What's in your bug out bag/emergency gear?

[EPIC! Stratton]

Slowly collecting items that would be good to have in the event of an emergency, but wanted to see what items other folks would recommend having or have found useful in emergencies. Obviously things like a multitool, knife, flashlight are all good.

One item I'm rather fond of is my Eton FRX3 (http://www.amazon.com/American-Cross-Weather-Smartphone-Charger/dp/B007KFLVTM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452186737&sr=8-1&keywords=eton+frx3). Not too big. Works on solar, hand crank, rechargeable batteries, and AA's (iirc). Has a flashlight, am/fm/weather bands/aux, and can charge USB.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511klP0YwzL.jpg

[Dead Man]

just ammunition and opiates in mine..

[batman1425]

First aid kit is essential. Also some type of water treatment/purification system. Could be as simple as iodine/chlorine dioxide tablets, or complete filtration system with UV capabilities.

[Geeheeb]

you mean my frame bag?

[azrider]

http://tek-think.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/DIY-Home-portable-AC-unit--520x400.jpg





:p

[SpokeValley]

The 10 Essentials are still great to have for your emergency kit. It's geared more for outdoor emergencies, but totally relevant and easy to assemble.

http://boyslife.org/outdoors/outdoorarticles/6976/scout-outdoor-essentials-checklist/

If you're talking about a "Doomsday Preppers" kind of bug out pack, you obviously need more. Lots of info on the interweb.

[p nut]

http://tek-think.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/DIY-Home-portable-AC-unit--520x400.jpg

That is hilarious! Never seen that before.

In my state (Utah), people are notorious for having a good amount of supplies on-hand. The standard is 1 year's worth of food, supplies, etc. Lots of food storage companies are based here (wise foods, daily bread, etc.). I'm not there yet, but starting to get there.

For short-term (72 hr kit), I have the basic stuff: water, first aid kit, some snacks/food, flash light, knife, extra batteries (ones you can plug your phone into), space blanket. In case of an emergency (most likely an earthquake where I'm at), grab my loved ones and this backpack, then out the door.

[SpokeValley]

just ammunition and opiates in mine..

:beer:

[FlashUNC]

Comic books and Coke Zero.

I may need to re-evaluate what I define as an emergency.

[sandyrs]

Comic books and Coke Zero.

I may need to re-evaluate what I define as an emergency.

Look out everyone we got Mad Max over here

[gdw]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPwW7RaPO_g

[AngryScientist]

depends entirely on how you bound the "emergency" conditions, and how many people you are responsible for.

IMO, cash is king. In my experience, you can buy your way out of most any situation, given enough $$.

[FlashUNC]

Look out everyone we got Mad Max over here

http://screencrush.com/442/files/2013/03/thumbs-up.jpg

[eippo1]

Fenix light, crank radio, 10/22 + ammo

[Bob Ross]

I got nuthin'; I am woefully unprepared for any sort of apocalyptic "emergency"

...and since as a cyclist I've already demonstrated that I have a warped Risk Threshold, I'm not certain I can easily be convinced that it's prudent to start preparing for this sort of emergency.

But a mini generator that can charge USB devices definitely seems like it should be high on the list should I ever decide to take the plunge. That and a Louisville Slugger.

[christian]

Klepper folding kayak
Lots of 6.5x55 ammunition
A couple of granola bars

[Louis]

I'm just going to join my buddies at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. I'm pretty sure that I'll fit right in.

[GScot]

Shotgun [ ✔ ]
Rifle [ ✔ ]
Four Wheel Drive [ Just missed it ]

Sort of serious answer bottled water for a few days, batteries and lights, box of camping stuff. For food just extra supply of bars and single serving snacks like nuts or trail mix. Not set up for end of the world, just a few days without utilities.

[EPIC! Stratton]

Definitely thinking more short term issues (bad storms or something).

Water has been something I've been thinking about. Anyone have thoughts re something like the lifestraw (http://lifestraw.com/)? Seems like a good lightweight option.

[RFC]

depends entirely on how you bound the "emergency" conditions, and how many people you are responsible for.

IMO, cash is king. In my experience, you can buy your way out of most any situation, given enough $$.

