Please critique my bug-out/bug-in system.

[TonyDedo]

I've always had a 'bug out bag' sitting in the corner, but it was more of a storage place for my camping gear than anything else, and I'd pull items out of it for daily use on a regular basis. Basically, it was crap. Recently I've put a lot of thought and effort into revamping not just the bag, but my entire disaster-preparation system. Here's what I've come up with; I'm hoping that I can get some constructive criticism.

I'm trying to prepare for "moderate" emergency situations - natural disasters, terrorist attacks, etc. No 'end of the world' crap. I live in a very urban area; I work right in the middle of Boston, and live about 5 miles north of the city in a densely populated borough.

I figure that in the event of a disaster, Option #1 will be to bug in. I'm supplied well enough to support myself for 10 days, and I'm comfortable defending my keep. So long as the house is safe and standing, I plan to be in it.

Option #2 is to bug out via automobile, likely resulting in long lines of traffic. I have a motorcycle, but it's not reliable enough to rely upon as a bug out vehicle (plus 4-6 months of the year it'd be nearly impossible, not to mention incredibly dangerous, to bug out of Boston on a motorcycle).

Option #3 is being evacuated to an emergency shelter of some sort.

I've created a four-tiered system to best address my needs wherever I may be when an emergency strikes.

Day bag, a basic laptop bag/backpack that's always with me, and addresses my day-to-day (non-emergency) needs.

Car kit, always in the car. Goal is to be able to get me home safely in case of any on-the-road or away-from-home emergency, and serve to support my bug-out-bag with items that are too heavy for the bag if I bug out via automobile.

Bug-out-bag, at home and 90% ready for quick evacuation. Goal is to be able to evacuate the house under 30 minutes with all essential items. Includes checklist for daily use items and bug-in items that are not stored in bag. Portable, can be carried on my back with my day bag in my hands.

Bug-in-bag, disaster preparedness supplies stored at home. Goal is to be able to sustain 2 people for 10 days without electricity, heat, water or local services (I won't cover these items here).

Day bag (or on my person)
• Wallet w/emergency credit card, $100 emergency cash, emergency contacts
• Watch
• Cell phone & charger
• Netbook, camera, MP3 player, headphones & chargers
• Keys
• Notepad, pen, pencil, sharpie
• CCW firearm & 2 mags or speedloaders
• Eyeglasses, contact lenses & eye drops
• Sunglasses
• Bottle of water
• 3-5 energy bars

Car kit
• Registration, insurance card, emergency contacts, AAA card
• Basic car accessories (jumper cables, empty gas can, maps, etc)
• Fire extinguisher (2x – one mounted in trunk, another mounted in cabin)
• Portable jump starter/battery & extension cord
• Cold weather kit (carried in the winter):
o Ice scraper
o Salt/kitty litter
o Gloves
o Boots
o Snow shovel
o Blanket
• First aid kit
• Complete change of clothes, including long underwear
• Generic tool kit
• Flashlight
• Bolt cutters
• Shovel/pick
• Hatchet/hammer
• Duct tape
• Tow strength rope
• Crank tie downs
• Bungie cords
• Plastic sheeting
• GPS
• Emergency cell phone, house, car & USB charger
• Shotgun, weapons light, sling, sheath & ammo
• Bottled Water
• Snacks

Bug-out-bag
• Checklist of everything I need to grab (specifically stuff that's not already in the bag)
• Emergency cell phone, wall, car & USB chargers
• Flashlight, spare batteries, spare bulb
• Emergency crank radio
• Police Scanner
• Multi tool, folding knife, scissors
• Watch
• Two way radios
• Rope/paracord
• Duct tape
• Trash bag
• Ziplock bags
• Small pouch that contains zip ties, twistie ties, rubber bands, bungee cords, key chains & carabineers
• Locks to secure gear
• 2 days worth of food (MREs & energy bars, no energy required)
• 2 bladders of water
• Spare keys
• Notepad, pen, pencil, sharpie
• In addition to my bug out bag I grab a fireproof lock box from the safe that contains:
o cash in small bills
o Roll of quarters
o Backup hard drive with scans of all my important documents
o Important documents, including insurance information
o Contact information for friends & family
o Address and maps for bug out destinations
o Pictures of loved ones (and of myself) that can be given to emergency personnel or aid organizations for identification purposes
 These things can quickly be transferred to my bag, so I don't have to drag around the lock box
• Change of clothes in detachable compression sack
• Toiletries kit, including:
o 1 week of medication
o Spare eyeglasses & contacts
o Basic first aid kit
o Baby wipes
o Latex gloves
o Bug spray, sunscreen, chapstick
o Hand sanitizer
• Firearm w/holster, 2 mags and 1 extra box of ammo

