Hey, a Ukrainian subscriber here. I must say that no matter how well-prepared your emergency pack is, you still have to face the greatest challenge of urging your old folks to go to the shelter ლಠ益ಠ)ლ

One thing I've learned from those 'Survival experts review movies' videos is that one great tool to have, especially at sea, is the humble whistle, like the type that sports referees use. Apparently the noise carries really far, and its way more effective than shouting!

Longtime lurker - first time commenter! I live in Japan and - to put it mildly - the country can be a bit unpredictable. I’ve got a grab bag in the closet with almost all the things in yours, but I also included things like eating utensils, a camping stove (just a small one, big enough for a tiny pot), and treats like chocolate that I can use to trade, because it’s pretty unlikely that you’ll be completely alone in a disaster in this country. Also, a tarp is very versatile and folds up nicely. Rope is the same. It might also be a good idea to get things like biodegradable soap that you can use for yourself and your stuff. Making it was almost a comforting experience for me because it gave me something to do that I could control back in 2020, when I moved here. It was nice to go through the lists and imagine how I would cope in the worst case scenario, and in the end it made me realize that - so long as I survived the initial disaster - I would probably be ok. It’s reassuring to know that I have the means to take care of myself within reach. I hope neither of us ever has to use these bags, but isn’t it lucky that we have them?

As a Geology student who lives in a tectonically active area (earthquake and volcano country, yay) I'd say that having sturdy shoes tucked under your bed is just as important as having them by the front door. If you wake up surrounded by broken glass, you want to be able to walk out without already risking infection and injury. Also: Earthquakes can happen anywhere, and as soon as you're sure it's safe to be out from under the table or whatever furniture you're hiding under, be sure you know how to turn off your house's gas! Gas leaks due to earthquakes are incredibly common.

Important shoe related addition: hiking boots go bad if you don’t use them! The glue that’s used to attach the soles can dry out if the shoes aren’t used, so they might look great, even never been used before, but there is a good chance the soles will just come off entirely within a couple of miles if you’re unlucky. This actually happened to someone I hiked with last summer on day three of a two week hike in the mountains. It took daily repair with lots of string, tape and glue to get her through the rest of it and was nearly bad enough to make her go back. This has nothing to do with the quality of the shoe, expensive shoes are not exempt. If you want a nice pair of boots to last you a lifetime, you have to use them. You can check if the boots in the back of your closet are still alright by taking them on good day hike or two/three. If they held up: great! You’re probably good for the next year. If not: it was just a day hike, so you can get home safe relatively easily and get them to a repair shop :)

I feel like there's a fourth category that's a step down from "survival gear" - the my-house-gets-destroyed bag. When the floods hit in some towns in Germany last year I thought about the things that I would want to have in one easy to grab bag that are a mess to replace. It's mostly documents and a backup harddrive, a small first aid kit and raingear. The scenario of having to rough camp is pretty minimal where I live, but if a flood comes in the night and you have to go to a shelter only to come back and find your home gone, what is it that would help you the most to have?

An excellent and not at all terrifying video. 👀 I've thought about doing this before and every time there are floodings/power outages I regret not having some stuff ready just in case (and I'm always scared of fires) so I'll definitely take some notes from this!

I had an actual grab bag in 2019 because of the bushfires in Australia. They called it 'black summer', but the fires in our area started in spring. It is such a difficult thing to try to fit everything sentimental and everything you need in one bag and my heart goes out to anyone who has ever had to use one. I can also remember being little during the black Saturday bushfires and hearing about them on the news and secretly packing something like one then too, even though we weren't in potential danger then. I think it probably all of my favourite toys, some snacks and my diary back then.

Keep in mind sunscreen has an expiration date! Figured that one out the hard way... (Not sure if this applies to pure mineral sunscreens)

A subscriber from Ukraine here, hi! I had to pack such a bag, it was very similar to yours, except that I didn't have any summer shower with me: I packed in February, so I was more focused on the things we might need to keep warm and make a fire. And my first aid kit was a bulkier one. Having said that, leaving almost all your stuff behind is a challenge, but it is a manageable one. Especially when you reach to good people around you, and not the ones who were trying to kill you. I miss my home and stuff and I wait for them to be de-occupied, but one could survive on a few things in a rucksack. Untill one gets help.

I'm a disabled person, and unfortunately, I'm acutely aware that in MANY apocalypse scenarios, I would be safer staying put, rather than leaving (and might not do particularly well in a severe survival scenario) HOWEVER, I do have a list of things to pack when I go to hospital, which happens rather more often than I'd like. It's a list, rather than a packed bag, because I'm usually not the one packing it, and also because a lot of the things I use every day, so it would be inconvenient/expensive to pack them away in a bag, or have duplicates. Something you didn't mention that I'd recommend for everyone, whether it's a hospital or survival type bag, is an eye mask, and sunglasses. Hospital lighting is VERY bright, and if you need to sleep (or just get headaches easily) a sleep mask and/or sunglasses come in incredibly handy. In theory, the sunglasses could also be used as eye protection against dust. I'd also recommend lip balm, because it's useful for way more than just lips (cracked cuticles, painful chafing, a really makeshift moisturizer if you get desperately dry) and you'd be surprised how quickly little discomforts like cracked lips can worsen your day. Thanks for another cool and thought provoking video Leena! Oh, and I live in the UK, since you're gathering data 😊

Will be honest, it was a little difficult watching this video as someone who struggles with the right balance between positive climate action and eco anxiety - but I'm glad I did. You manage to make me feel prepared and aware of certain issues, while also being a source of joy and comfort. Keep the good work coming Leena!

