A bug out bag or BOB is a bag designed to sustain you for 3 days while you travel to another destination. It is preparation for events that would cause you to have to leave your home. It should cover the basic human needs, food, water, shelter, protection, and be light enough to carry if you have to leave your vehicle behind. That is actually easier than it sounds, but with some careful thought and planning we can manage the weight of the BOB. Here I will list suggestions, but really, if you have been storing a bit of extra food and water you can go through your house right now and throw something together even if it is not perfect. Don’t wait until you get that fancy backpack, grab your ugly dog hair covered jammie bag and throw some stuff in it. Get ready, and do it NOW.
I know, I know, you don’t plan on leaving or bugging out. You plan on bugging in. Me too. All the good stuff is at my house. I’ve worked long and hard to get the tools I would need to help me to be self sufficient. I’ve shopped, and canned, and dried and vacuum sealed and gardened and put alot of work into this place. And yet, if a tsunami is coming, or a killer radiation wave (a month ago this was not so high on my possibility list, but look now!), or my house catches on fire, I am not going to stay here and sentence myself and my family to death. Common sense, the cornerstone of survival.
So I know that in such a disaster I am going to leave. The only question is, with how much? It’s hard to know just which bug out plan to pick. Which way to go is dependent upon the situation and other circumstances for me. Is it a water incident? How soon? Which one of the three roads out of town can I get to? Or do I need to head for the hills, and if so which hill? It’s hard to prepare for all situations to we will start at the basics. Three days, basic needs. Water, Food, Clothing, Shelter, Protection, Communication, Medical, Fire, Hygiene.
Here is a list of things that might help you to prepare:
First start with your basic bag. My favorite is an Army Alice Pack. External frame, offers some support, especially while sitting and wearing it. (You can also clip items to the outside of the frame with carabine clips, which gives you more room inside of your pack.) They are cheap as far as external frame packs go, and come in a variety of camo colors.
Water: three days worth, 1-2 gallons a day and / or water purification supplies. That’s alot of weight, about 8 lbs per gallon. Even 1 gallon X 3 days = 24 lbs. Per person. I live in an area rich in rain, streams and creeks. Water won’t be so hard for me to find. Chances are I will only carry a gallon or two, along with some other methods of sterilizing my water. I have been told that all of the open water sources in Oregon are contaminated with at least giardia from animal and bird droppings. We are talking horrible sickness with severe vomiting and diarrhea. No thank you. I might try a “camelback” or a special pack with which to carry my water in, it attaches to your back, or to your pack.
Food: Think high calorie, easy to grab and eat. Then build on that. Three days worth of food. Three generous days worth of food, and then a little something extra to share should the need arise. You will use more calories if you are working hard, or walking, or stressed, so keep the calorie count up high. Remember to limit your canned and heavy items (although its a good way to pack meat or ready to heat meals and may contain extra water), as you may have to pack this. Some ideas for food may include:
granola bars, protein bars, crackers, cookies, hard tack
dried fruits and nuts
chocolate
freeze dried meals, or hamburger helper taken out of the box, add a small can of meat if you like
fully cooked shelf stable meals
boxed macaroni and cheese
ramen noodles
coffee, tea, sugar, creamer or powdered milk, packs of instant hot chocolate
non-instant nonfat powdered milk (small baggies or vacuum sealed)
flour
salt
pepper and other condiments
dried packages of instant soup
instant or rolled oats
rice (I just picked some up that were totally cooked and individually packaged)
dried onion, garlic, or other veggies (can be added to soup or chewed, dried pumpkin is pretty sweet!)
cans or packages of tuna fish
small squeeze bottles or individual packs of condiments
canned soup
Don’t forget to bring eating utensils and cooking supplies. Mess kits are light and multipurpose. Light non break-able items are the best. I pack old granite ware cups and plates in my pack. You will also need a small portable stove, or/and a means to make fire. Fire is useful not only to cook food with, but it can also be used to boil and purify water. A warm fire is also nice, but in a bug out situation you might want to go stealth mode and lay low until the crisis blows over. Remember, most people probably aren’t as equipped as you, and your supplies can make you a target.
Clothing: Three days worth. I pack layers, and I pack for cool weather even in the summer. Nights outside are cooler than when you are inside.
2 under-shirts
2 long sleeved t-shirts
warmer long sleeved shirt
hoodie
2 pairs of pants
undergarments, and thermals
extra socks – you must keep your feet warm and dry!
stocking cap, gloves – many kinds
pantyhose: Hey, don’t laugh, these have many uses. Logger’s use them under their thermals for extra warmth. You can also use pantyhose to filter the bigger particles out of water, or as a lightweight bag to carry something in.
Shoes: Good walking shoes and a pair of sturdy, water resistant sandals.
Raingear: even if its only a cheap military poncho liner and / or extra garbage bags.
Shelter: A tent, or a tarp and a rope, just make sure you know how to use these things. Don’t forget a sleeping bag, maybe a small blow up pillow, or extra tarps or plastic to line your sleeping quarters with.
Other things:
Like tools: hatchet, army shovel, knives, extra rope, flashlights: make it a combo radio and get one with a wind up option. Radio or walkie talkie or a CB radio or a ham radio, communications need is solved. Remember to bring batteries for the items that require them. Whistle, compass.
Protection: This can be as simple as a can of mace, if that is legal in your area, or if not perhaps a can of bug spray (that stuff truly shoots 20 feet, I have used it!), a collapsible baton (suggested by IronWitch and I really like that idea), or perhaps a firearm (doubles as a way to get food), or a bow and arrow.
Medical Supplies
Necessary Medications and Emergency Supplies
Important Documents: birth certificates, home insurance info, account info, etc.
Something to do: Cards, paper, pen, toys, a book, whatever. Remember, you might not have children but the others you could end up being stuck somewhere with might. Busy children are much happier.
Fire building supplies, rope, knives. I know I already mentioned these but some things bear repeating. And they bear bringing more than one as well. Redundancy can be your friend.
Personal products, soap, feminine products, etc. Toilet Paper, very important.
Later on we will talk more about bug out bag stuff. Right now it’s just important to get together some things incase we have to leave, evacuate, bug out, whatever. Get with it!
