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Leave Early. When In Doubt — Go.
Voluntary evacuation orders are not suggestions for cautious people. They are the window between leaving safely and leaving in gridlock. Once a mandatory order drops, every highway out fills within 2–3 hours.
The math: Leaving 24 hours early costs one hotel night. Leaving 6 hours after a mandatory Cat 4 order can cost everything. There is no version of leaving too early that is as dangerous as leaving too late.
⚠️ Medical equipment failures in disasters kill people who survived the storm
A CPAP user who runs out of battery power stops breathing safely during sleep. A diabetic who runs out of insulin enters a life-threatening crisis within 24–48 hours. An oxygen-dependent patient without power for their concentrator has hours, not days. Medical go bags are not about comfort — they are about the life-critical gap between your normal supply chain and the moment your medical support system comes back online.
💡 The most important thing you can do today: Call your doctor, specialist, or equipment supplier before June 1 every year. Ask specifically: "What is my emergency protocol if I am displaced for 7 days and cannot access my normal supplies?" Most providers have protocols. Most patients have never asked.
By Condition
CPAP & Sleep Apnea
A CPAP machine without power is useless. The solution exists, it is affordable, and almost nobody buys it until after their first disaster.
- Travel CPAP machine — ResMed AirMini or Philips DreamStation Go — Full-size CPAP machines draw too much power for battery operation. Travel CPAPs are specifically designed for low-power operation. Ask your doctor for a travel CPAP prescription — insurance often covers it.Get before storm season
- CPAP battery pack — compatible with your specific machine — The ResMed PowerStation II provides 2 nights of CPAP use per charge. The Medistrom Pilot-24 Lite works with most brands. Know your machine's power requirements and match accordingly.2 nights minimum
- Solar panel — foldable 21W minimum — Recharges your CPAP battery during daylight hours. For week-long displacement, a solar panel is the difference between sleeping safely every night and sleeping safely for 2 nights.Ongoing recharge
- CPAP hose, mask, headgear — backup set — Equipment fails. Masks crack. Hoses develop leaks. A backup mask and hose in the go bag eliminates the most common CPAP equipment failure during displacement.Equipment backup
- Distilled water — 1 liter per night for humidifier — If your CPAP has a humidifier, it requires distilled water. Tap water causes mineral deposits and bacterial growth. Pre-pack enough distilled water or disable the humidifier and use CPAP without it — safe for short-term displacement.If humidifier used
- Sleep position pillow — travel size — Positional therapy matters for sleep apnea. A travel wedge pillow maintains the head position that supports CPAP effectiveness.Nightly
Diabetes — Type 1 and Type 2
- Insulin — 14-day supply minimum in FRIO cooling wallet — Open insulin vials remain effective at room temperature below 80°F for 28 days per most manufacturers. A FRIO evaporative wallet keeps insulin within safe range for days with no ice or electricity — just water activation.Critical — Day 1–14
- Syringes or insulin pen needles — 14-day supply — Pre-count daily usage and double it. Insulin without the delivery system is useless.Day 1–14
- Blood glucose meter + test strips — 14-day supply — Stress and disrupted routine cause blood sugar swings in both directions. Test more frequently during displacement, not less.Multiple daily
- Lancets — 14-day supply — Often forgotten when packing strips and meter. One lancet per test, fresh per use.Daily
- Fast-acting glucose — glucose tablets, juice boxes, regular soda — Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can occur during evacuation exertion and disrupted eating schedule. Always have fast-acting glucose accessible — in a pocket, not buried in a bag.Always accessible
- Glucagon emergency kit — For severe hypoglycemia when the patient cannot self-treat. Every diabetic's go bag must have one. Family members must know how to use it.Emergency
- Ketone test strips — Type 1 — Diabetic ketoacidosis risk increases during illness, stress, and irregular insulin access. Test ketones if blood sugar is consistently above 240 mg/dL.Type 1 critical
- Typed medication list — insulin type, doses, prescriber — If you need an emergency insulin prescription filled at an unfamiliar pharmacy, this card is what makes it happen quickly.Documentation
Oxygen Therapy
