Bug Out Bags

[The Reaper]

In light of the recent earthquake activity and winter storms, does anyone here keep a Bug/Bail Out Bag (BOB) for their home, work, vehicle, etc.?

Obviously, they can be as elaborate or as simple as desired, and contain whatever you think you would need for some period of time should an emergency occur and you have to leave immediately for somewhere else.

I would expect that people in areas under some significant threat or recurring natural disasters would have them at home and/or in their cars. A prudent plan would not just be for sheltering at home or in place, but should also consider evacuation for any of a multitude of contingencies.

You would expect the BOB to augment your Every Day Carry from your pockets, and whatever else you/your family might need to get by.

Assuming that you have your usual EDC of ID, credit cards, cash, a cell phone, knife or multi tool, small flashlight, lighter, possibly a firearm, etc., the kit would, in as small a package as possible, provide shelter, clothing (if necessary), fire starting, illumination, first aid, water, food, spare batteries, tools, ammo, signaling gear, navigational items, repair kit, toiletries, etc.

Clearly, the first step is to identify the disaster (or at least what contingencies) you are preparing for, where you are planning to go/what you are planning to do, what you think you will need, and how long you are going to need to sustain yourself. Then you would need to consider how much that is going to weigh/space it is going to take up, then figure out how to carry it. You might be able to fit it into a cargo pocket, if you are going to evacuate to a well-stocked nearby location by yourself, or it might take a storage tub/large ALICE or three for you and your family to move and live for several days in a possibly austere environment.

I remember my Dad always carried what my Mom referred to as his "junk" in the car whenever he left the house. He had a tool set, jumper cables, rope, flares, maybe an axe, etc. More than once, I remember we (as well as strangers) were all glad that he carried all of that stuff around with him.

If an earthquake, hurricane, nuclear power plant emergency, wildfire, etc. were to happen while you were at home, at work, or in your car, and you had five minutes to pack and evacuate, can you quickly assemble and carry the items you need to make it for a few days till help arrives? Do you have quick access to what you need for life in a shelter, if that is what you plan to do?

If you do, please share what you have prepared for, what you have prepared to grab, and how you plan to carry it.

This could be of interest to others and might serve to help us all focus on our own preparations. Thanks for your input.

TR

[Sierra Bravo]

How Ironic I was just going through and updating / replenishing my BOB.
I have one for myself and one for my wife plus another packed in our vehicle.
we just grabbed some heavy duty back packs from Goodwill at $2 each, they are compartmentalized into 4 sections plus straps.

This is our all-purpose bug out bag
we made photocopies of all our important documents (i.e. DL,Passport,SSN,BC,MC etc) and place them in a zip lock bag along with emergency cash into the bags. I have a camel back with water purification tablets, field stripped MRE's, First aid kit w/ Persciptions,lighter, steel wool and cotton balls,Map of AO, Lenstatic compass, small crank radio, glowsticks,Disaster plan with rally points / routes and emergency centers,folding Knife,Fixed Blade Knife,multitool,Carbiner clips,ranger bands,paracord,Hand warmers,small led flashlight,extra batteries, Glock + ammo, sanitary / toiletries.
all the essentials fit in this small bag, only weighs a few pounds, I carry mine everywhere, it's always within reach.

Vehicle: Rifle / ammo, non perishable food ,sleeping bag,small tent, water,cooking supplies,axe , all weather gear

BOB.jpg

BOB2jpg.jpg

[LarryW]

TR,

First, I need to know if I am going to "shelter in place" or evacuate. If I will evacuate my home will it be for a short period or something longer? When we evacuate we may not know for how long we will be gone. (Of course, "short period" and "long period" are subjective terms.)

In stuffing a "Bug Out Bag" (BOB) I have to consider these things:
1. How long will I be gone?
2. What's the weather going to be like while I'm gone?
3. What about pets…take them with me or turn them out?
4. Availability of prescribed medications while gone (blood pressure, insulin, etc)?
5. Level of self protection? (Can I employ firearms effectively to protect myself, or will they just draw unwanted attention (become pilferable objects that would subject me to increased danger)?)
6. What tools will be needed to sustain/survive?
7. Is my physical condition sufficient to allow me to survive better evacuating or should I shelter in place?
8. If I shelter in place, will I be able to survive more assuredly than I would if I left?

