TonyDedo
Member
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.
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.