I didn’t get to this thread until just now, TR excuse my input on subjects already covered I will bring it back up to speed at the end of the post. I am adding solutions that have been missed and adding to the current subject. This is not intended as an end all, just in-addition to everyone else's contributions.
Most importantly: Firearms! If you have a large collection and are going to bug out you are obligated to render safe those firearms. If you can’t take them with you, take the firing pins. Do your neighbors a favor and think about the people that can’t bug out and are attacked by some looter that found YOUR firearms.
Shelter:Man Packable – Bivy 2.0 – will last for awhile or at least long enough for you and family to get to your long term AO. They are actually comfortable and quiet (no crinkling). We have one in all of our BOBs. http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/...itNO=0140-0223 throw in a poncho and you’re good to go (or a hammock if you have trees/poles/beams nearby)
Vehicle Borne – Maneuverability is a must in any disaster situation. A roof mounted tent is a great way to go. http://www.autohomeus.com/rooftop/ Especially in areas of floods, critters etc. Additionally they provide another obstacle for any would-be attackers to overcome. On a long enough vehicle you can get two of the OverZone models mounted (one opening to the side and one off the back) or several of the OverCamps. I don’t have a large family so I prefer the Maggiolina (it takes a minute to set up or take down and the bedding stays inside) also it has rack space on top. These have been in expedition use for decades. Quite pricey though.
Or if you don’t have a roof rack but do have a hitch check this cool MINI gear hauler/popup tent http://www.sylvansport.com/it.html Be sure to check out the slideshow, it does a lot more than you think it does. About $5-8K but useful for more than camping.
Heat and CookingFuel – If you don’t have tons of money then your long term solution should never depend on fuel. The only solution that should depend on fuel is getting to your long term solution. Do you have enough fuel to get there without a gas station? With adequate clothing and sleeping gear you should not need fuel for heating. In a bad situation in a cold environment you should be moving around improving your situation instead of just sitting there. Sleeping arrangements should not be separate. Body warmth should be shared. The Inuit are a good case study. This is the most logical way. If you have room for cans and bottles of fuel then you didn’t pack right (other than for your vehicle on the way to your long term solution).
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In Phoenix, there was a gas line break that drove gas prices sky high. After a day the govt stepped in and moderated prices to prevent jacking and riots. Most of the time gas stations had none unless it was trucked in. People got by though without the gas. Now that I think about it, the prices were the same as they are now.
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Generators and trying to store fuel that will only last a short time is highly expensive that can be better budgeted somewhere else.
However, if you have the money, throw in an underground propane tank as TR mentioned. It will help with cooking and hygiene water.
Mylar – we have a few 100’ rolls of this sitting around the house and at our long term solution. Lining the walls and ceilings of a room will trap in more heat than you’d think. I lined the sleeping compartment of a travel trailer with this to save money on heating. It’s a godsend. You can buy a roll from Home Depot or even a hydroponics gardening store.
Man Packable – Littlbug http://littlbug.com/littlbug_stove_junior.html You seriously don’t need a large amount of fuel for your cooking or heating if you use it effectively. This stove will run on twigs and leaves and still bring water to a boil and hold it for a good length of time. You can also make one yourself from a tomato sauce or coffee can. PM me if you want some instructions on that.
Vehicle Borne – If you’re on the move, bring aluminum foil (with the tabs on the sides ;D ) and cook on your engine while driving!
Power – I carry a HUGE collection of eBooks on every subject on all my family’s laptops and PDA’s (medical, repair, etc). The laptops/PDAs and a radio/cell are the only reason I would need power. Do you really need a light on at night during a city/region wide emergency? Do you want that attention “Hey they have lights! They must have a generator!”
Man Packable – a good Brunton Solar Roll is good for PDAs/Cell phones. I suggest getting used to a PDA Phone, you can carry a ton of information and access many services from one. As well as document events with the Camera, Video, Audio and note taking capabilities.
Vehicle Borne – If you don’t have one yet, go buy a good inverter. Install/Have it installed now before you need it.
Building Mounted - Why use a generator to provide power when you need it? Use some daisy chained marine batteries and an inverter when you need power. You can setup a nice system hidden IN YOUR STAIRS (or a thick wall) that is hooked to a trickle charger so it stays charged 24/7. When the power goes out you just plug into the inverter. Some enterprising individuals with the know how can rig it so the entire house defaults to this system when the power goes out (don’t forget about the feedback into the city lines when setting this up to an entire house!). Buy a small generator and charge it during the day time (sound carries farther at night). Remember you shouldn’t be running your house off this, only necessities. Couple this with a small solar array and you're off the grid.
This post continues into my next post.