Questions:
What am I missing and what don't I need?

I was contemplating ditching the two way radios - I included them because I assume I'll be bugging out with at least one other individual, and I thought it would be helpful to have the radios in case we get separated. I anticipate cell phone lines being overwhelmed during any sort of disaster.

There is some redundancy between the three bags, but I wanted to be sure I had some critical items in case they got separated - any thoughts on how to address this?

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[azyogi]

just me but i'd up the meds to a month, course my #2 BOB is a 32' Trailer and a C20 PU

 

[Gungnir]

My recommendation...

Test it.

Take your self any one else who you plan on bugging out with and BoBs in the manner and for the period you expect your BoB to support you.

If you don't use something you likely don't need it. If you have any shortfalls or anything missing you'll find out.

BTW on Latex gloves, I'd use Nitrile, if you happen across someone needing medical attention, you don't know whether they're latex sensitive or not. So err on the side of caution, unless you also carry an Epi-pen. They're the same price so you're losing nothing.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Yep. Test it.
You Bug out bag has a LOT of stuff in it. When is the last time you walked 20 miles in one day with that weight on you?
20m/day is about the average you'll need to do if there is a disaster you need to walk away from, since you are bugging out, theoretically.

Test it and see what happens.

 

[TonyDedo]

I've done a 10 miles test with it - so far so good. Yeah, it's heavy, but not prohibitively so. The water is the heaviest bit, but I suppose that’ll get lighter as I go.

Of course, if there’s stuff you can convince me I can dump, I’m all for it.

What I’m more concerned about it important (possibly obvious) stuff I might be missing. I can trek around my neighborhood like a mall ninja with this stuff on my back all day long, but it’s hard to figure out what I’ll need without being in that situation.

 

[Oro]

Among your "important documents:"

I read a thorough re-hash of this topic from a Katrina evacuee. He stated that one very valuable thing he took was printed copies of his education degrees and resume. He was able to quickly secure well-paid technical work where he was relocated and do so quickly. I was impressed with that point from a practical perspective.

Something I keep adjacent to the vehicle (e.g., for your Car Kit) for such situations (e.g., it get's tossed in the back as you leave) is a Coleman multi-fuel camp stove and some fuel for it. it's compact and fits in any vehicle easily. No need to tote it daily, but it's on the shelf ready to go. I've learned camping and working outdoors for long periods the restorative value to your spirits and body of a hot meal vs. cold - especially in a colder climate. Another thing in that category I like to have is a Wyoming saw or other camp saw. Another thing in this category I like is collapsible large water containers. They take up little space and they let you take a good quantity of water if you need.

If you have pets, you also need to think about them, food, and their vet records. I did not see "passport" on your list but you may be including it in your papers/docs.

 

[MrCleanOK]

You're missing two very important things. Toilet paper, and fuel for the vehicle.

 

[MarineOne]

I read a thorough re-hash of this topic from a Katrina evacuee. He stated that one very valuable thing he took was printed copies of his education degrees and resume. He was able to quickly secure well-paid technical work where he was relocated and do so quickly. I was impressed with that point from a practical perspective.

You can easily send yourself a copy via Yahoo or G-Mail of any and all important documents as attachments, and if you want additional security you can simply compress them into a Zip file with encryption. Yahoo allows up to 10MB per e-mail, and G-Mail allows up to 25MB, IIRC. All you need at that point is a computer with internet capabilities and you can forward these documents to anyone you need to without worrying about uploading to the mail server.