If you have pets, keep leashes and carriers assembled and within reach, so you can evacuate in 60 seconds or less! (Came in useful for me when the fire alarm went off two summers ago.) Keeping cat carriers assembled in a corner with towels inside is also a cozy napping place where kitties can be comfortable with seeing the carriers, instead of thinking VET and hiding under the bed. A bag with water bowl is good, too. I have a good SwissGear back pack that just looks like a student's bag that I keep my pillbox, notebook, wallet, and keys in at all times, plus whatever I'm using that day. I think it cost $50-80 USD on Amazon, but I expect it to last at least 5-10 years. It's more sturdily made than the SwissGear backpack I had before it that I got as a hand-me-down and then used for years myself. So sturdy that it still held together even when it was so worn I could see daylight through the bottom! 😄 Emergency kits and extra batteries have gone by the wayside in recent years because I have trouble just affording enough groceries in any given week. 2007-2008 (Great Recession) was bad and I never fully recovered, even though I managed to be debt free for two years soon thereafter, but, since 2016, growing disparities in socioeconomic power have been careening downhill at breakneck speed here in the USA. And 2022 looks to be one of our worst years for human rights setbacks in modern history. Go kiss a kitty or puppy and hug a friend, friends ❤️

Having packed one recently, I wish to never have to do that again. I am coming home to Kyiv soon, though, so I'll definitely have to. We didn't do much of the apocalypse stuff though, mostly clean comfy clothes/passports and whatnot and non-perishible snacks, but we were quite lucky to evacuate in our own car quite early on.

Being a person who is disabled and relies on medical supplies complicates the idea of a "grab bag". Like, in a way it's a privilege to be able to physically survive and move with just the things in that bag. I know in an emergency situation that would be much less likely for me, so it makes facing the idea of it so much more daunting

Sports bra!! Unlikely to have one on when you flee but will regret it if long walks/running is involved later on 😂

I had a grab bag as a kid and teenager when I was living with my dad but it was just kept inside a makeup bag in my school backpack. I never knew what kind of mood he was going to be in so it was always important to have stuff in case I needed to run and sleep somewhere else for the night. I had plastic bags (in case I had to sit or lie on wet surfaces), spare underwear, a bunch of napkins I could use as loo roll, mini toothbrush/paste, pads, zip lock bags, portable charger, sesame seed bars, plastic pouch water bottle (foldable), umbrella, tote bags (I rolled into pillows), $15 in cash, small baby wipes, tiny comb (for when I had to go to school the next morning), essential oil bottle in case I smell, little wind up torch, betadine and bandaids in case I had scrapes or he broke the skin.

So i didn't have one. And I'm from Ukraine, so that went well. Luckily my home isn't destroyed (so far) and I had an opportunity to get back and grab some essential stuff. But from what we see from the occupied territories - having a second phone, very cheap one, disassembled and hidden in different pockets is sometimes a question of life and death

As an avid outdoors person and someone who has close relationships with emergency rescue people, I would also HIGHLY SUGGEST you consider adding a whistle and rain jacket/thermal to your bag. They can save your life in an emergency situation. Whistles are small and do not add a lot of weight to your pack and if the case you are trapped somewhere, in a remote spot, or cannot move for whatever reason, they can help people locate you and assist you. Unlikely in the UK but they can also help deter wildlife in case you come face to face with one in an unfriendly mood. If you are caught in the rain, based on the temperature, you can develop hypothermia, and even frostbite, within minutes. Rain jackets can help prevent this from happening as the water literally rolls off your back and your body temperature will be able to sustain itself without competing with cold rain. Fleece thermals are suggested based on climate because they dry easily, are light, easy to roll up for packing, and help you maintain safe body temperatures in cool situations. Hope that helps and that it never comes to a point where you will need it

I live in Australia and we've just been hounded by natural disasters these past few years beween drought, bushfires, covid and flooding. Earlier this year my city had our third 'once in one hundred years' flood in the past 50 years. My suburb had one year's worth of rainfall in just one week. Thankfully our house didn't actually flood but we still lost power several times, couldn't get to the shops because the roads were flooded, were told not to drink the tap water because it was contaminated and we didn't have internet for several weeks because the connection our street was totally underwater. And it still could've been so much worse. So many people lost everything. That made me really realise how vulnerable we are and made me take emergency preparedness much more seriously. These natural disasters aren't exceptional once in a lifetime events anymore, they're part of our daily lives.