Note: I'm reminded of the French Resistance and the Colonial Patriots in America who, in an extremely dangerous or at least uncomfortable situation, had to stay where they were and adapt to/fight against the imposed ruling force/class.

9. How much contact should I encourage from others? Should I sequester myself or seek out others I can trust?
10. Do I have the knowledge, ability, and resolve to "live off the land" (mainly in terms of hunting and gathering…being able to identify edible flora and fauna)?
11. Do I leave in my Jeep or take the bus?

Of course, each person would have their own individual needs and perceptions that will direct how they prepare a BOB. I admit that I don't have a plan I could execute within less than an hour (perhaps longer), and that in itself is a concern.

Thanks, sir, for making me think.

[DevilSide]

I don't have a BOB, but in light of this topic and your "wake up call", its really something to consider. I'd say I have most of the stuff I need around the house, I'm prepared for hurricanes, blackouts, and break ins as they are the most common events in Florida. There is a first aid kit in my closet along with one of those retractable batons. I keep a decent knife nearby, not one of those fold out ones, mine's built to last. I have a cell phone, my brother owns a GPS and a M9 and we also keep some MRE's around, not many but it would last us about 2 weeks. Also got some basic tools around the house should we ever need them. If in a hurricane, depending on the severity and path is how we would make our decision. We could wait out some rain and a little flooding, but with something on the level of Katrina, I would possibly try evacuating using backroads with the GPS because the interstate would likely be crowded with early birds and fleeing tourists *and I live in a heavily populated area*, but I'm not too sure where we would go, possibly a hotel in a safe zone as the evacuation site. If not possible, we can wait it out like we would a blackout the best we could. If anyone tried to break in there are more than enough weapons close by and I trust my brother's weapons skills *is a Marine* and if I were by myself I am capable of using the M9, but not sure about the legal stuff as I'm a minor without any kind of permit, I would still use it. If any other situation arose, I'm confident we could survive substantially, but I will take what I've learned and better the organization and have a solid plan. Thanks for the good post, is an eye opener for sure.

[akv]

Living in a prime urban earthquake area, and having read "One Second After", various posts here, and accounts from the Katrina aftermath, I've started to put together a home bug out bag designed to last about 3 days as I exit the city, I would be grateful for any advice / recommendations.

My bag is an Emdom TNT bag, which I keep next to a pair of running shoes and a TAD Gear jacket.

HK usp 40 w 100 rounds
E2d flashlight
Harsey knife
swiss army tool
passport, cash, spare cellphone
3 Platypus sports bottles
12 Powerbars
Pemmican
small bottle of bleach
BC survival kit
2 pairs wool socks
drywick long sleeve shirt
LightWaterproof parka
boonie cap
small radio
runners glide
aspirin
sunglasses
FM 21-76
SF and California map
a picture of loved ones


Thank You,

AKV

[The Reaper]

Survival (or just comfort) is not just about having things; it is about having a plan, too.

Larry, all of the great questions you asked are something we each have to decide for ourselves. No point in collecting before planning. If you take two months worth of food, clothing, etc., you will not be able to carry it all. You have to decide what the likely events are that would cause you to have to bug out, and what you think you will need to get to wherever you are going, or whatever you think you need till you are able to return home. Maybe you have to change your gear seasonally (or have multiple kits) depending on the climate and the threat.

Not only did the recent earthquake victims not have an hour to pack, many of them were unable to access their homes after the event. Maybe keeping a spare bag in the car is not such a bad idea. OTOH, most of the potential tsunami areas had longer warning times to prepare. It would appear that a lot of them had not thought ahead and so descended on the local stores to do their disaster prep/SHOPEX then. Given the non-event, it would be interesting to see how many will take this as a hint that they should be better prepared and work on it, versus how many will decide that the whole evacuation and preparation business is a waste of time, except perhaps for stocking more beer. Knowing the Hawaiians, I would suspect that the latter will be the case.