Also look at the Corsair Survivor series of USB thumb drives that are watertight, freeze proof, and provide up to 8GB to 64GB of storage in a size slightly larger than a man's thumb, however I recommend the 16GB model as they have better read/write access times than the 32/64GB models if you need quick access to those files. They also come with TrueCrypt, so you can create a hidden area to store more personal information (copies of your drivers license, SS card, birth certs, DD-214, etc.) with 128 bit encryption.

Crank radio should have emergency and NOAA band capability, and I would keep the handhelds because this could help you contact others and/or police and emergency personnel if they monitor those channels.


Editted to add more info

You might also want to look at the new Acer mini-laptops for basic computing needs like USB charging and internet connectivity. They weight under 4 pounds with AC adapter, built in wireless and wired connections for the internet, and can provide up to 8 hours of battery life.




Kris

 

[Yosemite Sam]

* Question: How do you keep water from freezing in your trunk in the winter? Sounds silly, but that's what happened to me.

* Think the portable hard drive should be replaced with a USB drive. Lighter, smaller, and no moving parts that eventually break.

* I'd replace any incandescent flashlights with good quality LED ones. They get much better battery life and are more durable than bulbs.

* I personally like having 2-way radios on me. Although I hear in big cities all the FRS and GMRS channels are busy, but they're probably better than cell phones.

* Fire kit. Didn't see anything mentioned. Do you have multiple ways to make fire?

 

[John Parker]

I'm just amazed to see a bug-system that is realistically based; i.e. not centered around an uber-tacticool .308 with 1,000 rds in the latest Kifaru bag with no water and no way to start a fire...

 

[Mad Chemist]

If you are going to carry a heavy pack it should be a quality one that fits. Don't scrimp here, a cheap poorly fitting pack will cramp and bruise and chafe like you couldn't even imagine, and the heavier the load the worse it gets.

If cash isn't prohibitive consider replacing the scanner, hand-crank radio, and GMRS handhelds with a quality handheld digital ham radio. If you take the classes and know how to use it you can effectively monitor AND communicate with EMS in addition to trimming at least 5lbs from your gear.

Any electronic devices that can accept lithium batts should have them. They'll last longer, have a longer shelf life in storage, and require you to carry fewer spares.

Ditch the box of loose ammo or leave it in the trunk. Instead pack an extra loaded mag or don't worry about it. Depending on caliber, that extra box of ammo can weigh up to five lbs.

Try carrying your bag for more than a simple walk around the block. Take it on a day hike 3-10 mi (depending on exp and conditioning level). How heavy does it feel at the end of the day? If you don't have experience hiking and working with a heavy pack more than 40lbs is going to wear you out quickly. Solution, hike more or pack less.

 

[TonyDedo]

Good stuff guys, keep it coming. To respond:

Oro: I do have copies of my resume and university transcripts stored on my portable hard drive. The idea actually came to me in a dream - I dreamt I got out of the city and back to my old home town, but couldn't get a job because the company I used to work for and university I attended had been destroyed. Go figure...

The camping stove and fuel is in my bug-in kit at home, not the car kit. I figured the stove should stay with the food it's meant to cook: if I'm bugging out in the car, I can throw the stove in the car with the food.

What would I use the camping saw for?

Good point on the empty water containers and the vet records - those are two things that are missing. Passport is included in the "documents," along with birth cert, SS card and spare driver's license.

MrCleanOK:

Baby wipes are a million times better than TP, and multi functional, although I suppose TP has other functions too - I should throw a roll in there.

Regarding fuel, I've been having a lot of trouble figuring out a good system for storing fuel. Ethanol fuel spoils quicker than regular gas, and I'm a bit paranoid about pouring old gas in my car when I cycle my stores. I do have five empty 5 gallon containers at home and one in the back of the car - current plan is to fill them at the gas station on the corner first thing if an emergency hits.

MarineOne: I have one of those hard drives specifically designed to be portable (not a generic external drive). It's supposed to handle drops and shocks, and doesn't require an external power source (powered via USB). I agree flash memory would be better, but at the moment flash drives aren't big enough for all my storage needs.