I recently made a "summer fun go bag" with medicine, cutlery, straws, beachwear, walking shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, and toiletries. Going for a hike or the beach is now a much simpler spur of the moment thing. We also keep solar lanterns charging in the windows and glass bottles with filtered water close at hand for storms. Combined with the water, blankets, and first aid kit in the car, I'm a bit more generally prepared than I realized.

I used to have emergency kits. Now that I have younglings (and a greater need than ever to be prepared) I find emergency prep overwhelming. Part of it is because of being an abuse survivor, I feel like I've lived through more than enough shit already and if it's gonna hit the fan again I'm ready to tap out. I also find basic functioning as is to be more than enough to cope with...the thought of having to keep up on expiration dates and making sure mice and mold don't get in prep stuff puts me over the edge. If there is a higher power, may he/she/they be gentle on my younglings...

This was weirdly motivating and concerning at the same time. Thanks for sharing! I have an "emergency sleepover bag" in my home, since I live in a historical old town in Germany and they still find active WW2 bombs under the streets from time to time. And of course they evacuate the town before they poke around with those things. In my 1,5 years of living here I had to be evacuated twice - sooooooo, my sleepover bag comes in handy at least once a year. But after watching this video I think it's time to upgrade the bag a bit :'D

As an Australian this is the excellent reminder I that I needed to sort out my bags! Big one for us is fire danger so quick access grab bags are super important

Another one that you might add in your climate is a rain poncho! New and unfolded, they take up about as much room as your foil blankets. Nothing can make a bad day worse than you and your stuff getting completely wet. I also have a rain cover for my backpack for this reason!

I live in Japan...most people here have an emergency grab bag because of potential earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and in some places volcano eruptions...but these days there is also a "political climate" element that can't be ignored. A little bit of cash is also good to have because when there is no electricity you can't use credit cards but shops try to open as quickly as possible for provisions. We generally make sure to have 3 days worth of bottled water as well. Most places can get some kind of aid from the government within 3 days. Once a year (Sept. 1st is Disaster Prevention Day here) my family has a "bug out party" and we go through our backpacks and camping gear to make sure we don't have anything that is expiring and if there is we eat/drink it and are just thankful we didn't have to use the stuff... I can't imagine not having one anymore!

(Late to the party) A few years ago my area had really bad blackouts that lasted several days. To the point where many folks couldn't get water to their houses and the gas stations were unusable. Luckily the city was able to provide water and generators to charge phones, so we weren't completely cut off. I found myself using our camping gear mostly. We have it set up in large tubs that are easy to grab and go. My husband even found a chargeable car-jump kit, and a solar power bank after this. And of course our cats have their own bags too - food, bottle water, potty pads, and vet records. Rural life really teaches you how to make do.

i'm in the southern US and have a go bag. i was slowly collecting things for a while but it was tedious and expensive so i ended up buying a pre-made bag from stealth angel survival. its for food and shelter for 2 people for 3 days. not a ton of natural disasters happen in my exact area so its mostly for a fire or intruder or apocalypse situation. i know a lot of preppers from work. but i didn't feel moved to get a go bag until i read parable of sower by octavia butler. i think people can go really overboard and individualistic about it though. like making a bunker and hoarding guns feels...icky. knowing your neighbors, building community, learning and teaching survival skills will help you much better. even if you don't have every single new survival thing, you can pool resources with others and have everything you need. 2 cents

I live in Oregon but grew up on the east coast. Growing up, we never had to evacuate but were prepared for power outages, losing water service for a week due to hurricanes or ice storms. Wildfires are a bit scarier for me than hurricanes on the east coast. I drove from Spokane to Portland during the 2020 wildfire season and spent 10 hours driving through thick smoke. It was horrific. I've never felt more existentially threatened, even at the start of the pandemic. We've had a grab bag since then- similar to what you put together but also with food and some more medical supplies.

I don't personally have a grab bag (yet!), but I am fairly sure my dad has been working on making one for each person who lives in our house. I live in the southern United States (but not too close to the coast for hurricanes to be an immediate danger). Biggest things we could face are power outages (there's a chance of that with every thunderstorm already), fires, and flooding. It hasn't happened since, but many years ago we also had a really bad tornado rip through our area. I guess I haven't made my own because of my reliance still on my family and just assuming they could handle whatever happens, but I'm also in the process of trying to afford to move out and then wouldn't be as nearby for emergencies.

For all of us who took time to get the joke: EVAQ8 is like "evacuate". Clevah!

I've always carried small scissors, a zip lock bag, a bit of (pretty thin) rope.. in my bag and you'd be surprised how many times I've used them

I'm in the U.S. and I have a grab bag because my state is particularly prone to wildfires. I've had to evacuate my home twice in the last three years, so it's nice to have the essentials ready for when you have to be out in 30 minutes or less.

When I lived in Uni dorms, they recommended that everyone had a grab bag of sort (warm clothes, wallet and meds) ready to evacuate in case of fire. I did, but some didn't... and they froze their butts off when the fire alarm went off at 3 in the morning in February. We went back inside after about an hour, but it was a formative experience for me.

