Bug Out Bag
Almost everyone has an emergency story. It may be a weather-related event, police action, military action, or some type of mechanical failure such as a car breaking down. Joel’s story happened on September 11, 2001, and he recounts it here: At the time I was living in Arlington, Virginia, just a few miles from the Pentagon. The day started out like most other days. I was working in Ashburn, Virginia, which was a 45-minute drive away from the house I shared with three roommates in Arlington. After the Pentagon was attacked, most people in my office decided it was best to head for the door and make their way home. I was no different and made my way back home by about noon.
The few hours after the second tower fell are blurry to me. One of my roommates got home at some point and said that he had heard car bombs were going off in Washington, D.C., and a lot of people were dead. The fog of war had settled in my mind. I can’t remember if we ever made contact with my other roommates because cell service was spotty. At some point my roommate who was home, Mark, and I decided the best move would be to bug out to West Virginia where his parents owned a home. My roommate was shocked when I came downstairs in my full Marine Corps camouflage uniform with what I thought at the time was an ultimate bug out bag, which was really just a mismatch of old military gear. I remember my roommate looking at me and saying, “What are you doing?” I told him that I had put the uniform on in case we hit roadblocks; I might be able to get us through with the uniform on. I know it was a stretch but we didn’t have accurate information on what was going on in the country and anything seemed possible. So with bag in hand, what little food we could grab, and a 9mm pistol, we headed to West Virginia.
The point of this story is that Joel was totally unprepared for the situation. Yes, he had a backpack with some MREs and limited gear. Yes, he had a 9mm pistol with maybe two boxes of ammo (one hundred rounds) and whatever food was in the refrigerator. Beyond that, he had nothing. If it would have been a real situation, he would have been a victim of the situation, not a survivor.
After that experience, we immediately started brainstorming on what anyone would need in an emergency bag. How long would it sustain a person? Would it provide food? Would it allow someone to get more food? How would you purify water? What would be the perfect shelter?
Joel’s emergency situation was due to an attack on the United States but no matter where you live, you must be prepared. The coastlines are vulnerable to hurricanes and typhoons. Inland locations are prone to severe weather and earthquakes. Countries around the world, including the United States, are susceptible to currency devaluation, riots, and civil unrest. The unprepared will grow desperate in these situations and you must be prepared to move out of the affected area or live off the land.
The bug out bag provides the type of insurance money can’t buy. When things go bad and your credit cards and cash will not work, our society, which relies on the 24-hour availability of food, will get ugly fast. There is a saying among survivalists that America is eight meals away from anarchy. Meaning that if people miss more than eight meals in a row (2½ days) things will go south in a hurry and desperate people will do things that no one thought was possible. People will steal and kill for food and clean water. And those who are not able to kill or unwilling to kill will be subject to those who are.
It’s worth repeating that what is in your head is the most important survival gear you can carry. When thinking about the gear to go into your ultimate bug out bag, make sure you select items you are comfortable using. Build your bag with gear that will work for you and gear that you know how to use. You don’t want the first time you use the gear in your bug out bag to be during a true survival situation.
Your pack should be sturdy and durable such as a tactical pack, camping pack, or surplus military pack. For tactical packs, Granite Gear, Mystery Ranch, and Eberlestock are reputable brands. For camping packs, consider REI, The North Face, MSR, Lowepro, Kelty, or Arc’teryx; however, most of the brands you’ll find at quality camping stores will be made to high standards and be suitable for your ultimate bug out bag. Avoid buying packs at a discount chain store unless you cannot afford anything else. If that is the case, closely examine the stitching and material of the pack. Look for double- or triple-stitching in critical stress areas like the shoulder.
Bug Out Bag
As you fill your pack, remember that ounces equal pounds and pounds equal pain. The more you put in the pack, the more you will have to carry. Create a “drop list” of items that are luxuries (i.e., extra shoes, winter coat, snow pants, and miscellaneous gear such as shovels) that you can drop along the way if needed. You should never drop the basics of survival: shelter, fire, water containers and water purification, and food or food-procuring items.
