Thread: Bug Out/Survival bags. Anyone gottem?

I guess there are all kinds of "crash" bags.

When I was working I had a winter survival bag in the vehicle in case I ever got stuck somewhere in a storm.

Since I was subject to go on details at very quick notice I had a bag with all my LEO gear by the door. In addition to clothes, weapons and ammo and ballistic gear and binos and a few assorted other things.

We aren't equipped to bug out somewhere else, but we do have supplies for an extended period of time. Emergency kit in the cars that should be enough to get us through anything (short term) and get us home. Wife has a kit she keeps at work I made up for her that would allow her to make it home if a disaster struck while she was at work (or stay the night if she had to.) We do have a piece of land we are developing that might give Glemn a run for his money, but that's still a few years off.

Home kit currently has a 55 gal drum of water, an ever growing first aid kit, freeze dried/canned/dry stored provisions. Misc lights, generator, hand and power tools and a few cans full of stabilized gas.

I know this is a bit off topic, but what is everyone preparing for? In my case I am looking to prepare for an extended outage of public services for a month or so. Something along the lines of a natural disaster (mudslides, earthquakes, tsunami..... all things we worry about in Washington). I am NOT preparing for a SHTF scenario. Where I live in Washington state would most likely be taken out by a Nuclear warhead if WW3 went down due to the proximity of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (One of 3 certified nuclear repair facilities for Navy subs/carriers), Subase Bangor (home port for west coast ballistic missle subs and a large "dark area" where missles go to be refurbished), Naval Base Everett is just north of Seattle ..... the list goes on. Having a background in the nuclear field I honestly hope the nuke would kill me and my family as I wouldn't wish that hell on anyone.

Amen Matt!

Originally Posted by MattCB

We aren't equipped to bug out somewhere else, but we do have supplies for an extended period of time. Emergency kit in the cars that should be enough to get us through anything (short term) and get us home. Wife has a kit she keeps at work I made up for her that would allow her to make it home if a disaster struck while she was at work (or stay the night if she had to.) We do have a piece of land we are developing that might give Glemn a run for his money, but that's still a few years off.

Home kit currently has a 55 gal drum of water, an ever growing first aid kit, freeze dried/canned/dry stored provisions. Misc lights, generator, hand and power tools and a few cans full of stabilized gas.

I know this is a bit off topic, but what is everyone preparing for? In my case I am looking to prepare for an extended outage of public services for a month or so. Something along the lines of a natural disaster (mudslides, earthquakes, tsunami..... all things we worry about in Washington). I am NOT preparing for a SHTF scenario. Where I live in Washington state would most likely be taken out by a Nuclear warhead if WW3 went down due to the proximity of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (One of 3 certified nuclear repair facilities for Navy subs/carriers), Subase Bangor (home port for west coast ballistic missle subs and a large "dark area" where missles go to be refurbished), Naval Base Everett is just north of Seattle ..... the list goes on. Having a background in the nuclear field I honestly hope the nuke would kill me and my family as I wouldn't wish that hell on anyone.

A SHTF scenario would more likely come from a "extended outage of public services for a month or so" than it would from a nuclear problem. The human element is the biggest threat.

In hurricane Andrew the SHTF scenario started in less than 3 days. Police from different jurisdictions banned to together to protect the properties in remote areas. Our department spent 12 hours shifts, groups of 40 men, four to a car in residential areas as far as 40 miles from our own city. Looters shot at us , we shot back, we hit a few. The National Guard had patrols at night, platoon size,, some of the best equipment I had seen, especially their night vision. But they had no ammunition on their person,,,,, their command orders were not to engage, just a visual presence. I know this as because they ran across us at about 2am the first night out. We supplied them with 5.56, 12 ga & 9mm from the trunks of our squad cars. Each of our cars had a large stash of ammo & weapons of our own personal choice.

Three to five days without facilities & food,,, the unprepared become a problem.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

A SHTF scenario would more likely come from a "extended outage of public services for a month or so" than it would from a nuclear problem. The human element is the biggest threat.

In hurricane Andrew the SHTF scenario started in less than 3 days. Police from different jurisdictions banned to together to protect the properties in remote areas. Our department spent 12 hours shifts, groups of 40 men, four to a car in residential areas as far as 40 miles from our own city. Looters shot at us , we shot back, we hit a few. The National Guard had patrols at night, platoon size,, some of the best equipment I had seen, especially their night vision. But they had no ammunition on their person,,,,, their command orders were not to engage, just a visual presence. I know this as because they ran across us at about 2am the first night out. We supplied them with 5.56, 12 ga & 9mm from the trunks of our squad cars. Each of our cars had a large stash of ammo & weapons of our own personal choice.

