Oftentimes people prepare for leaving their current homestead in the event of disaster but there come a time where staying in place is a much more viable option than attempting to leave, especially in the first several days of disaster. It would be worth considering building a survival kit at home.
Potential items include:
• Nonperishable food (a three day supply for each person)
• Small stove with propane or other fuel
• Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils
• Can opener
• Firearms with at least 210 rounds of ammunition (if applicable)
• High quality knives/hatchets
• Three-day supply of water (3.75 liters per person, per day)
• Water-purification tables
• Bleach (add to water to make a mild disinfectant, or use 16 drops per 3.75 liters to purify water)
• Portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Battery-operated, hand cranked, or solar-powered cell-phone charger
• Tools, such as a wrench for shutting off utilities, a screwdriver and a hammer
• First-aid kit and manual
• Sanitation and hygiene items such as soap, moist towelettes, toilet paper, baby wipes, garbage bags, lightweight shovel, and towels
• Items for infants, such as as formula, diapers, bottles, and pacifiers
• Signal mirror and whistle
• Extra clothing for each person, including jacket, coat, long pants and long-sleeved shirt
• Hat, mittens, scarf, or other climate-specific clothing for each person
• Sturdy hiking or athletic shoes and socks
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
• Special-needs items, such as as prescription medications, eyeglasses, contact lens solution, and hearing-aid batteries
• Photocopies of credit and identification cards
• Cash and coins in small denominations
• Plastic bags in various sizes
• Ground cloth or tarp
• Powdered, chlorinated lime to treat waste and discourage insects
• Strike-anywhere matches in a waterproof container
• Small portable firearm with at least 30 rounds of ammunition
• A civil defense rifle (e.g. AR-15): 1. Common caliber, common parts, adjustable stock, not overly complicated, lightweight, priced for the person who wants reliable protection out of necessity, but may not like firearms)
2. Based on its purpose, a .22 conversion bolt that allows the AR15 to be used for food procurement or training without wasting their limited amounts of defensive ammunition.
3. Every rifle needs a sling, light, iron sights & ideally an optic like the affordable Sig Romeo or Aimpoint PRO.
• Nomex flight suit / double zipper jump suit
• Civilian basic fighting load (w/ water, rifle & pistol ammo, basic IFAK, space blanket, light and a metal cup.
Work Bug Out Bag
Because the possibility of disaster striking at any possible time, it would be wise to store a small BOB in your office or in your workspace.
Potential items include:
• A set of rugged clothes
• Athletic shoes and socks
• Shelf-stable items of food
• Several bottles of water
• Small first aid kit
To-Go Bug Out Bag
If at any point you must bug out, you should have a good bug out bag that contains everything you need for short-term survival. It would be a good idea to keep this bag in your car or in an accessible area.
Potential items include:
• Energy bars, trail mix, and a couple of separately packaged, ready-to-eat meals
• Several bottles of water, a filter, and water-purification tablets
• Lightweight tent or tarp and sleeping bag
• Fire striker and basic lighter, plus tinder cubes
• One entire change of clothing (such as pants, shirt, socks, underwear, gloves, hat, windbreaker, and poncho)
• Flashlight, red lense and extra batteries and other light sources (solar inflatable lantern, glowsticks, headlamps)
• High quality tape
• High quality hatchet, knife and spork
• Military-grade can opener
• Heavy cord, snare wire, and fishing lures
• Battery-operated radio
• Multi-tool
• Battery-operated, hand cranked, or solar-powered cell-phone charger
• First-aid kit and manual
• Sanitation and hygiene items, such as baby wipes, garbage bag, lightweight shovel and a small towel
• Special-needs items, such as as prescription medications, eyeglasses, contact lens solution, and hearing-aid batteries
• Signal mirror and whistle
• Small portable firearm with at least 30 rounds of ammunition
• A civil defense rifle (e.g. AR-15): 1. Common caliber, common parts, adjustable stock, not overly complicated, lightweight, priced for the person who wants reliable protection out of necessity, but may not like firearms)
2. Based on its purpose, a .22 conversion bolt that allows the AR15 to be used for food procurement or training without wasting their limited amounts of defensive ammunition.
3. Every rifle needs a sling, light, iron sights & ideally an optic like the affordable Sig Romeo or Aimpoint PRO.
• Nomex flight suit / double zipper jump suit
• Civilian basic fighting load (w/ water, rifle & pistol ammo, basic IFAK, space blanket, light and a metal cup.
• Any car-safety items, such as a spare tire, a tire iron, jumper cables, windshield scraper and hazard flares, plus any needed winter items (small collapsible shovel, tire chains, and a bag of kitty litter)
Wilderness Survival Pack
Before hitting the trail on a wilderness trip, you may want to pick up supplies necessary to survive out there.
