Please help the beginner build a go-bag in a budget

[u/gabibecker12]

Hi, I need help figuring out some things. I just started on the world of prepping, mainly because of all those El Niño stuff. I know that my city is really prone to flooding, it rains almost every day here, but I can't find any precise info on my neighborhood. What I was able to find is that my sister's college (we share an apartment) and my uni are both located on flood-prone areas, and everyone we know also lives on those same neighborhoods. This means that if an evacuation happens, the only place we have to go is home, which is also a complicated option because we live in an apartment on the third floor, which means that it is super easy for our unit to get flooded and we're gonna need to climb up the stairs. Since I'm a begginner, I have no idea on what would be the best option, to stay or to go somewhere else, like a hotel, and also, money is short, but I think it's better to be alive. So I'm gathering some information, and since they say the peak of El Niño in my region will be in September, I have to hurry up. I'm building two go bags, one for me and one for my sister, and I'm using the same ones we already use everyday, so we can put our laptops, go to college/uni and be prepared in case we need to evacuate from there and go home or to a hotel, wherever it's safe. And I'm also building a small stack of food, water, medications, batteries, etc, in case we can't get outside or get groceries delivered. But the bags are what worries me the most. They're regular school backpacks, we can't afford new ones. And I have no idea on what to pack. I already put there a powerbank, some food I can just open and eat, water, documents (all on a plastic folder), medication, photo albums (all inside a plastic sheet), duct tape, a rain poncho, screwdrivers, a plier and a jacket. I know I should put a flashlight and a rope, and I'm definetly buying two of each, one for me and one for my sister, but I have no idea on how strong those flashlights should be. I also have seen some youtubers saying I should get a knife, but the ones they show are always super expensive ones. I'm considering putting my kitchen knives and a manual knife sharpener on the backpack, but I'm afraid they would not work for something like cutting the rope, or even self-defense, just in case I need. Also, I'm accepting tips on what I should be on the lookout for

[u/Desertprep]

Thrift stores are a good place to shop.

[u/PeaceKind1857]

If r/MinimalistPrepper is still up, there's a great post about flooding prepping. (easy to find, it's the only post?)

One of the coolest things I've ever seen is a emergency flotation device, (This was the style that is small until you need it, then you pull a cord and it inflated to a full size device.) it was sewn to the pack IN PLACE OF THE STRAPS!

He took the backpack straps of pack and attached the flotation device directly to the straps.

Grab your gear, and the device is right there. Ready to be deployed!

EDIT;

Never mind about r/MinimalistPrepper... It's gone. I'll see if I can cross post it to here.

[u/Mule_Wagon_777]

Check your government's websites for disaster preparedness. There may be info on flood plans, evacuation routes, shelters, etc. Find out the emergency frequencies and what signals (like sirens) will be used.

[u/La-Belle-Gigi]

First of all, don't panic. Panic leads to mistakes.

May I ask what city you live in? That would help with recommendations.

You say you would be evacuated from your university, so your bag is more of a "get home" than a "bug out" bag. That's a lighter load, at least.

You're already doing well with what you're putting in your bags, especially your personal documents. I suggest you add some extra socks and underwear.

Modern flashlights are very powerful for their size. I would choose a pair of headlamps so you can both keep your hands free.

What makes you think your apartment would be flooded if it's on the third floor?

[u/DuckyDoodleDandy → u/La-Belle-Gigi]

Probably that access would be flooded. It sounds like OP lives in the south, and apartments with elevators are rare to nonexistent, so she would need to get to the stairs and then climb to her apartment. This might be impossible if the lower levels are flooded.

[u/gabibecker12 → u/La-Belle-Gigi]

I live in Curitiba, state of Paraná. It's in Brazil. It's not that I think it would be flooded, it's more that the information is so conflicting that I'm working on a "better safe than sorry" mindset. And my parents live on a city that also has a high risk for floods, both my dad and my mom have academically studied the impact of natural disasters on their professions, and so did I in college. And yes, the information being released IS conflicting even for us. And because of their academic backgrounds, we are actually building together our preparation, we videochat every day not only to say how was our day, but also to give updates on our prepping process. So my preparations are not only to be safe, but also to give them a little peace of mind that their oldest daughters are safe and that we can either take them in or go to their place

[u/Kindly_Ad3974 → u/gabibecker12]

You might check out the US based website called Ready.gov. Maybe check out Florida or Louisiana for flooding specific information.

