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Many things in this section come directly from
the CDC’s
list for Emergency Kits.
This guide is intended to take into consideration someone fleeing without
the ability or time to bring all of their belongings with them, such as someone
who is unable to afford buying a new house or renting. I’m keeping in mind that
some people may be homeless and or living out of their vehicles when they move
or moving into a place with minimal space (such as a friend/relative’s house).
See also this moving checklist.
The reason for 8 days as opposed to 7 is so that you can wash a full week's worth of clothes at once as opposed to only 6 days. Your clothes should include shirts (long and short sleeved), shorts, pants, socks, walking shoes. You also don’t want to have too many clothes as it can weigh you down or take up a lot of precious space.
This includes hormone medication, birth control, needles/needle disposal containers, ointments, creams, inhailers, epipens, menstrual products, surgical aftercare supplies, and other related things. If you have left over medicine from when you forgot to take them, pack those too.If you take it regularly for any reason, or need it for emergency care, pack it.
Ask your doctor if your medications can have either extra refills or be given to you in a larger supply (60-90 days) so you have them available to you as you try to get established with a new healthcare provider. If you can’t get the larger supply, it may be possible to transfer your refills from the pharmacy in your previous state to the new safe state you moved to.
As a side note, do your own research in regards to medical marijuana, or THC products in each state. Even if it’s prescribed in one state, that doesn’t mean the prescription will transfer over. See this link for more details: MARIJUANA LEGALITY BY STATE.
Be sure to pack any and all mobility aids you need, including canes, crutches, wheelchairs, walkers, etc. You should also include and prepare for any medical device and the supplies to maintain it into this list. Think feeding tubes, IVs, insulin pumps, etc.
IDs/Driver’s Licenses, Passports, Birth Certificates, Social Security Cards, Bank Statements, Deeds, Wills, Medical documentation, tax forms, and any court documents/statements from the court are all important documentation that should be included in your luggage in a safe, dry place. A manilla envelope may be ideal for keeping all of these documents together and undamaged.
Be sure to bring your wallet, and everything in it. If you can, try to set aside a decent amount of cash (think a couple hundred dollars or more). Having cash can help to prevent your credit or debit cards from being labeled with fraudulent activity after traveling to a new state. You may have to withdraw some or all of your money from your bank account, and if you choose to, start a completely new one in the new state.
At the bare minimum I recommend alcohol wipes, bandaids in a variety of sizes, gauze, and wrap bandages. Consider some glucose tablets (or easy to pack candy like skittles) for diabetic emergencies. Also consider a CPR mask if you know how to perform CPR.
This means any phones, tablets, or computers you use for regular communication. Also remember to pack ways to charge them, and if you can afford to or already have one, pack a portable charging block for charging on the go.
It’s not the first thing you think of when packing for an emergency, but if you have the extra pocket space, handheld gaming systems, a pack of cards, or smaller games are a great way to keep yourself from losing morale and becoming bored. This section can also include diaries, journals, sketching or coloring books, notebooks for writing, or any published books you hold dear to you.
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This section is a non exhaustive list of things you need to remember to handle before moving. Some of these things can be done over the phone, but many of them require you to go to an in person location to sort things out.
If you know the area you will be moving to, have your doctor’s (including dentists and therapists) send medical records over to a branch of their company's services in the new state, or to another medical service of your choosing. If you are living off of your state’s insurance, you will have to reapply in the new state. If you cannot directly transfer the information, ask for a copy of your records so you can turn this into the new doctors by hand.
If you are being given any form of food assistance through a program such as SNAP, buy all the cheapest nonperishable food items you can before moving so you have food you can bring with you that won’t spoil during the travel. Eat any perishable foods you already have first before moving (including fruits, vegetables, and anything in your fridge or freezer). You will have to reapply for this in the new state. If you have access to a foodbank, try to stockpile through them if you’re worried about having enough food.
You may also need to un-enroll from current assistance program(s) if your current coverage period is not yet ready for renewal. Double check if this is the case for you.
If you are still paying off your housing (or are renting) be sure to let the bank/landlord know of the move so you can prevent them from charging you after you’ve moved out. Turn off all utilities such as water, gas, electricity, etc as well so you aren’t billed for those either.
Cancel any area specific payment plans/bills you have, such as a membership to your local gym. While you do this, be sure to let any other services like your phone/internet provider know you are moving and work with them to see if you need to transfer to a new plan/service or if you can still buy your services from them in the new location. This section includes all different types of insurance.