You should design your pack for not only the area you live in but also the area you might have to move to in a survival situation. If you plan to head to a colder, less populated location, your bag should reflect that with cold-weather clothes and survival items for cooler weather. The same is true if you plan to head to a warm climate. Your pack should contain clothes that can deal with the worst weather Mother Nature can throw at you. If you live in south Florida, that might be extensive rain gear. Imagine being outside for 24 hours in the worst weather for your climate. That should be how you plan for the clothes that go into your ultimate bug out bag.
Plan to purify and store water. Water weighs a lot so it might not be practical to store water in your bag prior to an emergency. If you really want to pack some extra water, consider shelf-stable water made by Survivor Industries, but also include water purification methods such as a filter system, purification tablets, or the means to boil water. You will also need bottles and bladders to store water. Much consideration should be given to water because you won’t last long without it, and drinking bad water can be a fatal mistake that might impair you during a critical time.
People think they will be able to hunt for food in an emergency. The truth is most people are not good hunters or fishermen, and the amount of calories you get from the food you hunt won’t sustain you for long. If you have to err on the side of having too much of one thing, make it food. Food is the Achilles heel of most bug out bags. Pack long-lasting, shelf-stable food such as freeze-dried foods or Meals Ready to Eat (MRE). The downside of freeze-dried food is that you usually have to cook or prepare it with water. The upside of freeze-dried food is that it has a long shelf life (up to twenty years in some cases) and it is light to carry around. The downside to MREs is they only last for three to four years, but the upside is they are ready to eat with little preparation. Either choice will have a much longer shelf life than anything you would find at the grocery store. Also, it’s best plan a three- to four-year rotation system for your food so you don’t get caught with spoiled food when you need it. You will also need some type of pot or pan that you can use with an open flame but that is still light enough to pack and carry.
Freeze Dried Food Pack
In the event that you will be on your own for an extended period of time, you need to think of ways to catch or hunt food with the items in your bag. Pack a guide to edible plants for finding wild plants you can safely eat. You may also want to pack a slingshot and snares for hunting and a collapsible fishing pole and fishing lures for fishing. You also might consider investing in a low-cost .22 rifle or pellet gun to be stored with your bug out bag. These are great for small game and you can carry a lot of rounds or pellets with very little weight and fairly low cost. Carry at least five hundred rounds of .22LR ammunition, though if you can manage to carry more it would be advisable.
Being able to start a fire is a key element of survival. As we have covered in earlier chapters, you need to have multiple ways to start a fire. Remember: Two is one and one is none. You need at least two ways to start a fire and itisbest to have even more options. Stormproof matches, a ferrocerium rod, a cigarette lighter or magnifying glass can work. Also pack several different types of tinder such as steel wool or WetFire Tinder Cubes. While on the go, have a way to pick up dry sticks and twigs. Bad weather can hit at any time and you might regret not carrying extra dry tinder.
Three-Season Tent
You never know when you might need to fix one of the items in your bug out bag, so make sure you have a few tools in your pack. Of course you would like to have every tool with you, but that is not realistic, so stick to the basics and plan out scenarios where you might need certain tools. A nice Leatherman or Gerber multitool will provide you with a lot of the tool options mentioned above as well as a few extra.
Shelter is usually down the list of major concerns for an ultimate bug out bag, but it should be right at the top. Being able to get good rest while staying dry and warm should be a top priority when you plan your bag’s contents. If you want to go fast and light without a tent, make sure you practice building shelters prior to an emergency. You also might consider having at least one or two tools for shelter building like 550 paracord or a tarp or a bivy sack. If you prefer the comforts of a tent, look for something designed for at least three seasons and backcountry camping. These tents usually have the lightest poles and the simplest design. Another consideration for shelter includes how many people you will have to shelter in an emergency. If you have a family of five, you obviously need more than a one-man tent in your bag. Although they add considerable extra weight, you may want to have a sleeping bag and a sleeping pad in your ultimate bug out bag; some good brands to look at are Wiggy’s and Therm-a-Rest. You can also pick up used military bags online or at a local surplus store. With a tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad, you will not have to compromise on shelter choices. Meaning that if you had to choose between venturing into an abandoned house in the middle of the night or staying in the tree line along a cornfield, you could be in the tree line and be completely comfortable. These are the types of questions you have to ask yourself when determining what goes in your bag.
Carry items that can alert you to a threat or that can create distance between you and a potential threat. Flashlights, nightvision goggles, and binoculars can be used to discover potential threats. Items such as bear spray or firearms can create space between you and a threat.