If there is an earthquake, terrorist attack, there may be little warning. Fires, floods, hurricanes, etc. usually provide more notice.

Since we are normally away from our homes at least half of the time, I am leaning toward putting a car kit together. I too, keep a Camelbak ruck on/around me most of the time with first aid, meds, sanitation, ID/cash/credit cards, trash bags, food, clothing, 550 cord, Ziplocs, multi-tool, rain jacket, compass, map, whistle, BIC lighters, flashlights, zip ties, spare batteries, sanitation/toiletries, signaling gear (mirror, panel, etc.) Most of that gear is multi use, and occasionally comes in handy.

I live 30 miles from work, but could top off the water and start walking home in less than a minute without further preparation and without too much difficulty, if I had to. It might be an overnighter, but except for the few very hot or very cold days per year, it would not be too uncomfortable. If I had to hole up in the office, I could go several days without much of a problem.

You should probably do a good area study and threat assessment. This would be a quick sample one:

We live in a geologically stable area, out of the flood plain and on high ground. We are 100 miles or so from the coast. There is a good amount of pine forest on and around our property, but it is managed and there is very little deadfall to burn. Most of the pine straw is harvested regularly and then the areas are controlled burned. We normally get ample rainfall every year. There are severe thunderstorms and occasional tornados in the area. Hurricanes have passed through the community before, usually with winds under 80 kts., but with significant rain events. No known widespread serious diseases or pandemics have occurred here in many years. No volcanoes exist in the area. There is plenty of small game in the area from squirrels to deer. Ponds and streams have ample fish, unless I have a pole out. We live on the edge of town on a dirt road, adjacent to pastures and a state wildlife preserve. My neighbors are unfortunately, unreliable and potentially hostile. I do have a number of SF friends in the neighborhood. The area is moderately populated; total county population is probably 40,000-50,000. Crime is relatively low, the nearest city is Fayetteville (40 miles away), the closest ones of any real size are Raleigh (70 miles), Greensboro (80 miles), and Charlotte (around 100 miles). I do wish at least two of them were further away. There is one significant highway passing through the area, it is US 1. The closest interstate highway is at least 20 miles away, and it is a new, largely rural interstate. The number of people traveling who might be stranded in the area and how they would be supported concerns me, especially after reading OSA. There are several railroads in the area, including an Amtrak stop. Multiple waterways exist, but none are navigable (beyond pleasure craft) in the local area. Climate is mostly moderate, tending toward hot summers with daily high temps usually in the 90s. Winters are usually mild; lows are typically in the 30s. Snowfall averages 7" or so per year. There are a couple large dams within 50 miles, but we are not downstream. A nuclear power plant is roughly 50 miles north, fortunately, the prevailing winds are from the southwest. There is a small state prison hospital roughly 12 miles away, housing roughly 360 inmates, about 2/3 of which are patients. A few could be headed this way, but they would pass a lot of other opportunities along the way. Most, I suspect, would quickly succumb to the lack of care. We are very close to the western end of Ft. Bragg, so there is a 30 mile buffer from main post. Camp MacKall is nearby, but has little impact on the civilian populace. There is a very small commercial airport in town, a military field at CMK, and a couple of private airfields in the area. No large civilian aircraft land anywhere other than the larger regional metro airports at FAY, RDU, GSO, or CLT. We do have some overflights by military fixed and rotary wing. Utilities are reliable, the only power outages are normally from weather causing lines to be down. However, if a large scale disaster occurred, we could lose power indefinitely. There is no local power generation beyond commercial entities and a few small portable units. The municipal water supply is pretty reliable, though we did have a couple of years of dry weather a few years back, forcing restrictions on water use. The local government is working to enlarge its municipal supply sources. There is no local water delivery service except for non-portable construction tanks. If the municipal supply fails, we have some water stored, but the nearest running water is further away than I would like to carry it from. The waste water treatment is reliant upon running water, chemicals, and electric power. Any interruption more than a day or three and chemical toilets and slit trenches will become necessary. Communications are good (except for the remote areas of Bragg), it is rare to lose home phone service. Cellular can be spotty. There is battery back-up and generators for the land lines and cellular system, till the fuel runs out. There are no television stations in the area, even with a good antenna, reception is unreliable. If cable and the satellites go, there is going to be little TV to watch. There are a number of local AM and FM radio stations, and some Ham operators, so broadcast news and information should be available.

