Dan,

Several things I don't see in your kit: (1) A bottle of hand sanitizer, and (2) some way of holding your SureFire in a hands-free way, such as, at the least, a wrap of plastic tape around the body to make it easier to grip in your teeth. If you're in a fire, you'll want to be wearing a mask, so biting it won't be an option. Consider a "Nite Eyez" band to hold it around your head. As an alternative, look at the new hear-band style L.E.Ds coming out. Petzl makes several that are very small and practically weightless.

Interesting topic! Looks like you have a lot of coverage and I see some items, as others have said, that may be overkill. But it all depends on where you are located in an emergency I guess. I gave everyone’s replies a read or two and I thought about the whole subject a bit and concluded that there can be many scenarios and many tools that may be nice to have along. However, I see some issues. For instance, if your kit is too big and you can't carry it constantly, you may not have it when you need it. Say you work on the 50th floor of a high-rise and leave your kit in your office when called to the 20th floor for a meeting and there is a fire or other emergency, you will not likely be going back up 30 floors to get your gear.
With that sort of thought in mind, let me tell you what I carry and perhaps why.
I carry a cell phone, car keys a SAK Rambler knife and a PhotonII mini-light on my person at most all times. Just basics. In a small waist pack I carry a Doug Ritter PSK, an Infinity Tasklight, a very small AM-FM radio with earbud, a SOG Paratool, a small roll of toilet paper, a TMRU shelter and a list of emergency phone numbers. I also keep 2 bottles of water handy. The reason I don't carry more is that I don't see a situation everyday when I would need more than that. There are first aid kits located in all 8 buildings at our campus, there is a fire department a few minutes away, police also. If I worked and traveled elsewhere, my carry items will be based on the perceived needs of that journey. I travel a heavily traveled freeway to get home and have broken down after getting off a rather remote exit, at 115 degrees outside, I wanted water and a cell phone! Not much else would have helped, except a new car, I got that later!!
Friday there was a heavy, fast moving storm that interrupted my trip home, along with an accident on the freeway, blocking movement. I got off on a side road, which was overly saturated with both water and traffic, so I decided to pull over to a restaurant and have dinner while water drained off and traffic thinned out. I used the cell phone to call the family to tell them where I was and why. It had not rained at home and never did.
I do not mean to be critical of your kit, I just think everyone needs to evaluate their potential emergencies and plan accordingly. Why carry band aids? Yeah they are small and light, but can you live without them? Yes! I guess after a few combat tours in the army I learned to use what I have and get by with it. Sure it would have been nice to have some items once in a while, but then they were not available to me at the time. And looking back, I am glad I didn't have to lug them around all over!
When I go to the wilderness or through the wilderness, I have a lot more with me and can deal with most circumstances that may arise on that journey. I guess just plan for what is likely, potential and probable. In general, don't plan for a hurricane in Kansas. Cheers!

I read the same article a long time ago. I would consider it a must read for anyone truely interested in urban survival. Obviously it is geared towards long term survival in an area that is otherwise doing business as usual (no natural or man-made disasters have disrupted daily life) but much of what is discussed can apply to many situations other than being homeless.

Thanks. I never thought about the NBC attack and all that stuff. Makes me kinda want to rethink a lot of stuff now.

Awesome tip. I am going to look up Craftsman right now. I am an avid mountain biker and always looking for more tools. I love getting any reason to look at more stuff for my B.O.B.

However in an nuclear, biological or chemical attack, depending on what is used, they won't probably bother with the 'car wash' other than a dirty bomb attack, because you will probably be dead or dying so it won't matter much how much gear you have on you. The edc or other gear you have will serve much better in a conventional bomb attack, to survive that or get out of a demolished or damaged building.

I really love mine too.

Tonight I went at my parent's place to install an old DVD-ROM drive I had lying around for my dad. I tried opening up the case (Antec case with thumbscrews), boy were those screws tight! Took the Micra screwdriver tool out, voil?! Case open. Then, I need a 4-pin power connector but the remaining ones were zip-tied to other cables. Took the scissors on the Micra, cut the tie to free the power connector...

Two trips to the kitchen saved! Hehe... <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Personal question to you, reconcowboy : Did you ever consider switching the Micra for a Squirt S4 or P4? I am thinking about doing this... mostly for the tools that can be used without opening the tool up. <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />


Bee

Actually yes I have been wanting to do that for a while now. I have been looking at them for weeks and hope to get one. I ws going to add it to my keychain and possibly leave the PSTs at home.

No, you will be run through the full decontamination riggamarole if you escape (que mood music and lighting) "the contaminated zone". With camera's rolling the entire time.

There is more appearence to substance to securing the masses. A chemical or radiological device is dangerous to those near the release point. Real nukes... so long as you aren't in the major fall out areas, big deal, you can't avoid it.

Bioweapons, on the other hand... Wierd stuff happens with germs. It would be worth while.

So the conclusion is . . . . . what? Should we EDC as much as possible, or not bother at all and just take our chances?