Table of Contents
The Ultimate Bug Out Bag
Get Back Home Kit
Are you Prepared from a Threat When Away from Home
|
THE ULTIMATE BUG OUT BAG http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/uncategorized/bug-out-bag/
Bug Out Bag Item List
“Which is heavier a soldier’s pack or a slaves chains” Napoleon
Soon after you face the matter and necessity of survival planing and stockpiling, another question will occur to you: “What will I do if I lose all this stuff?” It’s a fundamental question, and it has a fundamental answer: You need a backup plan and a bug out bag. There are many things that can happen separating you from your main cache and retreat. Theft and fire are two that come to mind and the threat of organized gangs of raiders scouring the countryside looking for sources of resupply are always a threat to the survivor. No matter how well-armed or prepared you are, you can be overran by a large enough force, remember Waco? Sometimes escape is the only option, or at least the only one that will keep you alive. Having a bug out bag and avenue of escape makes sense. If you can put some distance between yourself and the threat, there is always the option of a launching a retaliatory strike from a more favorable position. For example; I have two separate and independent escape routes worked out, both leading to a vantage point 462 yards away over looking my place. If I know I am going to be outnumbered and out gunned, I will grab my bug-out bag and rifle, making my way to this point. The range has been marked with a range finder and I have set-up and shot silhouettes positioned around my place, so I know anything in that area is an easy target. They may take what I have – but the cost will be high. You need to work out an escape plan so you can get to a safer location or vantage point or even completely out of dodge, depending on the situation. You need a grab and go bag or “survival pack” that will supply your needs if you are forced from your main stockpile. Bug Out Bag Contents1. The Pack – I have a LC-1 “Alice” pack but any quality pack with enough capacity will do. Stick with camouflage, dark green or other natural colors that blend with the terrain. 2. Water – A canteen with cup and cover for your belt, water bottle and a good filter. 3. Fire – Waterproof matches, a magnesium fire starter and tinder. 4. Food – Pack enough to last 5-7 days. Rice, oat meal, beef jerky, energy bars etc. Another option is MRE’s and the freeze-dried foods. Choose foods that are light weight and a suitable shelf life. 5. Stove – A small stove is essential it you want to stay hidden. Smoke and noise from the cutting and burning of wood would be undesirable if you are in hostile territory or being pursued. I have a Peak-One backpackers stove, there are others but this is what I have and can recommend. 6. Sleeping bag – If you are in a cold area a good sleeping bag could mean the difference between life and death. Get a light weight “mummy” style bag rated to -20 degrees. 7. Shelter – Rain poncho and tarp or compact tent, stick with natural colors that blend with the surrounding area. 8. Cooking – I have a Stainless Steel 5-Piece Mess Kit, that I ordered from amazon.com but any lightweight kit will do. 9. First Aid – It’s best to assemble your own kit, tailored to your needs, or if you are lazy you can buy a ready-made kit. Don’t forget to add personal medications. 10. Light – I have a 2-AA Cell Mini LED Flashlight Mini LED Flashlight and a 9-Hour Candle. 11. Tools – A folding saw, Swiss Army pocket knife, and fixed blade knife. A light weight shovel and Machete are nice, but add extra weight. 12. Clothing – At least one extra pair of socks and underwear add other items if you feel the need and have the space. 13. Fishing – Line, hooks and sinkers and a few small lures. I also have a small gill net for catching fish. 14. Snare wire – I make my own from copper wire. Don’t forget to include at least 50 ft of parachute cord. 14. Plastic bags – Two or three large lawn bags and several zip-lock sandwich bags, can be used for a number of tasks and to keep things dry. 15. Small Binoculars – See game and enemy before they see you. 16. Sewing kit – Needle and thread don’t forget to include a few extra buttons. 17. This n’ that – Head net, electrical tape, face paint, gloves, sharpening stone etc. 18. Firearms – This is where feathers get ruffled and wounds opened. Everyone has their own idea of what the “perfect” survival firearm is or should be. The Get Back Home Kit http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/uncategorized/urban-survival-kit/
Most of you probably have a bug out bag - having a bug out bag is good insurance in the event you are forced to evacuate your home or retreat for some unforseen reason. It seems most of us are ready to bug out, but few of us have considered the need to find our way back home if caught away during an emergency. No doubt, many of you spend a lot of time away from home, with work, school and business sometimes taking you hundreds of miles away from home. Most of the time this isn’t an issue for me, but recently, I’ve had to make several trips with my girlfriend to take her father to the cancer specialist on the other side of the state. What would we do if disaster struck while we was several hundred miles from home? What would we do in the event of a terrorist attack, riot, earthquake or similar disaster. Could we get back home? What would we do if forced to stay in the area for several days or even weeks? With any luck I’ll be able to drive out, but