Whether it’s your house or items you just can’t bring with you, selling off your stuff can help you get some extra pocket change in the long run, and it can be set aside in a fund for this move. A yard sale or a local junk drive can be a great source of income in the short term to help you save. Anything you can’t sell can be given away. Donating to local services can benefit the community, so consider giving to them before places like Goodwill or second hand stores. Those are also fine places to donate to, but they still cost money and lots of their items may be thrown out after a while of not being bought.
If you’re part of the workforce, be sure to let your employer know that you will be leaving. Some jobs may offer benefits to employees who are leaving the company such as paying you for any PTO you still have, or still covering you under their insurance for a time. It can also be a great opportunity to ask for a letter of recommendation for future employers. They may even have a branch in the state you are moving to, so ask if there's a possibility for a transfer if you want to go the extra mile. Be careful though. Sometimes putting in your two weeks will prevent you from getting scheduled during that time (I know from experience). If you think this is likely, remember that a two weeks notice is a sign of respect, not an obligation, so work up until the wire if you need to ensure you still have shifts. Be sure to look into local or state laws for how long an employer has to pay you after you leave as well. Some states have a minimum amount of time for an employer to give you your wages, and failing to do so can not only put you out of cash for a time, but get them in trouble with the law.
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If you need/want a gender marker change but are unsure of how to start the process, I recommend looking at this document. You can also go to TransEquality.org to see more guides and information for this process.
If you want or already have had a name or gender marker change, updating your documents to reflect one another is crucial, though it won’t always be possible. Some places may require gender affirming surgeries to update certain documents, which is costly. There are then fees you must pay to obtain these changes. If you move states, this may mean you can update your IDs in your new state, but may not be able to update your gender marker on your birth certificate, or vice versa. You can only ammend your birth certificate in the state it was issued in. Currently, passports do not allow for self identification with your gender marker and requires the marker to reflect your 'sex at birth'. I do not recommend updating your passport even if you feel it is safe for you to do so.
Trump’s Executive Order relating to transgender people makes the option of updating your passports with a new gender marker unavailable. It does not apply retroactively, so if your passport is in-date and has the correct gender marker, your passport is still valid. If you try to update the gender marker on your passport however, your passport may be confiscated or changed to reflect the 'sex you were assigned at birth'.
It is unclear what happens to a trans person’s passport if they are simply renewing it, or updating other aspects (such as a name change). Your passport may be changed to reflect your assigned birth sex, or it may be returned to you appropriately. Again, it is unclear as different people have had different outcomes depending on person specific factors.
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These things didn’t fit within other sections of important information, but could still be useful for you.
Lots of restaurants, malls, or other businesses have free public wifi to use. Sometimes you don’t have to even be in the establishment to get a good connection. Most Walmarts, McDonalds, and Starbucks I've visited have had free public wifi. Public libraries are also good places to find free wifi, and don't require you to make any purchases to stay on the property.
Some rest/truck stops will have shower areas, but this is not always the case. If you cannot access a public shower, remember that any single stalled bathroom can be used as a place to wash up. A sink/sponge bath is better than nothing, and you don’t have to foot the water bill or pay for the soap when you do.
I am not a medical professional and cannot provide medical advice in any capacity.
I highly recommend that you talk with a medical professional about obtaining HRT through a prescription
as DIY HRT can be dangerous for you.
With that in mind, you should know the risks associated with DIY HRT
AGAIN: I am not advocating for you to do DIY HRT.
If you have a prescription for HRT already, I recommend switching over to injections if you are not already on them. Having a fear of needles is difficult to overcome, but injections are far easier to stockpile as you can get more than one dose from a single use vial, depending on your dosage. I personally am reusing vials (after checking them to make sure they haven’t gone bad, and thoroughly cleaning it to prevent bacteria from being injected with my medication).
Doing this goes against> medical advice from my doctors, but if you are worried about losing access to your prescriptions, this is better than not having anything to use at all. If you are doing this while still refilling your prescription, use the oldest vials first, and use as much as you can from each vial before going on to the next one. Do not open up newer vials. Keep them sealed and clean until the rest of your stockpile is exhausted, and then only open one vial at a time, using all that you can from one vial before continuing to the next.
If you feel your doctor is a safe person to tell this to, I recommend telling your HRT prescriber that you are doing this so if any problems arise because of it, they can give you the best and most comprehensive care.
Needle Exchange Programs: