Environment:
I live in the southeastern Unites States where the temperatures are mild mostly year round. We don’t experience earthquakes or blizzards, but the possibility exists for the usual dangers of any populated area such as fires, storms, civil disorders, chemical spills, radiation hazards, terrorism, or other crisis that might render one’s primary dwelling unsafe.

Lifestyle:
I live in a suburb approximately 30 miles from a major city. The area is somewhat rural, with moderate population density. I do not commute to my job, but instead work from my home office exclusively. I have a robust network of friends and family varying distances from me to serve as safe-houses, and medical facilities within walking distance.

Conclusions:
Based on these parameters, should the need to bug out arise, I would not be trying to set up camp in the wilderness for extended periods (I save that for the weekends). Rather, I would simply need a minimum of gear pre-packed and close at hand to toss in the car (or leave on foot) and proceed to an appropriate friend or family’s house. Under this scenario, it doesn’t seem necessary to take all of my backpacking equipment such as water filter, cooking gear, tent, etc. With that in mind:

A.) Are there scenarios (short of the end of the world as we know it, AND within the specific parameters that I’ve described above) that I’m not considering?
B.) Does the following equipment list seem appropriate?

This list includes my every day carry items, which are always either on my person or wrapped in a bandana on the bedside to grab and go. Non-every day carry items are kept in a backpack nearby; specifically, a CamelBak Blowfish day pack with 100 oz. Omega water reservoir.

· Personal Survival Kit in Altoids tin with all the trimmings

DOCUMENTATION & MONETARY
· Wallet (ID, cash, credit cards, insurance cards, emergency contact info)
· Coin purse (coins=$.25x4, $.10x2, $.05x1, $.01x4)
· Scans of important household documents on mini-CD
· “Pocket Ref” by Thomas J. Glover (conversion tables, knots, mapping, weather charts)

MEDICAL
· First Aid Kit (sterile dressings, roller gauze, adhesive bandages, medical tape, antibiotic ointment, moleskin, Imodium, Motrin, Tylenol)
· First Aid Emergency Handbook

SUSTENANCE
· 100 oz water in CamelBak
· 2-3 Clif Bars

REPAIR
· Sewing/Repair Kit (needles, thread, buttons, safety pins)
· Stick of hot melt glue
· Small roll of duct tape
· Large wire ties

COMMUNICATIONS
· PDA / wireless phone combo
· Motorola Talkabout T5300 2-way radios (pair - 2 mile range)
· Sangean DT300VW radio (TV/AM/FM receiver with weather band)
· Fox 40 whistle
· Starflash 2x3 in. unbreakable signal mirror
· Fisher Bullet Space Pen
· Fisher 3"x5" waterproof tactical notebook

NAVIGATION
· Suunto Clipper compass w/luminous ratcheting bezel
· Petzl Zipka LED headlamp w/ 3 extra AAA batteries
· Princeton Tec Pulsar II LED micro light, blue

PERSONAL PROTECTION
· Rain jacket: Red Ledge Thunderlight Parka
· Rain pants: Red Ledge Thunderlight Full-Zip Pants
· Nylon baseball cap
· 2 disposable plastic ponchos
· Aluminized polyethylene emergency bag
· Large garbage bag
· Red bandana
· Disposable dust mask
· Leather work gloves
· Sunglasses with retainer strap
· Sunscreen
· Bug repellant

TOOLS
· Leatherman Micra multi-tool
· Pliers, slip-joint
· Pliers, needle-nose
· Screwdriver (multiple bits in handle)
· P-38 pocket can opener

HYGIENE & HEATLH
· Hygeine Kit (Campsuds, toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, shaving oil, deodorant, lip balm, etc.)
· Camp towel and small cotton washcloth
· Multivitamins

MISC. ESSENTIALS
· Keys (house, car)
· Wristwatch (solar-powered, waterproof)
· Bic butane mini lighter
· Spare bandana
· Credit card-sized fresnel lens
· 40 ft. of "550 lb." mil-spec paracord
· 48 ft. of 40 lb. nylon rope w/carabiner attached

Think a bug out bag should carry a weapon and lots of ammo because of nasty roaming humans. A bigger and more complete trauma kit because of those roaming bands. It is just my thoughts.

That's something to consider. I'm not trained in the use of firearms, but I'd like to be.