you never know – the roads could be blocked or impassable because of damage, the area could be quarantined or it could be too dangerous to move for several days. As with anything related to survival, there are no guarantees and I doubt her father could make it under anything but the best of conditions considering his health. I just hope nothing bad happens with him in tow. To increase our odds of making it back or surviving in the city if needed, I’ve put together a ”Get Home Kit” that I take on extended trips. Sure I could have just taken my bug out bag, but it really isn’t the best solution and the gear for the most part, isn’t what I’d need in an urban setting. The basic needs of water, shelter, food, and medical are the same in the wilderness or city, but the means of attainment are different in most cases. My bug out bag was put together for an extended trip to the woods, where I can make most of what I need from what mother nature has to offer. If trapped in the city, I may have to scrounge or steal most of what we need to survive – especially if we are forced to stay and survive for an extended period. No, I’m not advocating theft or looting, but I’m not above it, if the other alternative is starvation or death. My get home kit is smaller than my bug out bag and weighs considerably less. Everything fits snugly inside a small dark gray and green backpack, that I bought at the local flea market for five dollars. I intentionally averted from camo or military type packs to avoid attracting attention. Now that we know why we need a get home pack the question remains, what do we pack in our urban survival kit? Let’s take a look… Get Home Kit Contents
Aside from and in addition to the get home kit, I pack a large cooler with food and drinks for the trip, partly for emergencies but mainly because, I’m cheap and don’t want to waste money buying fast food along the way. I also carry sleeping bags in my vehicle during winter along with my winter emergency car kit and a full toolbox.
Are You Prepared For A Threat When Away From Home
Most of your readers already have some level of preparedness with hopefully extra long shelf life food and water or are considering putting together a Bug Out Bag, Get Home Bag, preparing a retreat or a combination of some of the above. One concern seldom considered is a threat, natural disaster or terrorist attack while we are away-on business or vacation. In most instances when away on business you will likely have only your suitcase and laptop. And, courtesy of the FSA folks, if you flew you certainly will be limited. If on business, make sure the family is able to take care of itself should something happen that would hamper your scheduled return. A disaster response list for them is important some nothing is forgotten. Also, and assuming it’s you threatened by the crisis,they have to know that it may take days for you to clear the area, whether a major power blackout or devestation. And, evacuation should take into consideration the possibility you might prudently attempt to stop at a friend or family member’s on the way. All this is contingent on the distance to get back home and hazards confronted. Communications is a key benefit, both a small, portable am/fm radio so you can better determine the extent of the affected area and the best routing home. Also, ham radio can really be an asset here if you happen to be licensed. But a different, and even more serious challenge can confront you if you’re impacted by a disaster of some sort while on the road vacationing. In this case you have the whole family to worry about. The first thing to do is try to have a local radio station on while travelling and preferably, a CB radio. You want to know about the threat as soon as possible; the worse thing you can do is drive right into the middle of something when you could have turned off because you didn’t know what was ahead. Think about driving into a city while a riot or chemical spill was going on and then not being able to get out, for example. And even before departing on that vacation, save some room for your emergency supplies (not enough room in this article to cover this subject) to include some easy-serve food and water. But the big issue to consider is lodging or you and the family. In any emergency you have to consider the worse case. Any-thing less will simply be easier to handle. So, recognize that you ARE on the road, that if there is a major disaster occuring, you are only one of thousands affected! Assume the motels outside the affected area will be filled. People escaping a hurricane sometimes have to travel hundreds of miles to find lodging. In the disaster you may be confronted with the roads will likely be blocked anyway. So what are you? Nothing more than a refugee! Hopefully, you will be contacted by the authorities who will direct you to a shelter at a nearby armory or school gymnasium. Is your travel gear separated so you can grab a some bag with toiletries and maybe a change of clothes because you are not going to be allowed to carry in the family’s five big suitcases. And maybe sleeping bags might come in handy, especially if it’s the winter season. And if it’s not, might you want to have a family tent with you rather than sharing the night with several hundred noisy and upset people. If you’re the outdoors type, a nearby park might be a preferable option. In any case, advance thought has to be considered so you are not as exposed to whatever threat might occur when you’re possibly hundreds of miles from home and all its security. |
