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Evacuation Kit Checklist Philippines — Go-Bag Essentials for Typhoon & Flood

Ang go-bag mo ay buhay mo. Build your 72-hour evacuation kit now — complete checklist with exact quantities, document list, and storage tips for every Filipino household.

Go-Bag Checklist Typhoon & Flood Document List 72-Hour Rule
3-Day
Minimum Supply
of Food & Water
72 hrs
NDRRMC 72-Hour
Rule for Go-Bags
₱5,000
Minimum Cash
in Small Bills
1L
Water per Person
per Day (minimum)
Go-Bag Checklist

Complete Evacuation Kit Checklist — Philippines

Sundin ang listahang ito para maging handa sa anumang sakuna. Check off each item as you pack it into your go-bag.

Ano ang laman ng Go-Bag? — Complete Philippine Evacuation Kit

Minimum 3-day supply per person. Recommended by NDRRMC and Philippine Red Cross.

Document Checklist

What Documents to Put in Your Go-Bag

Place originals (or certified true copies) AND photocopies in a sealed, waterproof zip-lock bag or dry bag. These documents are critical for accessing government aid, insurance claims, and proving identity after a disaster.

🪪
Identity & Civil Documents
  • PSA Birth Certificates (all family members)
  • PhilSys National ID (PhilID)
  • Voter's ID or COMELEC Registration
  • Passport (if available)
  • PSA Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
  • Driver's License
🏦
Financial & Government Benefits
  • SSS or GSIS card & E-1 / Employment Records
  • PhilHealth ID and MDR (Member Data Record)
  • Pag-IBIG (HDMF) MID card
  • TIN card
  • Bank passbooks or ATM cards
  • E-wallet account numbers (GCash, Maya)
🏠
Property & Insurance
  • Land title or Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT)
  • Lease contract or rental agreement
  • Fire and property insurance policies
  • Life and health insurance policies
  • Recent utility bills (Meralco, Manila Water — for address proof)
  • Vehicle OR (Official Receipt) and CR (Certificate of Registration)
🩺
Medical Records
  • Vaccination records (all family members)
  • Written prescription list with dosages
  • Blood type cards for all family members
  • Allergy list and emergency medical notes
  • Latest medical records for chronic conditions
  • Family doctor and specialist contact numbers (printed)
Go-Bag Types

Types of Go-Bags: Which is Right for You?

Choose the kit that fits your budget and household size. Any go-bag is better than none — start with basics and upgrade over time.

🎒

Basic Go-Bag

₱500 – ₱1,500

  • Water (bottled, 3-day supply)
  • Canned goods and biscuits
  • Basic first aid kit
  • Flashlight + spare batteries
  • Whistle and dust mask
  • Documents in plastic bag
  • Change of clothes
  • Small amount of cash
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Family Go-Bag

₱2,000 – ₱5,000

  • Everything in Basic Kit
  • Hand-crank emergency radio
  • Power bank (20,000mAh)
  • Full waterproof dry bag for documents
  • Sleeping bag per person
  • Multi-tool or Swiss Army knife
  • 7-day medicine supply
  • Infant/pet supplies if needed

Premium Go-Bag

₱5,000+

  • Everything in Family Kit
  • Portable water filter (e.g., LifeStraw)
  • Solar charger panel
  • Emergency foil thermal blankets
  • Water purification tablets
  • Satellite communicator or PLB
  • Fire starter / waterproof matches
  • N95 respirator masks (full set)
Storage Tips

Where to Store Your Go-Bag

The best go-bag is the one you can grab in under 60 seconds. Location matters as much as what's inside it.

🚪
Near Your Main Exit

Store it beside your front door or main ground-floor exit — somewhere every family member knows, so anyone can grab it in seconds.

📐
Elevated Off the Floor

In flood-prone areas, hang it on a hook or place on a shelf — not on the floor. Floodwater can reach your bag before you do.

🚗
Consider a Car Kit Too

Keep a smaller emergency kit in your vehicle's trunk — you may be evacuating from work or school, not home.

🔒
Accessible, Not Locked Away

Never store your go-bag inside a locked cabinet or behind heavy furniture. Panicked grabbing under pressure should be effortless.

👨‍👩‍👧
Tell Every Family Member

Walk every household member — including children — to the bag's location. Practice a 60-second grab drill at least once a year.

📅
Review Every 6 Months

Set a calendar reminder for June (before typhoon season) and December. Check expiry dates, restock used items, and recharge power banks.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers about evacuation kits and go-bags in the Philippines.

What is a go-bag in the Philippines?

A go-bag (also called an evacuation kit or 72-hour kit) is a pre-packed bag containing everything a family needs to survive for at least 72 hours after a disaster such as a typhoon, flood, or earthquake. The NDRRMC and Philippine Red Cross recommend every Filipino household maintain a ready go-bag at all times, especially during the June–November typhoon season. It should include water (1 liter per person per day), non-perishable food for 3 days, a first-aid kit, important documents in a waterproof bag, a flashlight, a battery-powered radio, prescription medicines, cash in small bills, and a change of clothes.

How much water should be in an evacuation kit?

Store at least 1 liter of water per person per day. For the NDRRMC-recommended 3-day minimum supply, that means 3 liters per person. A family of 4 needs at least 12 liters of water in or near their go-bag. Use sealed commercial water bottles or clean food-grade containers with tight lids. Replace stored water every 6 months to keep it safe. If you have a water filter or purification tablets in your kit, you can supplement with collected rainwater in a pinch.

What documents should I include in my go-bag?

Place these in a sealed waterproof zip-lock bag or dry bag inside your go-bag:

  • PSA Birth Certificates (all family members)
  • PhilHealth ID and MDR
  • SSS or GSIS card
  • TIN card
  • Voter's ID or PhilSys (PhilID)
  • Land title or lease contract
  • Insurance policies (fire, health, life)
  • Bank passbooks and ATM cards
  • Recent utility bills (for address proof)
  • Vaccination records
  • Written prescription list with medication dosages

Keep photocopies in the bag and originals in a separate secure location (like a bank safe deposit box).

How often should I update my evacuation kit?

Review and restock your evacuation kit at least twice a year — ideally in May or June (before typhoon season begins) and again in December. During each review: check expiry dates on all food, water, and medicines; replace used or expired items; update documents if there have been family changes; test your flashlight and radio (replace batteries); and fully recharge your power bank. If you used anything from your kit, replace it immediately — don't wait for the next scheduled review.

How heavy should a go-bag be?

A go-bag should weigh no more than 20% of your body weight so you can carry it quickly during an evacuation. For most adults, this means keeping it under 10–15 kilograms. Use lightweight versions of each item — compact sleeping bags, emergency foil blankets instead of heavy quilts, energy bars and vacuum-sealed pouches rather than all canned goods. Children's bags should be lighter — give them only what they can comfortably carry. If your family's full supplies are too heavy for one bag, split them across two smaller bags.

Where should I store my go-bag?

Store your go-bag in an easy-to-grab location near your main exit — beside the front door, in a ground-floor closet, or on a hook near the stairs. Avoid locking it in a cabinet or storing it on high shelves that require a ladder to reach. In flood-prone areas, elevate the bag off the floor (hang it on a wall hook or place on a shelf) so rising water won't soak it before you grab it. Make sure every family member knows the exact location — even children. Consider keeping a smaller backup kit in your car as well.

Your Kit is Ready — Now Know Where to Go

You have your go-bag packed. The next step: know your nearest evacuation center, save the emergency hotlines, and build your family communication plan — all before the next typhoon arrives.