- Portable oxygen concentrator — battery-operated — Home concentrators are not portable and require continuous power. A portable oxygen concentrator (POC) like the Inogen One or Respironics SimplyGo Mini runs on battery and AC power. Contact your oxygen supplier — most have emergency rental programs.Arrange before storm season
- Extra batteries — 8 hours minimum — Most POC batteries provide 4–6 hours. Two batteries plus the vehicle adapter provides approximately 12 hours of independence from grid power.8 hrs minimum
- Vehicle power adapter for POC — Your car is a power source as long as it has fuel. A vehicle adapter for your specific POC model is essential for extended travel.Every trip
- Portable oxygen tank — backup — For short gaps, power failures, and transitions between locations. Your oxygen supplier can provide filled portable tanks. Know how many hours each tank provides at your prescribed flow rate.Backup
- Pulse oximeter — personal monitor — Monitor your oxygen saturation during displacement. A reading below 90% requires immediate attention.Ongoing monitoring
- Contact oxygen supplier emergency line — Most medical oxygen suppliers have 24-hour emergency lines for disaster situations. Have this number saved and written in your go bag.Documentation
Mobility & Wheelchair Users
- Manual wheelchair backup if you use a power chair — Power wheelchairs weigh 250–400 lbs and cannot always be transported. A lightweight manual chair as a backup provides mobility when your power chair cannot be used.Critical backup
- Power wheelchair battery — fully charged before storm season — Know your chair's battery range on a full charge. Know how to charge it from your car's power outlet or from a generator.Full charge
- Wheelchair repair kit — tire pump, multi-tool, spare tube — A flat wheelchair tire in a disaster zone with no bike shop open is a complete mobility loss. Carry a basic repair kit.Equipment backup
- Transfer board and gait belt — For transfers to hotel beds, shelter cots, car seats, and bathroom facilities that are not wheelchair-accessible.Daily use
- Pressure relief cushion for extended sitting — Extended sitting during evacuation without position changes causes pressure injuries rapidly. Your regular cushion travels with you.Always
- Pre-identify accessible hotels and shelters along your route — ADA-accessible hotels fill first during evacuations. Book refundable reservations in advance or identify them before storm season.Preparation
Heart Conditions & Blood Thinners
- 14-day medication supply — all cardiac medications — Warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors. Pre-sort in labeled pill organizer. Missing even 2 days of anticoagulants creates serious clot risk.Day 1–14
- Blood pressure cuff — manual, no battery needed — Aneroid (manual) cuffs work without batteries and are more reliable under disaster conditions than digital. Monitor BP daily during displacement — stress raises it significantly.Daily monitoring
- Nitroglycerin — if prescribed, current supply — Check expiration date. Nitroglycerin expires faster than most medications — typically 6 months after opening. Replace annually.As prescribed
- Medical alert ID bracelet or card — If you are incapacitated, first responders need to know about anticoagulant use, pacemakers, and cardiac conditions immediately.Always worn
- Pacemaker/ICD documentation card — If you have a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator, carry the device ID card. Some emergency medical equipment can interfere with older devices.Always carried
General Medical Go Bag Essentials
- Complete typed medication list — all conditions — Medication name (generic and brand), dose, frequency, prescribing physician, and pharmacy. One copy in the go bag, one in your wallet, one photo on your phone.Always
- Insurance cards — all policies — Health, Medicare/Medicaid, supplemental, prescription drug card.Always
- Primary care and specialist contact numbers — After-hours lines, emergency contacts. Saved in your phone AND written on paper in the bag.Documentation
- 7-day supply of all OTC medications — Pain reliever, antacid, antihistamine, anti-diarrheal, stool softener, wound care. Medical conditions often interact with OTC medications — know which are safe for your conditions.Daily
- Medical equipment power needs list — Every device, its wattage, battery life, and charging requirement. Know what your generator needs to run to keep you alive.Preparation
Essential Products — Amazon Prime
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Travel CPAP — ResMed AirMini
💡 Full CPAP therapy. Weighs 10 oz. Made for exactly this situation.