Rob,

Couple of things to consider:

Your "network", particularly those in walking distance, may have been affected by whatever it was that caused you to bug out. They may not be in any better shape than you are. Your list of gear is very good, but I personally, would carry the water filter, extra food, cooking gear, tent, etc...If only because it is better to have it and not need it than it is to need it and not have it. Similarly--hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

I concur with MCSE regarding a firearm, although I wouldn't limit that to bug-out situations. Especially if your locale allows for legal concealed carry. Kudos to you for recognizing the need for training! Unless it apeals to you to learn more, taking whatever class(es) required for a carry permit locally and regular pratice should be enough to scrape by. Key here is awareness. Having the wherewithal to cope with a threat is useless with being aware of the threat.


Take care,

Andy

Good point about being "better safe than sorry." One of my neighbors is a sharpshooter. Perhaps I'll ask him to introduce me to the art of handling firearms.

There are several good shooting ranges in the Atlanta area where you can rent various handguns and rifles to see what you like. You can also take basic handgun safety classes at these ranges.

Okay, I'll append these items to my basic kit as follows:

Enhanced Bug Out Items

The following items would be taken in the event of a major crisis, enabling a retreat to a remote location until normalization occurs. If water can be found on an ongoing basis, and food procured after packed food runs out, the following supplementary gear can provide a prolonged stay in a remote location.

PACKING
· Kelty Flight 4500 ST internal frame backpack (custom configuration)
· Columbia Stony Butte belt pack (to supplement the CamelBak for an excursion away from base camp)
· various Ziplocs and garbage bags for storage (1 Ziploc for packing out trash)

SHELTER AND SLEEPING
· Kelty Dart 2 bivy-style tent, DAC aluminum poles, guylines, stakes, and stuff sack
· Slumberjack Black River mummy sleeping bag (+25°F) and stuff sack
· Therm-a-Rest GuideLite full-length self-inflating sleep pad

COOKING AND WATER TREATMENT & STORAGE
· Esbit Wing Stove with solid fuel tablets
· aluminum windscreen and heat reflector (homemade)
· Bic butane mini lighter, 1 birthday candle, 1 box kitchen matches (backup for EDC lighter)
· GSI Hard Anodized Boiler (pot only)
· Titanium Sierra Cup (11 oz. capacity, also serves as pot lid)
· GSI Lexan Glacier Ice tablespoon
· small piece of kitchen sponge
· SweetWater Guardian water filter, accessories, and stuff sack
· ViralStop chlorine-based water purification solution
· Platypus 2 liter water reservoir for camp water storage

SUSTENANCE
· (100 oz. Water carried in Camelbak reservoir as part of basic gear.)
· Instant oatmeal packets
· Instant coffee/hot chocolate packets
· Bagels
· Peanut butter
· Freeze-dried meals, Ramen noodles, Lipton meals, MREs
· Clif Bars
· Trail mix (plain M&Ms, lightly salted peanuts, sunflower kernels)
· Salt

CLOTHING (packed or worn depending on activity and conditions)
Base Layers:
· Spandex running shorts (used as underwear)
· PolarMax Acclimate short-sleeve t-shirt (quick-drying polyester)
Mid Layers:
· Columbia PFG Aruba Pants (quick-drying nylon, SPF 30)
· Columbia Challenger shirt (long-sleeve, quick-drying nylon, SPF 30)
Footwear:
· 2 prs. CoolMax liner socks
· 1 pr. Thorlo lightweight hiking socks
· Vasque Vista GTX lightweight boots
Cold Weather:
· 1 pr. long thermal bottoms (Duofold Varitherm)
· 1 wicking long-sleeve t-shirt (polyester)
· Polartec 200 fleece jacket
· Fleece gloves
· Acrylic beanie
Rain Gear:
· (All rain gear is included in the basic gear.)

What, of this list, do you carry in which layer of preparation? PSK? Car Kit? BOB? Is your car kit different from your BOB? Do you have a home supplies stash that is different from the BOB? Is this list your home supplies as well? How much of this would be unavailable to you if your home was flattened by a hurricane while you were sheltered in a local school? How much of this would be available to you if your were blown off the road comming home from the 7-11 and your house was flattened by the same hurricane? How much of this would you have with you if your car was stolen from the gas-station while you were paying the attendant after filling up so you could evacuate ahead of the hurricane by some desparate individual who chose your vehicle for his evacuation plan? This is the type of thinking that has me carrying a bunch of stuff EDC.

? does your PDA have an adapter that can read the mini-disk with your documents?

