What is a ‘Go Kit”? -

A Go kit, sometimes called a ready kit or a ready bag, is simply a portable container that is kept packed and ready to go on an emergency at a moments notice.  It can be a gym bag, a briefcase, a wheeled carryall, or any other easily carried hold-all.

There are no hard and fast rules defining a Go kit.  Some people have two Go kits; one would be used for short-term usage, less the 24 hours, such as weather watches.  The other kit would be packed for a long-term, more than 24 hours, usage.  The long-term kit is usually packed to augment the short-term kit.  The Red Cross (www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/supplies.html) and other organizations recommend that all families should consider packing a long-term Go kit equipped to last for 72 hours (3 days). 

 Short-Term Go Kit –

Not everything has to be continuously packed and ready to go at a moment’s notice, but I try to keep mine in a position where I can throw in a couple of things and be out the door in five minutes or less.

I keep mine packed with:

Photo ID visible from the outside in a mesh pocket

ARES handbook, my ARES photo ID on its lanyard

clipboard, a couple of notepads

A package of three pens, another package of three inexpensive plastic             mechanical pencils

An indelible marker

A flashlight with spare batteries

A roll of black electrical tape, roll of white electrical tape (to write on)

Bottled water

A copy of my manual for my dual band handy-talky

PL-259 UHF  -to- BNC adapter

A small dual band magnetic mount antenna.

Basic tools - a Phillips and a flat blade screwdriver, a pair of regular and needle nose pliers, and A pair of wire cutters

Clip leads and some power adapters for the old style Molex connectors to the new style Anderson power pole power connectors. 

Money, both currency and loose change in a zip-lock style bag. 

Package of lightweight rope,

Roll of duct tape

Baseball style cap with my call sign on it

Some things I have on hand and ready to pack are my dual band handy-talkie, the spare battery, charger, and a headphone.  These items I use on a regular basis and want to just have them handy in the shack until I need to pack them.

These are the items that I currently have in my Go kit.  I’m sure that in the future I’ll be on a weather watch or a special event and discover that I need some sort of a widget.  I’ll probably be adding that widget to my kit in the near future.

Long-Term Kit –

 My long-term kit is based on the recommendations From "Disaster Supplies Kit." developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross.  (From the Red Cross web site www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/supplies.html)

I have the following items packed away in my 72 hour go kit.  As I come across suggestions from other sources for their Go Kits I will be expanding this list:

Water (one gallon of potable water per day per person)

First-Aid kit

Medications, packed in a zip-lock baggie (aspirin, antacid, ibuprofen, prescription             meds, etc.)

Comfort kit, packed in a zip-lock baggie (toothbrush/paste, shave cream/aftershave, disposable razor, antiperspirant, soap)

Toilet paper

Photo ID

Flashlight and spare batteries

Writing utensils, paper

Duct and electrical tape

Baseball-style cap and a change of underclothes

Box of garbage sacks with ties

Antibacterial Wet Wipes

Tape measure

100 Ft of rope

Work gloves

Some type of food (M.R.E.s?)

 I would recommend investing in one of those containers that have a two wheel cart built in as some of these items are not only bulky but down-right heavy.  One thing to consider is your geographic area.  If you live in a hurricane-prone area you might pack items for that environment.  If you reside in an area that suffers from heavy winter storms you would pack some winter clothes and blankets.