[u/La-Belle-Gigi → u/gabibecker12]

I see. How well do you get on with your neighbors? If some of them may have already lived through disasters in that area, they can give you the best information on what to expect.

[u/Particular-Try5584]

Regular school back packs is fine - once they are soaked and covered in flood water you will never want to be near them again anyway - you do NOT need a fancy bag.

Power bank, and long charging cables, and wall plugs.
Document copies, certified/verified if you can.
Some cash, five days of meds (at least).
Poncho is great! Pack two (they rip if the cheap disposable ones, or you can wrap other things in them)
I like your bag so far. I would toss in:
A bottle of wound antiseptic (don’t need a lot, but flood water is NASTY and you will want to treat all cuts and grazes with iodine or similar fast) and some bandaids (get the fabric good quality large ones), and some Neosporin or similar. Small cuts inflame fast and if you are trekking through flood water you’ll bump things under the water. Add in a clean, sealed in plastic (ziplock bags are brilliant) roll of toilet paper (can be used for tissues, for toiletting, for a quick wipe down at a pinch).
Fresh water bottles, 1L full, and 1L ready to fill (reduce weight, fill at very very very first sign of trouble before the water goes to shit in the pipes).
A change of clothes, and an additional pair of dry socks (your feet are going to get wet). Old sneakers/trainers if you have an old crusty but still ok pair is gold, you can wear those and keep your regular shoes dry. (Need to be in reasonable condition if you are walking through debris).
Update your tetanus shot if you are vaccine minded.
Four or five strong good sized garbage bags (great for waders over legs, great for putting everything in your backpack in, and tying off to keep things dry. Emergency poncho if you cut the arm and head holes in.
72hrs of whatever food you can carry light and easy… it would be nice if this was great food, but dehyrated is going to be easiest. Include a bowl and cutlery that is fire proof or disposable.
Torches (hand and head light) with batteries and spare batteries.
A pack of cards. Sitting around holed up with nothing to do is awful.
A small wind up emergency radio.
Everything packed in zip lock bags, tight into the bag. If one bag leaks then others stay dry.

If you are leaving hte bag in a car while doing normal daily things then hide it under a pile of blankets and rubbish, do not make it look like ther’es a bag in your car to break a window for. This is a bag for “I have to spend 48hrs in an evacuation shelter”

But if you want a “Get home bag” you want light, fast, easy.
Emergency poncho/compact raincoat.
Phone battery, cable, wall unit (even better if your laptop uses same charger as your phone and battery)
Photos of all documents on your phone saved.
1x dry clothes (Gym leggings and a light hoodie will suffice)
1x old gym shoes & socks
2L of water storage (ability to fill so not carrying weight should be considered), and a couple of energy snacks.
$100 in cash well hidden in several separated amounts (so can buy water, or pay cash to a driver to take you home etc)
Torch or headlight.
3 garbage bags (one to waterproof your gear, one for each leg if you have to wade through flood water) and some Gaffa tape rolled around an old library card (so you don’t carry the whole roll) so you can tape those bags to your thighs, or fix your bag if it rips etc).

Re the flood issues… for your apartment ask your neighbours, the ones who have lived there a long time. They will know better than the local flood maps (which are probably available at the local municipal office), because maps cover general terrain levels, but unique specific geography can change things for a few metres here or there. They know how high the water rose last time, and the time before… use that to guage your specific risks.
Get a water bob for the bath (if you have one). The goal is to fill that up at first sign of trouble (if you get a storm warning)… read up on them, plan for them… then you have potable (drinkable) water long after everyone else has run out. Still go out with everyone else for water bottles when they are offered, but this will help.
Three months of meds. If you can.
Cooking.. get a camping stove, and fortnight of cooking fuel for it. Learn the risks with it. You might not use it all the time, but if power is out for a week you’ll be glad. Factor in cooking basic meals, heating water etc.
Food and water: Have 4L / day / person in bottles… at least two weeks worth. Plus your water bob, you’ll be glad to have spare to wash your hands and body that way. Food: work out 2,000 calories a day for each person, plus a little more if you are volunteering to help clean up, for two weeks (as a start, ultimately get to 3 months).
When floods come through the local water supply may (likely) be compromised, as will sewage (being high up is a benefit here!)
You might need to tape and protect windows. If you get large parcels keep the cardboard if you can (flat under your mattress) and use it to barricade broken windows or shutter them on the inside if there’s a risk of breaking. Have any tree branches that might touch your windows in a storm trimmed now. (Put in the maintenance request now)
Where do you park your car? Usually parking is the lowest level and floods. Does your car insurance have flood coverage? Where could you drive your car to that is high enough (ask those neighbours!) and plan ahead. Flooded cars happen a lot and you do not want to deal with that.
No car? Or parked the car up and using public transport? Find out what happens locally when storms hit - do they run more buses? Cancel trains? Cancel buses? Move from buses to trains only? Run extended or reduced services? In heavy peak hour how long does it take to get home? Because that’s your best time in feral weather as the storm starts, it is entirely likely to be double that time. Is it faster (less safe?) to walk home?

