My plan is to shelter in place when possible, but a recent gas line explosion and large fire in my neighborhood led me to develop an emergency evacuation plan. Also, I live 50 miles from a nuclear power plant and a military installation with a large stockpile of chemical weapons. If something happens at one of those locations, I may need to get out fast. My plan involves a 5 minute evacuation of items from my house to my car. These include a comprehensive 72 hour bug out bag (BOB), a portable file with my important documents, one box of family photos and heirlooms (already boxed) , and a cat carrier with my cat. I can load these items and get away in 5 minutes if needed. I will then take the back roads to my bug out location outside the city. Currently, I am puting additional items in the trunk of my car. These include tools, boots, a change of clothes, a backpacking tent, and a winter sleeping bag. Have others given thought to such quick evacuation plans?

I just checked out a book from the library called The survival guide, what to do in a biological, chemical, or nuclear emergency by Angelo Acquista, M.D. And I'm considering putting an evacuation kit (BOB) together.

According to this book, if you live near a nuclear power plant you should contact the power plant directly to obtain the emergency and evacuation plan.

I also noted that you should remove your clothes and shoes, seal them in double plastic bags and leave them outside before entering shelter if possible.

Here's the Evacuation kit as recommended by The American Red Cross in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from that book:

• Emergency preparedness manual;
• 3-day supply of food and water;
• Bedding;
• Extra clothing (full-body coverage);
• Sturdy boots or shoes;
• First-aid kit and manual;
• Essential items for people with special needs (e.g., infants elderly, disabled);
• Essential medications you are currently taking (e.g., insulin, heart medication);
• Hygiene supplies;
• Household liquid bleach to treat drinking water; (we substitute this with Katadyn mp1 tablets here)
• Mess kits or paper plates, cups, and plastic utensils;
• Manual can opener;
• Utility knife;
• Toilet paper, towelettes;
• Sealable plastic bags;
• Soap, liquid detergent;
• Cash or traveler's checks, change, and credit cards;
• Important family documents in a waterproof container;
• Battery-powered radio and extra batteries, or hand-crank radio;
• Flashlight and extra batteries;
• Shovel and other useful tools (e.g., screwdrivers, pliers);
• Maps (regional for evacuation and local for finding public evacuation shelters.);
• Tire repair kit and pump;
• Booster cables;
• Flares;
• Short rubber hose for siphoning.

Frankie

That looks like a good book. I will have to check it out.

Check out last week's posts on war of the world thread, etc. We talked about this extensively.

Thanks. I will do that.