Pack an Emergency Kit to Be Ready for Any Disaster

The end of summer no longer signals the end of wildfire season in New Mexico, and recent disasters like Hurricane Milton on the East Coast and the fires and flooding in Ruidoso have emphasized the importance of being prepared for any emergency. My family has kept an emergency kit for several years. We call it our “go bag” (as in “throw it in the car and go”).

We’ve actually had to use our go bag once, back in 2020 while living in Colorado Springs. A brushfire broke out in the open space next to our neighborhood, a few streets from our house. It was November, long after what should have been the end of Colorado’s fire season. But climate change means wildfires are now a year-round realty in much of the Southwest.

Our street didn’t have to officially evacuate, but with smoke in sight and nap time approaching, I threw the kids, dog, and go bag in the car and left. Luckily, we had just updated our emergency kit not long before, swapping out expired foods and clothes the kids had outgrown.

In the chaos of seeing smoke nearby, checking on neighbors, and fire alerts, I was grateful I didn’t have to stop and think of grabbing more than our wedding photo album and the bag.

An emergency kit is a crucial part of emergency preparedness for your family. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends keeping several practical and life-saving things in your emergency kit. But purchasing supplies all at once can be expensive. So start with the essentials and add to your kit as you can. We keep our emergency kit in a Home Depot storage tote in our garage, but you could also use an old suitcase, plastic bin, large box, or storage compartment in your car.

What I pack in my emergency kit (and how to cut costs):

• Change of clothes for each person (socks, underwear, shirt, and pants). I use pants with ripped knees, shirts the kids get from camps or events, or just clothes they never choose to wear.
• Hygiene products: Toothbrush and toothpaste for each person (use the little samples the dentist gives out), pads and tampons, a roll of toilet paper, and a bar of soap
• Diapers and wipes
• Pet food
• A first aid kit plus infant Tylenol
• MREs – the military’s “Meals Ready to Eat” that just require water, similar to backpacking food. You could use canned or instant foods like packaged oatmeal and ramen.
• Whistle
• Lighter and candles (we use leftover birthday candles)
• Contacts (or spare glasses)
• Emergency radio
• Garbage bags
• A local map — yes, a real paper map! — in case cell service goes out
• Disposable N95 masks (for keeping out smoke as much as keeping out germs)
• Copies of vaccine records, insurance policies, important phone numbers, ID cards and bank info

Some other things you may need:

• Infant formula (sample sizes are great for this)
• A manual breast pump, bottle, and dish soap
• Can opener
• Medications for people and pets
• Paper plates, paper towels, and plastic utensils (leftover from birthday parties or takeout orders)

Things we keep in our cars that could be part of your kit:

• Rain jackets and sweatshirts
• Blankets
• Car jumper cables
• Fire extinguisher
• Dog leash
• Snacks and bottled water (Be sure to check expiration dates on food and change out water in plastic bottles every two years.)
• Sunscreen, bug spray, hand sanitizer, lotion, and chapstick
• Phone charger
• Books and activities
• An extra change of clothes for each kid
• A seatbelt cutter in case we need to quickly exit the car
• My husband also keeps a 5-gallon can of gas in the bed of his truck, a shovel, and basic tools.

Back in 2020, after throwing the go bag in the car and driving out of the neighborhood, I breathed a sigh of relief that we had what we needed for a few days. If the fire grew, we had the essentials to evacuate to friends’ or family’s homes.

We spent the afternoon driving around town, eating takeout, and hanging out at the park. By evening, fire crews were able to contain the blaze to only 26 acres, and we headed home. I’ve made sure our emergency kit is up to date ever since.

The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ABQ Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.