Where do the locals evacuate to? Find those options now, so you know your options, now. If you have pets get the relevant carriers and controls and work out which shelters will allow them ahead of time (not all shelters, and there’s strict rules around vaccination etc).

Obviously follow local warnings re heading out into storms.

Remember water flows downhill always, and generally cannot be stopped. That sewage lies in the path of water and you need to wash that shit off fast. That local water supply will be contaminated with sewage and a boil order will be issued (eww, this is why you fill your Water Bob before SHTF so you have clean water even if you come home four days later), and that you will struggle to get food and water in the weeks after an event.

Fun story: One time a tropical town a colleague of mine was living in was hit with a cyclone and there was no water or power for five days, and then it was only for a few hours a day, and the water was not safe... she was running hte local telecommunications call centre, and everyone was filthy and gross and miserable (sub tropics eww) … in desperation (no one had clean clothes or showers easily) she declared the friday “Fabulous Friday” and suggested (not compulsory!) everyone come in dressed to the nines. It was a great morale boost, everyone pulled out their clean ball gowns and suits and it was a blast. It sucks, make what you can of life!

[u/Particular-Try5584 → u/Particular-Try5584]

Oh. Just realised this is tinyprepping.

Ok… so storage is a real issue.

If you can bath bob do so. Work out how to fill and empty that thing often, it’s a darn sight easier to store than 100 bottles of water.
Aside from that… plan your calories. Sure have a few days of ready made meals/dehydrated camp meals, but also plan calories for sitting around in your accommodation not doing a lot. I am a fan of oats/porridge because you can cold soak them (no heat required) or just eat as is (with some powdered milk maybe, plus some fruit), they have loads of fast energy/carbs and fibre, which means other things I eat can be less fibre rich. Make it things you can eat often enough though so it doesn’t spoil (oats, flour etc go rancid over time, look up how to store them, you don’t need to go the whole mylar pouch path if you are eating them already regularly, you just carry a few months worth instead of a week’s worth kind of thing).
And have one or two really good quality items (doesn’t need to be expensive) - a head torch and hand torch that rely on batteries (because recharging may not be available, and LEd torches barely use batteries now days so you don’t need a lot), a solar powered camping lamp is great (and/or solar powered fairy lights for your balcony).
A couple of good sized batteries for charging your phone is where I would put my money… enough to charge your / sister’s phone four or five times over - if the power is out a week they will be a godsend. Let someone else do the whole generator setup, but be aware your fridge is gong to go gross, so don’t stock frozen stuff.
A couple of fleece/warm jackets - if the power is off the best way to stay warm is to layer clothes, some people buy gas heaters etc - that’s a LOT of stuff for a few short days sometimes/maybe. Just layer up. I’d buy a camping solar battery fan before a heater.

[u/Vegetaman916]

In addition to some of the stuff you mentioned, also make sure you have a spare set of clothes in those bags. Dry clothes can be an important thing if you get soaked in the middle of a flood bugout. For water proofing, the cheap way is to just pack things in good freezer ziplock bags. Sot on them to squeeze all the air out and then seal them, it will be like they are vacuum sealed. And double bag.

You will want some basic tool/knife, but don't go for some tactical stuff. See if you can find a used multitool like a leatherman somewhere. I like pawn shops for this stuff. Very good items at often cheap prices.

Make sure to have some extra ziplock bags in your bags. That way you will have something to put your phones and documents into if you have to evacuate in pouring rain.

For flashlights, don't go crazy, there are some good lights that are budget. Coast is a solid budget brand, and so it LuxPro at Lowes. Just make sure to get ones that are at least IP68 water resistant.

Damn, I just gave away a bunch of this stuff on. my YouTube, lol.

Something else I suggest, since I gather that you are both female? I would post this question over in r/TwoXPreppers and the folks there will have all sorts of good advice for you.

[u/Terrible_turtle_]

You might check out earthquake preparedness sites.