I casually mentioned upgrading my "bug out bag"--and got several PM asking what that was, and what was in it.
Basically a Bug out bag has enough supplies and materials to allow you to survive in some degree of comfort and safety in an emergency where you might be cut off from your home and supplies. We both have one in the car, and can transfer it to the boat. The boat bag has some different materials (for example we will add a VHF marine radio which operates on AA batteries)
I started carrying a form of survival gear even when I was in high school, and was responsible for the maintenance of a 200 camper girl scout camp during the summers. Another summer I was working in the back country of the High Sierra. Later I drove across the US a number of times, when I was in Medical School and then when in the Military.
In Calif. we carried one each of our cars because of earth quakes, and when I was at Cal State Long Beach, I was in charge of the medical Disaster team. In Florida it is the hurricanes.
My personal bag is a small back pack, full it weighs about 30 lbs. Each person may put different materials in theirs. We keep a few bottles of water in the car as well as some high energy bars, so there are some basics, as well as shelter of the vehicle or boat. There is also the concept of urban/rural survival if riots occur or infra structure breaks down. (I was in S. Calif during both of the major riots.)
Clothing: I keep a complete change of clothes, including two pair of sox. The pants are a heavy fleece and the sweatshirt also a heavy fleece. I already have rain gear in the SUV, but there are two light plastic ponchos in the Bag--both for protection and shelter/ground cloth.
Water--I have a 2 liter plastic hydration bladder with tube, along with 4 coffee filters, foil, (to make a pan to boil water), a personal water filter, a folding cup and purification tablets.
If a situation were to occur, I would immediately fill the bladder with good water.
Tools: Knives--folding Buck 110 US made, plus multi function Swiss Army knife, Leatherman tool, combination crescent wrench tool, Two pry bars--one fairly heavy, can also be used for digging. folding 12" saw, compound fishing pliers with heavy duty wire cutters. hack saw blades, with duct tape around one end.
Fire: 3 cigarette lighters, 4 boxes of water proof matches, and some of the material from first air kit will double if necessary for tinder.
Orientation: Small GPS, with local topo maps installed, lensitic or sighting compass,
First Aid: multiple bandages, one micro cloth towel, two 30 x 30" dish unbleached muslin towels. Two triangular bandages, Clotting material, gauze pads, self adhering elastic bandages, telfa pads, larger "ABD" pads, tape, tube of polysporin, tube of 1% hydrocortisone. Anti diarrhea pills, 4 days of antibiotics, antihistamine pills, DEET repellant. Steri strips to close wounds. Alcohol soaked pads, small swabs of Betadine, # 11 Exacto blade, tweezers, 2 days worth of personal medication--rotated each month to be sure it is fresh.
Fishing: 30 yards of 12# fluro carbon leader, 10 years 40# SS wire, with swages (also used for snares), misc hooks, lead beds, a couple of favorite soft plastic lures, Small split shot.
Personal security: Ruger Revolver .357 with 50 rds .357, and 50 rds 38 spec ammo. 2 speed loaders (normally carry .45 Kimber with laser sites and 3 mag, as every day CCW): North American Arms .22 mag, mini revolver, with 50 HP cart and 12 mini buck shot cart. Two large ties, which can double as restraints.
Light: Mini Mag (AA, LED conversion), Nebro Redline (220, 110, 10 Lumen, SOS and strobe functions (AAA). a dozen spare AA and AAA batteries.
Communication: Ham Yaseau VX 8 R transceiver: (144 mhz, 220 Mhz, 440 Mhz, 50 Mhz, all band receiver, including weather, marine and FM, MARS/CAP modified for out of band transmission in case of emergencies), We each have a TriSquare eXRS narrow band 900 mhz FM radio.(These exceed the range of FRS or GMRS, plus are frequency hoping so they give secure transmissions between Marie and myself) Actually have 4 of these, and rotate thru chargers--use for RV and camping communications in daily use. These also use AAA batteries if necessary) Also have a small back up cell phone. 2 high intensity whistles, signal mirror. Personal Locator beacon.
Also 3 paper pads, one 3" x 3" bright orange super posted, sharpie marker, sharpie pen and pencil.
shelter: 5 x 7 light weight waterproof nylon tarp, 200 feet of Paracord, 2 ponchos, 2 foil space blankets, a 5 x 6' fleece in a water proof bag.
US Army survival manual downloaded in on my i phone. (I phone 12 volt charger in pack--also charges the back up phone with short micro USB cord)
I may have left out a couple of items--but the picture is that you have enough to survive for a few days, no matter what hits the fan, or where you are. That allows a secondary plan to come into effect. We have a farm, which is some distance, but are considering a "retreat" in Alabama, with 5 1/2 acres near a lake and agricultural area.