Three to five days without facilities & food,,, the unprepared become a problem.

I think you are spot on Hirlau. I see a lot of folks bringing up the worst case scenario so that is what I went with. I actually think a far more likely scenario than nuclear would be an extended EMP blast(s) that took out electronics. As far as what we would actually have to deal with, as you stated, humanity is my biggest worry as far as things that would be likely to happen. I fully expect the same thing would happen here after a few days of no supplies. I wish I had a good answer on how I would handle it, but besides loading everything up in the truck and pitching tents on out little piece of land in the boonies (if we could get there) I would probably just end up trying to keep out heads down and not overly advertise that I had supplies for my family. Unfortunately, at some point you would also have to make a call on who you help out and how much of the items you have for your family you are willing to share.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Three to five days without facilities & food,,, the unprepared become a problem.

Anyone remember the Twilight Zone episode where the family went to the fallout shelter? I don't remember whether the issue was aliens (from space) invading or an expected nuclear attack, but the neighborhood went bonkers trying to break in to the fall out shelter. Civilisation is just a thin veneer when you come right down to it.

Originally Posted by MattCB

I think you are spot on Hirlau. I see a lot of folks bringing up the worst case scenario so that is what I went with. I actually think a far more likely scenario than nuclear would be an extended EMP blast(s) that took out electronics. As far as what we would actually have to deal with, as you stated, humanity is my biggest worry as far as things that would be likely to happen. I fully expect the same thing would happen here after a few days of no supplies. I wish I had a good answer on how I would handle it, but besides loading everything up in the truck and pitching tents on out little piece of land in the boonies (if we could get there) I would probably just end up trying to keep out heads down and not overly advertise that I had supplies for my family. Unfortunately, at some point you would also have to make a call on who you help out and how much of the items you have for your family you are willing to share.

I don't have all the answers, I've learned most of what I know by OJT , being tossed into the deep end, so to speak. I do know that there is strength in numbers. Meaning, get to know your neighbors,, learn what they are doing or not doing to prepare. Know their skills,, he may not be able to fire a rifle or grow food, but he may be one h*ll of a mechanic & know electricity. Try to have a simple plan for uniting when the problem comes.

If you set yourself(family) apart, then you will be one of the first to be challenged.

[QUOTE=Hirlau;1677784
If you set yourself(family) apart, then you will be one of the first to be challenged.[/QUOTE]

Great advice! Strength is in unity.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

A SHTF scenario would more likely come from a "extended outage of public services for a month or so" than it would from a nuclear problem. The human element is the biggest threat.

In hurricane Andrew the SHTF scenario started in less than 3 days. Police from different jurisdictions banned to together to protect the properties in remote areas. Our department spent 12 hours shifts, groups of 40 men, four to a car in residential areas as far as 40 miles from our own city. Looters shot at us , we shot back, we hit a few. The National Guard had patrols at night, platoon size,, some of the best equipment I had seen, especially their night vision. But they had no ammunition on their person,,,,, their command orders were not to engage, just a visual presence. I know this as because they ran across us at about 2am the first night out. We supplied them with 5.56, 12 ga & 9mm from the trunks of our squad cars. Each of our cars had a large stash of ammo & weapons of our own personal choice.

Three to five days without facilities & food,,, the unprepared become a problem.

I find this a little funny. Cant tell you how many times in the Army they told us to guard some thing gave us a weapon and no ammo. I guess they figured the psychological fear instilled by a bunch of grunts walking around with M-16's was enough. Didnt make me feel any better though lol.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Civilisation is just a thin veneer when you come right down to it.

We are but Nine meals away from Anarchy....

Always been one of my favs


Always been a fan of "The Rule of Three" also


We have had this discussion on the forum in the past and it normally devolves along political lines

Just imagine flipping off the power for an extended period of time and you see how fast things get critical

I have said this a few times,

There is a fiction book that really lays out what happens when the lights go off, regardless of the reason if you haven't read it enjoy a good read with some good insight.. He has more in the series but I have not read them

https://www.amazon.com/Second-After-.../dp/0765356864