Currency will be worthless during the Zombie Apocalypse.

[Louis]

Currency will be worthless during the Zombie Apocalypse.

My favorite is what I think was a Twilight Zone, where a crooked scientist figures out how to put humans in hibernation. So they steal a bunch of gold, put themselves to sleep for 100 years (or whatever it was) then wake up thinking that they're going to be rich.

Turns out that by then scientists have figured out how to manufacture as much gold as they want, so it's now essentially worthless.

Yup - here it is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rip_Van_Winkle_Caper

[choke]

Scotch.

[Louis]

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/paranoia-and-paranoid-disorders

[SlackMan]

... Anyone have thoughts re something like the lifestraw (http://lifestraw.com/)? Seems like a good lightweight option.

We've used a similar product, the Sawyer Mini Water Filter, when hiking, and it worked well. When not hiking, I keep it the bug out bag.

[verticaldoug]

All you need is a big supply of toilet paper. In a truly bad situation, everyone gets dysentery and you can use it to barter for anything. Better than money

[Cicli]

KMC link, patch kit and Campagnolo cable kit.
Incase it gets real bad, mini pump instead of co2.

[batman1425]

We have life straws, a couple packs dehydrated meals, first aid supplies, water, some slow burn candles and water proof matches, crank powered radio/chargers, knife, and foil blankets. Figures that would cover most anything that could happen on short notice. Read: flash flood, power outage, snowstorm, etc. We toss the bag in the car when we go on long road trips and when we go camping as well.

[CunegoFan]

Look out everyone we got Mad Max over here

I have one of these costumes. If movies have taught me anything, they tend to be very stylish during the average apocalypse.

http://sho3box.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/2iu2gw1.jpg

[54ny77]

Canned beer, spam, and a bottle of cheese whiz.

[Louis]

If you're going to stay in your home and not run for the hills I think the three most important things are water, power, and food. Water and food in moderate amounts are easy to do. Back-up power is the more expensive and complicated thing.

If you really want the ability to bug out, that's trickier. Best watch the movie "The Road" then decide how prepared you want to be.

Edit: Lest the NRA-types come after me, I think in the US the three items above would cover most of the emergencies we typically face. But yes, for very infrequent events you might need some sort of firepower to either hunt deer or for home defense, but the odds of needing that are small.

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/multimedia/dynamic/00207/the-road_207457k.jpg

[Tickdoc]

do we have forum rules prohibiting this? hope not, if so, please delete.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/Handgod/DSC06697_zpsjpqpwxai.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/Handgod/4DA449CA-3349-4336-9F1D-4F493F7B4E17_zpscp3hpydc.jpg

[christian]

Hampsten Strada Bianca.
Rotisserie Chicken.
Blood Orange Pellegrino.

[sg8357]

Major Kong is my guide in many things.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPwW7RaPO_g

Notice the good Major has a 1911, no poodle shooters or combat
tuppperware(tm) for him.

[Louis]

Why do discussions of emergency preparedness descend so quickly into how big your gun is?

[verticaldoug]

If you really needed a bug out bag in the u.s., you will probably need a weapon too. Otherwise, you need to bug out as part of a large group for safety. I assume you are headed to an evacuation center or some other Red Cross camp. If not, you definitely will need a weapon. I have daughters. A big gun sounds about right to me... I will happily join Tickdoc group and schlep the toilet paper and water.

[CunegoFan]

Why do discussions of emergency preparedness descend so quickly into how big your gun is?

As Tuco once said, "There are two kinds of people in the world, my friend: Those with guns and zombie chum."

Be thankful you don't live in the UK where they have to fend off the undead with cricket bats instead of good ol' 'Murican firepower.

