Every Peace Corps volunteer needs to be prepared for disasters – earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, cyclones, tornados, landslides, and even civil unrest. But with a little thought and minimal packing, every volunteer can be ready for the unknown with a Go-Bag. We’ll go through the essentials so you can tick off a checklist and know it’s done. And there is a suggested ‘Mini Go-Bag’ to carry with you daily as you go about your service work too.
What is a Go-Bag and why do you need one?
A ‘go bag’ holds stuff for short emergencies when you gotta leave quick. Staff will tell you what to do if there’s a natural or human disaster, like civil unrest. But it might take over a day or two to meet up with your fellow volunteers and Peace Corps staff. So your Go-Bag should have enough to get by until you can join them.
What is in a Peace Corps volunteer’s Go-Bag?
A Peace Corps volunteer Go-Bag looks different than ones packed by folks back home. Volunteers don’t wait for rescue – they make their way to meet up as fast and as safe as they can. Compared to other Go-Bag lists, this one seems sparse but it’s still good for what volunteers need.
I found lightweight dry bags are perfect to put it all in. But whatever bag you use should be tough and ideally waterproof. And keep your Go-Bag in an easy to reach spot so you can grab it fast on your way out. Since I use a small backpack daily for school, I just slip the dry bag inside and go. When you gotta leave quick, you may not have time to get this stuff together.
| Item | Tips & Advice |
|---|---|
| small backpack | – use daily carry backpack – store dry bag inside for emergencies |
| dry bag | – get lightweight, compressible dry bag – waterproof and durablereplenish items seasonally |
| mini go bag (see below) | – seal in resealable bag or pouch – include paper copies of critical info |
| clothes | – pack climate appropriate layers – hat, socks, underwear |
| power bank | – size to recharge your phone for several days – universal charging cable |
| water bottle | – durable, leakproof bottle – water purification tablets or solution |
| umbrella | – for both rain and sun protection |
| snacks | – protein bars or dried fruit – hard candy |
| personal items | – toothbrush, toothpast – feminine hygiene products – entertainment options |
| valuables | – know what to grab quickly – focus on essential electronics |
What is in a ‘Mini Go-Bag’ and why do I need one of those too?
Let’s be real – volunteers are not home much since they work in the community. What happens if there’s an emergency or disaster and you’re not near your ‘go bag’ at home?
Since I’m a teacher, I made a ‘Mini Go-Bag’ because I needed stuff like bandaids at school a lot. The ‘Mini Go-Bag’ is a ziplock with a few must-haves:
| Item | Tips & Advice |
|---|---|
| ziplock bag | – use durable freezer bag – stores flat items |
| passport/photocopy | – carry passport or photocopy |
| PC ID card | – has emergency phone numbers |
| emergency contacts | – critical if phone dies – host family & colleague info |
| cash | – enough for transportation & food – avoid large bills |
| phone cards | – keep phone service active – alternative if banks are down |
| flashlight | – small, powerful led – check charge frequently |
| first aid | – bandages, ointment – small basics |
| sanitizer & mask | – small tube of sanitizer, and spare mask |
| emergency blanket | – extremely compact – lifesaving uses |
| water purification | – iodine tablets – review directions |
| medications | – ibuprofen – one week of critical meds |
| knife | – small knife |
| lighter/matches | – to start fires if needed |
Have a plan for your dog or cat
Taking on a dog or cat while serving can be great but also more work. Know the rules for pets if you consolidate or evacuate. Make back-up plans to leave your pet with someone like your host family. If you must move your dog or cat in an emergency, think about a Go-bag for them with a leash, dry food, and water.
What to do in the event of an emergency?
Grab your ‘go bag’ and get somewhere safe as fast as you can. That’s why it’s so important to have the ‘go bag’ ready long before an emergency. If you have to find stuff and pack during an emergency, you could put yourself in more danger.
For my site in Nepal, the key is to take the “go bag” and get out of my house. Even though it’s concrete, it might collapse in a big earthquake.
In seconds, I can take my computer, a water bottle and put my ‘go bag’ in my backpack.
Start putting together your ‘go-bag’…
Disasters can hit anywhere, anytime. But volunteers in developing countries especially need to plan to evacuate if necessary. A ‘go bag’ is essential for that. Taking time to prep a ‘go bag’ could save your life. So have it ready…
Other Sources:
- Hurricane Season Is Here. Prepare These Emergency Bag Essentials ASAP
- How to Pack an Emergency Go Bag for Home Evacuations
- How to Put Together an Emergency Go Bag: 22 Item Checklist
- Go Bag Checklist: What to Pack in Your Go Bag
- Go Bag Checklist
- Earthquake Kit List
- What Do I Put in my Earthquake Go Bag?
