There’s a new trend
emerging, but it’s not one that’ll have you visiting clothing stores. Natural
calamities are hitting places all over the world – occurring at a rate never
seen before. The chances of you being next are at the highest they’ve ever
been, and you best prepare. For this, you have the bug-out bag.
emerging, but it’s not one that’ll have you visiting clothing stores. Natural
calamities are hitting places all over the world – occurring at a rate never
seen before. The chances of you being next are at the highest they’ve ever
been, and you best prepare. For this, you have the bug-out bag.
Bug-out bags should contain
everything you need for at least 72 hours of evacuation from a disaster site.
Keep that in mind when you go over the following list of essentials found in
every bug-out bag.
everything you need for at least 72 hours of evacuation from a disaster site.
Keep that in mind when you go over the following list of essentials found in
every bug-out bag.
1. Water
Ah, the stuff of life.
Science says you can last weeks without food, but can die from dehydration in a
matter of days. Bring at least a liter for every day you expect to remain in
evacuation per person. In that case, have a minimum of three liters per person ready. Store your water in sturdy containers just to be safe, too.
If in case it turns out you hadn’t brought enough water, having water purification tablets ready should
do the trick.
Science says you can last weeks without food, but can die from dehydration in a
matter of days. Bring at least a liter for every day you expect to remain in
evacuation per person. In that case, have a minimum of three liters per person ready. Store your water in sturdy containers just to be safe, too.
If in case it turns out you hadn’t brought enough water, having water purification tablets ready should
do the trick.
2. Food
Canned goods and dehydrated
meals in plastic containers and paper
bags are ideal over fresh food for a lot of reasons. For one, they require
little to no preparation – something you probably won’t have the resources for
in an evacuation site. They also have a prolonged shelf life (or, in this case,
bag life), which you’ll need when you can’t access refrigeration. To add, the
cans could also be used for other purposes throughout your evacuation. Prepare
some food preparation instruments
like a knife, although that could easily be substituted by the more useful Swiss knife.
meals in plastic containers and paper
bags are ideal over fresh food for a lot of reasons. For one, they require
little to no preparation – something you probably won’t have the resources for
in an evacuation site. They also have a prolonged shelf life (or, in this case,
bag life), which you’ll need when you can’t access refrigeration. To add, the
cans could also be used for other purposes throughout your evacuation. Prepare
some food preparation instruments
like a knife, although that could easily be substituted by the more useful Swiss knife.
3. First Aid
Accidents can happen at any
time, and even more so when disaster strikes. Your bug-out bag should contain
basic first aid, including bandages,
povidone iodine, adhesives, tweezers,vitamin tablets
and your prescription medicines. Also
consider putting in some antibiotics
like cephalexin, ciprofloxacin and metronidazole. These handle all kinds of
nasty infections you’ll be prone to in an evacuation.Your bug-out bag should
also have some benadryl in case of
allergies. Not everyone may have these ready, so be open to sharing your aid
with strangers. Who knows? You may even find yourself on the receiving end.
time, and even more so when disaster strikes. Your bug-out bag should contain
basic first aid, including bandages,
povidone iodine, adhesives, tweezers,vitamin tablets
and your prescription medicines. Also
consider putting in some antibiotics
like cephalexin, ciprofloxacin and metronidazole. These handle all kinds of
nasty infections you’ll be prone to in an evacuation.Your bug-out bag should
also have some benadryl in case of
allergies. Not everyone may have these ready, so be open to sharing your aid
with strangers. Who knows? You may even find yourself on the receiving end.
Zip ties already have so
many functions in regular, everyday life, yet they prove even more useful for
evacuation purposes. These can be used to restrain objects in cases of strong
winds, restrain people in times of danger or panic, hold together different
materials to keep warm or expand your shelter, serve as a temporary tourniquet
when a proper one can’t be made – the list goes on.
many functions in regular, everyday life, yet they prove even more useful for
evacuation purposes. These can be used to restrain objects in cases of strong
winds, restrain people in times of danger or panic, hold together different
materials to keep warm or expand your shelter, serve as a temporary tourniquet
when a proper one can’t be made – the list goes on.
5. Personal hygiene materials
Getting struck by disaster
is no excuse to let yourself go. Have the basics like tissue, soap, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. Bringing a razor serves both purposes of grooming and
self-defense.
is no excuse to let yourself go. Have the basics like tissue, soap, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. Bringing a razor serves both purposes of grooming and
self-defense.
