An evacuation order, a fire on the ridge, water rising in the street. If you don’t have a bag packed, the clock decides what comes with you. A quick go-bag isn’t a smaller version of a full one. It’s a different job: grabbing the right things, in the right order, without wasting a single minute searching.
If you only remember one thing: people and pets first, then medications, then your phone, then your wallet and keys. Everything else can be replaced.
If you have 2 minutes
Don’t pack. Grab what’s already in reach on your way out the door.
- Everyone in the house, including pets. Leashes and carriers if they’re by the door.
- Medications you need daily. Especially anything time-sensitive, like insulin, heart medication, or an inhaler.
- Your phone. Grab the charger or power bank only if it’s right there.
- Wallet or purse and keys. ID, cards, some cash, house and car keys, all in one grab.
- Shoes. Sturdy ones. You may be walking over debris or through water.
If you have 10 minutes
Everything above, plus the things that make the next two or three days much easier:
- Your document folder or binder, if you already have one. This is the single biggest time-saver on the list.
- A few days of all medications, plus glasses, hearing aids, and any medical devices like a CPAP.
- Phone charger and power bank.
- Water and a few snacks. Whatever is easy to carry from the kitchen.
- A change of clothes and a jacket for each person.
- Flashlight or headlamp.
- Pet food and any pet medications.
If you have 30 minutes
Everything above, plus:
- First-aid kit and toiletries. Toothbrush, soap, and any personal items.
- Laptop or tablet. If your records are stored on it, it may be the fastest way to bring everything with you.
- Irreplaceable items. Family photos, a hard drive, heirlooms that fit in a bag.
- Bedding or sleeping bags, if you may be staying in a shelter.
- Before you lock up: text family where you’re going, and follow any instructions from local officials about shutting off utilities.
Notice what changes between 2 and 30 minutes. It isn’t really the amount of gear. It’s whether things are already gathered in one place or scattered around the house.
The one thing you can’t do quickly: documents
Medications, a phone, and a jacket can be grabbed in seconds. Documents can’t. Your ID copies, insurance policies, medical information, and deeds are usually spread across a filing cabinet, a desk drawer, and an email inbox. You can’t gather that in two minutes, and in a fire or flood you may never get a second chance.
Documents only make it out in a hurry if the gathering already happened. There are two good ways to do that:
- A grab-and-go binder by the door, with copies of the papers you’d need in the first weeks. Our Grab-and-Go Document Binder guide shows what to put in it.
- An encrypted vault on a device you’ll grab anyway. Family Ark keeps your documents organized and encrypted on your own phone or computer, and works with no signal and no login to a server. If your phone comes with you, your records come too.
Spend 20 minutes now, save 20 minutes later
If you don’t have a bag ready, the best thing you can do today is spend about 20 minutes gathering the slow parts: copies of your documents, a list of medications, and a written list of emergency contacts. Put them in one folder. The next time you have to leave in a hurry, your quick go-bag really will take two minutes.
When you’re ready to go further, SurvivalArk, coming soon from the makers of Family Ark, helps you build a full go-bag checklist for each person, decide whether to stay or go based on the type of disaster and how much time you have, and send family an “I’m safe” text in one tap. Join the waitlist to hear when it launches.
Frequently asked questions
If I only have a minute, what matters most?
People and pets, then time-sensitive medications, then your phone. Almost everything else can be replaced or done without for a few days.
Should I just keep a bag packed?
Yes, if you can. This guide is for the day you don’t have one ready, not a reason to skip it. Our post on go-bag comfort items covers what’s worth putting in a full bag.
Should I keep copies at work or in the car?
Yes. A copy of your photo ID, an emergency contact card, and a list of medications in the car or at work means you’re covered even if you can’t get home.
What if there’s no time to grab anything?
Leave. Get yourself, your family, and your pets out. These lists are about making the next few days easier, and nothing on them is worth your safety.