Leena, I would recommend adding a wool blanket if you can. Natural fibre less likely to burn you if there's fire, and of course to keep you warm. I keep a lot of my emergency stuff in the boot of my car inside the spare tire, this is where I keep my wool blanket. As well as a bag in the house. I live in Australia, down in Victoria. We have bushfires here, so masks are very good idea as well as bronchodilators such as salbutamol (ventolin inhaler) because even those who don't have asthma might end up needing help to breathe. The government recommend to make a fire safety plan before the fire season, especially if you move a lot (renting lol) it's something that has to be updated often enough that it makes sense for exactly where you live and who you live with. I've found generally in first aid kits, your most useful items are the foil blankets, all the items to stop/reduce major bleeds (combines, various bandages, tourniquet, triangular bandage/sling), saline, gauze, pain relief, and something to remove splinters. Stay safe friends

I live in America, Florida specifically. We have a go bag, a go tote, and a go hospital bag. Between hurricanes, floods, fires, idiot politicians, and possible zombie rising (Florida specific concern) we try to be prepared. Despite living in one of the most heavily populated counties in the United States during the last hurricane that hit us hard we were without power for over two weeks. No local support on the day-to-day needs to speak of. Luckily we had some basics but it still taught us some lessons. One of the most important things we learned is you cannot have enough flashlights and you should definitely have the headlamps and also magnetic lights that are meant for like workshops. We use a water filter that is gravity fed instead of power fed in our day-to-day lives because we can use it during any circumstance. Boiled water notice lasted forever in my area and we could use our filter without any power when we were without. The tote is full of the hurricane supplies that we would take to a shelter with us. I have two elderly parents that are local and I help care for and sometimes that means spending a few days in the hospital with them. Having a go bag for that specifically has just been very soothing in a stressful situation. We also have a pet go bag in case we have to leave with her. I am by no means a prepper and have bought most things we need through secondhand thrift or from sales after camping season ends. It’s useful when you need it and out of the way when you don’t.

About community prepping, I can give some examples from New Orleans. In case of a major hurricane we essentially are on our own for the first 3 days so there is a lot of mutual aid organization going on. For instance since last year a couple local actors decided to create community hubs in case of emergency, they identified restaurants across the city to put solar panels on so people can have access to power.

I would consider adding a microfiber towel, they fold up really small and dry things very quickly

It would be so useful if you could release a pdf of all the information and resources you collated in this video, I wasn't expecting this at all but I loved it SO much. 💗💗💗

I am now remembering sitting at this desk watching the river outside burst its banks last February, and remembering all the times the apartment buiding water has gone off; and yet, I don't even have a spare bottle of water... English urban hubris, I guess

I have a period survival bag. My periods do not have a pattern and just happen with no warning. Its has pads, a small hot water bottle, clean pants, painkillers, a clear skirt, chocolate and a pack of tissues. I recommend anyone who gets periods should have one.

Thanks, what a great list for a small and doable bag! For chronic illness people like myself: Do not forget maybe a month worth of your daily prescriptions... and an extra pair of glasses if you depend on them for seeing (I stuffed my previous pair in my emergency backpack because my vision has not changed much, I got new ones more for fashion reasons than anything else)

Without oversharing was in a bad living situation and turned my car into a 24-hour kit. No longer in that situation but I've maintained the car kit. Toiletries, books, 24-hours worth of food, water, a little bit of spare cash, phone charger, clothes, meds, first aid kit, blankets, kept the gas at minimum of 1/2 full. I used my backpack for temp sensitive items, but the car was my main kit. Having a gym membership also helped, as it was a place I could shower. Edit: Im in the US by the way.

having a ready to go bag in case of a family or friend medical emergency is so under rated. thanks for the vid Leena, this video is constructive and relevant.

This is so important! I am a recent immigrant to the UK, but before that I was living in Texas. Like so many others, I never thought I would need any emergency preparedness-not in an area prone to major natural disasters. But when that big snowstorm knocked out the power grid, we didn’t have fresh water for a couple days, and I knew people who were trying to cook food over a candle flame! It really inspired me to buy just the basics to keep my life going if I can’t use power or leave the house, or I need to leave in a hurry. Seeing power outages here in Scotland in the winter and now in Stanford this summer, I’m really glad to have the stuff to smooth over a few days of interruptions. The first time something like this gets used, it’s probably not gonna be an apocalyptic disaster that changes your life forever, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be very glad you had it.

In Germany, the government told us to have stuff at home to get by for 10 days. They have included a list of items everyone should buy. People have ridiculed this because they thought 10 days wasn't enough; others have ridiculed this because they do not have the storage space for multiple kilograms of canned and dried food and about 50 litres of water.

