has an interesting and practical post about go-bags – it’s an annotation and exegesis of lists he’s posted on his Emergency Kits page. Here’s McDonald’s explanation of his “Urban Bag”:

Urban bag

If you’re just going away for a little while, or you only need to get home from the office, and you’re in a built-up area, this has the supplies you need. If you can grab nothing else, grab this one. If you only have ten seconds, grab this one.

(Along with what’s in your pockets. I assume some pocket change, subway tokens, a pocket knife, ID, and so on.)

In a waist pouch

Sometimes called a fanny pack (and for our Brit friends, no, that’s not what it sounds like). The idea here is something small, neat, compact, that will stay with you in the press of a crowd, and that doesn’t require the use of your hands.

one AA flashlight

What the Brits call an “electric torch.” AA is a battery size. The smallest, lightest one you can find. Consider one with LED lights in it, because those don’t run down their batteries as fast. In a general urban emergency, power may be one of the first things to go, or the lack of power may be the emergency. Light will get you out of tunnels, through hallways, or allow you to signal at night. Light extends your active period.

one AA transistor radio

You’ll want to hear emergency announcements and instructions, so you’ll know what’s happening, and where to go to find help. The good guys should be putting out the word. You need a way to get that word. Radios are cheap, light, and work under a remarkable number of harsh conditions.

one spare pack of AA batteries

If you rely on battery-operated devices I promise you that the batteries will die at the most inopportune time possible. Have the radio and the flashlight work off the same kind of batteries. When you need fresh batteries for your normal household devices (remote controls, toys, clocks, etc.) take the batteries from the radio or flashlight in your kit. Replace the batteries in the radio and flashlight from the spare pack in your kit. Replace the spare pack with a fresh spare pack from the store. That way the freshest batteries in the house will be the repacement battery pack in your jump kit.

one pack moleskin

This is a thick adhesive-backed cotton felt used to protect against blisters. In an emergency situation you live as long as your feet do. With normal transit disrupted you can expect to do some walking. If you aren’t used to walking this can be a killer. Blisters on your feet can put you out of commission. How to use moleskin.

anti-chafing ointment

Particularly if you’re out of shape and overweight (but it can happen to anyone), chafing between your legs and under your arms can hit you when you’re doing a long hike. This can be cripplingly painful. Pick up some anti-chafing ointment (available at sports stores that cater to runners). Some brand names are Chafe Eez, Sportslick, and Body Glide. Bag Balm also works.

one small sharp curved scissors

These are sometimes called iris scissors or cuticle scissors. Use it for cutting the moleskin (above), or any of the thousand other things you might need a small, sharp scissors for. Trimming your nails, opening out your clothing, whatever. Just good to have.

one space blanket

If it gets cold and dark and you’re in the open, you’ll want to have this. Also good for signalling, as a wind break, and to treat for shock.

one disposable poncho

Because along with your other problems, while you’re hiking home in the blackout, it’ll probably be raining. Something small, light, disposable … because if you chose something big, heavy, and reusable you’ll probably leave it at home rather than have it with you. This also gives you a plastic sheet which, together with that pair of scissors, can let you build a solar still (fi you’re in the situation where a solar still is what you want), or anything else that a few square feet of plastic can make.

250 mL of water

Because dehydration can kill you. When you get thirsty enough, drink it all down. Don’t ration. This will make your load lighter, will help prevent blisters and chafing (both related to dehydration), and give you an empty bottle to refill next time you come to a clean water source. 250 mL is a standard size, and it’s small and light.

one whistle

As long as you can breathe, you can call for help with a whistle. If you happen to know International Morse (you mean you don’t?!) you can pass information along with a whistle (as, indeed, you can with that flashlight). At the very least, know SOS: three short, three long, three short.

$100 in ten-dollar bills

Enough for two nights in a cheap motel or an inter-state bus/train ticket. Assume that ATMs will be down or out of money, and that credit card readers will be down as well. Cash on the barrelhead is your friend. Adjust the dollar amount for common costs in your area. Ten-spots are large enough that a wad of ‘em is small and light, but small enough that there won’t be a big problem with making change if you do buy something.

$10 in quarters

The most common coin for vending machines, toll booths, and pay phones. Assume your cell phone will be down, jammed by everyone else trying to use ‘em, or you’re in an area with no cell coverage for some reason. Pay phones are your friends in an emergency. Also, if you’ve been on the road for ten hours the candy bar in the bus station at three in the morning will look mighty good, but if you don’t have coins it won’t be yours.

two disposable butane lighters

Two sources of fire are a survival standby. You may need to light candles, a kerosene lantern, or a camp stove. This is also a source of light if the flashlight dies.

one pack waterproof matches

Sometimes called “lifeboat matches.” Because butane lighters don’t always work.

one pre-paid phone card

Rotate this as necessary to make sure it’s fresh and usable. For those times when you don’t have quarters, or when you’re calling from another phone in someone’s house or office or such. Important rule: Let people know where you are, where you’re going, what route you’re taking, and when you expect to get there.

lists of phone numbers

Because you’ll want it know how to get hold of Aunt Kitty at three in the morning when the world is falling apart and she’s the only one you can think of who’ll always be home.

one pen

“A short pencil beats a long memory,” and you will want to write down any emergency instructions you hear on that radio.

one notepad

To write down those emergency instructions. Also, so you can leave a note on the refrigerator when you leave home in a hurry: “Fred: Gone to Aunt Kitty’s.” Make sure you put the date and time on the note.

inventory list

Because you’re going to be inventorying and repacking the kit quarterly.

consider: regional map

So that you’ll be able to figure out where you are, where you’re going, and if the radio says “Avoid Place AAA” you’ll be able to figure out where it is, or if the radio says “Your best route is via Bridge BBB” you can figure ou
t the direction, even if it’s out of your usual travel area.

Consider: laminated photocopies of important documents (e.g. marriage license, birth certificate, social security card, first page of passport)

Because relief workers may need to know, you may be away for lots longer than you expect, and it’ll provide a handy way to identify your body if things go very wrong indeed.

McDonald’s post onMaking Light. Via Communications From Elsewhere.

See also Melissa Miller’s “The Smarter Emergency Kit” in Wired.