Shop on Amazon →
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CPAP Battery Pack
💡 2 nights of CPAP per charge. Compatible with most major brands.
Shop on Amazon →
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FRIO Insulin Cooling Wallet
💡 No ice, no electricity. Water-activated. Keeps insulin viable for days.
Shop on Amazon →
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Blood Glucose Meter + Test Strip Kit
💡 Test more frequently during displacement. Stress causes significant swings in both directions.
Shop on Amazon →
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Finger Pulse Oximeter
💡 Monitor blood oxygen saturation. Below 90% requires immediate attention.
Shop on Amazon →
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Manual Blood Pressure Cuff
💡 No batteries needed. Works when power is out. Accurate under any conditions.
Shop on Amazon →
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21W Foldable Solar Panel
💡 Recharges CPAP batteries and medical device batteries during daylight.
Shop on Amazon →
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Medical Alert ID Bracelet
💡 First responders check for medical IDs immediately. Anticoagulants, pacemakers, allergies.
Shop on Amazon →Feminine Hygiene Notes for Women on Specific Medications
Certain medical conditions and their medications have direct effects on menstrual cycles and feminine hygiene needs during displacement. These are the three most common interactions worth knowing.
- Blood thinners (warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto) — heavier periods — Anticoagulant medications commonly cause heavier menstrual flow. Women on blood thinners should pack 50% more menstrual supplies than they normally use. Do not reduce anticoagulant doses to manage bleeding without specific OB/GYN guidance — this creates clot risk.Extra supplies needed
- Thyroid medication — cycle irregularity — Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, and the medications that treat them, can cause irregular or missed periods. Stress further disrupts thyroid function. Pack supplies for an unexpected period regardless of where you are in your cycle when you evacuate.Pack regardless of cycle timing
- Steroids and anti-inflammatories — cycle effects — Women on long-term corticosteroids (prednisone, etc.) may experience irregular cycles during periods of acute stress and medication adjustment. Include a supply of liners and pads even if your cycle has been regular.Precautionary supply
- Incontinence — especially for women on diuretics — Furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, and other diuretics increase urinary frequency and urgency. Women on diuretics should include incontinence liners or pads even if not normally needed — the combination of diuretics, stress, and limited bathroom access during vehicle evacuation creates unexpected leakage.On diuretics
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get an emergency prescription filled during a disaster evacuation?
Most states activate emergency prescription protocols during declared disasters, allowing pharmacists to dispense limited supplies of maintenance medications without a current prescription present. CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart pharmacies typically participate. Carry your medication list with prescriber information — this is what makes the process fast. Call ahead to pharmacies along your evacuation route to confirm they have your medication in stock before you arrive.
How do I evacuate with a home oxygen concentrator?
You do not — you replace it with a portable oxygen concentrator before you leave. Contact your oxygen supplier at least 72 hours before a potential evacuation. Most suppliers have emergency portable units available for loan or rental to existing customers. This conversation needs to happen before storm season, not when a storm is 48 hours out. Ask your supplier now: "What is your emergency protocol for patients who need to evacuate?"
My medications require refrigeration. What do I do?
First, know which ones actually require refrigeration vs which are simply recommended to be refrigerated. Many biologic medications and insulin can be at room temperature for a defined period — check your medication's specific guidance. For those that must stay cold: a FRIO evaporative wallet for insulin, a small 12V car refrigerator (30W) for others, and a quality insulated cooler with ice blocks for the first 48–72 hours. Most pharmacies along evacuation routes carry ice and some have refrigerators available for medication storage during declared disasters.