Leena, you should add a towel! Hitchhiker's guide rules! Maybe a lightweight microfiber one. Also, since I'm originally from Israel all our homes have a built in bomb shelter. When I was younger we kept it stocked with bottled water, snacks etc, but now my parents just use it to store wine lol. I live in the Netherlands now and everything is so chill here, I feel like I've become complacent... I should probably get a bag ready just in case

Here in the US, we call it a 'Go bag". A grab bag is a mystery bag of items that a store can't sell that they put together and sell for a small price like $5.

One more: When I lived with someone who made me feel unsafe, I wrote up a note card, max of 5 things, for the front pocket of my purse (ID and keys always inside) in order of importance: Purse Cat Cat carrier Fireproof filebox Cat tower If I had to leave with none of those things, I would, but all of them were possible if I had a few minutes warning, and all I had to remember was one thing: Emergency list is in the front purse pocket. The purse sat on the same corner of the dresser any time I was home. Period.

This might sound overly dramatic, but I feel like I don't have a grab bag because I expect myself not to be able to stay alive for very long even with all the things packed.. or just not actually have the will in case of an emergency that extreme? Or maybe it's the denial mentioned that I'd rather just pretend these issues don't exist because they induce even more panic than already is around. A great video nonetheless! Definitely food for thought. Thanks for making it as entertainable as possible, Leena!

We don't have a grab bag at home but we are campers and have a lot of equipment and supplies for this type of situation in our camping gear. But also as a chronically ill & borderline disabled person I think I'm one of the first ones to die in the apocalypse so I'm all for that community grab-bag of which you speak. No one can really survive on their own.

I live in BC, Canada, and I have a grab bag. I set it up originally after the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, because we are also on a fault line, and the images of the one in New Zealand made the reality of what could happen here sink in. I've updated it several times since, but the bag has gotten very disorganized now, so thank you for the reminder to go back through it and tidy it up. And to add a head lamp!

I grew up in the LDS church which teaches preparedness, but only within the last 7 years have I started building up a grab bag. I started where you did and just gathered everything I had on hand. Now I am refining what I have for better quality and lighter weight as I can. Whether it’s a stay at home or evacuate emergency, I know where everything is. I also use it for traveling (though take some stuff out). To help me with the admin tasks, I put expiration dates in my digital calendar so I am reminded when I need to use or recycle what is in there and replace it. :)

I'm from BC, Canada (thanks for the shoutout) and my family has always had what we called our "earthquake kits" which is essentially a go-bag. I've now got my backpacking kit which has everything I need in it to survive for a few days and even past that if I absolutely had to. But I also have a little hobby/interest of building teeny tiny survival kits inside used tins (the kind for mints and gum and stuff) which I keep in bags and cars and just around so in a 911 panic get out right now emergency I could at least have something like matches and a knife.

I thought about it and got overwhelmed and I already live in a small flat and the amount of stuff I wanted to put in it almost duplicated what I already had in my flat so I gave up🤣 (Leeds,UK) I have a "magic purse" little make up bag I have a mini sewing kit, medications, multitool, lip balm etc in and I put that in every handbag I use anyway so I'll have that and my purse and will go from there 🤣 I usually have snacks on my handbag too

when you asked back in... don`t know when... I thought I probably will be absolute unprepared. Now, after seeing what you have in your grab bag, I am kind of surprised as I have a lot of these items in my everyday backpack already and would just need to adjust bits & bops 😅 and yes, I carry a lot of stuff with me, but I feel unprepared if I don`t...

living on the west coast USA where fires are now a yearly threat - i was evacuated on short notice one year and did a shit job packing despite anticipating the scenario. Your brain goes stupid in an emergency. Have a pack ready, have plans. grabbing your laundry basket might be one of the best tips ive heard because that likely has clothes you know you love and wear.

I have a stay bag - three days w/out electricity/water. I live on an island in Canada and there isn't much point to a grab bag when the only way out is a ferry that only fits 350 cars at a time. I've just come to terms with the fact that if there is ever an emergency where I need to leave I'm pooched

I don’t have one because I will not evacuate in an widespread emergency. And in a specific to me emergency, there are people around to help and provide that support if I need it. I have been to hospitals via an ambulance before- if you are able to, the paramedics give you 5 minutes to chuck a bag together or instruct a family member how to chuck a bag together which is plenty of time for me. If I am not able to do that, I am probably not in a state to remember to grab my phone, nevermind a grab bag. Also the most important things in that bag would be my prescription medications, my current medications list and medical history info, my phone, my ebook, my glasses- not things that can be already in the bag since I can’t have spares of those. But I also know I can rely on my family and friends to bring me stuff at the hospital if I was sick and that the hospital staff will help with anything I need if they can, and there are shops at the hospital that sell the basics. If it is a widespread emergency, I’m dead. I have a wheelchair and due to chronic illness, I am unable to self propel my wheelchair. So I would rely on another person and any emergency that damages the flatness of the pavement gets me stuck because wheels! And I would need a shit tonne of medication to survive which could not be pre-packed since I can’t have spares of it. Honestly the amount of disability equipment and medication I need just to survive in a normal situation is too much for me to carry in one go, so a grab bag for a survival situation would just be a huge suitcase. I could go on and on. But basically, I’m not surviving the apocolypse or even a large local disaster without major outside help so why have a grab bag for it? The only thing I do have an escape plan for is things like fire or floods where the damage is limited to my house or my street or couple of streets. Where there isn’t a breakdown of wider society basically. So I don’t have to really get far. But that is the same as the hospital sort of- all the important stuff can’t be pre-packed or duplicated so I would have to hope I could grab stuff without dying or go without it, and things like water and clean clothes are things I could rely on wider society to provide for me until the emergency had passed. So I don’t see the point in having one. Reason two- I’m low income thanks to my inability to work. Life is already really fricking expensive without also paying for survival gear.