Otherwise, I already have the netbook in my day bag. I got the ASUS eeePC - it's awesome, and I'd highly recommend everyone get one.

Yosemite Sam: I store the water in a cooler - it doesn't always prevent freezing, but if it does freeze usually I only get slush (except on the coldest of days). All flashlights are LED.

As for a fire kit, again I wonder the practical application. There are a couple lighters and a box of matches with the camp stove, otherwise I don't envision myself starting a lot of fires. Remember, I'm in the middle of the city. If I bug out, I'll be taking refuge in a hotel room or high school gym, not the middle of the woods.

Mad Chemist: I'll look into the ham radio - thanks! And regardless of how well the pack works, I should still hike more and pack less.

All the crap in my bag aside, I think the two most important parts of surviving a crisis are being healthy, physically and financially. I'd rather an extra 20lbs in my bag than 20lbs around my waist - it's easier to scuttle weight from my bag. And I'd rather have $1000 in my pocket than a $1000 bag and a credit card bill to worry about.

But I'll admit, if zombies show up, I'm screwed...

 

[Gungnir]

I've done a 10 miles test with it - so far so good. Yeah, it's heavy, but not prohibitively so. The water is the heaviest bit, but I suppose that’ll get lighter as I go.

Of course, if there’s stuff you can convince me I can dump, I’m all for it.

What I’m more concerned about it important (possibly obvious) stuff I might be missing. I can trek around my neighborhood like a mall ninja with this stuff on my back all day long, but it’s hard to figure out what I’ll need without being in that situation.

You carried it, you didn't really test it though. Totally different, you need to carry it to where you test it. If you're looking at a real BoB get out of dodge on foot, and you live in a city then you'll be using it as you travel.

Using your BoB for what it's intended for is testing it.

Go out somewhere that is a likely candidate for Bugging out to. Spend a week to 10 days there with just your BoB. That'll let you know what your missing and what you don't need.

On water and freezing (since I'm somewhat of an expert I can go on a 5 mile walk starting with a water bottle and end with an ice bottle). Make sure that the container opening is down (not up) the water will freeze top down, so you can still drink out of it, or drain water out of it even though it may be 3/4 frozen. If it's a drinking bottle keep it under your jacket.

BTW one other advantage of Lithium Batteries is they work better in the cold (rated to -40F). All of my outdoor stuff has them for obvious reasons.

 

[leadcounsel]

* Question: How do you keep water from freezing in your trunk in the winter? Sounds silly, but that's what happened to me.

Water cooler, ice chest style. Or you could get a roll of insulation and bundle up your water in your car, etc.

I may have overlooked it but you don't have any local paper maps. Consider laminating a paper map of local area, state, and nation.

Consider a hat and/or sunblock in the summer and a cap in the winter.

And consider camo clothing and/or a camo net (for your vehicle). If things are bad enough you may want to stay hidden. Also consider a backpackers tent for your vehicle bug out. You may need it. Also consider a tire pump that runs off your vehicle power in case of a flat, or a tube of fix-a-flat (although newer tires may not work with it).

 

[MarineOne]

How much data are you looking to store?

I've had a couple of the USB powered externals and found them to be a bit finicky about power, and needed to buy a special "2 USB connectors to 1 external HDD" cables to help make sure the drive worked by pulling additional power from the second USB port.


Kris

 

[Wildyams]

One thing I didn't notice on your list was water purification tablets.. in case you want water quickly and don't want to wait around to boil it.

 

[MrCleanOK]

I do have five empty 5 gallon containers at home and one in the back of the car - current plan is to fill them at the gas station on the corner first thing if an emergency hits.

I remember cars backing up for blocks at the pumps after 9/11, and have seen similar situations (though not quite as bad) many times around tornados and ice storms. I hope you're at the front of the line

 

[xcgates]

As far as stale gas goes, I don't think you really need to worry about throwing old gas in. Over the summer I would grab ~15 gallons at a time to refill my bike every evening (it got tiring stopping every night to gas up), and when I went back to school, I forgot about some for quite a while. Just toss in a couple gallons every time you fill up a car tank, and it get diluted quite well. If you are concerned, you could even use Stabil.

