For my part, the distinction between a survival kit and a home preparedness kit is fairly trivial and I did not make a distinction in formulating the title (mea culpa).

Honest question - Does the difference lie in the distinction between "bugging in" and "bugging out"?

I prepare for either mode. If I stay, as I might in the aftermath of a severe earthquake (primarily because travel will be difficult, if not impossible) or leave, say, as in the case of fire (as I have done recently). It takes about ten minutes to sort and assemble the basic modules necessary for a quick departure (actual real world experience). Realistically, I don't think I will be heading for the hills, although that does remain as an option. Again it hinges on the disaster and its nature. Personally I think it important to be flexible and be willing to alter actions as situations evolve.

After all, where will any of us be when a big event occurs? During the 1994 Northridge earthquake, I was on San Miguel Island, and things got somewhat hectic since our mainland support was rather diminished (temporarily, thank goodness).

For several years, i maintained a SAR pack, adjusted with the seasons in southern Arizona, but set with the gear that would be required for either a rescue/retrieval (relatively short term) or a search ( often longer). When an operation came along, at first I attempted to fine tune the pack contents but eventually just grabbed the whole thing and headed out the door. There were situations where I used every major element of my gear. One just can't foresee the future all that well....

some of you may be using the effect of Florence as a teaching moment...let me throw out an exercise I used with my 9th grade science students... one decision making technique I stressed was called "list, cluster, and label"... start with free thinking list off the top of your head on a topic under consideration, draw connecting lines between apparent similar points of your list to an open point in the margin of your paper, then label the termination point of these associated points with the label that best describes the overall concept...

for example, a free thinking list of hurricane problems
food, cooking, water, wind, rain, heat, cell phone, toilet, ice chest, flashlight, no power, cold drinks, no shower, pets, elder relatives, special needs, clothing, CAT 3+, flood zone

clusters and label
food + cooking + water + ice chest + cold drinks = cooking and food

wind + rain + heat + CAT 3 + flood zone = shelter or evacuate

toilet + no shower + clothing = sanitation

no power + flashlight = light

pets+ elder relatives+ special needs individuals = special needs

this allows you to identify specific decisions you need to consider, as well as those individual survival tools you might need, and consolidate them to a common shelf, bag, or location within your home