The best bug out bag is built by you.
Provision, plan, prepare.
What’s the difference between a bug out bag and a survival kit?
A bug out bag is intended to provide necessities for a set period. 72-hours seems to be what’s trending, but really there’s no hard and fast rule or guidance. A survival kit is designed to provide tools and equipment for the end user to adapt to living in a natural environment. There are other weird terms out there, such as go bag, zombie survival kit, etc. It’s all derived from these two concepts.
Build your own bug out bag.
What natural disasters or catastrophic events are historically relevant for your region?
If I Iived in Houston; Hurricanes and flooding. Spicewood, Texas; wildfires. California: earthquakes, wildfires, high cost of living (leads to homelessness), politics. Washington D.C.; the real possibility of nuclear war.
The point of this exercise is to consider what has happened in the past, what could happen in the future, and what you can control for your family. You don’t necessarily have to think about a zombie apocalypse.
Consider those impacted by Hurricane Ian. Their homes had been standing for 10- to 40-years or longer. One day it’s there, next day it’s gone. More than likely most people who lost their homes didn’t think that they would lose their homes. The 2018 Camp Fire in California and Hurricane Katrina are other examples. There is a real possibility the 64+ Million American who live in areas commonly affected by natural disasters can lose their homes in the next big event.
But even if you don’t live in an area that is affected by natural disaster, what if there’s a house fire, train derailment, flood, sewage line busts open, tornado. There are many reasons why you may need to pack up your family and hit the road.
Can you seek shelter, in a relatively safe space, 50- to 100-miles from your home? If so, you may only need some of what we recommend. If not, take note.
1) Water
Bring ready-to-drink water. Easy to transport containers such as 1 gallon or cases of water bottles are important. But also consider how and where you plan to store water.
Some “survival kits” or “bug out bags” will advertise water stored in aluminum pouches.
Be CAUTIOUS: You don’t know where they were filled.
Stick with a trusted brand of water. Keeping readily accessible water in small quantities (1 large case of bottled water for family of three) and water storage options such as collapsible water jugs with a capacity of 3 to 5 gallons (1 per person) will ensure you have options. Used water bottles can also be cut up and reused as funnels, cups, storage containers and whatever you can think of.
2) Food
During an emergency, you probably won’t have time to scramble through your cupboards and fridge to figure out what to pack, let alone what your kids will stomach on the way to a shelter or on the road for a very long trip. It’s important to keep your body well fueled, so your mind can work, and your emotions can be regulated. Focus on provisioning your bug out bag with foods that are high calorie, high protein, nutritious, and relatively filling.
For a bug out bag with a 72-hour life span, pack granola or food supplement bars and some shelf stable food. You can even go as far as putting one Meal Ready to Eat (MRE) per person, per day, as that day’s source of high calorie food. Include shelf stable snacks to supplement the MRE.
Canned foods can be a bit heavy but may do the trick. Great canned foods to store are:
· Lean meets such as chicken, tuna, or sardines
· Chef Boyardee or similar foods
· Hearty stews
· Beans (pinto, navy, BBQ)
See below for long term shelf stable food options:
· MREs are cooked foods in vacuum sealed pouches. A single MRE packet has enough calories for one person, per day. Menus vary. Some MREs have a chemical heater that is activated by water to heat up your food.
o MREs have a lifespan of 3- to 5-years in a temperature-controlled environment. They could last longer if frozen.
o MREs are relatively inexpensive.
o 1-case can feed a family of 3 for 4- to 6-days.
o Trusted Source: MREStar
· Long term food storage solutions are foods that are dehydrated. These foods contain wholesome meals that are nutritious, high in protein, and filling. They typically must be cooked. The proteins (chicken, beef, etc) can be eaten without cooking. These foods should make up the bulk of your supplies, if you think you will be unable to procure additional food from public aid services. This may be the case in the event of a nuclear event or war.
o Lifespan 15- to 25-years in a temperature-controlled environment.
o Less expensive than MREs (per serving)
o More variety in menu, can be gluten, nut, and dairy free.
o Many options for purchase.
o Trusted Source: Legacy Foods
3) Power & Light
Communications during an emergency are vital. Even if the cell towers in your immediate area are down, when traveling to areas outside of the impact zone, a mobile device will keep you up to date on emergency notifications for the event.
Investing in a portable power bank that can charge from your vehicle will save your mobile devices from imminent demise. Yes, you can charge it at home and keep tabs on the power levels, as it sits unused, every 60-days or so. If you’re really going to keep track of it, great. If not, you can always charge it in the car, on the go.
LED flashlights are the best flashlights available. They are inexpensive, typically last forever, and consume very little battery life. Investing in 1-LED Flashlight that can be recharged via USB and 1 that takes batteries will provide some flexibility in the event you have limited access to electricity.
4) Medical, Hygiene & PPE
A 10-person medical kit can be purchased for under $30 and will suffice for minor injuries. Purchasing a first aid kit that is larger than your family size ensures a longer and diverse supply of injury solutions.
