Preppers are well aware of how important it is to have a go-bag ready for when they need to bug out, but many overlook the necessity of a get-home bag.

Imagine your family decides to bug in when disaster strikes, but you find yourself at a store in the next town over.

What if a widespread power outage leaves you stranded at work or in a different town, or civil unrest erupts while you're out running errands, making it unsafe to travel by car?

What if a natural disaster hits, forcing you to abandon your vehicle and trek home on foot?

To ensure you're prepared for the worst-case scenario, it's crucial to keep everything you might need in your car.

That's where a get-home bag comes in.

Why You Need a Get-Home Bag

As someone practicing preparedness, you likely already have a go-bag as well as a house stocked with emergency food and survival gear.

But you can’t guarantee that you’ll be at home when something happens.

For this reason, you need a get-home bag with essentials that will take you from wherever you are to wherever you need to go.

There may come a time when it is safest to bug in at home or your survival retreat, but first, you need to get yourself there.

A get-home bag ensures you will have what you need to get you to your safe place.

Factors to Consider 

A get-home bag is not one-size-fits-all.

What’s in it will vary from person to person because it depends on where you live and your ability to lift heavy objects. 

For example, if you live in a more rural area and your doctor or grocery store is in the next town over, you need to make sure you have enough supplies in your get-home bag to make it back home safely.

In contrast, if you live in a more urban area and work or shop close to where you live, you may not need as much to get back home.

You also must be able to carry your bag. Should you have to hoof it home, your get-home bag cannot be too heavy.

The only way to find out? Test it out!

Eliminate what isn’t essential so that you can carry the load. There’s no point in having a bag you can’t easily carry.

Other than your unique needs and the size of your bag, the overall look of the bag is another factor to consider.

You do not want a fancy, attractive bag.

Your bag should not stand out. You’ll want a gray-man bag to help you blend in.

Essentials to Pack in Your Get-Home Bag

While what is packed in a get-home bag will vary from person to person, there are some essentials you should think about:

• Water. Water is essential for survival. The problem is that it’s too heavy to carry around in a get-home bag. Instead of lugging around gallons of water, consider adding water treatment drops or tablets along with a personal water filter straw to your bag. In addition to products that allow you to purify water, you can also purchase small, ready-made, and lightweight pouches of water.
  
  
• Food. Food is also a must-have, but again, you can’t carry pounds of it around with you. To make sure your get-home bag has just enough food to feed you on your journey home, add 2,400-calorie emergency ration bars to your bag. They’re small enough to pack into your bag, yet loaded with crucial calories!
  
  
• Contact information. Have a printed—preferably laminated—list of important contact information with names, phone numbers, addresses, and coordinates. You cannot rely on your cell phone in an emergency.
  
  
• Paper maps. Again, you cannot rely on cell phones and other electronic navigation tools. Keep paper maps on hand. They should already have potential routes to your home mapped out. It is also wise to include a compass.
  
  
• Emergency blankets. Emergency blankets are life-saving. They can protect against the elements and take up little space in a get-home bag.
  
  
• Tarp. A tarp is a versatile survival item that can be used to protect against the weather and provide a makeshift shelter.
  
  
• Flashlight. A flashlight, preferably a solar-powered flashlight that doesn’t rely on batteries, is a good choice for a get-home bag. My Patriot Supply offers a 9-in-1 multi-function LED solar rechargeable flashlight that acts as a power bank, USB charger, red SOS light, seatbelt cutter, and more.
  
  
• Extra charger. With how connected society is to technology, it is important to keep an extra charger with your emergency supplies.
  
  
• Clothing. Keeping a spare change of clothes in your get-home bag is essential. You may face unpredictable weather that could leave your clothes cold and wet.
  
  
• Fire starters. You should always keep a fire starter in your get-home bag. You can use a fire starter to prepare a fire to keep you warm, cook food, or signal for help.
  
  
• First aid. Don’t make the mistake of packing your get-home bag without including a first aid kit. Pick one that has more than just a couple of bandages. You need a wealth of supplies, just in case!
  
  
• Multitool. To keep things light in your get-home bag, choose a multi-tool that can be used for a variety of purposes, such as a knife or screwdriver.
  
  
• Duct tape. Duct tape is a survivor’s best friend. Check out 25 Ways to Use Duct Tape in an Emergency.
  
  
• Paracord. Paracord is another lightweight, versatile product that can come in handy in an emergency.
  
  
• Hygiene supplies. Don’t forget to add a few basic travel toiletry items, such as toothpaste and soap.
  
  
• Personal documents. Make copies of your personal documents, like your ID, and keep them in a sealed plastic bag.
  
  
• Cash. Keep some cash in your get-home bag in case the power is out and you can’t use ATMs or credit cards. 

Additional Get-Home Bag Tips

Any get-home bag is better than no get-home bag.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take steps to be better prepared.

Here are some other things to keep in mind as you pack your get-home bag:

• Keep it seasonal. Your winter needs are different from your summer needs. Make a point to switch out supplies seasonally.
  
  
• Invest in a Faraday bag. Keep the Faraday bag near your get-home bag in the trunk of your car. Make sure you periodically recharge the electronics in it.
  
  
• Be sure to transfer items. There are some essentials we tend to keep on ourselves, like pepper spray, or stored in our car consoles, such as a rechargeable flashlight with a seatbelt cutter and window breaker. If we need to get from point A to point B, we need to make sure we transfer these types of emergency tools to our get-home bag. It is wise to make a list of things that you keep on you, in a purse, or in a car console, so you don’t panic and forget them. 

Pack your get-home bag today, friends.

In liberty,

Elizabeth Anderson

Preparedness Advisor, My Patriot Supply