What can you pack in 5 minutes?

There is an emergency. You have only 5 minutes to grab what you can and run. What do you grab?

If you don't have a plan, you'll grab what you can in a panic. Later on you'll be wishing for items you left behind in your haste.  Taking an inventory and making a plan now will pay off when you have only minutes to spare.

What to do:

1. Bag: Each family member needs their own bag. A backpack is preferable but use what you have. You can obtain backpacks as your budget allows. If all you have are trashbags or pillow cases so be it.
2. Shelter: What do you have for shelter? Do you own a tent? Tarps? Know where they are. Make sure they are accessible.  Plastic sheeting will work. Rain ponchos are handy. Rope is good to have. If you can get paracord from an army navy store do it. It's great stuff to have handy. Look it up on the web. 
3. Fire: Experts recommend having at least 3 ways to start a fire. Lighters and matches work great and are cheap.  Other fire starting methods are worth considering if your budget allows.  
4. Water: Everyone needs a container to carry water. Stainless steel bottles are all the rage now. I found some on clearance for $2 each. If you have nothing else, plastic water bottles will do. Something with a screw top is best.
5. Water: You'll need something to boil water in. The best way to sanitize water is by boiling. Weight is a consideration. Most cooking pots are too heavy to add to a backpack. Ideally each family member who is old enough to start a fire and boil water should have some kind of pot for boiling water. I've seen people use smaller size stainless steel dog food bowls.  If you can afford it camping cookware is light weight.
6. Food:  What do you have in the pantry? You want items that don't require refrigeration. Ramen noodles are light weight and filling. Pop tarts and instant oatmeal packets are easy to carry also. Canned meats like tuna add weight and require some type of can opener. Toss a bottle of chewable multivitamins in each bag. Who knows how well you'll be eating in an extended emergency situation. Any multivitamin is better than no vitamins. 
7. Medication: Does anyone require prescription medication? If so talk to your doctor about getting extra for an emergency supply. What about tylenor or ibuprophin? Triple antibiotic ointment, bandaides, pepto, and other first aide items. What do have on hand?
8. Clothing: Each person should have a change of clothes and flip flops. If your shoes get wet you can wear the flip flops while they dry. You may be using communal showers and the flip flops will help prevent foot fungus.  Add a small sewing kit for repairs. 
9. Feminine Products:  Hygiene - tampons, pads, soap, shampoo, deodorant,toilet paper   
10. Baby Products: Do you have a baby?  You know what your baby's needs are. Consider buying some cloth diapers and pins just in case disposable diapers are not available. No one wants to deal with wet poopy diapers but it beats not having any diapers at all. 
11. Firearms: Depending on the situation you may benefit from having guns handy - hunting, personal protection. If you are a small woman like me then a ruger 10 .22 rifle or a youth model .410 pump shotgun are low price choices that will get the job done. A youth model .20 gauge pump shotgun packs more of a punch than the .410 and is worth a look. If you are a taller/larger woman and can easily handle a .12 gauge pump shotgun like Sarah Palin does go for it. Don't settle for a single-shot gun unless that is all you can get. Keep ammunition handy but store it and the firearms safely. If you haven't handled guns before find the money to visit a gun store with a firing range. It isn't cheap but worth the money for proper training.  Pistols are not as versatile as a rifle or shotgun, and I don't recommend them as a first choice in a survival situation.
12. Identification: Separation of family members can occur in an emergency. After hurricane Katrina children were separated from their parents. Invalid elderly were difficult to locate after they had been evacuated. With this in mind everyone needs their own bag with identification in it. A list of friends and relatives names, addresses, and telephone numbers could come in handy. If the identification is wearable all the better.
13. Personal Papers: All paperwork can be replaced, but it is so inconvenient. If you have birth certificates, diplomas, and other important papers gather them together so you can quickly grab them and toss them into your pack. 

Finally put your pack on. How heavy is it? How far could you walk carrying that kind of weight.?You may want to lighten your load.  Keep in mind that as you eat the food in your pack it will weigh less. So see how heavy the pack is minus the food before you go leaving equipment out.