Bug Out Bag
Building a bug out bag doesn't have to be difficult.
In fact, I believe it should be a fun and educational
experience. After all, having a solid bug out plan,
and knowing that you're planning well in advance should
help put your mind at ease about 'SHTF' scenarios.
Here's our guide to get you started.
Start by putting together a bug out supply list.
I suggest including the following at the bare minimum:
Drinking water (2 liters minimum)
Hard, Refillable Water bottle
Personal Water Filter
Protein / Energy Bars (6 bars)
MRE's or Other Dehydrated Meals (6 meals)
Knife, Fork, and Spoon
Utility knife (swiss army, leatherman, etc) with Can and Bottle Opener
Metal Cooking Pot
Pot Scrubber
Camp Stove w/ Extra Fuel
First Aid Kit
Warm and Cold Weather Clothing
Extra Underwear
Extra Socks
Rain Jacket or Poncho
Beanie
Hat w/ Brim
Bandana or Shemagh
Leather Palmed Gloves
Tarp
Tent
Sleeping Bag
Lighter and Waterproof Matches
Tinder (Dryer lint in an old prescription bottle works great.)
Wet Wipes and Hand Sanitizer
Toilet Paper
Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Deodorant
Quick Drying Towel
Camp Shovel
Fixed Blade Knife or bayonet for rifle
Flashlight or Headlamp with Extra Batteries
Glow Sticks
Candles
Crank Power Charger or solar gear(for your phone and other devices)
Emergency Radio
Compass
At Least $300 Cash, in Small Bills
Notepad w/ Pen and Pencil
Emergency Whistle
Other items that you might include in your kit would be:
Pepper Spray
Handgun and Ammo (for Self-defense)
Rifle and Ammo or Bow and Arrows (for Hunting)
Local Area Map
Sewing Kit
Rope or Paracord
Duct Tape
55 Gal Garbage Bags
Painters Mask or Gas Mask
Sunglasses
Insect Repellent
Sunscreen
Fishing Kit
Binoculars or Rifle Scope
You can include anything else that strikes your fancy,
just remember, you may to need cover long distances
with your pack so be sure you can lift and carry it comfortably.
The next step is selecting the right bag for you to put
all this gear in. I suggest a Pack with removable sections to
be flexable for different conditions. Another feature to look for
is a bag that is set up for a water bladder and tube to be able
to keep you hydrated on the move.
Building Your Bug Out Bag -
After you have everything for your kit, make a plan for packing it.
Be sure to keep essentials like your water, first aid kit, and a
light source somewhere easily accessible. Consider grouping related
items together in quart or gallon sized plastic bags so that you
don't have as many individual items to rummage through when looking
for a specific item. For example, we'd probably put our lighter,
matches, tinder, glow sticks, and candles in one bag. While putting
our deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, wet wipes, and hand
sanitizer in another.
Lasty, be sure to store this bag somewhere easily accessible. Time
can be limited in the event of an emergency such as fire or flooding.
Also, make sure that everyone in your home knows that your emergency
bag, and all of its contents, are for emergencies only. When an
emergency is upon you you don't want to find out that your son has
decided to ''borrow''the protein bars because he got hungry, or that
your daughter used the batteries because her favorite toy needed
replacements.
My SHTF Page