Or just throw the old gas in your mower. (well, if you have one, just remembered where you said you lived.)

 

[44Dave]

I've decided mine needed a couple of N95 masks. No, I'm not worried about diseases but if there were lots of dust/ash in the air I think it would be worth the extra oz to have it there. Also, I threw in a set of cheap ear plugs.
A dual band HT amateur radio is going in my kit. There are more than a few cheap ones from reliable manufacturers. It should let me access the local 2M repeater as well as listen in on the official traffic in case it's warrented. Ditched the AM/FM as the official traffic is usually much better quality and more up to date than commercial broadcast. At least in my area.
I am convinced that kittly litter is useless on ice, as it has failed me too many times.

 

[mbt2001]

and if you want additional security you can simply compress them into a Zip file with encryption

40bit encryption isn't secure. A regular computer can brute force the key in 3 days - 2 weeks depending on the hardware, faster if they go with a array of processors or daisy chain on computers.

AT THE VERY LEAST use DES, (ironkey or other programs can be had free), I would recommend using ABI Coder or Omziff. Those are both free. PGP is my recommendation, but it costs money. There are some other good programs out there.

Things that need to have a secure shelf life of months or years need at least 80 bit encryption. Things that need a shelf life of hours can use 40 bit encryption. Insurance and other documents need a shelf life of years.

**DES has been cracked with a distributed computer setup in as little as a month.
**Make sure that any password you use for encryption activates all of the bits. For instance, it is pointless to use 128 bit encryption if you are using a 4 digit passphrase. There isn't enough entropy to use all 128 bit. Use AT LEAST 12 characters. Not numbers, but letters and numbers. Letters are LARGER than numbers, if that makes sense, so using just 12 numbers is like using 6 characters and it doesn't give you enough entropy.

Short sort of relevant tutorial. https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm

 

[xcgates]

PGP comes in free versions I'm pretty sure. At least the original one as Zimmerman (?) put it out. You just have to follow certain laws, like not going cross borders with it.

I know I used a free version for a while, then got tired of it, and decided that I really don't have anything of any interest to anyone.

 

[mbt2001]

PGP comes in free versions I'm pretty sure. At least the original one as Zimmerman (?) put it out. You just have to follow certain laws, like not going cross borders with it.

I know I used a free version for a while, then got tired of it, and decided that I really don't have anything of any interest to anyone.

PGP freeware was not very good and I wouldn't bother with it. The project is abandoned, if you are running windows 98 it might be fine, but anything newer you are spinning your wheels.

BTW, if you have a lot that interested Nigerian scam artists and russian and chinese hackers / identity thieves.

If you are going to store your important files online, use some decent encryption software.

 

[Lou McGopher]

I agree flash memory would be better, but at the moment flash drives aren't big enough for all my storage needs.

Flash drives come in 32GB. You can carry more than one for less size and weight than a portable HDD. I don't know what kind of data you'd need to be carrying in a bug-out situation that would take up anywhere near that much space. Unless you plan on leaving the country. Even then I'd consider uploading it somewhere, or having a secure stash, like in a safe-deposit box, personal safe, or under a rock next to a tree in a field. Need to save on space? Convert what you can in those scans into plaintext with OCR software.

PGP freeware was not very good and I wouldn't bother with it. The project is abandoned, if you are running windows 98 it might be fine, but anything newer you are spinning your wheels.

Check out Truecrypt. It's excellent, and constantly improving. There are similar available from GPG. Both are free, and both will give you something even the NSA couldn't crack.

And how much is a "bladder" of water? As much as you can hold before you have to go pee? I'd try to keep more than that in the car.

Might also cut out the roll of quarters. On the wrong end of the money/weight ratio. You've got a spare cell, and these days there don't seem to be as many payphones around as there used to be.

 

[CSballer89]

one thing that i haven't seen is a gun cleaning kit. you may as well be holding a rock/club if your pistol/rifle jams

 

[tank mechanic]

I would through a tooth brush and tooth paste in that kit.