Are you ready for an emergency? Make yourself a go-bag with these essentials

Prepare for weather, power outages and beyond with a bag packed of must-haves.

— Recommendations are independently chosen by our editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

You can never predict when a disaster will strike. From severe weather that causes power outages to the destructive fires in California earlier this year to the most recent Long Island brush fires, when emergencies happen, you need to be prepared quickly. Having all of your most important documents secure and easy to grab is obviously key for any serious event. But, having an emergency go-bag packed ahead of time can be crucial for the most unexpected events. To help you and your family (and your pets!) stay safe, consider packing a bag with essentials like portable power banks with hand crank chargers, flashlights, waterproof gear, disinfectant wipes, a fire blanket and more. You don't need to go scrambling around your house for these items in the middle of a stressful situation like an evacuation if you have them packed ahead of time. Below, we've outlined several essentials to include in your go-bag so you can feel a little bit more prepared.