(Cont.)

[The Reaper]

The major local employer is the health care industry, with a good bit of manufacturing and retail. Consequently, health care is good, medical supplies and specialists are ample, and there is a trauma center less than ten miles away. There are more than adequate beds for normal requirements due to the large geriatric population, who would not survive long without the advanced medical care they normally receive. In a major disaster, the hospitals would soon be overwhelmed. I need to ask some friends who work there about their mass casualty preparations. Ambulance service is adequate, but seems a bit slow to arrive considering the distances involved. LE and fire protection services are good. The police and Sheriff's departments are adequate for small town life, but are trying to organize a SWAT unit, which may, or may not be good news. They are armed with the usual assortment of handguns and shotguns. There may be a few carbines in service, but nothing larger. Crime here is mostly minor property crime and illegal drugs. Fire protection is excellent, the nearest station is less than three miles from our home and there is a hydrant 300 feet away. The educational system is above average for NC, with a good community college and several private schools in the area. Our kids go to schools which are four miles or less from our home. The area tends to be conservative and Republican. Local government appears to be effective and moderate. The area was originally settled in the early 1700s by the Scots-Irish. Battles were fought locally during the Revolutionary War and the War of Northern Aggression. Industry in the area has been manufacturing and textiles, with significant agriculture. The soil is sandy loam to clay. Per capita income and demographics trend above the state norms, and are at par or above nationally. There is a large retiree population, which tends to skew the average age upwards. If the Social Security and Medicare checks stopped coming, a large number of locals would probably quickly become indigent. The population is majority white, but there are significant black and Hispanic minorities, along with some Native Americans. The average educational level is skewed by medical industry on the upper side, and the rural agrarians and urban gremlins on the lower side. There are a lot of former and current military personnel living here, including a disproportionate number of SF personnel. That should help in the event of a disaster, and hinder normal governing. There are no area civil defense shelters any longer, refugees would likely be directed to the local schools, which are a bit close for my preference. Taxes seem high, but considering the services provided and in comparison to surrounding communities, they are reasonable. We have a large annual tax bill, and a lot of payment slips remaining in the loan book. Hopefully, government employment is steady employment. Long term stability of the national economy and to a lesser degree, the state is a significant concern. There are ample retail stores nearby, though most would be quickly overrun and emptied in an emergency. I would expect cash, food, and fuel to be quickly exhausted. The banks carry little cash on hand; a $10,000 check presentation for cash can require transfers from multiple branches. The ever shrinking number of farms in the area could not support the current population. No large processed food warehouses exist in the area as far as I can tell. There are no large bakeries. Everything comes from one of the major cities listed above. There are no refineries or POL pipelines in the area, everything is delivered by truck, which means if supply distribution fails, the fuel supply will quickly be exhausted. One major gun store is located in the area, along with a number of smaller ones. Ammunition is likely to be the limiting factor. The local population is well-armed and mostly able to protect themselves. This is enhanced by the number of military personnel living in the area. There is no public transportation, beyond hotel and a few community care shuttle buses. There are more people on public assistance and welfare than I would like, especially due to the current economic trouble. Due to the stressed nature of their situation already, I doubt that they have done much in the way of preparation and would expect them to quickly become indigent. Fortunately, we are several miles from the nearest housing project and are not in a natural line of drift. A surprising number of homeless live in the region, it must be the moderate winters. Judging from the court reports every week, there seem to be quite a few addicts in the community, some who may be sustaining their habits with their employment. Should the community become isolated, I would anticipate that they would use up their local supplies within 72 hours, and turn to the numerous pharmacies and the hospital for their needs, quickly resorting to crime. One additional negative is that this is largely a tourist community, and there are a number of hotels/motels. They likely have nothing beyond their platinum cards, fancy clothes, and golf clubs, and if unable to return home quickly, would likely be dependent upon the locals for their needs. Rest homes present similar problems, as the staff would probably soon disappear to care for their own families and supplies would quickly be exhausted. English is the universally accepted language here; few accommodations are made otherwise outside the medical and public services sectors. There is no external or international threat. There are a number of churches of multiple denominations in the community; almost exclusively Christian, there is no religious discrimination that I am aware of. The churches have outreach programs and will do what they can for the needy, starting logically enough with their own members. There are no significant stockpiles of relief aid in the area. AFAIK, the county is marginally prepared, at best, for a minor disaster, certainly not for a major. The mortuary system is inadequate for large numbers of losses. There is probably an adequate amount of heavy equipment in the immediate area for proper disposal of the deceased in mass graves, as long as fuel is available. No local public service helicopters exist, that I am aware of. The major regional hospitals run their own air ambulances and pick up small numbers of critical patients at the hospital. Ft. Bragg has quite a few that could be pressed into service, if authorized, along with significant ground transportation. Unfortunately, that could also be used to transport people out of the urban areas to lessen the impact on their facilities.

