Emergency Go Bag vs. Emergency Preparedness Kit: Why Coastal Residents Need Both

Knowing the difference can help families stay safe whether they need to evacuate or shelter in place during flooding, hurricanes, storms and other emergencies

By Coastal Carolina News Staff Writer

As coastal North Carolina residents know, emergencies can take many forms. Hurricanes, tropical storms, flooding, severe thunderstorms, and extended power outages can develop quickly, leaving little time to prepare.

Emergency management officials encourage households to be ready for both evacuation and sheltering in place by maintaining two separate emergency supply kits: an Emergency

Go Bag and an Emergency Preparedness Kit.
While the two are often confused, they serve different purposes and are designed to meet different needs during a disaster.

An Emergency Go Bag (bug out bag) is a lightweight, portable kit intended for situations when residents must leave quickly. Whether an evacuation order is issued ahead of a hurricane or a family must leave unexpectedly because of flooding or another emergency, a Go Bag provides essential supplies needed during the first hours or days away from home.
Typical Go Bag items include water, high-energy snacks, pop top ready eat items, important personal documents, cash, medications, a compact first aid kit, an emergency blanket, phone charger,a flashlight w/extra batteries, a multi-tool, tolietries and a change of clothes with sturdy shoes. The bag should be stored in a clean, dry location that is easy to access and ready to grab at a moment’s notice.

An Emergency Preparedness Kit serves a different role. Rather than helping residents evacuate, it is designed to support individuals and families who need to remain at home during and after an emergency. Because it is not intended to be carried during an evacuation, a preparedness kit can contain larger quantities of supplies and equipment.

Emergency management agencies recommend stocking enough food and water to sustain household members for an extended period, particularly following major storms that may disrupt utilities, transportation, and access to stores.

A preparedness kit may include up to two weeks of nonperishable food and water, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlights, extra batteries, sanitation supplies, toiletries, first aid materials, tools, and important documents. Additional items such as duct tape and plastic sheeting may also be included for shelter-in-place situations.

Having both kits available allows residents to adapt to changing conditions.

A Go Bag (bug out bag) helps ensure a quick and organized evacuation when leaving is the safest option, while a Preparedness Kit helps households remain self-sufficient when staying home is recommended.

Emergency officials often remind residents that preparedness should begin long before a storm appears in the forecast. Families are encouraged to review emergency plans, update supplies, replace expired items, and consider the needs of children, older adults, your household pets, farm animals and individuals who rely on medications or medical equipment.

For residents across Brunswick County, Columbus County, and neighboring coastal communities, maintaining both an Emergency Go Bag and an Emergency Preparedness Kit can provide added peace of mind and help reduce stress when severe weather or other emergencies occur.