I live in the US, Northern CA to be precise. I got a bug-out bag after we almost had to evacuate due the Oroville dam breaking. With the increasing number of wildfires in my area, I'm glad I have it.

I haven't finished putting mine together. But our cat cage has cat food and blankets in it after our last tsunami warning! I lost my home to a flood as a child and our family received donated items so quickly through community groups (in NZ our local iwi [indigenous group] was amazing and supported us the most, though we are pākeha/NZEuropean). My sister and I were swimming in the drains at the time, so was evacuated in swimming togs and a towel by the four wheel drive club who braved the waters to get our oblivious-to-the-situation selves. We were completely unorganised - it was so quick we kids were actually evacuated separately from my parents, who didn't know where we were - neighbours were just grabbing each other and putting them into cars to get out. Communities 100% come together in those situations and react so quickly to just help each other. Our cat didn't come with us. Left behind, we found him a week later him having climbed into a bach on higher ground. Utterly traumatised. He was old and never recovered from the trauma - refused to go outside or even downstairs. In a recent Tsunami warning, the cat was the first thing we grabbed. Listen, driving with a cat and no cage is neigh impossible to do safely, and carrying them is not practical! It's not always listed on the websites but something to carry them in and some dry food is also important to have on hand. I'm not saying risk your life to rescue them but if you can take them with you. Abandoned pets really struggle and you're literally the only one who will think of them when your neighbours start trying to help you evacuate.

Something to keep in mind is that in an emergency like a hurricane, earthquake, bushfire etc emergency services and resources will be extremely strained. Preparing in advance if you can will allow those resources to be directed towards those not in a position to save themselves.

Highly highly suggesting camping trips as rehearsal opportunities so the first time you have to use these things isn't when you need them the most.

I do have a grab bag here in Japan (what with all the earthquakes and flooding), but keeping up with the maintenance is definitely a struggle! This video made me want to take a day this weekend and reassess what I’ve got and clean things up a bit (also old stuff is great to use, but having stuff in there that cheers you up is absolutely essential!). Also I guess it’s tough to plan a bag when you have such a vague event like “apocalypse” in mind, but figuring out the most likely emergencies in your area helps narrow down things a lot. And it was great to hear from people in countries that are close to conflicts. My friend’s wife who lives here is apparently a grade-A prepper… because she grew up in a conflict zone. For better or worse when anyone with no experience is thinking about “apocalypse” (aka government collapse) I bet it’s best to learn from the people who DO have experience. But on a positive note, you will likely never be alone in an emergency, so (depending on the place/situation) it makes sense to factor in government help and community help!

Being in Australia, we should have a grab back with battery torches, but we don’t 😬 There were bushfires IN my city 20 years ago. 500 houses were burnt down. The power went out, it was the middle of the day and it was almost pitch black from smoke. Yet there’s a sense of complacency that it won’t happen again

"I don't know if this is cheering me up or making me even more scared" could be the bumper sticker for my desk. Cheers, great video!! Filing under "Favorite Performances" list for later access...hopefully when there is still wifi and mains power.

I don't have an emergency bag but my godmother does. She has a small suitcase by the door with important documents, some money and a change of clothes. We live in Buenos Aires, so mostly the situation would be a house fire, gas leak or a building collapse ( it has happened that when the construction next to a building is poorly done, they collapse and people lose it all).

Thank you for the friendly reminder! It's definitely time I started mine. My partner and I have lots of animals, so having things ready so they don't have to suffer more than they need to in a traumatic evacuation event is probably the best motivation to get started for me.

! i don't know if anyone else has said this BUT im pretty sure for your water tight bag, it works best if you roll down the rim. love this and am also very much feeling the vague preparedness panic

A+++ on the shower thing, water containers are super useful as I learned when a typhoon took out our water for over a month.

Interesting video! I've just started thinking about what I'd put in my bag and I've decided that 'hair ties' are also essential. I feel like my brain will say 'get this hair out of my face so I can deal with whatever is happening' Is that just me?