I would be interested in what others have in their bug out bags...
Basically a Bug out bag has enough supplies and materials to allow you to survive in some degree of comfort and safety in an emergency where you might be cut off from your home and supplies. We both have one in the car, and can transfer it to the boat. The boat bag has some different materials (for example we will add a VHF marine radio which operates on AA batteries)
I started carrying a form of survival gear even when I was in high school, and was responsible for the maintenance of a 200 camper girl scout camp during the summers. Another summer I was working in the back country of the High Sierra. Later I drove across the US a number of times, when I was in Medical School and then when in the Military.
In Calif. we carried one each of our cars because of earth quakes, and when I was at Cal State Long Beach, I was in charge of the medical Disaster team. In Florida it is the hurricanes.
My personal bag is a small back pack, full it weighs about 30 lbs. Each person may put different materials in theirs. We keep a few bottles of water in the car as well as some high energy bars, so there are some basics, as well as shelter of the vehicle or boat. There is also the concept of urban/rural survival if riots occur or infra structure breaks down. (I was in S. Calif during both of the major riots.)
Clothing: I keep a complete change of clothes, including two pair of sox. The pants are a heavy fleece and the sweatshirt also a heavy fleece. I already have rain gear in the SUV, but there are two light plastic ponchos in the Bag--both for protection and shelter/ground cloth.
Water--I have a 2 liter plastic hydration bladder with tube, along with 4 coffee filters, foil, (to make a pan to boil water), a personal water filter, a folding cup and purification tablets.
If a situation were to occur, I would immediately fill the bladder with good water.
Tools: Knives--folding Buck 110 US made, plus multi function Swiss Army knife, Leatherman tool, combination crescent wrench tool, Two pry bars--one fairly heavy, can also be used for digging. folding 12" saw, compound fishing pliers with heavy duty wire cutters. hack saw blades, with duct tape around one end.
Fire: 3 cigarette lighters, 4 boxes of water proof matches, and some of the material from first air kit will double if necessary for tinder.
Orientation: Small GPS, with local topo maps installed, lensitic or sighting compass,
First Aid: multiple bandages, one micro cloth towel, two 30 x 30" dish unbleached muslin towels. Two triangular bandages, Clotting material, gauze pads, self adhering elastic bandages, telfa pads, larger "ABD" pads, tape, tube of polysporin, tube of 1% hydrocortisone. Anti diarrhea pills, 4 days of antibiotics, antihistamine pills, DEET repellant. Steri strips to close wounds. Alcohol soaked pads, small swabs of Betadine, # 11 Exacto blade, tweezers, 2 days worth of personal medication--rotated each month to be sure it is fresh.
Fishing: 30 yards of 12# fluro carbon leader, 10 years 40# SS wire, with swages (also used for snares), misc hooks, lead beds, a couple of favorite soft plastic lures, Small split shot.
Personal security: Ruger Revolver .357 with 50 rds .357, and 50 rds 38 spec ammo. 2 speed loaders (normally carry .45 Kimber with laser sites and 3 mag, as every day CCW): North American Arms .22 mag, mini revolver, with 50 HP cart and 12 mini buck shot cart. Two large ties, which can double as restraints.
Light: Mini Mag (AA, LED conversion), Nebro Redline (220, 110, 10 Lumen, SOS and strobe functions (AAA). a dozen spare AA and AAA batteries.
Communication: Ham Yaseau VX 8 R transceiver: (144 mhz, 220 Mhz, 440 Mhz, 50 Mhz, all band receiver, including weather, marine and FM, MARS/CAP modified for out of band transmission in case of emergencies), We each have a TriSquare eXRS narrow band 900 mhz FM radio.(These exceed the range of FRS or GMRS, plus are frequency hoping so they give secure transmissions between Marie and myself) Actually have 4 of these, and rotate thru chargers--use for RV and camping communications in daily use. These also use AAA batteries if necessary) Also have a small back up cell phone. 2 high intensity whistles, signal mirror. Personal Locator beacon.
Also 3 paper pads, one 3" x 3" bright orange super posted, sharpie marker, sharpie pen and pencil.
shelter: 5 x 7 light weight waterproof nylon tarp, 200 feet of Paracord, 2 ponchos, 2 foil space blankets, a 5 x 6' fleece in a water proof bag.
US Army survival manual downloaded in on my i phone. (I phone 12 volt charger in pack--also charges the back up phone with short micro USB cord)
I may have left out a couple of items--but the picture is that you have enough to survive for a few days, no matter what hits the fan, or where you are. That allows a secondary plan to come into effect. We have a farm, which is some distance, but are considering a "retreat" in Alabama, with 5 1/2 acres near a lake and agricultural area.
I would be interested in what others have in their bug out bags...