What actually goes in a grab bag
Now and then the safest thing is to leave home quickly, for a flood, a fire, or a gas leak nearby. It is rare, but if it happens you do not want to be gathering things room by room. A grab bag is simply a bag kept ready by the door so that leaving is one action, not twenty.
The basics
Pack for a night or two away, not for the apocalypse. A small rucksack is plenty:
- Water and a few snacks that keep, like cereal bars or nuts.
- A torch and a spare set of batteries.
- A power bank and cable for your phone, kept charged.
- Any medicines you or your household take regularly.
- Copies of key documents: ID, insurance, prescriptions. A photo on your phone plus a paper copy kept elsewhere both help.
- A little cash, in case card machines are down.
- A warm layer and something waterproof.
Make it work for your household
If there are children, older relatives, or pets, add what they would need: formula and nappies, a spare pair of glasses, a familiar toy, a lead and some pet food. If someone would find it hard to leave quickly, think that through in advance rather than on the day.
Keep it findable
A grab bag only works if everyone knows where it is and it is easy to grab. By the front or back door is ideal. Check it a couple of times a year: rotate the snacks, top up the power bank, and update anything that has changed.
Anything in a grab bag or a car kit is what you will actually have with you. That is the whole point of packing it before you need it.