I live in South Florida: hurricane central! For my family of 3 I keep enough water, food, hygiene, and supplies for no electricity or phone/internet for 7+ days in the house. I also have a list on hand for the things we need to grab and where they are for if we need to pack the car up and go quickly. Going through it every year is a chore but unfortunately potentially necessary

I live in rural canada and I dont have a grab bag as such, but we do have an emergency toolbox with everything we would need for a power outage, we keep all our documents in a fireproof cabinet, and we always keep a large supply of water bottles handy cause we have a well system at my house, so no power = no water 🙃

A sealed waterproof bag for a grab bag is worthwhile! In an emegency, you don't want important things in your bag being ruined because of pesky water

Its so nice to see annother leftie into this, I have been worrying about the climate crisis, and then covid hit and so I am half way through building up a grab bag. A camping knife might also be useful, twine an heavy duty bin bags are cheap and vey useful, you can make shelter with the bin bags is you keep them on the roll and use the twine, you can also use the bin bags as an emergancy water proofing as a blanket or like a sleeping bag, on the floor, cut some holes you have a rudimentary rain poncho. you can use the tape to put it on your stuff so you can see it easier in the dark. I would also put some tape over the lighter because they can leak over time. I have a fint and steel striker, they are a pain but they dont get wet or run out. The toilet roll can be used as a fire starter which is also useful. I also have some multi coloured bandannas which can be used as hankies, slings for injuries, filtiering water to get any mud out (and then use a purifiation tablet) and the differnt colours mean you can use them for flags and signaling. You might also like to try using the socks to filter out the worst of any gunk. Fabric masks do work for heavy particulate matter like soot and smoke, so any spares of those are still useful to put in. I would also put in a bites and burns cream in the first aid kit, not only for the obvious but petrolium based things are well... petrol, more fire lighter. Smear some on the loo roll. I would also reconmend looking at real wool items in the charity shop, it is warm even while wet unlike pretty much any other fibre. I am in nottingham atm . I have been homeless before (over covid, in coventry) so I am not unsder any illusion that the world around me is particularly stable, i'm also a climate activist. Due to this I am also looking at driving lessons and getting a van I can DIY into a camper. I also like festivals and hiking so it would be a very comforting back up as well as something useful.

i live in australia and who gives a crap has been an absolute life saver not only during the lockdowns (what a luxury not even needing to look at the toilet paper shelves in the supermarket) but also in households with disorganised housemates, so you can just split a bill every 2 months instead of constantly running out and squabbling about who bought the last one. what a rad sponsorship! and video, obviously 😁

I live in the U.S and have Wilderness First Responder training because I am interested in search and rescue and do a lot of high risk outdoor activities like mountain biking, rock climbing, and multi-day backpacking trips, so I have a pretty extensive first aid kit ready at all times, but I don't have a grab bag of other essential gear. I think because I use my gear so frequently and have spent several years honing my gear collection and am familiar packing for multi-day trips, I haven't felt the need to prep an emergency bag since all my gear is readily accessible in my house right by the door. If anything, I would constantly have to pull stuff out and repack it from a grab bag for trips unless I bought multiples of everything, but that doesn't feel like a sustainable option. BUT this is making me consider in an actual emergency, with panic and possible danger in the equation, if I would be able to pull everything together at a moment's notice without forgetting some essentials. Also wondering if I should keep some basics in my car for when I am away from home and if something were to happen.

One random thing that also popped in to my head would be nail clippers or scissors unless they're already in your first aid kit. Also, maybe it might be best to invest in a rucksack that is waterproof as well, so that everything you're carrying doesn't get wet.

A friend of mine keeps sewing needles, thread and safety pins on her keys and it's just in every day life come in handy so I really like that and think that would be useful in a grab bag. Idk? Fixing clothing probably won't be a first priority but maybe a close second?

I don't have everything in one bag and that stresses me out sometimes, but I am one of these people in Sweden who have been told to have food and water for several days, there is no way that fits into a smallish bag. Also, for it to be functioning for us, we use the food as part of our pantry, so nothings gets too old. Right now, we have a few boxes with most of the supplies needed for surviving outside our home, mostly used as camping/hiking gear, and I can never decide on what gear is most important for any situation.

Public libraries in my area of the USA often have free sample emergency plans customized for local residents. Just this past year, my old library added a flood plan kit, too. When checking out your local municipalities and international orgs, remember your local library, too! 😉

I have a variety of grab bags in my home, you could debate whether or not they are emergency, but they are always useful. My partner has chronic health conditions and I am autistic. Our bags are designed for our individual needs and where they are stored are as useful as what their contents is. If I become non verbal, I still need to communicate with my partner so having communication cards in arms reach is essential to me, if my partner cant move much, having food, medication and hygiene products near the bed is just part of our lives.

Hey Leena, I want to give you a heads up to research if the water kept in the solar shower would still be ok to drink. It should be but, there might be a coating or residue in there to look out for. Great video!

leena! you're missing a good sharp knife. it doesn't have to be big but having a sharp foldy knife with a sharp point is super versatile and essential in so many situations, it can probably do at least 80% of the stuff your multitool claims to do + cut you free when you get tangled and help with small medical problems like dig out a splinter

So uh hi. Prepper here. A couple words of wisdom… electrical charges don’t stay that way for ever. If you are going to carry a power bank make sure it’s charged regularly and discharged regularly. Also helpful is cash. If things really get wild cash won’t be any good but all it takes for atms not to work is no power.

