As we seem to be seeing more and more inclement weather – should houses across Ireland have ‘grab bags’ prepared?

Storm Éowyn has wreaked havoc across the country today, with hundreds of thousands without power and water.

Irish Examiner journalist and adventurer Breda Graham told The Hard Shoulder you just “never know” when you might need to be prepared to evacuate your home.

The avid hiker has a ‘grab bag’ packed in her house at all times – containing essentials you may need in an emergency.

“So, a grab bag is a bag that you can fill with essentials you need to carry with you in an emergency - so that could be a severe weather event, a power outage or an evacuation,” Ms Graham said.

“It's designed to last shorter terms, so it's for 72-hour emergencies or less.

“The bag should contain essentials that will help you survive long enough to either reach a secure location or to return back home.”

A fallen tree breaks up the pavement during storm Eowyn in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. Image: Alamy

As a hiker, Ms Graham has a backpack of essentials in her wardrobe to bring up the mountains – so she thought it would do no harm to prepare an extra grab bag as a precaution.

“The contents of a grab bag are actually very similar to what I bring up the mountain with me,” she said.

“So, I just decided, why not have one prepared for an emergency as well? Because you just never know when an emergency might strike.”

The idea behind the grab bag is to have essentials ready for when you might be in a panicked state.

“We are very lucky where we are, here in Ireland, that we don't have many severe weather events, or we don't get very many evacuation notices, but you just never know when you might find yourself in a situation where you do need to leave the house in a hurry,” Ms Graham said.

“So, the idea behind the bag is that you're not going to be in a panic state, rushing around the house trying to look for things - you have the peace of mind knowing that you have the bag there, it's ready to go, and everything's prepared.”

EMT personnel preparing first aid kit. Image: Alamy

The “most important” thing to have in your grab bag is non-perishable food.

“Your granola bars, protein bars, nuts, dried food, canned foods such as canned fruit, canned fish, beans and enough water then as well for everyone that the pack will be covering,” Ms Graham said.

“Another good idea to have within the pack is an emergency kit, so that would contain a first aid kit, insect repellent, a whistle, flashlight with batteries, your waterproof pants and waterproof jacket and then maybe a laminated map of the area, a compass and a storm shelter as well.”

Ms Graham said we are too reliant on our phones – but we can’t use phones when exposed to the elements.

Learning how to read a map is a “good idea” for an emergency situation.

Listen back here:

Huge Atlantic waves driven by Storm Ashleys crash into the cliffs at Rosscarbery West Cork Ireland, 20-10-2024. Image: Alamy