provide you with those services.

Cookies Details‎

PERFORMANCE AND ANALYTICS COOKIES

Performance and Analytics Cookies

These cookies are used to collect information about traffic to our Services and
how users interact with the NPR Services. The information collected includes the
number of visitors to the NPR Services, the websites that referred visitors to
the NPR Services, the pages that they visited on the NPR Services, what time of
day they visited the NPR Services, whether they have visited the NPR Services
before, and other similar information. We use this information to help operate
the NPR Services more efficiently, to gather broad demographic information and
to monitor the level of activity on the NPR Services. NPR's third-party service
providers that measure and analyze the use of the NPR Services for NPR also use
their own cookies. NPR's third-party analytics service providers use cookies
across multiple sites to collect visitor data (such as data related to age,
gender and visitor interests).

Cookies Details‎

TARGETING AND SPONSOR COOKIES

Targeting and Sponsor Cookies

These cookies track your browsing habits or other information, such as location,
to enable us to show sponsorship credits which are more likely to be of interest
to you. These cookies use information about your browsing history to group you
with other users who have similar interests. Based on that information, and with
our permission, we and our sponsors can place cookies to enable us or our
sponsors to show sponsorship credits and other messages that we think will be
relevant to your interests while you are using third-party services. NPR works
with third-party vendors that may serve sponsorship credits or other messages to
you on other websites after you visit the NPR Services. These third-party
vendors use their own cookies to recognize you as an NPR Services visitor and to
serve you sponsorship credits or other messages on other websites that they
believe you will find most relevant. If you do not allow these cookies, you may
still receive sponsorship or marketing messages, but they may not be targeted to
your interests.

Cookies Details‎

FUNCTIONAL COOKIES

Functional Cookies

These cookies allow NPR Services to remember choices you make when you use them,
such as remembering your Member station preferences and remembering your account
details. The purpose of these cookies is to provide you with a more personal
experience and to avoid you having to re-enter your preferences every time you
visit the NPR Services. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose
services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some
or all of these services may not function properly.

Cookies Details‎

STORE AND/OR ACCESS INFORMATION ON A DEVICE

Store and/or access information on a device

Cookies, device identifiers, or other information can be stored or accessed on
your device for the purposes presented to you.

List of IAB Vendors‎ | View Full Legal Text Opens in a new Tab

PERSONALISED ADS AND CONTENT, AD AND CONTENT MEASUREMENT, AUDIENCE INSIGHTS AND
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and
product development

 * SELECT BASIC ADS
   
   Switch Label
   
   Ads can be shown to you based on the content you’re viewing, the app you’re
   using, your approximate location, or your device type.
   
   Object to Legitimate Interests Remove Objection

 * CREATE A PERSONALISED ADS PROFILE
   
   Switch Label
   
   A profile can be built about you and your interests to show you personalised
   ads that are relevant to you.
   
   Object to Legitimate Interests Remove Objection

 * SELECT PERSONALISED ADS
   
   Switch Label
   
   Personalised ads can be shown to you based on a profile about you.
   
   Object to Legitimate Interests Remove Objection

 * CREATE A PERSONALISED CONTENT PROFILE
   
   Switch Label
   
   A profile can be built about you and your interests to show you personalised
   content that is relevant to you.
   
   Object to Legitimate Interests Remove Objection

 * SELECT PERSONALISED CONTENT
   
   Switch Label
   
   Personalised content can be shown to you based on a profile about you.
   
   Object to Legitimate Interests Remove Objection

 * MEASURE AD PERFORMANCE
   
   Switch Label
   
   The performance and effectiveness of ads that you see or interact with can be
   measured.
   
   Object to Legitimate Interests Remove Objection

 * MEASURE CONTENT PERFORMANCE
   
   Switch Label
   
   The performance and effectiveness of content that you see or interact with
   can be measured.
   
   Object to Legitimate Interests Remove Objection

 * APPLY MARKET RESEARCH TO GENERATE AUDIENCE INSIGHTS
   
   Switch Label
   
   Market research can be used to learn more about the audiences who visit
   sites/apps and view ads.
   
   Object to Legitimate Interests Remove Objection

 * DEVELOP AND IMPROVE PRODUCTS
   
   Switch Label
   
   Your data can be used to improve existing systems and software, and to
   develop new products
   
   Object to Legitimate Interests Remove Objection

List of IAB Vendors‎ | View Full Legal Text Opens in a new Tab

ACTIVELY SCAN DEVICE CHARACTERISTICS FOR IDENTIFICATION

Actively scan device characteristics for identification

Your device can be identified based on a scan of your device's unique
combination of characteristics.

List of IAB Vendors‎ | View Full Legal Text Opens in a new Tab

ENSURE SECURITY, PREVENT FRAUD, AND DEBUG

Always Active

Your data can be used to monitor for and prevent fraudulent activity, and ensure
systems and processes work properly and securely.

List of IAB Vendors‎ | View Full Legal Text Opens in a new Tab

TECHNICALLY DELIVER ADS OR CONTENT

Always Active

Your device can receive and send information that allows you to see and interact
with ads and content.

List of IAB Vendors‎ | View Full Legal Text Opens in a new Tab

MATCH AND COMBINE OFFLINE DATA SOURCES

Always Active

Data from offline data sources can be combined with your online activity in
support of one or more purposes

List of IAB Vendors‎ | View Full Legal Text Opens in a new Tab

LINK DIFFERENT DEVICES

Always Active

Different devices can be determined as belonging to you or your household in
support of one or more of purposes.

List of IAB Vendors‎ | View Full Legal Text Opens in a new Tab

RECEIVE AND USE AUTOMATICALLY-SENT DEVICE CHARACTERISTICS FOR IDENTIFICATION

Always Active

Your device might be distinguished from other devices based on information it
automatically sends, such as IP address or browser type.

List of IAB Vendors‎ | View Full Legal Text Opens in a new Tab
Back Button


COOKIE LIST



Search Icon
Filter Icon

Clear
checkbox label label
Apply Cancel
Consent Leg.Interest
checkbox label label
checkbox label label
checkbox label label

Reject All Confirm My Choices