On February 11, 2021 in Fort Worth, Texas there was a 130 car pile up. 5 people died, and others were stranded waiting for EMS and tow trucks. Its for times like these that I have my get home bag. A get home bag is just what it sounds like. It’s a bag with what you need to get you back home. I have a few different get home bags or emergency preparedness kits in different locations. I have one in the car, one in my work office, and I carry a sort of small one with me all the time.
A Get home bag should not replace your go bag or bug out bag, as you may still need to get out of dodge, but it is a fantastic asset for getting home to your supplies so you can bug in, which is always our Plan A.
In my cars get home bag I have:
- A change of clothes- including some athletic shoes
- A jacket
- A blanket
- A tow rope
- Tiedown straps
- Water
- Snacks- granola bars, fruit snacks, and trail mix
- Food
- Jumper cables
- A tool kit
- A battery pack
- Headlamp
- A lighter
- A first aid kit
- Battery terminal cleaner tool
For a more detailed list with pictures, reviews, and our recommendations for these items, click HERE.
When you’re determining how you should use your get home bag, there some things you need to think about. First assess if your vehicle is in a safe place. If you’re well enough on the shoulder of a highway, you’re probably safe. If you’re stuck in a lane of traffic, if there’s a forest fire coming your way, or it is otherwise unsafe, either try to make your situation safe, or get away and abandon your vehicle. Your vehicle may be at risk whether you’re in it or not, so its better to not be in it if this is the case.
After I know I’m safe, my goal is to first get my car started. I use the tools and jumper cables in my car’s get home kit if needed. If that doesn’t work, my plan B is to call for help and stay at my vehicle. My vehicle is shelter, and my vehicle also has emergency supplies. I’d rather not leave it if I don’t have to in the short term. If you can’t call for help, try to go somewhere you can get help. Everyone has a cell phone these days. Have a couple phone numbers memorized. If you are bad at memorizing, write a few down and put them in your wallet.
At my work I have:
- Athletic clothing- pants, shirt, socks, underwear
- An extra jacket
- Food
- Water
- Hat
- First Aid Kit
- Ibuprofen, Tylenol, and any other medicines I need
I can, and have, walked home from work under any circumstance. It’s about 4 miles and I can make it home in about 70 minutes. If I worked further from my home I would also add:
- A Lighter
- Comfortable Walking Shoes (I always wear those anyways)
- Life Straw
- Headlamp
- A Battery Pack
- A Blanket
- A Backpack- Having supplies doesn’t help if you can’t carry them
At all times I carry:
- A Knife
- String
- A few bandages
- Emergency Cash I don’t use for anything else
I have a similar kit on my boat, in my hiking backpack, and essentially anywhere I might need one. You always want to be able to get back home.
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