What's in your "Bug-out Bag"?

I started a bug out kit right after 9/11 and have been tweaking ever since.  Every time I read something new, I go over my "inventory" sometimes making changes. I actually have two bins, one 2 X 2 X 2, the other 2 X 2 X 3.5'.  The smaller is the MOST important, the larger "nice to have".  There is enough food for 3 days, miscellaneous water treatment stuff, stove, cook kit, blankets, change of clothes, small tools, first aid, radio that is handcrank/batteries, spare batteries, 2 LED flashlights, compass, walkie talkies, knife, hatchet. sharpening stone, cash, and lots of etc.  Grabbing a couple 5 gallons jugs of water on the way out and the wife and I are good for short emergencies, or to get us to SOME destination.  If I have time then I grab the larger bin, tent, more water.  I decided this is just common sense anyway for natural emergencies, so no one would call me a fruit cake, secretly knowing it is also for man made emergencies/sieges/anarchy.  After reading Cory Lundin's works I am also prepared <I think  > to "staycation" after "All Hell Breaks Loose".

ScottHW referred to Cody Lundin in his post, and I have recently finished his book, When  All Hell Breaks Loose - Stuff You Need to Survive When Disaster Strikes.  I found it to be very helpful, and am feeling a lot less anxious about what to do when TSHTF.  While the book focuses more on surviving a short term emergency, such as a natural disaster, a lot of the ideas could be used long term.  You could certainly at least keep things going for a few weeks, and that would give you time to consider your more long term options without panicking.  At the very least these are good ideas for anyone who faces the possibility of earthquakes, tornados, blizzards etc.

It is critical to make long term plans, but for anyone feeling overwhelmed as to how to begin, this book can give you a good start.   

My BOB is in the van, the childrens' are hung on a hook in their room, next to the hook with their sleeping bags, so it would be a quick grab, not searching closets, under the bed, etc.

In them:  Bible, small pad of paper and pen, playing cards, envelope with copies of birth certificates, passports, etc. and a sheet of phone numbers (the childrens' are laminated.)  Ponchos, emergency blankets, soap, washcloth, lightweight food for 3 days, hand sanitizer, small fishing kit, multitool, emergency candle, waterproof matches, flashlight, socks, hat and gloves.   Mine also has shampoo, toothbrushes, toilet paper, binoculars and a book on wild edibles.  We carry a Katadyn hiker in the van.  Need to add cash in small bills.  and coins. 

If there were more time, we also have a tote with much more food, a cooking pot and a note reminding us to grab the Berkey, etc.

You also might want to check out Mrs. Survival for a lot of good ideas on prepping.  Gentlemen are welcome, too.

Sam,

Great subject! I'll do a more "in depth" writeup later (See - Pictures and explainations) but a quick suggestion right off the cuff is heavy duty trash bags.

I know it sounds really goofy, but they're good for so many different things it's not funny.
Gathering and holding water, improvised poncho, collecting mushrooms or fish - the uses are limited by your imagination.

I also didn't see 550 cord (Paracord) which amazing stuff. Can be used for fishing, load bearing, securing, shelter building, rope making, making rafts... all sorts of great stuff.

I'll take some pictures and do a proper examination of the gear that has and hasn't worked for me in the past... as well as how I carry it.

Cheers!

Aaron

Cory Lundin is obsessed with those plastic bags being orange. Not sure I've even seen an orange plastic bag.

I've thought about GOD bags (get-out-of-Dodge) and bug-out bags but it is almost impossible to quickly leave where I am, 15 miles down an island accessible only by several huge bridges. In the summer the bridges are backed up for 5 hours on good days with tourists, probably for days in a disaster. I don't own a boat and the two man raft I have would be suicide in a hurricane. Radiation, tsunami, riots, earthquake, you-name it, I'm hanging in unless there's several days notice. I'm aiming for sufficient stored items to survive it all.

And, hopefully, a community.

