Survival Preparation - #1 in a series: The Bug out Bag

In a real state of emergency (possibly 2012) big cities will be road blocked off. You won't come or go. The stores have a 3 day supply of food, then cannibalism may start. Have fun.

This is my greatest fear, getting off Long Island in an emergency. Just the thought of what the bridges would look like.

I mentioned to my husband that we need a hot air balloon or a boat. His response "you are nuts".

There is one item I usually don't see on people's survival list. Being a gadget lover I need to add a Faraday Cage to the list.
Faraday Cages protect your electronic equipment from EMP.
You can make them quite easily. Here's a cool site that shows you how but there are others out there too.

[link to www.endtimesreport.com]

#1 in a loooong list of series that thousands of other people have done.

Even on GLP.

I put cotton balls rubbed with Vaseline in and old pill bottle

good advice

5 stars

I watch a lot of video and am seeing a lot of packs that look very uncomfortable to carry. for my money nothing beats the old style external frame like the Kelty D4. Packed vertically. All up and down. Not fat and bloated.

yea, that wasn't lost on me either

I do that also. Lately I've been experimenting with melted candle wax. I'll soak the cotton in it and let it dry. The idea being lean the candle wax cotton against or over the one with Petroleum jelly. Once ignited candle wax puts out a huge flame. Great for starting damp wood or for use in an Esbit stove.

Also have a edible plants book in my bag, maps, wet wipes, immodium, windup flash light and radio, binoculars.

Everywhere I go I'd have to walk 50 miles through farmland, and small towns to get home.

we each have two bags. black diamond bullet backpack get home bag in the vehicles at all times and black diamond huey duffel loaded with essentials stacked in a closet ready for a bug out. in each duffel there is also a prioritized list of other essentials to load out if there is time.

no sense in listing the contents here since there are thousands of lists posted all over the internet and everyone's needs are not the same. one person may need an oxygen bottle where someone else may need insulin so make your own list of what you yourself will need.

This is a very interesting thread. 5 Stars, and thanks to you, OP!

For years I've been hearing/reading about BOB's and never paid a whole lot of attention because at my age and physical condition I didn't plan on doing much bugging out. However, reading through this thread has opened my eyes to the fact that when/if something happens we aren't always at home.

Although I'm retired, I still go to the various doctors, the bank or the post office, and occasional visits to friends' homes. When you drive places you tend to think in "minutes" and not "miles" (distances). Thanks for "waking me up" and I've already begun compiling a list for a "get-home-bag".

I LOVED the idea about using the thermos bottles to cook your food. That's something I don't need to wait for TSHTF to do! And I appreciated the helpful hint about using cotton balls with Vaseline or candle wax. We are still "country" enough where I live that we are allowed to do backyard burning on certain days, and the usual method of starting the piles seems to be to throw some gasoline, an empty plastic milk jug, or used motor oil on the pile and throw a match. Seems like the cotton ball-candle wax idea would be a much more "friendly" method of starting those piles!

These plans are like people are expecting some kind of signal that SHTF happened. Like one day there is a van with a loudspeaker riding outside:

"Attention! Attention! Attention! The S has hit the F. This is not a drill. I repeat. The S is hitting the F. Everybody get your B.O.B.s and get in your hot air baloons. I repeat. This is not a drill".

I'll add into this resurrected thread a simple addition to anyone's bag.

A large rat trap - not a mouse trap/ a RAT trap, available at most any farm supply and many hardware stores.

Drill a hole in the end that has the trigger-bar attached.

Tie a knot in one end of a piece of 550 cord that is about 1' - 1.5' long.

Insert the running end through the hole in the trap.

This trap is large enough to catch your food - small birds/ squirrels/ etc. Tie or otherwise fasten the running end of the 550 cord to a limb or sapling (a small caribiner works well) so that your capture does not get taken away.

A ready-made, proven trap that is very small, consumes very little space, weighs very little, and is immediately re-usable.

No calories (or time) are spent in attempts to gather materials or while you're trying to perfect your trap/ snare skills, and even in environments where materials are sparse (urban environment), you have the ability to acquire food.

Last Edited by ClydeX on 11/01/2013 01:45 PM

I recently put together a Get Home Bag for my wife who works about 15 miles from home. I spent about $80 for a pack designed for a woman's frame.

I used a permanent marker and numbered the opening in order of necessity.

i.e.... #1 contains items needed to escape a N.B.C. disaster...

#2 contains well worn hiking boots, jeans, and socks.

#3 contains food, water, fire sources, etc...

#4 contains wind-up radio, flashlight, multi-tool, mini crowbar...

#5 contains medkit, fem needs kit, TP, meds, etc...

There's lots more in there,

Monthly, we go over the contents, and I reinforce the fact that she can toss out excess weight based on the situation...

i.e... solar storm knocks out grid= no need for respirator, tyvek suit, gloves, etc...

Changing into street clothes and throwing away business suit at first chance, it's just unsprung weight.

Taking out her ID, cash, and leaving heavy purse behind.

I even packed a few Silver Eagles incase she has the opportunity to trade.

Just random thoughts from me.

Double post... sorry

Last Edited by First Born Son on 11/01/2013 02:13 PM

Numbering the compartments is good thinking on your part!

I also recommend making an inventory list of EVERYTHING in the bag and placing that list in the top-most/ easiest accessible area of the bag. This will help with where certain items are located in a stressful situation.

All good info friends, but, ymmv. only way to do it right, is to do it. So do it now, try it for yourself and see what works for YOU. I've done it and if I've learned anything, it is that any plan will not survive first contact.

Try it for yourself and be big enough to change your ideas. Please!!

One of the best things you can have in your BOB.

[link to ecx.images-amazon.com]

Mine is loaded with Chips Ahoy.

Perhaps our kingdoms could learn to work together.

bravo sir...5*

bump for later

GHFH Bag, Get home from hospital bag.

Recently needed, All the right things ready packed. Change of clothing, toiletries etc. But the main thing was the bag itself. Specially designed for quick-grab for just this purpose; it had wheels. And that turned out to be uber necessary! I pat myself on the back for having that bag ready.

how about a good list of items to put in a first aid kit?