That was a cursory shot at an area study; the results of the data should lead you to make better informed decisions about your courses of action in varying scenarios. Whether you plan to shelter in your home or bug out in the event of a disaster should be based on an analysis of your own area study, evaluation of the nature of the threat, time/distance of the relief (if any),and the preparations that you have made. Most of us are at home for 12 hours or so each day. The rest of the time, we would need to return home or head to a new location. The purpose of the BOB is to ensure that you have a plan and the means to lead your life normally, without a supply wagon hitched to your car, and yet be able to get to your eventual destination with a minimum of discomfort.

HTH.

TR

[LarryW]

Thanks, TR, for the superior example of the detail I should (in some manner) account for in developing "a plan". Especially helpful.

[TF Kilo]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Wall of text

HTH.

TR

I hate to do it to you, but would you mind revisiting your situational outlook on those two posts? I couldn't even track where I was reading using a sheet of paper on the monitor...

[Requiem]

Gentlemen, thank you for the invaluable advice in this thread and the other survival threads on this board. I've read them all and made notes. My question is about kids in a survival situation and what they should have if they should be separated from an adult.

Specifically, in our case, boys 9 & 11. I'm putting together a "bailout bag" for each, for emergencies on our boat. We will be traveling the Gulf of Alaska by small boat, following the coastline of Kodiak Island. If something happens to myself and my husband, but the kids make it to shore, I want them equipped to survive until help arrives (at most 3 weeks, at which point family will have not heard from us at an appointed time).

I really liked QP Razor's list here. Whatever container we use needs to be waterproof and buoyant, but not too large to hinder swimming. I'm thinking a small drybag that can be clipped by carabiner to their PFD.

Items:

Lighter (easier for little fingers?)
Petroleum jelly cotton balls in ziploc or other firestarter
Powerbars, instant soup/oatmeal/pasta
Water treatment tabs
Nalgene bottle
First aid (plus safety pins, duct tape, dental floss)
Space blanket
Metal cup
Bear spray
Bug spray
Whistle (maybe a mirror?)
Personal information
Knife (Leatherman, other folding knife)
Headlamp or flashlight
2-way radio?
Extra batteries for radio & flashlight
550 cord
Small tarp?
Waterproof shell (pants & jacket)

Instruction beforehand on S.T.O.P. (stop, think, observe, plan) and fire, shelter, food & water priorities. Also, the area we will be in has several remote cabins. It's possible they can follow the coastline and find one. However, I'm uncomfortable having them venture away from the coast. There is also the possibility of signaling fishing vessels. Cell phone service is nonexistent. The environment is often chilly, wet, and contains large predators. There are very few trees, but plenty of driftwood for fires. Neither boy has a firearm.

Because of the weight concern, things like sleeping bags & extra clothes, tent and other motherly wishlist items are not on the list, but a drybag floats, no?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. If this post is in the wrong section, I apologize. There are several good threads on survival, but this one dealt with packing a bag.

