Emergency Move Essentials Checklist

All My Sons Moving & Storage helps with emergency moves and last-minute moves across the nation.  

Natural disasters, evictions, conflict with a roommate or intimate partner, and a sudden change in health or employment can all demand a quick relocation.  When you need to move in a hurry, knowing what your essentials are is even more crucial to making the next few weeks in your new or temporary home as comfortable as possible.

The best time to prepare for an emergency move is long before the emergency begins. Having a plan for several different types of emergencies can help you and your household keep a level head when the actual emergency scenario arrives. 

• Have a Disaster Preparedness Plan: Every household should have a plan for what to do in case of an emergency, including localized emergencies like fires, floods, tornadoes. Have a family meeting and discuss where emergency supplies like fire extinguishers and first aid kits are, where to rendezvous in case of separation, and what items you can and should grab if there is time.

• Assess Your Timeline: Emergencies are broad, and how much time you have will vary by the situation. If you have notice more than 5 days in advance you might be able to pack all of your essentials and have a very comfortable time at your new or temporary home. There are situations where you will not have much warning at all. Prioritize the lives of yourself, your household members, and your pets above all else. Only grab items if you can do so without endangering yourself or anyone else.

• Choose a Suitcase or Backpack: As with any relocation, All My Sons advises you carry a bag on your person during the move. Pick a bag that’s large enough to accommodate what you need and small enough to comfortably carry by yourself. You should have a bag for each member of your household, including the family pet.

These are the items you should pack in your bag during an emergency relocation if you have enough time and can reach the items without endangering yourself. These items will help make your emergency relocation feel smoother and more comfortable. You should carry these items on your person in a bag or backpack, or put them into boxes that you will load in your truck last to be unloaded first.

• Wallet and Keys: Credit cards, debit cards, cash, IDs, and your keys are essential to navigating a crisis move, if you can safely grab them.

• Government IDs: Driver’s license, green card, or passport.

• Legal Documents: Birth certificates, marriage licenses, and naturalization certificates. You should usually keep these items in a fireproof safe to increase the chances they can survive a home disaster like a fire or a flood if you need to leave them behind.  If you have time to grab them then keep them with you.

• Medications: Any medicines you need to function, thrive, or survive should be on your person during a move. Pack both daily medicines and medicines you need in case of a medical emergency. 

• Overnight Toiletries: Shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, and soap.

• Weather-Appropriate Clothes: Pack at least one change of clothes, but preferably clothing to last one to two days for every member of your household.

• Phone and Charger: Communication is key during an emergency, and you don’t want your phone to die. Carry a regular charger, a power bank, and possibly a car charger if you can.

• Snacks: Pack some food in your bag in case of the emergency munchies.

• Water: Dehydration and heat exhaustion is a real risk when you move during the summer, try to pack some bottled water. 

• First Aid Kit: Treat small injuries on the go.

• Pet Items: Grab any crucial items you need to take care of your pet like food, water, leashes, poop bags, and pet toys.

• Children’s Essentials: If you have older children, they might be able to carry their own bags. Young children will need someone to pack a bag for them that includes items like comfort toys, diapers, baby wipes, and bottles.

Bag packed and ready to evacuate the old home. Once you are safely away from the disaster area you can look into temporary homes or call your insurance company. Depending on how much notice you have, you might be able to put the rest of your belongings into storage while you look for a new permanent home, but you will be grateful to have all your most essential supplies with you in your bag.

Need to make a move? All My Sons Moving & Storage has been helping companies and families make a seamless relocation for over 30 years, and we would be honored to help with your last-minute or emergency move. Click the quote button below to get started on your move.