The First Bags

In this episode of the AmCon Daily Brief, Thom Rigsby breaks down how stress exposes gaps in your family’s evacuation plan and why systems beat memory every time. Learn how to assign roles, prep kids and pets, and use checklists to turn chaos into order. Plus, try a five-minute drill tonight to reveal the gaps—before a real crisis does.

Episode Transcript

(03:15):
Well, you've made the call. We're leaving. The storm track shifted overnight,
the fire jump containment lines, or suddenly that voluntary order feels a lot more urgent.
But now, reality has set in.
The kids are anxious, peppering you with questions.
Your spouse is running from room to room trying to grab just one more thing.
You realize you can't find the folder with the insurance documents.

(03:38):
The pet carrier, it's buried out under Christmas decorations in the garage.
And those go bags you meant to put together last spring, well, they're half empty.
The stress is building, and you haven't even backed the car out of the driveway yet.
This is where evacuations get real and where a family plan matters.

(03:59):
An evacuation plan is a whole family plan. You can't carry the whole burden yourself.
Every member of the family, even the kids, needs to know what their role is.
A 10-year-old can grab their own bag.
A teen can be responsible for the pet carrier.
Everyone should have their own part to play.

(04:23):
Preparedness is about systems, not memory. Under stress, memory fails.
That's why checklist, pre-packed go-bags, and ready-to-grab document kits are so powerful.
They take the guesswork and the panic out of the process. Kids and pets count too.
Evacuations unravel fast when kids are scared or when you're scrambling to accommodate pets.

(04:46):
A favorite blanket, a stuffed animal, or a snack can keep a child calm.
A dedicated pet kit, leash carrier, food, meds, all those things save time and frustration.
Leadership here isn't about carrying everything yourself. It's about setting
up the systems so your family can participate and carry themselves.

(05:09):
So here's your challenge today. Tonight, I want you to set aside 15 minutes
for a simple whole family drill.
Tell everyone in your household, grab your bag and meet me at the car in five minutes.
If you don't have bags ready, that's okay. Use backpacks, even grocery bags.
Doesn't matter. The point isn't perfection.

(05:30):
The point is finding the gaps now before the crisis exposes them.
And then, of course, following up and closing those gaps.
Tomorrow, we're going to take the story onto the road where the evacuation really
begins and where patients can make or break your safety.
Thanks so much for listening to the AMCON Daily Brief today.

(05:51):
If you're already a member, thank you. We appreciate it.
Just make sure and check out the resources available to members on our members-only
platform. And if you're not a member yet, you can be. It's really easy.
Just head over to AmericanContingency.com and join the network.
My name is Tom Rigsby. Stay alert, stay ready, and I will talk to you again tomorrow.