Until recently, you might have disregarded the act of intense preparation for natural calamities as something only done by overly anxious individuals. However, if there’s one thing this year has taught us, it’s the importance of taking emergency readiness seriously. Presently, the phrase “anything could happen” has transformed from a cautionary message to a nonchalant opening statement on daily news broadcasts.
In order to be prepared for a range of potential emergencies, it is important to have a plan in place that considers scenarios requiring your family to leave your residence. By assembling a “go bag” or “bug-out bag,” you will have all the essential resources and equipment required to survive outside your home for a minimum of 72 hours in the event of a disaster.
It is important not to delay in creating a plan or convince yourself that planning will lead to disaster. On the contrary, starting to gather the basic items for a portable go bag will help put your mind at ease. Although you may already have some of the necessary items, we recommend investing in high-quality products to ensure they won’t let you down when you need them. You’ll find that many of the elements listed below have multiple uses, while some also serve similar functions. Considering a Plan B or C is wise when you need to start a fire, charge a lantern, or construct a shelter to protect against rain.
Tips and common mistakes
Don’t put too much emphasis on something.
Instead of designing your bags according to specific timelines like three days or two weeks, it is advisable to utilize a priority cascade and disregard the BOB versus INCH debates.
The focus should be on ensuring survival instead of engaging in encounters with zombies, so it is important not to carry unnecessary items. The main priority involves maintaining hydration, nutrition, warmth, dryness, and avoiding injuries. Any other items serve the purpose of aiding these essential goals or providing additional benefits.
If you assume that your predetermined path and “bug out location” will work as planned, you are not prepared for unexpected disruptions to your plans.
When considering the environment, it is important to be mindful and consider the possible risks. However, it is not advisable to solely focus on particular situations such as earthquakes or hurricanes. Give more attention to factors such as the landscape, availability of water or excessive water, temperature fluctuations, and the distinction between urban and rural areas. It is also crucial to consider whether those around you are likely to possess weapons or not.
When considering the choice between carrying a bunch of fish or teaching a man to fish, it is best to avoid both extremes. It is not advisable to solely rely on carrying 72 hours’ worth of consumables, nor is it wise to entirely forego carrying consumables and assume you can sustain yourself by hunting and crafting, unless you have already demonstrated your ability to do so comfortably in your specific location.
Experts do not view premade kits positively due to companies’ attempts to lower the cost to $50-$200 by compromising on quality. This involves including unreliable and inexpensive equipment, providing an incorrect combination of gear, or necessitating the replacement or addition of items, thereby defeating the intended purpose.
Even if it is a basic kit, a good one will cost at least $150-200, which is less than what you spend on insurance every month. Therefore, it is crucial not to compromise on this essential preparation.
If you are on a limited budget, do not choose anything cheaper than our “budget picks” that we recommend in our reviews. It is not worthwhile to buy a prep item that will fail when you need it, and most of the extremely cheap items found online are of low quality. In general, cheaper products tend to be heavier. For instance, a budget Level 3 bag will likely weigh multiple pounds more than the average. It is your decision whether you allocate the same budget for a Level 1 bag or a Level 2 bag of moderate quality.
It is important to consider that your party or family may not always stay together, therefore it is not advisable to distribute essential items among different bags. For instance, having water gear in one bag and food in another is an unwise decision. It is recommended that individuals aged 10 and above should possess their own necessary items in case they become detached from the group.
When considering bags for children under 10, the focus should be on their comfort and providing redundancy. This means building a child’s bag in a way that includes basic necessities and information that can assist any adult who may find them if they become separated. Additionally, it allows for the opportunity to retrieve essential items from their bag, such as a water filter, if needed. However, it is important to ensure that losing the bag altogether would not be a significant issue. Within a bag that is appropriately sized for their age, it is usually possible to include essentials like a complete set of clothes, necessary medications, and documents/photos pertaining to their family and home. It is also beneficial to include items that are more child-friendly, such as a stuffed animal, book, and treats.
What items should be in a bug-out bag?
Whether you are planning to assemble a simpler go bag or a comprehensive bug-out bag, you will need to consider collecting the following essentials, regardless of the time of year or the nature of the emergency.
Food and Water
- 3 days’ supply of non-perishable food (healthy canned goods in non-BPA lined cans, other shelf-stable foods, high-nutrition energy bars, even MREs, the boxed ready-to-eat meals that soldiers carry) per family member
- Portable water filtration system
- Chemical water purification tablets or drops
- Collapsible water bag or bladder
- Stainless steel water bottles for each family member
- Stainless steel bowl/pot
- Spork multi-utensil
- Field knife
- Collapsible fishing kit
- Portable stove
- Fuel for stove/fire (solid fuel, fire starters, ferro rod, waterproof matches or petroleum soaked cotton ball DIY fire-starters)
- Multipurpose tool with knife, can opener, screwdriver, etc.
- Waterproof Ziploc bags
Warmth and Shelter
- Lightweight tent
- Sleeping bag
- Ground pad
- Emergency waterproof blanket or space blanket
- Tarp
- Hand warmers
- Gloves
- 50′ of parachute cord (paracord)
- Hatchet or machete
- Knife sharpening stone
- Clothes
- Rain poncho or other durable waterproof outer shell layer
- Warm and lightweight winter jacket
- Warmth layer (wool, fleece)
First Aid and Sanitation
- Comprehensive first aid kit
- N95 face masks
- Prescriptions
- Spare set of glasses
- Antibacterial wipes and ointment
- Splint
- Sunscreen
- Folding shovel
- Condensed soap
- Toothbrush
- Travel towel
Light, Safety and Communication
- Whistle
- Two-way walkie talkie
- Compass
- Watch
- Pepper spray
- Hand-cranked radio
- Hand-cranked flashlight
- Hand-cranked or solar-powered lantern
- Headlamp and rechargeable batteries
- Glow sticks
- Portable solar charger and power-charging cords for devices
- Cell phones