Thank you,

v/r
Susan

[The Reaper]

Susan:

1. Lots of large predators not afraid to take unarmed humans, as you noted. Children would be particularly vulnerable.

2. An EPIRB or equivalent emergency locator beacon, or even a SPOT might be beneficial and preferred to waiting three weeks under a potential constant threat for a search effort.

3. Drybags are good, as are coolers, if you have room.

4. The gear is useless without the knowledge of how to use it and a plan to follow.

5. Your average child is unable to physically carry their needs for a day in the woods, much less three weeks. Hell, I would have trouble humping three weeks worth of gear and chow, minus the water. If you limit the load to something they can carry, it is not going to be adequate for three weeks of survival in that environment. You need more like a light 72 hour kit, and a locator beacon or a plan for your family to launch a search if you miss two days of contacts on the SPOT.

Best of luck.

TR

[plato]

Originally Posted by Requiem

Because of the weight concern, things like sleeping bags & extra clothes, tent and other motherly wishlist items are not on the list, but a drybag floats, no?

v/r
Susan

I don't know the exact scanario, but a couple of notes.

If we are talking about being soaked in cold climate, we're talking about getting warm very rapidly. I've taken my boys out roughing it in northern Michigan regularly. Breaking through, even into waist deep water can be a major danger.

In each backpack, in the most available location, we carry a lighter, Sterno, a clear poncho and some dry clothes, even if those clothes are nothing but thick pajamas and socks. (We use lots of ziplocks.)

The idea is if one of us gets wet, and the temp is very low, we put on the poncho, sit down, set the sterno inside, and light it, making a warm tent. Changing to something dry is priority one. There's no time to gather wood and start a fire. Even trying to notify the rest of the group can wait those few minutes. I've had reason to use the poncho solution a couple of times myself and it's great.

Weight may be of no concern for a large extra bag, if you're talking about getting to shore, even if the "extra goods" are numerous.

If there's enough air in a bag/container it is "weightless" until the kids drag it a few feet onshore. Making a few trips to the bag to get their goods while setting up camp, should be in the "can do" category.

And, that SPOT emergency locator is a very inexpensive solution, at about $8 or $10 per month.

[Requiem]

Reaper, sir, thank you for the advice.

I've spent the afternoon looking at SPOT devices and the possibility of renting a sat phone. Will be following up with that. Your concerns regarding the boys are very much my concerns (predators, food, general know-how in an emergency situation). I can minimize some of the problem, as you suggested, with a SPOT that would greatly cut the amount of time before help arrives. Predators... I'm not so sure about. Bear spray is what we have for the boys. They cannot handle the .44 and I'm not sure even that is enough for a Kodiak brown bear, but it's what we have. Best option is to find a cabin.

Thank you for your input, I'm taking heed and following through with the SPOT, more training for the boys, and rethinking the food.

v/r
Susan

I've read much of the recent thread, wanted to add, FLARES, lots of flares, simple roadside flares, an even dozen for each kid, in Green or Red.

One: Signal, easy to use, Two: They do scare predators, Three: They assist in starting fires. Finding dry fuel will be a challenge, but even in the wettest of conditions, dry fuel is available, teach them how to locate. Four: It gives them something to do, but teach Patience and Resource Management.

edited to add: look for a .45 Long Colt / 410 GA combo - dillinger, revolver, or short rifle stock. Its not a big gun, but it could act as a last act of defiance because the pepper spray only gives the large Kodiak a "Burp" after chewing on a tasty young man.

Also, practice having the kids change out of wet clothes, get under a poncho and start the sterno. This can be done in the back yard, with you and a garden hose. Getting out of wet clothes is laborsome, getting changed is even more tiresome, doing it under your direction is just plain fun, be sure to get it on video.

Practice.....

[Requiem]

Wet Dog, flares added to the packing list. I love that suggestion. Will also practice with the boys with all the items in their bailout bags. They'd get a kick out of me spraying them with the garden hose.

Have a friend with a Taurus (yeah, I know) 410/45 that she shoots with ease. Wish I had the budget for something similar.

Thank you for the added advice. Will follow through with it.

v/r
Susan