What Is A "Bug Out Bag" Or "BOB"? A
"Bug Out Bag" or Personal Evacuation/Relocation Kit (PE/RK). is
an emergency pack with enough supplies to enable you to relocate, with just
a minute's notice, and allow you to survive for 2 to 3 days. Relief agencies
can not be relied upon to begin supplying any real level of relief services
for a minimum of 72 hours.
Where To Keep Your Bug Out Bag. I still keep my "BOB"
as we called them in the military, handy in my vehicle. A bug out bag has
to be readily available so you can just head out the door and be able to make
it several days if you have to immediately relocate from anywhere. With the
bag in your car it will be handy if your at work, shopping at the mall or
at home. DO NOT REMOVE items from your "Bug Out Bag " until you
really need them, it will bite you in the butt, trust me.
When To Bug Out? Fire, HAZMAT, hurricane or flood would
be a definite bug out time. Earthquake or tornado may just damage your home
and you can still live there to prevent looting. There may be times when you're
not sure if you should bug out. Have a battery powered AM/FM radio or TV handy
so you can listen to reports on the current situation. During the rioting
in Los Angeles after the Rodney King verdict, some home and business owners
stayed and defended their property. This will be a tough call and could endanger
your family. DO NOT count on the local National Guard to save you. In the
same riots the California National Guard showed up days later to do rioting
patrols and they forgot their ammo. Once they had their ammo their commander
refused to let them patrol with loaded weapons, which just set them up for
ambushes by the local gangs. Plan for the worst scenario and hope for the
best.
Where To Bug Out To? Your first priorities are security/safety,
then shelter and then water. You can go several days without food but you'll
need to find something to eat to keep your wits about you. You may have to
evacuate to safety first and then move again to find better shelter. Be flexible.
In your planning, have predetermined bug out locations already agreed upon.
If you leave your home in your vehicle the roads may be jammed with traffic
or impassible, which may stop you from reaching your first bug out location.
Fall back to your second bug out location that you can walk to. Listening
to your radio will let you know if the access is open to where you need to
travel. Preferably your bug out location will provide temporary safety, shelter
and a nearby water source.
Testing You Bug Out Plan. You fight as you train as they
say in the military. Testing your bug out plan will help you find anything
that doesn't work which will save you time and maybe your life in the future.
Take a weekend once a year and just pretend a disaster has just occurred and
you need to bail, RIGHT NOW. Write down things that you need to improve on
or delete. Make it fun for the kids and there will be less grumbling. Having
done the drill several times already will make it easier and less stressful
when you really do have to bug out.
What Should I Have In My Bug Out List? I have a list
below of some items that may help you start your bag. You'll need to sit down
and think of what you absolutely need to make it 2 to 3 days away from home.
Keep it to a bare minimum as you may have to walk with this pack on your back.
Review your pack every 6 months to make sure nothing is broke or damaged.
BOB List:
passport, important documents, shot records.
( item to keep separate)
medicines
backpack food, trail mix, Power bars, jerky,
hard candy, ramen noodles, MREs etc. Minimum of 2000 calories of food with
60 grams of protein per day.
1 or 2 quart canteens, two each
water, 2 gallons per person per day.
coffee, tea
water filter/purifier and purifying tablets like Potable
Aqua
pistol with 2 holsters and ammo
compass, Silva Ranger is good model
maps
cell phone
gas mask/respirator with spare filter
helmet, Kevlar PASGT
military ALICE harness and web belt setup.
flashlight with duct tape wrapped around
handle and extra batteries
Nomex gloves
12 foot of parachute cord
10 feet of 1/2" rope for Swiss seat
or Swiss rappel seat (for helo rescue)
2 locking carabiners (for helo rescue)
handheld scanner
small first aid kit
cig. lighters
space blanket
hat with wide brim for sun shade
watch with alarm
rain poncho
solar and hand crank powered AM/FM radio
signal flares
signal mirror
signal whistle
Multi-Purpose Tool (Leatherman), (wear on belt for quick
access)
cash, credit cards may not work
pen, pencil and paper notebook
TP
survival book
night rescue strobe with IR lens
GPS
Goggles
Cold weather coat
I keep all the above gear in one backpack so I can have my hands free. If you're
not hip on survival techniques, toss in a Boy Scout handbook and survival guide
to your "Bug Out Bag". If you don't own a sidearm, get one and learn
to shoot and maintain it properly. If you have children you'll need to make
them up a little pack. You won't need to duplicate all the gear like compass,
GPS etc.
Your best weapon is between your ears. The more info you can cram into that
little pea the better your chances of surviving any scenario.
B & A Products
- Prepackaged bug out bags. Emergency preparedness gear. Be Prepared.com
- Prepackaged bug out bags. Emergency preparedness gear. Captain
Dave's Survival Shop - Prepackaged bug out bags. Emergency preparedness
gear. The
Epicenter - Prepackaged bug out bags. Emergency preparedness gear. Emergency Supply
Center - Prepackaged bug out bags. Emergency preparedness gear.
Botach
Tactical - Sell M95 masks and filters. Brigade Quartermaster
- Military gear. Ebay - Just type what
your after into the search window. Make sure you use a credit card so you
don't get burned. DO NOT send a personal check, cashier's check or money order.
I have used PayPal and Bill Point to order items on Ebay and they work good.
Micronel
Safety Products - Gas masks and other NBC gear.
Military Field Manuals Free Online - Click on "Enter library",
and then select "Field Manual" to see the listing of NBC manuals.
You can save these Army field manuals onto your hard drive by clicking the
"File "drop down menu in the upper left of your browser window,
then click "Save as". Then under "Save as", click and
select .mht (web archive file). Also type in the folder you want to save the
info to. Personal
Respiratory Protective Devices (Smoke Hoods) - Reviews by Mike Busch on
the AVweb website. PRI Fuel Treatments
- This stuff is amazing. Prevents the degradation of diesel and gasoline while
it is in storage. A must if you have a generator and store fuel for it. Ranger Joe's -
Gas masks for sale. Also sell military gear.
U.S. Cavalry - Sell MSA Advantage 1000 gas masks and chemical/smoke incident
escape masks/hoods. Also sell military gear.
If you know of any other good survival links please email us
at .
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