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How to build a simple go bag: Fairfax experts recommend starting small and using what you have
Summary
County staff and a resident guest offered practical tips for assembling an evacuation go bag: start with a spare backpack or rolling suitcase, include clothes and important documents, rotate seasonal items and include medical-device paperwork when relevant.
The Mature Living segment offered step-by-step advice for building a go bag and keeping it updated. Courtney Arroyo said residents should "think about what you would have to do" in realistic scenarios and suggested treating a go bag like a "weekend getaway" with clothes, important documents and basic supplies. She recommended customizing kits to family needs and keeping copies of essential paperwork in the bag.
A resident guest reinforced the point with a personal checklist: "I would just have a basic go bag. I don't... I would not think about medication [for myself], I like to think of a week, not a few days. I have a week's worth of clothes." The program advised rotating items seasonally (for example, swap summer clothes for winter clothes twice a year when checking smoke alarms) and including manual tools such as a manual can opener or a space blanket. For people who use medical devices, presenters advised keeping device manufacturer and serial-number information in the kit to streamline replacement after a disaster.
