The value of preparedness can never be overstated in our country which is disaster-prone. The recent weeks have made this alarmingly clear. Back-to-back tropical depressions drenched Luzon and Visayas with torrential monsoon rains, triggering floods and landslides. Just as we were monitoring the swelling rivers and submerged highways, an 8.8-magnitude undersea earthquake off Russia’s eastern coast prompted tsunami warnings across the Pacific, including in the Philippines. All these, and we are only at the beginning of the typhoon season.

Every year, an average of 20 tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). Add to that the country’s location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and the increasing impacts of climate change, and it becomes evident – disasters are not a question of if, but when. This makes one item absolutely essential in every Filipino household—the go-bag.

A go-bag, or emergency bag, is a compact, pre-packed kit filled with basic necessities one would need to survive the first 72 hours of a disaster. The Department of National Defense, through the Office of Civil Defense, and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), have long advocated for every household to prepare one. And yet, many homes remain without it—often due to complacency, forgetfulness, or a false sense of security. Or, and this is tragic, there is a go-bag that’s been left in a corner for years, and when it’s needed, its contents are mostly expired canned food, medicines, and batteries!

Let’s be clear – having a go-bag is not optional. It is a personal responsibility. Just as we lock our doors at night or wear seatbelts in cars, a go-bag is a precaution that protects our lives and those of our loved ones. In times of emergency—whether it’s a typhoon, flood, fire, earthquake, or even a tsunami—there is usually no time to gather supplies. The moments we waste scrambling for food, water, or medicine could be the difference between survival and tragedy. (It would be tragic if the essential medicines of a senior citizen in the family is not in the go bag!)

A properly packed go-bag should contain drinking water, canned food, flashlight, batteries, power bank, whistle, first-aid kit, essential medicines, extra clothes, hygiene items, cash, copies of important documents, and a list of emergency contacts. If there are children, seniors, or persons with disabilities in the household, their specific needs—milk, maintenance medication, assistive devices—must be considered as well. A word about the whistle: Take time to find a good one. It is a good item to call for help, not only during disasters but also when a burglar enters the house, or when a stalker follows you in a dark alley.

Of course, a go-bag cannot prevent disasters. But it gives us a fighting chance. It ensures we can evacuate quickly. It prevents panic. It gives responders time and space to focus on high-risk areas. (Remember, responders will likely not be in your area and will need at least a day or two, or three, to reach your house.) And, most of all, a go bag gives families a sense of control in the midst of chaos.

Local governments are stepping up efforts in pre-disaster response. Schools, barangays, and workplaces are conducting drills and seminars. But disaster resilience must begin at home. And it starts with something as simple as a bag, Let us not wait for another flood to destroy our belongings or a quake to shake us awake before we act. The signs are already here—three storms in a row, submerged communities, and distant tremors that remind us of how connected and fragile our region is.

This is the season for storms. But it must also be the season for preparedness. Start by packing a go-bag. Review its contents with your family. Keep it in an accessible place including in your car. It may seem like a small step—but in the face of disaster, it could save your life. Pack a go bag now! (Email: [email protected])