Recent events, like the cascading disasters in Japan—earthquake, tsunami, radiation leaks—highlight the need to be prepared for all sorts of unexpected situations.
These don’t have to be large-scale natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, tornados, cyclones or blinding blizzards. Even something like a water main break, neighborhood chemical spill or extended electrical blackout could displace your family from your home for a few days. Whether you seek shelter from family, or are relocated to a public evacuation shelter, it’s a good idea to have supplies readily at hand for your baby.

Here are some suggestions for how to prepare for a possible evacuation, along with a list of basics to pack in your baby’s bag. Keep in mind that there also can be situations that require evacuation of your baby’s day care center. If your baby is in day care or family care away from your home, have a duplicate bag on site there, too.

The question is “how are you going to take care of business when there’s a disruption of the usual methods by which you access supplies,” said Steven E. Krug, M.D., head of the division of emergency medicine at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, professor of pediatrics at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, and chair of the Disaster Preparedness Council of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “You can’t rely on shelters having everything.”

Be sure that you and your immediate family, as well as any child care providers, know how to contact one another if you’re separated. It’s also a good idea to designate someone outside your immediate community as an additional contact.

When packing a go-bag, the idea is to include what you really need without packing more than will fit in a backpack or a bag that you can sling over your shoulder. Here’s a list of the essentials you’ll want to pack:

• Powdered formula (enough for at least 72 hours, preferably a week’s worth)
• diapers (and plastic bags for disposal)
• baby wipes
• medications
• basic first aid, like band aids, anti-bacterial ointment, gauze pads, anti-septic wipes
• baby food ( for older babies and young toddlers), with utensils
• bottled water
• clothing
• light blankets
• small size laundry detergent

Beyond supplies, said Dr. Krug, it’s also important to have a printed sheet with information that includes an emergency information form a summary of your baby’s medical profile, including any allergies ( both food-related and medicines), emergency cell phone numbers of parents and other key family members, and a letter providing permission to treat your child.

Check out our buying advice for diaper bags.