Wildfire & Emergency Go Kit

ASSEMBLE A WILDFIRE & EMERGENCY "GO KIT"

Put together your Go Kit long before a wildfire or other disaster occurs and keep it easily accessible so you can take it with you when you have to evacuate. Plan to be away from your home for an extended period of time.  Each person in your household should have a readily accessible Go Kit - keep a spare for visitors.  Backpacks work great for storing these items and are easy to carry when you leave. Keep it light enough to be able to carry on foot if needed.

Want to order the items in our recommended Go Kit? We've assembled Amazon product links to help you find quality items to fill out your kit. Click here for links...

"Go KIT" CHECKLIST

 Always keep a sturdy pair of shoes or boots (preferable) and a spare flashlight near your bed and handy in case of a sudden evacuation at night.

 Long sleeve shirt, long pants, cotton (all should be cotton or wool, bright colors are best).

 Leather work gloves

 Full coverage goggles

 Respirator (N95, available at most hardware stores)

 Map marked with at least two evacuation routes (if possible)

 Prescriptions medications (ask your doctor for a multi day emergency supply, rotate annually)

 Water bottle

 Small supply of energy food.

 Spare battery and charger for cell phone

 Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses

 An extra set of car keys, credit cards, cash or traveler’s checks

 First aid kit (compact)

 Headlamp

 Flashlight (handheld)

 Battery-powered radio

 Spare batteries for flashlights, headlamp, and radio

 Sanitation supplies (toilet paper, feminine hygeine, baby wipes/diapers)

 Copies of important documents (birth certificates, passports, etc.)

 Pet Supplies

• Carriers for each pet
• Leashes
• Pet food and water

Items to take if time allows:

 Easily carried valuables

 Three-day supply of non-perishable food and three gallons of water per person.

 Family photos and other small, irreplaceable items

 Personal computer information on hard drives and disks (off site or "cloud" backup is best)

 Spare chargers for cell phones, laptops, etc.

Dress For Survival

When preparing to evacuate, dress yourself and family in clothes that will shield from heat, embers and flames. Natural fabrics, such as heavy denim or pure wool are better than synthetics, no matter how hot it is. Keep these items near your “Go Kit” during fire season, and keep a set near your bed before laying down during a Red Flag Warning:

 Sturdy leather boots with Vibram-lug soles

 Full-coverage goggles

 Leather work gloves

 Long pants (wool or cotton) with sturdy belt

 Long sleeved shirt that covers neck (tuck into pants)

 Floppy cotton hat

 Handkerchief or bandana to cover face

 Wool socks

Put these clothes on at the first sign of trouble.  If you can smell or see smoke, it’s time to prepare.

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FIRESafe MARIN's Recommended "Go Kit"

A basic "Go Kt," ready to order. These are suggested items to outfit a go kit. Be sure to pack a kit for each family member. You may have many of these items around the house already - pack them in your kit and keep them ready at all times, year-round. There are lots of poption available for these items, at highr and lower quality and price-points. This curated list is intended to offer a mid-range option to build a decent quality kit for Marin residents. Using these links will improve your family's preparedness and help support FIRESafe MARIN.

Hi Visibility Backpack
Great for storing your "Go Kit." Get one for each family member.

NOAA Evacuation Alerting Weather Radio
Evacuation alerting and AM/FM weather radio. Solar, hand-crank, or USB rechargeable lithium battery. Can use AA batteries. Built in flashlight and dog-whistle (what the?). Effectively alerted Marin and Sonoma residents during the 2019 Kincade Fire. For a limited time only, FIRESafe MARIN can offer a 30% discount when purchasing through Midland.  See https://firesafemarin.org/evacuation/alerts-warnings for details. 

AA Battery Headlamp
Most headlamps use the smaller aaa batteries.  We chose this headlamp because it uses the same batteries as  the radio (above) and handheld flashlight.

Ember Shedding Hat
Not a gimmick. Keep embers out of your hair. Order it in hi-vis yellow, or alternately, order a hard-hat, below.

Hard Hat (optional)
Full brim hard-hat, protects head from embers and falling objects.

Safety Goggles
Over Eyeglass safety goggles, with anti-fog coating. One of your most important evacuation safety items.

Flame Resistant Facemask/Gaiter
An ordinary cotton bandanna or wool scarf provides protection, but this dedicated gaiter will protect your face and neck while evacuating.

N95 Particulate Masks (10-pack)
Wear an N95 mask beneath your bandanna or gaiter (above) to prevent inhalation of embers and particulates.

Coveralls (optional)
Long cotton or wool clothing protects you from heat and flames.  These coveralls may be a good, high visibility option for some.  Keep in your go kit.

Leather Gloves
Protect your hands if you need to move hot debris from your evacuation route.

Handheld Flashlight
Firefighters know you can't have too many flashlights.  Keepa compact light onhand that uses the same AA batteries as  yoiur other Go Kit supplies.

Cell Phone/USB Battery Pack
Four or more days of charging for your cell phone in an emergency. Be sure to pack a spare charging cord/cable.

Water Bottle
Carry at least 32 ounces of water per person while evacuating. Keep additional water in your home for general preparedness.

First Aid Kit
Compact first aid kit. Be sure to pack at least 1 week of spare prescription medications.

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