6. Self-defense
Should supplies become
scarce or you encounter any danger (let’s hope not), you’ll be glad you packed
something to protect you and your loved ones with. Rifles are good for hunting
too in case food runs short.A .22 caliber rifle
seems to be the rifle of choice in this case.
scarce or you encounter any danger (let’s hope not), you’ll be glad you packed
something to protect you and your loved ones with. Rifles are good for hunting
too in case food runs short.A .22 caliber rifle
seems to be the rifle of choice in this case.
7. Alternative power supply
When you’re bugging out,
chances are there won’t be a readily available power supply. It’s a good thing
technology has alternative, renewable solutions for generating electricity. Get
yourself a crank power charger or
even one that runs on solar power. The latter would, obviously, not be ideal in
a hurricane situation. More specifically, there are also emergency radios
available that run on crank power.
chances are there won’t be a readily available power supply. It’s a good thing
technology has alternative, renewable solutions for generating electricity. Get
yourself a crank power charger or
even one that runs on solar power. The latter would, obviously, not be ideal in
a hurricane situation. More specifically, there are also emergency radios
available that run on crank power.
8. Fire-starter items
At home, you cook, warm up,
and need light. Evacuation is no different as these are essentials. There is,
after all, a reason the discovery of fire propelled human evolution. Pack some
waterproof matches, lighters, maybe even a can of butane. That last one will be
especially helpful in the case of a zombie apocalypse as it makes a good
makeshift fire bomb.
and need light. Evacuation is no different as these are essentials. There is,
after all, a reason the discovery of fire propelled human evolution. Pack some
waterproof matches, lighters, maybe even a can of butane. That last one will be
especially helpful in the case of a zombie apocalypse as it makes a good
makeshift fire bomb.
9. Light source
Again, no power means no
light, and that becomes an especially pronounced problem come night time. A torch with a hand crank is ideal, but
isn’t always available. Battery-powered should do just fine, but remember to
pack extra batteries in that case.
There are also some solar-powered lamps
available in the market. Most of these things can be found in the camping
section or appliance section of most department stores.
light, and that becomes an especially pronounced problem come night time. A torch with a hand crank is ideal, but
isn’t always available. Battery-powered should do just fine, but remember to
pack extra batteries in that case.
There are also some solar-powered lamps
available in the market. Most of these things can be found in the camping
section or appliance section of most department stores.
10. Clothes
Don’t bring your whole
wardrobe. Remember that a bug out bag is ideally good for only three days. Go
for smaller, lighter garments like your average t-shirts, shorts, and
the like. Extra underwear and socks are good, too. Should these run
out, you could rinse them out at a nearby water supply, but let’s not hope it
gets to that. And, make sure the water used for laundry isn’t meant for
drinking. Come on.
wardrobe. Remember that a bug out bag is ideally good for only three days. Go
for smaller, lighter garments like your average t-shirts, shorts, and
the like. Extra underwear and socks are good, too. Should these run
out, you could rinse them out at a nearby water supply, but let’s not hope it
gets to that. And, make sure the water used for laundry isn’t meant for
drinking. Come on.
11. Shelter
Other than having shelter
for the sake of shelter, this also provides safety for you, your loved ones and
your belongings. You’ll also need to be well-rested to stay alert – of utter
importance in times of calamity. There are several compact tent variants for you to choose from. Also make sure you have on
you some tarp and ground pads.
for the sake of shelter, this also provides safety for you, your loved ones and
your belongings. You’ll also need to be well-rested to stay alert – of utter
importance in times of calamity. There are several compact tent variants for you to choose from. Also make sure you have on
you some tarp and ground pads.
12. Survival manual
There are some thing you
just can’t be too prepared for, and being prepared entails covering every possible
scenario. Survival manuals will provide the necessary know-how for sticky
situations and should your evacuation level up to a survival scenario.
just can’t be too prepared for, and being prepared entails covering every possible
scenario. Survival manuals will provide the necessary know-how for sticky
situations and should your evacuation level up to a survival scenario.
The rule of thumb in packing
your bug-out bag is to expect for the best while preparing for the worst. You
know your area and its people better than any website, and should use that
knowledge in stocking up. Should disaster strike, you’ll find these items to be
more than useful for your evacuation.
your bug-out bag is to expect for the best while preparing for the worst. You
know your area and its people better than any website, and should use that
knowledge in stocking up. Should disaster strike, you’ll find these items to be
more than useful for your evacuation.
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker