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Gather supplies: Pack what you’ll need for an emergency in San Francisco
Most of what you’ll need in an emergency are everyday household items you already have.
The key to preparedness is keeping things in safe, easy-to-reach places and making sure you have essentials like water and food.
Prepare a Stay Box
Gather supplies in a bin or box at home in case you need to stay in place while emergency workers clear debris and make sure the area is safe (after an earthquake for example). Plan for a week's worth of essentials.
Use the Stay Box checklist to keep track of what you already have and what you need to get:
- Stay Box - English
- Caja de Estanca - Español
- Stay Box - Chinese - Coming soon
- Stay Box - Filipino - Coming soon
- Stay Box - Vietnamese - Coming soon
Pack a Go Bag
Your Go Bag should be something sturdy and easy to carry, like a backpack or small suitcase, and hold the things you’ll need if you must leave your house in a hurry.
Use the Go Bag checklist to pack a bag for every member of your family:
- Go Bag - English
- Bolsa de Emergancia (GoBag) - Español
- Go Bag - Chinese - Coming soon
- Go Bag - Filipino - Coming soon
- Go Bag - Vietnamese - Coming soon
ReadySF Safety Tip
As you gather items, consider your people's needs.
Does anyone take daily medications or rely on mobility devices? Are you responsible for young children who will need diapers, toys, and formula? Pets are part of the family too, so pack carriers, food, and other essentials.
Next: Get connected
- A big part of preparing is building up your community to have a network to turn to in times of crisis.
- Review the steps to get prepared for an emergency.
Learn More
- Find out about how disasters and emergencies can affect San Francisco.
- View and download the earthquake safety guide PDF.
About
Brought to you by the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management (DEM). DEM manages San Francisco's everyday and not-so-everyday emergencies.
For more information and updates, follow the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management on Instagram, X, Nextdoor, Facebook and BlueSky
Request a short presentation on disaster preparedness from the Department of Emergency Management.