.45 ACP Rifle
A no-communication plan might look something like this:
If something major happens and you cannot reach me and I cannot reach you, gather children and discussed items and move to point A1. Try to stay with the children at point A1 as long as possible, if you cannot stay at point A1 or reach point A1, then move to point B1. I will come to point A1 first. If you are not there I will move to point B1 and wait for you there. Please leave notes at each location telling me where you have moved to, along with time and date.
For thirty-five dollars you can invest in a rugged mountaineering compass. Get two if you can afford it. You should also have both road maps and topographical maps of the area you live in and the area where you plan to bug out. Plan for mobile phones not to work in a major emergency. However, there have been reports that text messages worked during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, so make sure you have the ability to text on your phone. Develop a no-communication plan, which will allow you and your loved ones to eventually meet up at the bug out location.
Personal hygiene and medical items are other considerations for your bag. If you don’t like wiping with leaves, you better pack some toilet paper. Women need to take considerations if they are on their menstrual cycle. People taking certain required medications need to consider them in their bag planning. Dental, bathing, grooming, and overall wellness are all considerations for your bag. Minor scrapes and cuts, if left untreated, can turn into infected messes. Being able to deal with these issues in the field is a plus. Although we don’t recommend overloading on medical items, small kits that can deal with limited trauma are a good idea. If you are a group or a family, you can have small kits for everyone and then have one person who carries the large trauma kit. You can go overboard with medical kits with items for childbirth or major surgery. In the end, what you put in your ultimate bug out bag is up to you, but sticking to the basics for your bag and keeping the other major items in a separate suitcase or kit that can travel with you in your bug out vehicle is a good idea. Remember, there may be a moment when you can’t take everything with you, so make sure the stuff you have in your bag covers the essentials.
During a bug out situation, you might encounter people who have things you need and who might be willing to part with those items for a price. We will never know what items will hold value in a future disaster but if the past holds any lessons, gold has always held some type of value. We recommend you have a mix of local currency (five hundred dollars in small bills, for example), gold coins, silver coins, and barter items such as cigarettes, .22LR ammunition, and alcohol.
Bug Out Vehicle
Your method of travel during a time of crisis is something to which you should give great thought. Whether you plan to travel by vehicle, motorcycle, ATV, boat, bicycle, or an animal such as a horse, you have to give extra consideration to not only your method of travel but also the area you plan to travel in and what that area will look like during a crisis.
Freeways and interstates might be clogged during a time of crisis and your best-laid plans might be useless. Your travel plans should have a primary and a secondary option. Depending on your mode of transportation, you need to plan for things like extra gas, spare tires, walking shoes, and vehicle-type tools. You might also store things in your bug out vehicle such as food, water, and shelter. We like to think of our bug out vehicles with an expeditionary mind set. A lot of things you might store in your bug out vehicle will be things you might not necessarily be able to carry with you if you leave the vehicle behind but would be great items to have if you are able to stay close to the vehicle. These items might include heavy-duty shelter, food, water, sleeping bags, camping gear, and weapons. Consult your local laws before you store weapons in your car.
As you can see from this chapter, you can really “what if” the ultimate bug out bag to death. If you are overwhelmed, a good place to start is to keep a list of everything you do for three days, including eating and drinking. After the three days, go through the list and think about how you would feel if you didn’t have that item or activity. If it is a problem, you probably need to add that item to your ultimate bug out bag list. Some people like to read a fiction or religious book every day. Those people should plan to have a book in their bag to help keep them calm during troubling times. Perhaps you like to be able to brush your teeth every day. Then pack at least two toothbrushes and two large tubes of toothpaste in your bag, along with some floss. These items will make you happy and will help you get through a survival situation.
In addition to the three-day list, we also recommend you take a multi-day backcountry camping trip. Make sure you bring a notepad and pen. Take notes on what you like and don’t like, what you could use more of, and what you are missing. This is a great exercise to really test your bag and your gear. You can’t make your bag better if you don’t test it and critique it. If you can afford to do this at least once a year you will be much better prepared when things go south.
If you don’t remember anything else from this chapter on ultimate bug out bags, remember this: Stick to the basics. They will get you through any emergency.