There may come a moment in your life where time is critical. The possibility of a wild fire headed in your direction. Your local river could overflow from the sudden melt off of a deep snow pack. Hell, maybe you have collection issues with a guy named Vinnie the Destroyer. No matter what that moment is, having bags in convenient locations can help lessen the stress when needing to get out of Dodge fast.

This is not to be confused with a grab and go bug out bag, which is helpful in its own right. This is a concept of keeping heavy duty bags in convenient and appropriate locations.

Your first step is to explore your home. Pay attention to what is vital and is no heavier than 10 pounds. It doesn’t even matter if you know what you’ll do with it, just take a mental inventory. That means the television, microwave, and the life size statue of the storm trooper is going to have to stay behind.

Next, head on down to any decent hardware store and purchase a box of industrial strength bags. The best quality and quantity you can afford. Don’t go cheap on this because you need the bags to hold together and not bust on you.

With bags in hand, take the time to explore your house. This is not a race; you need to pay attention to detail and what you will need for your family. Place a bag near your refrigerator and another in your pantry. Think of other areas around the house that may have items you will need. One bag could go in your closet, one in the dresser drawer. Keep thinking, “if I have less than an hour to leave the house, what do I need to bring with me?” Think about making a list in the area you are in and tape the list to the bag. This will help you organize your thoughts.

Here is a list of some items to think about:
clothes, pictures, identification, money, blankets, food, canned food, water, medical supplies, medication, family information, toys, games, silverware, can opener, batteries, flashlight, and coats.

The task is simple. Once you have notice that Vinnie is on his way, I mean, an emergency is in your midst, go around to the different areas of your house and seize what you believe to be important and stuff it in the bag. Put the bag by the exit door then head for the next room. This method lowers the risk you may leave a full bag behind in your rush to leave the house.

Use controlled breathing to regain your thinking. Keep an eye on the time, because we all know time flies by in certain situations. It may even be in your best interest to set up the timer on the oven.

I want to reiterate, this by no means replaces your emergency kit. The main aim is to act as a supplement to your kit, if time permits. Take, for example, if an emergency department gives you two hours to leave, I would recommend you leave within the hour. Keep in mind the time factor for escaping the incident. There are others trying to flee the scene as well.

Disclaimer: You are the only person that knows what degree your life is in danger. Above all else, you MUST stay safe. We all dread the thought of losing the items we have come to love, but it means nothing if you risk your life. DO NOT attempt this, if you believe your life is in imminent danger. You need to put the safety of yourself and family members first!!

What items are important to you if you had to leave quickly?