Potential items include:
• Lightweight tent, plus extra poles and stakes
• Ground cloth or tarp
• Sleeping bag, blanket or pillow
• Sleeping pad
• Water filter
• Large water jug and a bucket
• Matchbook, conventional matches, and waterproof matches, plus a striker
• Food for the duration of the planned trip, plus extra
• Can opener
• Small stove with propane or other fuel
• Cooking utensils
• Containers for food storage
• Assorted plastic bags
• Twist ties
• Strips of duct tape folded with adhesive sides touching so you can pry them apart and use
• Printed guide to survival in the wilderness
• Needle and thread
• Safety pins
• String or fishing line and hooks
• Signal mirror and whistle
• Flashlight and head lamp with extra batters
• Small compass
• Alcohol swabs and adhesive bandages
• Small fixed blade knife and hatchet
• Razor knife and cased razor blade
Kit in a Can
You can pack a surprising amount of crucial gear in a very small container to create a high portable BOB that can fit in your pocket or backpack. Mint tin cans and surplus grenade canisters tend work nicely.
Potential items include:
• Small pen/pencil and paper
• First-aid instruction cards
• Duct tape
• Razor blades
• Wire saw
• Waterproof matches or fire starter
• Needle and thread
• Safety pins
• Water-purification tablets
• Zip ties
• Adhesive bandages
• Disinfectent wipes
• Micro compass
• Fishing kit (ten hooks, four split shot, two swivels, 7.6 meters of 9-kg test line)
• Folded one-page guide to edible plants in your area
• 0.5 sq m of aluminum foil
• Signal mirror
• Bouillon cubes
• Shoelaces
• Copper wire
• AA batteries
• Alcohol swabs
• Painkillers
"Self Care"/ First Aid Kit
In a general survival scenario, it is necessary to pack a universal medical kit that can address the most common types of wounds out there.
Potential self-care items include:
• Sunscreen • 'Wet wipes'
• Hand sanitizer
• CHAPSTICK
• Lotion
Potential first aid kit items include:
• Tourniquet(s)
• Hemostatic gauze ('combat gauze')
• Pressure dressing(s)
• Nasopharyngeal airway(s)
• 'Combat pill' pack
• Surgical tape
• Eye cup
• TC3 card
• Sharpie marker
• Aloe vera gel
• Scissors
• Nonadhesive dressing
• Medical tape
• Gauze roller bandages
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Antibacterial ointment
• Elastic roller bandages
• Surgical scrub brush
• Disinfectant towelettes
• Arm sling
• Splint material, such as an inflatable splint or a rigid splint made of wood, plastic or other material
• Sterile compress
• Tweezers
• Selection of adhesive bandages, including butterfly bandages.
• Industrial-strength Superglue
• Sweet substance to increase blood sugar (i.e. Gatorade/honey)
• Duct tape
• Sewing kit
• Chest valve
• Vapor rub
• Boxcutter knife
How to Pack
Several methods of packing your B.O.B exist:
• 'Grouped items'
• 'Single-use items'
• Frequency-of-use items
• Weight of items
Grouped items of common usage - A complete 'uniform' change (sock/underwear/shirt/pants/top)
Single-use items - All 'same' items are packed together with only those same items (all T-shirts/all socks/all pants are packed separately)
Frequency-of-use items Based on how often you need packed items;
• Top of your B.O.B should have your poncho/batteries/multi-tool/water
• Middle of your B.O.B should have food/extra clothing/various supplies
• Bottom of your B.O.B should have extra shoes/sleeping bag/shelter
Weight of items Heavier items should be packed towards the middle of your back and close to your back
Patrol Base/ORP/RP Ops
Once you 'step-off' with your B.O.B you need to decide:
• Your movement profile (tactical/covert/overt)
• Final destination
• Caches/RPs/CPs along the way
• Which route to take
• What actions to take at final destination (resupply/consolidate/reorganize etc.)
For the Ladies...
Possible items:
• Tampons
• SMALL make-up kit
• Salt/pepper/spices for cooking
• Toy dog for moral support
Man's Best Friend
Critical items include:
• Dog food
• Collapsible bowl to eat/drink
• Medication if needed
• 'Chew' toy for stress relief
• 'Cow bell' to locate at a distance
• Dog harness
Barter Items
Always have items to trade on you or at your rally point/ORP.
Possible items:
• Money in different denominations
• Alcohol
• Food/water
• Ammunition
• 'Hard' currency (gold/silver etc.)
• Other critical resupply items (batteries/fuel canisters/mechanical oil etc.)
OBEY
Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws
If your state/region/country does not allow it...DON'T DO IT!
When in doubt...ASK!
Inform yourself now before the need arises.
Conclusion
Your B.O.B should sustain you for 72hrs (water/food/shelter/physical protection)
You must be able to WALK to your B.O.B if need be
Your B.O.B MUST be part of a larger survival plan (RP/ORP/Patrol Base etc.)