My wife and I just went through this exercise. The first thing we did was walk into our bathroom and list every toiletry item that we each use in the course of a month. We each then collected or purchased a 3 day (or more) supply of each item for both of us. These were then placed in heavy duty tupperware containers with our initials on them (ie. she has a three day kit and I have a three day kit). We also made up a separate container that included items such as, tp, eating utensils, sak, matches, playing cards, paper, pencils, tape, etc. These containers, and some other BOB type items are now in a wheeled backpack in our hall closet. This is not a survival kit (We keep our hiking packs loaded all the time) but more of a kit to take to a shelter or relative's house in case of evacuation.

Interestingly enough, this kit was not put together with survival in mind. We did it because of a recent event. Back in November I was admitted to the hospital unexpectedly for surgery and remained there for a week. While this was not a survival situation. My wife was at a loss as to what to pack for my stay (She was understandably distraught at the time). With our system, we now have the option of either taking the whole pack (which would be overkill for a hospital stay) or extracting our personal kit. Either way, we'll know that we have most basic needs covered.

Our next step is to make up a similar kit for the dog. In that kit I plan on including, food, bowl(s), grooming supplies and a mesh cage if I can find a cheap one.


Chris

Chris,

I keep a similar bag packed for similar emergencies. I've had to take off a couple of times with my father to the hospital (which is a two hour drive from our home). I keep a small bag packed with a change of clothes, tee shirt, shorts, underwear, socks, money, phone card, extended family phone numbers and daily use items (razor, toothpaste, etc.) I also have a smal PSK in the bag.

Beats trying to pack a few things while running out the door. <img src="images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

NAro,

I can see your point...but in my mind, different situations calls for different needs. I keep thinking about a fire in your home which puts you out (for a few nights or for good). In reality, if a fire occurs in my home and I get out...I'm going to need things like extra clothes, toiletry items, money, etc. I'd also want things like insurance policies, inventory items, ect. Things like flint and snares probally aren't going to help me much as I would be staying with realitives. Now if it's a SHTF scenerio (something that affects the entire community, county, state or country) then the flint and snares would be pretty handy and the insurance info and paper money (possibly) would only be good tender.

In something like a house fire...you may only have seconds to get out and you'll be lucky to have anything in hand. What I would want with me after a fire or flood would differ greatly from what I would want with me if Russian troops started falling from the sky <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Why I'm flattered. Will be down inthe basement tonight laying it all out for you and will post to my server later!

I don't have one single bag, rather everything I own I keep in some kind of bag/pack. I work with computers for a living as a consultant so I have everything on my laptop, tech info/manuals, etc. Have a big software collection, test servers/routers/etc. Then my different toolkits, bags/etc. I like to have everything setup, for anything. Say I have to go out of town to a client site, I can grab my laptop, hotel bag and go. House catches fire I grab whats most important. Nukes hit and laptop is fried, leave it and take a different bag.

We probably don't really disagree about this that much. My BOB has the supplies you mentioned, as well as the "snares, etc" for more of a SHTF scenario. My important documents, insurance papers, etc, are already in a fire safe just in case I'm not at home to bug out. And I wasn't truthful when I said I had one and only one thing to grab. I would grab my one BOB... but I'd also grab my last-ditch, SHTF accessory: my H&K P7M8 9mm and ammo, with a list of all my neighbors who are unarmed and keep supplies.
My neighborhood is really a survival oasis: there is a liquor salesman with two rather plump children, and he doesn't believe in firearms! Talk about forage...

NAro,

ROFLMAO

John

I like the idea of a coverall! I volunteer on our local EMS squad and we have jumpsuits as uniforms. When I am on call for an overnight I wear Long-Johns to bed and when the pager goes off I have fire-drill response time. I am able to get in the jump suit and out of the house only sllightly sloweer than it would take me to get out naked (which is the way I prefer to sleep.

The jump suit has a uniform garrison belt, larg front and back pockets at waist level as well as two large patch pockets on the chest and large emt type cargo pockets on the legs and upper arms. This thing can hold more gear than many day packs would. I carry my EDC whenever I leave the house. This includes my PSK and my peersonal FAK and my wallett and a few other things. Having a fully loaded jump suit hanging nest to the bed might be considered odd by the casual observer but If you have to bail out the window because the hall is in flames and it is two in the morning and your naked then you might be glad to be putting on your fully loaded lined jumpsuit while you stand in the snow on some sub-zero night in february.

I guess it is all about scenarios and layers. If I am anywhere that I have driven then I have my vehicle survival kit and my EDC which, when combined constitutes a fairly decent BOB. If I am at home I have a 4X4 and a bunch of other stuff in the shed that would be stuffed in the 4X4 if TSHTF. If I am asleep and naked and fire alarm goes off for a real reason then I am probably not interested in the basement full of optional stuff that would get attention in a SHTF scenario where my BOB would be important. My bedroom is somewhat small and filled quite nicely with my wifes stuff so I am not going to keep a fully loaded ruck-sack anyway near my bed or even in my bedroom. But I can keep a fully loaded jumpsuit in my closet or even hanging by the bed (until I get too much greiv from the wife.)

So. In a SHTF scenario that I discoveer while at home, I change into the Jump-suit since it is the most multifunctional item to wear and it contains all my EDC stuff. Put on my Gortex outer layer, go down to the basement and get the guns, ammo, extra water and fuel; go out to the shed and grab the base-camp gear; throw it all in the 4X4 and hit the road. Thhis is the SHTF bob scenario. If the mob of angry villagers is already marching through town then I will probably only grab my shotgun from the basement my ruck from the shed and hit the trail.

It is all about scenarios and layers.

In a natural catastrophe evacuation scenario I will probably take the time to load the 4X4.

I may have missed this in someone's post, but I've just recently added a laminated sheet with a quick & dirty medical history for all family members. For instance, I could never remember when my kid's last tetanus shot was if we evac'ed, he got hurt, and needed medical care in a Red Cross setting. I know it's a 'What If', but it makes me sleep better knowing I have that in the G-n-G bag!