[Grand58742]

Good posts so far and especially good questions raised by LarryW.

Something else to remember in building a Bug Out Bag (BOB) is the rules of three. No scientific method here and not everyone is designed the same, so give or take a little bit along the way

One can survive up to 3 minutes without oxyen or during heavy bleeding.

One can survive up to 3 hours without proper shelter/clothing.

One can survive up to 3 days without water.

One can survive up to 3 weeks without food.

Typical disaster will last less than three weeks so food might not be a great concern before relief efforts are in place. But you are still stuck with the first three as being essential to survival.

3 minutes: Do I have a way of controlling heavy bleeding? Or any generic medical emergency? Can I provide rescue breathing to a victim at little risk to myself (CPR mask) before medical professionals arrive?

Lots of times during a disaster/emergency situation injuries are commonplace. A decently supplied FAK is essential for both yourself and others around you. Emergency Medical Personnel will be quickly swamped by the amount of injuries and you might not receive care in a timely fashion like you normally might. Be prepared to perform self aid and buddy care for a wide range of injuries that might go from a minor sprain to controlling heavy bleeding/potential life threatening situations. Training is key and one should be realistic on the amount of FAK supplies they are carrying.

Also included in this are prescription medications. Do you have a decent enough supply you can carry without having to go to the pharmacy and refill?

3 hours: Do I have adequate clothing and an alternate form of shelter?

As LarryW posted, what are the environmental conditions you would be facing? Is it winter, summer, raining, snowing, high desert, etc? A proper BOB should have the ability to layer up in the winter and provide shelter from the sun during the summer. Case in point: The October 1997 blizzard in Colorado. Two people died because they got caught out in the storm wearing shorts and t-shirts as the temperatures had dropped drastically that afternoon. They attempted to walk home after their car got stuck. Proper layers might have helped them along, but also, their vehicle was their shelter and they abandoned it. Clothing should be layered up and comfortable. In some places, winter clothing should be carried at all times.

Also, what forms of shelter do you have available? Are you on foot? Are you in a vehicle? Are there hotels/motels/friends/family you can stay with if you had to evacuate for a long period such as a hurricane? Will your vehicle suffice for proper shelter during a blizzard? Should I be carrying a tent of some sort in case of evacuation? If you are on foot for some reason, can you find shelter during an emergency? Can you carry a poncho and make a hasty shelter to escape rain? Where are the nearest fallout shelters (i.e. terrorist incidents - dirty bombs) along your expected path? Do you want to take a chance in a FEMA camp or be able to do your own thing (like finding a suitable camping ground) in case of an emergency?

This is where the plan of action comes in as well. Proper planning in this situation comes in very handy. Thinking about the conditions you and your family will face is key to building some form of BOB.

3 Days: Do I have enough water to last me three days? Can I carry enough water for three days? Do I have the means of purifying additional water in case none is available? A BOB should have the ability to either carry enough water and/or have the ability to filter/purify more in case the need arose.

3 weeks: Nobody wants to go hungry. Foods and consumables will help keep you strong and is a morale boost. In my BOB, I prefer a mix of wet (MREs, tuna/chicken packs, possibly even canned goods depending on how far on foot you might be going), dry (freeze dried camping foods like Mountain House, instant soups and Ramen) and snack sized items (energy bars, granola, packs of nuts, etc) foods to go. Eat the dry goods when water is available for cooking, the wet foods when water should be conserved and the snack stuff in between. Two good meals a day plus general snacking in between.

And the small packs of Gator-Ade that are designed to mix into a 16 oz bottle. In the wintertime, I also carry hot chocolate or spiced cider packs. Warms as well as provides a boost to morale.

The rules of 3 isn't an all inclusive list as everyone's BOB will be different and based on different conditions and requirements, but this is a good start at building your BOB.

Some of the items that I might consider "essential" and in no particular order. Some can be carried on person but mainly in a pack.

Multitool
Illumination w/ additional batteries
Proper footwear
Fire starting ability x 2
IFAK with pain medications and other OTC meds
Poncho (for shelter or wet weather wear)
Wet/cold weather gear
550 cord
Duct tape
Essential documents (which some like to convert to .pdf and store on a encrypted thumb drive)
Cash (as many ATMs and Credit Card readers will be down during emergency situations)
Pen/Pencil and paper
Emergency signalling device (like a whistle)
Hand sanitizer
Means of navigation x 2 ( I go with a GPS and compass) and map(s)
Spare shoelaces (or additional 550 cord)
Water purification X 2 (filter and tabs)
Lightweight multi-fuel hiking stove or fuel tabs
Metal Cup or small hiking cooking pot. Also the issue canteen cup is an outstanding choice as I believe it is one of the most foolproof and rugged designs on the planet. Heavy, but damn near indestructable
Food x 4 days (always plan on an extra day)
Water container above and beyond a hydration bladder (like a Nalgene bottle, easier to filter water into or wait for the purification time)
And depending on the season, a sleeping bag or poncho liner and pad
And depending on the location, a form of protection (pistol, OC spray, larger knife, etc)

Just a bare basics for me and more will be added in as the situation dictates.