Real Life Bug Out Bag

[Garandman]

We consider things like an EMP pulse (which would most likely result from a massive nuclear strike) to be a distraction. The most likely life-threatening emergency here is a major winter full-moon Northeast storm in winter, which would result in poor visibility and travel conditions, coastal flooding, and power outages. Salt water flooding is extra fun.

So we plan for the most likely event. We even keep our dinghy and a small outboard at the house over winter.

If you are talking a truly catastrophic situation - then, NO BOB, here. Where would a person go to be any better off. How would a person know where to go. No I'll just rough it out right here. If I don't make it - that's OK. I've had a good life and I'm not about to spend the last year(s) running around the country.

I agree, and have to laugh at all the preppers preparing for invasion from cities. In most real-Life catastrophies, people move to cities, which are a lot more resiliant than one might think.

That said, right about the time we moved to a house near Boston Harbor, Hurricane Sandy hit. We looked at everything that happened for lessons learned. One of the lessons was a homeowner who weathered the storm just fine. But they were near n area where houses had been swept away, so after a few days, the gas company turned off their natural gas! So they had to leave anyway. Even though our house has had a total power outage of three hours in 20 years, we are wired for a generator, store water, food, medical supplies, etc.

FEMA has well-thought-out lists for staying in place, or if you have to leave, which we would have to do if there was an extended natural gas outage in winter.

Build A Kit | Ready.gov

 

[3930dave]

That FEMA list gman linked is a good place to start.

Note that they list maps. Being able to charge your cell phone is only a tiny piece of what most people rely on to work every day. Cell towers can and do go down, or out of general service in an emergency.

Short term, drinking water is the limiting factor. For mobile or stationary use, something to create potable water manually is important. One of the small kits for a hiking pack is enough to keep you alive.

Shelter - fire can be important to minimize exposure risk, or for cooking. For mobile fire-starting, one of the best compact DIY portable kindling solutions I've seen is cotton-balls slathered with petroleum jelly, packed into small pill bottles.

I usually wear a Leatherman every day. One in a BOB would be appropriate. Two of the things I find I use more often (given all the discrete tools I usually have around) than I expected are the pliers, and especially the scissors.

Rgds, D.

 

[Garandman]

We buy the 6 gallon AquaTainers, which stack, have a handle and spigot.

 

[Ken]

West of Seligman , Ariz. there is a large cavern with tunnel to lower area. And inside this is enough food to feed a army. interesting that all the water containers are empty. The person showing us around said the water was dehydrated.

ken

 

[Steppenwolfe]

If you are talking a truly catastrophic situation - then, NO BOB, here. Where would a person go to be any better off. How would a person know where to go. No I'll just rough it out right here. If I don't make it - that's OK. I've had a good life and I'm not about to spend the last year(s) running around the country.

:thumbsup: Agreed. I've got more guns, ammo, and food here than I could possibly carry. Got water, game, and 94 acres that don't fit in a BOB... I'm stay'n put. Matter of fact, some of my buddies plan on coming here when the pooh hits the fan...

 

[RSKY]

During the 2009 ice storm we had about a dozen people with us for a week or so because we had natural gas fed logs in two rooms of the house. We also had plenty of blankets and quilts. We have frozen and canned food galore even though the diet might get old with green beans or peas each day. We can survive a month or more in our home IF the home is still standing.

What I'm asking about is a "get out of your house and evacuate" situation where you were forced to leave in two minutes with what you could carry.

Or a situation where your home is leveled by an earthquake or fire or flood.

RSKY

 

[MossRoad]

Did you mention a first aid kit?

If you're only planning on being out of the house for a week, why bother with a shaving kit?

And if you're going to be out of the house for a week, where are you planning to spend the week? I guess that depends on how extensively the region is damaged.

Make sure the matches are "strike anywhere" type and waterproof.
Get some water sanitizer tablets.
And get a collapsible water container with spout.
Get one of those "life straws" for filtering drinking water.
Get some plumbers candles.
And a bag of hershey's kisses (I just like those).

 

[kevinwak]

First aid kit
Glow sticks
Underwear
Socks
Large ziplock of pet food if you have a pet to bring along.
Toilet paper

 

[davrow]

In California, we only worry about fires. Our BOB has family photos and legal documents. That's it, as we will be going to friends or relatives that are not impacted by the fire.

Any other SHTF scenario we will weather right here at home, thank you very much.

If I were a prepper I would want a preloaded bugout vehicle. No way I could cart enough for two on my back!

 

[oosik]

RSKY - strange, very strange. Three years ago I had a situation just as you indicate. Mid-July - around 4pm - watching TV thru the pin holes in my eye lids. God dam wild a**ed knocking at the door - loud shout "STATE POLICE - OPEN THE DOOR". Christ, what now - - opened the door and there is a State Police officer - he says - - "you must evacuate this property RIGHT NOW - - an uncontrolled wildfire is rapidly approaching your property and very likely will burn your house and all outbuildings". To be honest - I was dumbstruck and just stood there for a moment. He then said - "I will be out in my vehicle and will not be leaving until you are following me".

Well, I put on a pair of pants, my Carhart jacket and grabbed my wallet, check book and keys for my tractor(most valuable vehicle I own). Out the driveway and down the county road four miles to my nearest neighbor. From there we could look back and see all the black smoke.

It was called the Watermelon Hill Wildfire ( 2014 ) and it missed the SW corner of my property by 100 yards. After watching all the smoke from my neighbors house, I said - what the he** and went home to see what was left. At the very last moment the wind changed direction and drove the fire to the north - just missing the west edge of my property.

It was the action of several local farmers and their large tractors cutting a fire break that stopped the fire. Unfortunately, all the fire depts equipment had been previously committed to fires in the Okanogan and Wenatchee areas.

We were very lucky - very few outbuildings lost, no homes lost - a lot of baled hay was lost. A lot of "haying equipment" lost.