Prioritized Evacuation Grab List
THE POINT
Not everything you may need to survive, thrive, and recover may be able to fit in your disaster supply kit. What do you need to be happy, healthy, and comfortable? In the moment the disaster strikes, you may not have time or the frame of mind to logically think through what is of most value to you. It is important to "be ready" by creating a prioritized grab list before the emergency when you have time and can calmly and think through your priorities.
DO THIS
- Brainstorm a list of all the things you need to be happy, healthy, and comfortable but do not fit in your disaster supply kit.
- Brainstorm a list of all the things of sentimental and monetary value you would like to take with you if you evacuated.
- Combine the lists and prioritize the items according to most important needs followed by wants.
- Attach the prioritized list near to where you store your disaster supply kit.
If you have some time before you need to evacuate, don’t spend that time thinking about what additional things to pack. Have a pre-thought-out, grab list that has your valuable items that are too large or impractical to have as part of your disaster supply kits. Prioritize the list so the most important items are grabbed first. If you have 15 minutes, grab your family, disaster supply kits, and start collecting things from the top of the list. At 15 minutes, wherever you are on the list, you stop gathering and go. Attach your grab list to the outside of your disaster supply kit. Remember, this is your list. Personalize it to what is valuable to you.
Some grab list items may include but are not limited to:
Wallet or purse- Mobile phone
- House and car keys
- Coats, hats, boots, and gloves
- Diaper bag
- Umbrella or rain poncho
- Additional food and water
- Additional blankets
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Portable toilet and other sanitation supplies
- Portable gas/solar generator
- 2-way radios and/or HAM radio
- Camera and binoculars
- Family heirlooms/records/photo albums
- Jewelry and valuables
- Religious items
- Laptop/external hard drive
- Wagon or cart if unable to use vehicle
- Stroller
- Walker, cane, and/or wheel chair
- Emergency preparedness reference books
- Camping supplies
- Sleeping bags
- Tent
- Tarp, stakes, and rope
- Camp stove with fuel and cooking kit
- Camp shower and towels
- Valuable collections
- C-Pap machine or portable oxygen
- Pets and their disaster supply kits
- Hunting and fishing gear
- Small musical instruments
- Anything that is of value to you or important for your survival and recovery