What's in your bug out kit?

[22-rimfire]

I'm staying home until the dust settles. If it is ever necessary to leave my home where I am warm, I keep an assortment of Rubber Maid tubs that lock (if you want to call it a lock) for the purpose of putting most of what I need in a protected container, placing those in my truck and trailer and heading where ever. Guns are the least of my concerns. Fuel and drinking water are the biggest short term concern and it is not practical to store gasoline in or around a normal private home. If you have a business, you might have a large storage tank that is necessary for the business, otherwise it is not practical.

 

[Werewolf]

Now if we're talking SHTF/Armageddon type stuff...

Bug out kit? BUG OUT KIT! I don' need no stinkin' bug out kit. I got a gun. I'll just take what I want from those that don't.

NOTE: For the humor impaired: That was a joke.

 

[outdoorman63]

there are many scenario's that can fit the need for a bob , here in st louis in the last 2 years we have 3 periods where our power was gone for over a week each time, 2 ice storms and 1 summer storm ,if we decided to not stay in the city we have a small piece of rural property to bug out to, but more so my concern is getting home in the case of bad weather, natural disaster etc...i do carry a bag in my vehicle for those reasons...

 

[fearless leader]

I have no where to bug to. I evactuated for hurricane Floyd once.
I packed up my guns in blankets and cases and hid them in the back of my truck. This was a chore I would not want to repeat soon. I prepared the truck to live in for two weeks, with MRE's and canned goods, and several tanks of water. I took a butane stove and a military sterno stove with quite a bit of sterno, 150' of drop cord, Milspec incect repellant, tarps, a couple hundred feet of rope at least, a an inflatable mattress to sleep on (I'm not so young anymore either), scanner, CB radio, cell phone, voltage inverter, some buckets, a lawn pressure sprayer (to shower with), duct tape and an H&K P-7 M-13. I filled both tanks, and headed toward Lake City, FL.

 

[Troutman]

For “sheltering-in”. Have plastic available with duck tape. Depending on the disaster [chemical, biological, natural], one can survive, maybe up to two weeks, depending. Pick a room in the middle of the house, with the least amount of doors, windows. If not, just put plastic sheeting on windows, doors, air- conditioning vents. And seal holes [play dough] around plumbing fixtures that’s entering through the outside wall. It’s good to do this even without thinking of sheltering-in, because of drafts….. Heating, cooling costs. And when a disaster does happen, shut off the gas to the house. That is if you have natural gas [outside of house]. Close vents…..central air-conditioning [don’t run it], fire-place flues. Anything that will let out-side air…. in.
DON”T cook using sterno, propane, or briquettes in-doors while “sheltering-in”.
Use foods [non-perishable] that require little or no water for preparation. Hope for the best.
Have 1 gallon of water per day for each person. Have bleach for purifying water, if need be……4 drops [medicine dropper] of bleach [un-scented, sodium hypochlorite] for 1 quart of water…..Stir, shake and let stand for 30 minutes, before using.
Have a [manual] can opener on hand.

Here’s a tool firefighters, first responders use, that’s very good. One among many.

A flashlight, that’s impact resistance, water resistance, or water-proof.
Light [glow] sticks.
A multi-purpose tool that cuts, open cans, bottles, removes different screws, has pliers...
Sterno fuel…….not to be used when “sheltering-in”, though.
First-aid kit.
Radio.
And of course, as you know one or two handguns [your choice] with ammo.

 

[KC&97TA]

I did a pretty decent write up on "bugging out" or evacuateing, when the fire's were rageing here in southern california. I figured out a few things; I have alot of stuff... enough ammo to start a small war, enought survival equipment, alot of MRE's and canned food... but lacked the ability to store water!

When the fires were rageing out here in CA, I had really wished I had a small trailer, about 6x10 or 8x10, something enclosed... it didn't really have to be a camper, but something to evac with and be able to lock up.

 

[geojap]

Pick a room in the middle of the house, with the least amount of doors, windows. If not, just put plastic sheeting on windows, doors, air- conditioning vents. And seal holes [play dough] around plumbing fixtures that’s entering through the outside wall. It’s good to do this even without thinking of sheltering-in, because of drafts….. Heating, cooling costs. And when a disaster does happen, shut off the gas to the house. That is if you have natural gas [outside of house]. Close vents…..central air-conditioning [don’t run it], fire-place flues. Anything that will let out-side air…. in.

If one were to accomplish this very effectively, wouldn't this also deprive the people inside of oxygen?

 

[Troutman]

Yes. Correct. Their is a lot of debate on the "sheltering-in" process. How long can one live like that.....is another question. When you get to the point on "sheltering-in". It's not something you look foward too.

 

[Troutman]

<<If something happened (oh say like the forest fire that burned 600,000 acres) a few years back, I would have to have a back up plan in place. That would have to include the means to protect myself and my property whether it is the cabin or my truck while getting out of Dodge. I could not count on food supplies being continued since there are only a few roads to bring anything in on.

The situation could easily deteriorate up here.

Based on that scenario, "How would you equip yourselves for moderate terms of survival?">>

Those LA. Guys [firefighters] know a lot about it.
Three types of wildfires: Surface, Ground, and Crown.
O.K. Before you have to leave the house [last resort].
Dig up, all vegetation out to about 30 feet. Hose down the area as well with a garden hose (if water is available), your roof as well (ladder handy).
Fire extinguishers (A, B, C, D class) come in handy. But are not meant to fight large fires. They have a limited amount of Mojo.
Take curtains, drapes off the windows, keep windows, doors closed.
Remove any flammable, combustionable materials from the area around your house [propane tanks, gasoline cans].
Having a phone handy is a good idea too.
Oh! One other thing, ALWAYS HAVE TWO ESCAPE ROUTES. You see my philosophy is….”as fast as I got into a situation. Is as fast as I want to get out of one”.

p.s. over depressing writing about this stuff at this time of year.

 

[25ACP]

I have seen this subject come up in numerous places, and Being an avid backpacker, It really surprises me what some people believe they are capable of carrying on their back. There are people who can carry 90 lbs through the mountains, but they are few and far between, and I am not one of them. For food, I use Mountain House freeze dried meals. they taste great and weigh very, very little. Maybe some Ramen too. Lifeboat rations (Datrex, Mainstay etc) are OK but heavier although more compact. MREs are simply too heavy to carry in large quantities although some of their lightweight components like crackers etc are nice to have along. A nalgene bottle for water, and Some chlorine dioxide tablets to purify it with (a lightweight filter is nice too but not necessary) A target pistol in .22lr and a reasonable amount of ammo for hunting small game to stretch your food supplies. A lightweight fishing kit for the same purpose. A lightweight bivvy or backpacking tent (you can get them around 2-4 pounds) and sleeping bag. A very well stocked First aid kit. A handcrank flashlight. Multiple redundant ways of making fire. A small aluminum or titanium cookpot (an esbit stove and hexamine tabs are nice to have if firewood is wet too) and spoon/fork. Clothing appropriate to the location/situation you will be in. A misc. survival kit with all the odds and ends (duct tape, safety pins, cable ties, whistle, wire, paracord and whatever you want for emergencies) A good compass and topo map if possible. A swiss army knife or multifunction tool, and a larger hunting knife. The mylar emergency bags are OK but Adventure Medical Kits has a better one made out of heatsheets. A bottle of hooch. Your favorite sidearm for self defense. And the pack itself; a comfortable pack makes all the difference. I've never tried the ALICE type packs, so I can't comment on how well they fit or work, but in all my years of backpacking, I have never seen someone on the trail using one. I'm sure I left out some valuable stuff, but that's what I would take along.