[NTMAD8R22]

Trusty land cruiser, water, crank generator :beer:

[Louis]

If you really want to move you probably should get a Unicat:

http://www.unicat.net/img/Galerie-Filmproduktionsfahrzeug-gr.jpg

[Tickdoc]

If you really needed a bug out bag in the u.s., you will probably need a weapon too. Otherwise, you need to bug out as part of a large group for safety. I assume you are headed to an evacuation center or some other Red Cross camp. If not, you definitely will need a weapon. I have daughters. A big gun sounds about right to me... I will happily join Tickdoc group and schlep the toilet paper and water.
I'm really planning on using my skill set to make it through. No real bugout bag here as I plan to stay, ride my bike, and enjoy whatever the fruits of the apocalypse bear. Humanity is not as ï½·ï½·ï½·ï½·ed as the movies portray. I do like guns, though:cool:

[dsimon]

I got nottin

[Bruce K]

4 X 5 gallon water jugs (rotated regularly so it's reasonably fresh).

Working on dried foods/MRE type stuff (not a year but a week anyway)

First aid kit.

Solar or hand crank charger is on the list too.

Ax and/or saw for collecting additional wood (if needed).

Ammo

BK

[dsimon]

come on down to manassas brucek ill gove you a box of nasty MRE

[RyanH]

Last time I pondered this, I figured in most realistic scenarios (e.g. Watts Riots type stuff) then staying put is the best option. To cover water needs, I made the assumption that if a situation was brewing, one could use food grade trash bags, place them in the kitchen sink or in boxes and it will hold dozens of gallons of water. That and calorie dense dry food that is easily storable like rice came to mind. Beyond that, barricade the front door and hope no one burns the entire building down.

[Bruce K]

I work with a JROTC program at our school.

The Colonel was "kind" enough to bring some for the kids to try before an evening activity.

Some of them were actually quite tasty as far as emergency rations would go.

But yes, there were some pretty nasty ones, too.

BK

[Louis]

I think how you prepare depends on your perception of the likelihood of a wide range of possible events, ranging from power out for 12 hours on a 70* spring day to hurricanes like Katrina and Sandy, to the collapse of the electrical grid across much of the country due to hacking or strategic attacks, to thermonuclear devices detonated in x number of major US cities and the resulting anarchy.

Around here storms, tornadoes and floods are much more likely than any of the "really bad" events I listed above. In 2006 we had a very serious storm system come through the St Louis area and for a while a huge number of folks were without power (over 1 million at one point) and some had to wait over one week for their power to be restored. That's what I consider a pretty bad situation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_wave_of_2006_derecho_series#St._Louis_area_de recho_event_.28July_19.2C_2006.29

[Dead Man]

"preparing" is an incredibly broad thing.

Check out the gun forums and see how those guys are "prepping" - WWIII post apocalyptic/post-government type ····.

More power to 'em, but I don't see that kind of failure happening. And if it does, why the hell would I even want to survive?

[Louis]

More power to 'em, but I don't see that kind of failure happening. And if it does, why the hell would I even want to survive?

Many humans will want to push on, even through the worst circumstances you can imagine. All the documentation I've seen on WW2 concentration / work / death camps bears this out.

My choice for a good book on that particularly horrible part of history is this:

http://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl/dp/080701429X

http://philosophyforteens.pbworks.com/f/Mans_Search_for_Meaning.jpg

[oldpotatoe]

Currency will be worthless during the Zombie Apocalypse.

Glad somebody said it. :)

But since the Y2K thing(remember that?), bottled water, space heaters, candles, batteries, canned food, ammunition. No way to really prepare for the Zombie Apocalypse, it'll be really big.

[velomonkey]

Sort of serious answer bottled water for a few days, batteries and lights, box of camping stuff. For food just extra supply of bars and single serving snacks like nuts or trail mix. Not set up for end of the world, just a few days without utilities.


This. Corner of my garage has a bunch of 5 gallon water jugs, a few cases of water and then plastic boxes with our camping supplies. Wiring our heavy up so we could power it with the generator - we were living like kings when the hurricane took power out for 2 days.

[eippo1]

Perhaps this too :banana:

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/fallout/images/9/9b/Art_of_Fo4_T-60_power_armor_CA.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20151029192553

[AngryScientist]

on a serious note, one thing i need to undertake is a conversion of my small generator to natural gas. the last big storm where power was out for multiple days, the lines at gas stations were scary long as people waited with little jugs to fill up for their generators. that was a problem.

i have a separate nat gas feed for my BBQ grill that would be easy to re-purpose for emergency generator use. during a power outage, i would only really need to keep power to my refrigerator to keep food and milk from spoiling and run a few house lights and maybe the laptops to watch movies.