I'm sure if I made one it would be way too big, because what exactly am I preparing for? Survival in nature -summer or winter? Or is it for a trip to indoor quarantine and such? And much of what I would like to bring are things I use frequently anyway! Not to mention I'm living in a small apartment, i can't have some crap standing around just in case!

I'm from British Columbia! I'm glad you found the website. My whole life I've been raised to have emergency kits. In elementary school they even had them for us students that the school maintained. Mostly they are aimed towards a big earthquake, but floods and fires and other things also happen. I have a big emergency kit for if I am able to stay in my apartment, that can last me weeks as it's supplementing things I have here already. I also have a kit in a drybag backpack in my car in case I am stranded while driving, or if I have to evacuate and am able to drive somewhere safe. This one has a lot more tools and survival things. Somewhat recently I made a third bag that is the most portable of them all, with only the barest of essentials if I have to just grab it and run without any time to get down to my car to grab that bag.

When I was little, probably in middle school, we had a bad fire near my home in California. We get fires annually, but I remember back then when we had to evacuate our home and I decided to bring my book collection, albeit being small, but I couldn't part with them. I had a mini barbie suitcase that I stuffed them into and was ready to go. This was around my birthday, so the celebration was small, but luckily the fire didn't make it to my neighborhood and was contained. Haven't had to use a grab bag since, but every year during fire season I think about what I should take rather than what I want to take.

I'd recommend tarp(2 pieces if you can so one can go on the ground and one can go over you) and pistachios/peanuts because they're a good snack and you can open them with your bare hands and the shells can be used to start a fire(tho you'd have to rotate them long term ig)

As a recent Aussie I'm still only medium good at this. When bushfire season kicks off I put something together and then the rest of the year I'm like, grabbing stuff out of the bag and not paying much attention.

Thought about making a grab bag after russia invaded ukraine (which is probably an irrational response considering I live in London). Going through the items and imagining the scenarios I would need them gave me so much anxiety. I ended up just buying a first aid kit and necessary medication and decided to stop thinking about it. It's good to see you going through your thought process and item list. Love that you included a poetry book!

In the netherlands you can look up how much your house can flood and what you can do. Look up 'overstroom ik'. For me the best thing is staying at home and turning off gas, electricity and filling a bucket with water. I live high enough that my house will stay dry and leaving my house would be way more dangerous.

Would suggest having a backup torch because that one can take a while to get a full charge. Also I'm going to set reminders on my phone to restock food. Plastic bags are also good for wet/dirty clothes.

I live in Finland and don't have a grab bag because, like the guidance for Sweden and Norway, any emergency is more likely to force me to stay in rather than leave the house. (That said, I do try to follow the guidance for what to have at home.) It's really important to think about what emergency you're preparing for when putting an emergency kit together, and that varies a lot by region, and by specific situation. Also a book rec: Disasterology, by Dr Samantha Montano. Some very good discussion on emergency kits in there.

As a Norwegian living in the UK, watching the difference in coverage for at home preparedness when the war in Ukraine started was hugely baffling and frustrating! All of Norway was sold out of iodine tablets (taken after an atomic bomb to prevent cancer of the thyroid(?)), whilst it was just not a product available in the UK. My mum sent me two iodine tablets in the post because she wanted me and my partner to have some in case of emergency.

This has prompted me to consider a go bag, even just a hospital one for me if the little one got sick. It makes sense to consider this with a clear head, especially when most can come from around the house. I should at least gather important docs/things to grab if we needed to leave for a flood/gas leak etc. Remember to periodically check the charge on the battery pack, they do lose charge slowly. Also recommend a tarp and some kind of cord. It can help keep you and your stuff dry in poor weather, and you can wrap it around your rucksack to keep it dry as you travel without needing a specific backpack cover.

I live in the Midwest in the USA and we have a lot of tornadoes, so from a young age we are taught to have some degree of preparedness. We know if you don’t have a basement to go hunker down in the bathroom, and I’m also a nurse so I have all of my first aide or medical supplies in a waterproof bag under the bathroom sink. Gotta keep important documents in a (preferably waterproof) lockbox. I have a flashlight, batteries, radio, boots, water/water bottle with a built in filter, medications, cat food, chargers, a portable jump box, rain jacket, multitool, and my work bag. Some of these things aren’t in the bathroom already but are organized in a way I can grab them in less than a minute and take cover. My list isn’t necessarily good for taking off at the drop of a hat, but is good for being stuck inside after a tornado or having to leave the damage afterward. Tornadoes are so scary!

Living in Australia in bushland area, each fire season I keep my teddy bear, and a change of clothes in the car just in case. Really makes you think about what's most dear to you

For me I'd add lip balm and a hair brush or comb. It is a little thing but when everything goes to shit the little bit of control of your situation would help. I don't have one but may look into assembling one!

I have one. I live in a shady apartment in rural US. I was inspired by the pandemic, because my university was fully in person in the thick of it and there only advice was to have one if we got quarantined. I'm definitely adding to it after this video though.