I BET you experienced wondering what better gear should be prepared for a Disaster.
Visit your Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and they will tell you to make a Go-Bag. It is simple and easy to make that can save your life someday. You can use it in case of fire, medical emergencies, and even earthquakes and you can survive 72 hours, at least, after the incident.
In the lowlands where flooding is imminent, they prefer the balde (Pail) filled with their things. This is for the purpose of using the balde too in fetching water and even as a floater in floods.
In the Cordillera, due to steep mountain slopes that needs to be traversed during a disaster, using the balde cannot be as practical as a Go-Bag. Why? Because when someone with a balde walking in the mountains stumbles, the probability that the balde will fall-hit the rocks, and be destroyed, is very high. If this happens, the contents of the balde will no longer be of use, and the 72-hour target for survival will be lessened to its Minimum. That is why the Bag is preferred, wherein when it falls, its contents are intact.
Go-Bag can be any bag reused for this Purpose. You can even use a sack since it is not for socialization purpose. It is only brought out in case of an emergency. Its name Go-Bag has an action word “Go” to emphasize its use as a bag ready to go, anytime.
Just imagine a scene where a fire is burning your abode. You cannot just order the fire to stop and wait for you to at least save something for your use. But when you have a Go-Bag, Just pick it up and leave. With it, you are certain that there's is something for your use in the next 72 hours.
It may contain transistor radio with batteries for updates of situations during disasters; Flashlights for lighting use and signal to catch attention in dark places; first aid kits for treatment or immediate care of injured individuals; potable water that can be used for drinking and cooking; ready to eat food with long shelf life; whistle for emergency signals to call attention; blankets and mats as protection from the weather; trash bags for your waste materials; plates, spoon and cup for your meals which is preferred to be not breakable; clothes to quickly change into when you get wet; hygiene kit to make sure that your body is clean; and utility rope for tying materials and equipment during an emergency.
You may also include money, distress banner, cellular phone with load, chargers, plastic bags, hand warmers, emergency blankets, can openers, and other essential things for your survival, or adaptation to climate change.
Preparedness is always better. We need to be prepared, proactive and resilient, to be successful in whatever we want in life.