Go
Bags

What Is A Go-Bag?

A Go-Bag is a portable
container, or set of containers (often on wheels), that contain all
of the ‘stuff’ you will need to survive a given event and/or to
deploy to a given event if need for EmComm arises. If doing a
deployment, it can be very simple deployment to something such as an
established Emergency Operations with pre-positioned radios,
antennas, power (including backup generators), toilet facilities,
etc. Or, it could be a very in-depth deployment, such as to a
position out in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but pine
trees next to a gravel road. Otherwise you will likely be operating
from your home shack. But even then an evacuation could force you to
work from a relative’s home or a motel room so preparing a Go-Bag
is still a good idea.

How To Get Started

Begin by putting together
several types of Go-bags based on the items suggested in the list
below. This list is not all-inclusive but is more like a starting
point. Your Go-Bags should be well thought out and include items
suited for you and your equipment. Think about the items on the list,
especially items that you do not currently have, and acquire them
while there is time and no urgency. The list includes virtually
everything you will need to be helpful in an EmComm event should
include items that you would need only during an anticipated, short
term, supported deployment.

DON’T WAIT until you are
called to begin assembling your Go-bags. Do it in advance of
anticipated events. Remember, fires, earthquakes, etc. often don’t
provide either a warning or time to pack. Also, set a reminder on
your phone to inventory the contents of your Go-Bag every six months
or so and replenish any supplies that may have expired or exceeded
their “use-by” dates (medicines, batteries, etc…). Also, this
would be a good time to make sure any chargeable devices are
re-charged and ready to go.

Types
of Go-Bags

Personal (Survivor) Go-Bag

A
properly prepared personal Go-Bag will help you with your personal
survival needs, whether it is an EmComm deployment or situations such
as a rapid or unplanned evacuation or to keep in your storm shelter.
Think about the things you might need if you had to stay at a shelter
or a friend’s home for a few days. As such, EVERY family member
should have a personal “Go-Bag” ready for such emergencies and
have it stored in a place that is quick and easy to access during an
emergency. The personal Go-Bag will always be the first bag that
should be loaded out in a deployment or emergency situation.

• A
  3-day Supply of personal medications

• Clothing,
  Boots, Socks, Undergarments that are appropriate for the season
  (bright colors for shirts and jackets)

• A
  Season-Appropriate Hat

• Leather
  Gloves

• Spare
  Eyeglasses/Readers (spare contacts and/or solutions if you wear
  them)

• First
  Aid Kit/Trauma Kit

• Insect
  Repellent (summer)

• Sunscreen
  

• Headache/upset
  stomach/anti-Diahrea/anti-bacterial & virucidal cream/Calamine
  lotion

• Sunglasses

• Water
  – Take a minimum of two times the amount of water you expect to
  need.

• Water
  Filter

• Water
  Purification Tabs

• Toilet
  Paper/Kleenex

• Headlamp
  or Flashlight w/extra batteries. Headlamps keep hands free!

• Rainsuit/Poncho

• Hi-Viz
  Orange or Yellow Vest (for use if your clothing is drab colored)

• Moist
  Towelette Packets

• Space
  Blanket

• Plastic
  ground cover tarp

• Spare
  shoe laces

• Rope
  and twine

• Wool
  blanket and/or sleeping bag

• Fanny-pack/Back-Pack
  

• Sports/Bicycle
  water bottle

• High
  energy snacks and meal replacement bars

• Large
  trash bags

• A
  whistle

• Swiss
  Army Knife or Multitool

• Pencils
  and or Pens and Notepads

• Smartphone
  and charging method

VHF/UHF
Equipment Go-Bag

The
VHF/UHF Go-Bag would most likely be the second bag you would
load-out, after the personal Go-Bag, in the event of a deployment.
This bag contains VHF-UHF equipment and other useful items and
accessories. It
also contains a list of miscellaneous items that might be useful in
certain circumstances.

If
resources are not available to
stock an equipment Go-Bag and just have it sitting around waiting for
a deployment, simply
include a highly visible punch-list
that
has a list of items
you will need to grab
and add
to the Go-Bag before deployment.

• ARES/EmComm/RACES/served-agency
  identification card(s), especially id cards needed to gain access to
  facilities

• A
  copy of your FCC-issued amateur radio license

• Handheld
  radio (dual or tri-band, if possible)

  • Spare
    battery pack(s) – fully charged

  • Charger
    with all needed cords

  • USB
    charger and USB charging cords, if applicable

  • 120
    volt power supply, if applicable

• Headset
  with microphone

  • For
    high-noise areas the headset should have noise cancellation in the
    -20db to -30db range to be effective

  • Speaker
    mics will be very hard to hear in high-noise environments

  • Note:
    do not use the VOX option

• Antenna(s)

  • 19
    inch magnetic mount antenna with ground plane kit (for dual band
    2m/70cm) or equivalent portable antenna

  • Tripod
    mounted or hanging j-pole style antenna (dual-band or tri-band)

  • Mast,
    tripod or push-up pole for antenna if being used outside vehicle

• Coax
  cable (various lengths)

• Coax
  jumpers and connectors

• Coax
  connector adapters (BNC/PL259, BNC/SO239, many H/T’s require SMA
  connectors)

• Duck
  tape

• Notebook,
  pen, pencil & clip board

• Watch
  or digital clock

• Maps
  of the area (topographic and street)

• Copies
  of message forms:

  • Activity
    log

  • ICS-213,
    

• Compass
  and/or GPS

• Copy
  of District & Unit Operations Manual.