SG

P.S. It's a good idea, though. My friend lost her house and everything she owned in the Oakland fire a decade ago. They were given 30 seconds to collect their stuff.

OK,

I apologize for the delay, had social obligations that precluded me from doing anything useful the last couple days.

In order to achieve a wholistic approach to gear, you must think of it like clothing.
When we go out for the day, we assess the conditions, the likelihood that you'll encounter rain, or hot weather, what work will you be doing and so on.

We typically "dress" in a way that fits our particular style.
Some prefer business dress, or functional, some casual or outlandish.
I use this anaolgy because the things you carry as a businessman, or in a dress might be different than what I wear as a casual/functional type.

So, with that in mind, just like clothing (base layer, mid layer, outer layer) I arrange my gear into three "lines".
A brief description and pictures to follow.

First Line:
The first line kit are the things immediately on your person; your keys, wallet and whatever else you choose to carry.
For me, this is my most important line. These are the things I absolutely cannot do without in a "survival" situation, regardless of which type it may be.
If I ran out the door due to a fire, or was my boat capsized... if a nuke goes off - these are the things that are "on my person". It's geared towards a short, intense situation that is potentially life threatening:

Pictured:
Thumb Drive - 2GB
CRKT M21-04
Leatherman (terrible, but issued) Multitool
Lighter
Cellular Telephone (also a piece of crap)
15 Round Magazine (9mm 124gr TAP)
Glock 19, 9mm
Hammerhead Retractible Pistol Lanyard (For marine environments)

Second Line:
These are the things that are usually very near at hand, easy to carry, and make life significantly easier. These come with me to the Airport, in the car, to the range, or when I'm out exploring/adventuring. It represents an intermediary between gear for "short term" survival, and "long term" surivival. It suppliments either well, but is geared to provide equipment for a problem lasting between 1-5 days:

 Pictured:
M51 Engineer bag
Petzl Headlamp
(3) Parker Pens
(2) Sharpie Pens
(1) Rite-in-the-Rain Notepad
2 Cyalume Flares
(3) pairs of Rubber Surgical Gloves
(1) Roll of Gauze
EMT Sheers (hard to see)
MRE "spice pack"
Zip Ties
Snare Wire/Fish Hooks
Wilderness Medical Kit
50' Paracord
Magnesium block
Compass
Garmin GPS and Kestrel Aneometer

Third Line:
The "third line" of gear is the "Get out of Dodge" bag.
This bag contains what I'll use to construct both a temporary and permanent shelter, treat more severe wounds, and eat for the first 7 days. For sustanance, I keep 7 MRE Entrees in the cardboard in a pouch - I keep the cardboard for firestarter.

Pictured:
MOD 3 Sleep System
Eagle Becker (Medium) Pack
Toiletries kit (Unscented only)
Toilet Paper
Medical Kit (Military)
Mess Kit
Poncho
MRE's, Various delicious entrees
(2) cold weather shirts
(2) warm weather shirts
(2) cold weather socks
(2) warm weather socks
(2) Instant soup
Tea Kettle (filled with goodies)
Gaff Hook
300' Paracord
Spork
Pocket Chainsaw

As with all things, the most important variable is the amount of knowledge, skill and determination you possess.
Two sayings that I keep with me as well:
"The more you carry in your head, the less you carry on your back"
"Persistance beats resistance"

Cheers!

Aaron

Interesting, thanks, Aaron.

SG

Glad to help!

Cheers!

Aaron

I meant to add that I appreciate your work in putting that together.

SG

Heheh, thank you my friend!

I hope that this is "useful" for people to decide what suits their style. Not everyone wants to or can carry a pistol every day, but certain items and tools can really make your life a lot easier.

Over the years, I've tried all sorts of different things between preparedness and being avid about primitive camping and fishing, so I hope to take some of the learning curve out of equipment.

The real challenge is getting skilled!
Ideally, everyone should be able to collect water, start a fire, select a site and build a shelter that traps heat in and water out.

Thank you again,

Cheers!

Aaron