Debris becomes airborne during events that result in fire and earthquakes. These substances can cause cancer, damage to the esophagus and lungs, and generally are not healthy to inhale. KN95 dust masks or N95 masks block the majority of these particulates. There are child sized KN95 or N95 masks. ASTM-III exam masks are the next best mask to use and are generally less expensive. Either way, ensure the mask can provide a tight fit or be molded to your face.
Safety glasses can also protect your eyes from flying debris and are a good idea.
Hygiene is essential, especially when navigating austere environments often caused by natural disasters or war. Good hygiene reduces the chance of infection and keeps your kids (and you) from getting sick (mostly).
If you have a solid plan to get to someone’s home in another state, you may not need this. But if you’re heading to a public shelter or following our evacuation plan, make sure you have:
· Body Wipes or large baby wipes (unscented), 50-wipes per person.
· Hand Sanitizer
· Feminine Hygiene products (enough for 1 menstrual cycle)
· Travel Toothbrushes with toothpaste, mouthwash, floss
· Combs & brush (to remove debris)
· Travel Q-tips
· Toilet Paper (tablets are best for storage)
· 1 to 3 Trash bags (5g or 8g) to remove waste and garbage from your area
· Nitrile gloves (1 box)
5) Weather Protection & Shelter
If heading to a public shelter or safe space, you may not need to consider this section. If not, you will want to consider some easy to put up tents, rain ponchos, or other gear that makes sense for your environment (cold weather, hot weather, etc). We recommend to always include a durable rain poncho. A good rain poncho has many uses (sun shade, lean-to, water bladder, among others) and is irreplaceable.
6) Clothing
At a minimum, include 1 to 2 pairs of clean socks, per person. Even if you’re going to a public shelter. You may also want to consider old clothing that still fits. 1 to 2 outfits per person will go a long way, especially if the disaster you are planning for will create a major disruption to infrastructure (Hurricane, fires, earthquakes, war, nukes).
7) Navigation
Always have a road almanac in your vehicle. Spend time using it to navigate to places you have never been. Use it driving, use it walking. Don’t pretend cell towers are invincible and will always be available. Compasses are great and if you can use a compass in conjunction with a map, you’ll be unstoppable.
8) Cash
Cash may be king, but credit works just as well. People hoard gold, but what’s the value of gold to 1-gallon of gas or a loaf of bread? Will the person selling you the gas or bread agree to your terms of exchange for gold or other valuables?
It’s good to have a week’s worth of expenses in cash, in an envelope, in your bug out bag. Not everyone can do that. I can’t do that. If you’re a disciple of Dave Ramsey, you more than likely can do that. Just keep in mind, you’ll need money to get by without your home (and possibly your job). The more you pack, the less money you’ll need. But you’ll still need something. Plan for staying in a motel for 2-weeks, 3-full gas tanks, and possibly more.
9) Mobile Devices
This is obvious, but let’s be real for a minute. You have 10- to 15-minutes to get the kids, your spouse, possibly the family fish (dog, cat, ferret) in the car. Are you going to remember every tablet, laptop, desktop, whatever? Is it worth delaying your evacuation to find the kids Amazon fire tablet thingy?
The beauty of the cloud is that everything is backed up and accessible, assuming you can get online. Take the time to back up all your important documents in a secure network, on the cloud. Downloading kids’ movies or shows on 1 primary tablet, that you will not forget, is also a great idea.
10) Prescriptions
Do not forget your medications for whatever you have that is going on with you. If by some miracle you can get a 60-day supply and keep it in your bug out bag more power to you. Most of us cannot and we cannot afford to not bring our meds. Consistently storing your medications in a central location, with easy access (out of reach of children), is best. Remember that all meds have a shelf life. If you plan to store medication in a bug out bag, set a reminder for their expiration and replacement.
Whether it’s a house fire or a hurricane, plan out your bug out bag (family survival kit) as if you will not be returning to your home. Put it somewhere that is on the way to your vehicle.
Practice evacuating your home, even if it’s only once or twice a year. Get your family in the mindset. Work through the steps of an orderly evacuation with your entire family. When we find ourselves facing a big task as a family, it’s best to break it into smaller tasks, with each member having a role to play.
This guide assumes that your family has access to a vehicle that is well maintained and will always have a half tank of fuel in the tank. If you do not have access to a vehicle, network with someone who does. Forming a co-operative of neighbors (or similarly minded persons) who intend to evacuate together and help each other is really the best solution. For evacuation planning, check out our family evacuation guide.
Your bug out bag should be checked annually, kept in a temperature-controlled environment and on the way to the vehicle. Set an annual reminder to go through the contents, check for expiring items, and make sure those clothes still fit.
At Family Disaster Prep, our philosophy is to blend the bug out bag and survival kit together. We call this the Evac Kit. The Evac Kit enables our intended end users, families, to adapt to the fluidity of catastrophic events and the possibility of not having a home to return too. The design of the Evac Kit is based on real world experiences and research.
For more information related to preparing your family for disaster, please reach out to: info@familydisasterprep.com
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