• List
  of served agency phone numbers in your area (not just your district)
  

• High-viz
  boundary/wire marking tape

Other
Equipment (Optional or Deployment Specific)

• Cooler
  with Food & Drink

• Lawn
  chair

• Folding
  table

• Tablet
  or 3-ring binder

• Umbrella,
  tarp or canopy (sun or rain)

• Shelter
  Tent large enough to stand in

• Table
  and chairs

• Logbook

• Battery-powered
  work lights

TOOLS
Go-Bag

Stuff
breaks and always at the most inopportune
time. A properly prepared Tool Go-Bag will provide you with the best
chance at making repairs in the field and
should be loaded out for every deployment!
Again,
this
list is not all-inclusive so
make sure the tools in your are
well thought out and include items suited for your own use. In fact,
you may already have a tool kit/bag that you use every day that
contains most of these items plus more! If so, all you need is a
punch-list reminder to “grab your tool bag” before deployment. If
you don’t have a suitable tool bag then use this list to help you
get started with a minimal Tool Go-Bag!

•
Swiss
Army Knife or Multitool (if not included in your Personal Go-Bag)

•
Razor
knife (cheap, plastic disposable – available a Home Depot, Lowes,
etc…)

•
Multi-bit
Screwdriver with interchangeable bits (Phillips, Flat)

•
Folding
set of Allen/Torx wrenches

•
Nut
Driver set

•
Needle-nose
Pliers

•
Diagonal
Side Cutters

•
Crescent
Wrench

•
Electrical
Tape

•
Digital
Voltmeter (VOM)

•
Fuses
(especially sizes for radio, power supplies, etc…)

•
Fence
Pliers (has built-in hammer!)

•
Crimping
Tool

• RF
Connector Crimper

•
Assortment
of Crimp Connectors and RF Connectors

•
Powerpole
crimper (optional)

•
Assorted
Powerpole connectors (optional)

•
Fasteners
(Nails, Brads, Tacks)

•
Rope,
twine and fishing line

•
Assorted
plastic cable ties

•
Soldering
iron (butane-powered preferred in electricity not available)

•
Solder

• 3
Wire AC Extension Cord w/2-3 pin adaptor

• AC
to 12V power inverter

•
Zip
Cord

•
Cash

•
AM/FM
battery-powered radio w/batteries

•
Magnifying
glass or strong reading glasses

VHF
Deployment Go-Bag

Some
deployments may require you to set up HF radios and antennas so
you should have a
VHF Go-Bag. Your VHF Go-Bag should be well thought out and include
items suited for your own use and
your own equipment!
Once you have your Go-Bag outfitted, do a mock deployment, setting up
your equipment just as you would during a real deployment. It’s the
best way to make sure you have everything you need for a successful
deployment.

• HF
tranceiver (12V dc preferred)

◦
Microphones
(and a backup for each radio)

◦
Noise
Cancelling Head phones, external speaker

◦
Morse
Code Key if appropriate

•
Antenna
Tuner

•
Multi-band,
NVIS antenna: which is NOT a mobile vertical, 75m dipole or 130 ft of
wire

•
Multi-band
Dipole or EFHW antenna

•
50+
ft. of RG8X or better coax with appropriate antenna/radio connectors
for each antenna.

•
Insulators

•
Antenna
switch

•
Lead
weight & 50 ft light line for tossing over branches (or bow &
arrow or slingshot)

•
Guy
ropes and Tent pegs

•
High-viz
marking tape to warn passers-by of antenna cables, lines and guys

• 3
Masts for the NVIS: One sectional, 20 foot with guy wires and two 8ft
or more all preferably non-conductive to dissuade lightning strikes.

•
Power
source (one or, preferably, more):

◦
12V
LiFePO4 battery – 75 A/H or better w/ charger (generator with DC
inverter or Vehicle w/ 12V battery & gas)

◦
Deep
discharge, 12 volt marine battery with the same charging options

◦
Automobile
with accessible battery terminals

▪ Cable
with alligator clamps on one end and Anderson PowerPole connectors
(or other) on the other end.

▪ Adequate
gasoline.

◦
120
Volt Power Supply (if utility/generator power is available)