You're right, miniMe, there are varying stages of worsening scenarios, down to the point where all you have left to rely on is your EDC. My EDC is a lot like Doug's and others on this site, and, hopefully, with the right attitude and knowledge, would suffice for short-term needs, if that's all I had. I also keep copies of the essentials in my vehicle. However, you could construct a scenario where even your EDC is lost, confiscated, forcefully stolen, etc. Yikes! That's where the true survival mentality must take over, where you have to improvise and obtain things a la MacGuyver.

I'll be interested to see what others have to say about your newest post on kit layering and modularity. It's a preparedness topic that's been on my mind a lot lately.

Hey, a fellow Atlantan! Is there a particular range you'd suggest?

Which area are you in?

Rob,

Dear God Man! Those were just things I thought you should consider. Perhaps you'd consider sending me a large box of cash? <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Since you seem to be soliciting ideas/suggestions, here are a few more:


Get that locking folder yet?

All of your clothing, it seems, is synthetic. Darn nice synthetic clothing, and you seem to have the concept of layering down nicely, but synthetics have at least one disadvantage--someone here on the forum (I believe it was Jet) calls them "melting burnables". Don't get me wrong, I own and use synthetics, but I try to only wear them as intermediate layers, or when threatened by rain. I've had molten plastic splashed on me, it ain't fun. I can't, and don't want to, imagine that feeling on a significant portion of my body.

I have an Esbit, and use it frequently, but wouldn't rely on it as my one and only stove. Particularly when so much of your food is of the "add water and heat" type.

Speaking of one and only, your water carriers all seem to be of the flexible plastic variety. Once again, I have those and use them, but I'm reminded of the "having all your eggs in one basket" expression. Maybe add a canteen? Or a Nalgene bottle? Something a tad more sturdy for backup? Something easier to pour from when making oatmeal and coffee?

I noticed in your profile that you spend time "chasing a toddler". Have you made emergency plans for your family? Lots to consider there. Lots of guys here on the forum have families (myself included), and I'm sure that advice/suggestions will flow in if you ask.

Take care,

Andy

Hi Abe,

Thanks for the input.

I'm shopping for locking folder this weekend. Don't know if I'll necessarily buy this weekend, but it sure is fun to look around! <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I guess the fact that most of my "adventure" clothing is synthetic and the water containers are soft reflect the fact that backpacking is my primary leisure pursuit, where, as you probably know, things that are quick-drying and lightweight are highly desirable. Its hard to make lightweight rain gear out of cotton! <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> So, what types of non-synthetic outer layers would you suggest? Cotton-canvas BDUs come to mind, or perhaps ye olde Carhartt coverall.

I actually used the Esbit exclusively for 2 nights on the Appalachian trail (Dick's Creek to Unicoi), and also used it exclusively for a 4-night trip to Cumberland Island. I do have an MSR Whisperlite and 22 oz. fuel bottle for heavier camping. That might be something to consider for a bug-out scenario.

Its kind of funny. I use Nalgenes around the house and in the car to have a refreshing beverage on hand, but they don't seem to find their way with me backpacking. Car camping is another story, however. Again, your point is well taken about enhanced durability being desirable for bug out gear.

We do have family plans in place for various scenarios, all the way up to making our way to a family member's house who has a huge generator, stocks of supplies, and, um...multiple personal defense items. I'd definitely be interested in hearing what sort of plans other parents/spouses have made for their troop.

If you are really in a fiery environment, you turn to yet another synthetic - Nomex. Working for the NPS, Nomex is required for wildfires - long sleeve shirt and pants, and also for helicopter work - the milspec Nomex flight suit or equivalent. In those environments, it is a good idea to be sure you are wearing nonsynthetic underwear and sox. Also pay attention to shoes and shoe laces - most modern lightweight hiking boots will degrade in significant heat (the glues holding everything together just melt). Leather laces are much preferable to nylon.

For normal use, I don't worry about it, although one of the biggest hazards is that an errant spark from the fire will melt/burn a hole in your super expensive, high fashion fleece.

Rob,

As Don pointed out, the synthetic issue probably isn't that big of a deal. I tend to be a little paranoid about certain things....

BDUs are fine in fair weather, aggravating when they get wet, problems when cold and wet. Do a search here, the subject has been covered in depth by people who are both more knowledgable and articulate than I.

Carhartt is great stuff, but expensive, and it suffers from one of the same problems as BDUs. Namely, cotton. Carhartt has been covered here as well.


In late spring and summer, I wear synthetics and cotton. Late fall and winter I wear syntheics and wool. Generalized, but basically accurate. Raingear for both.

Take care,

Andy

Thanks. I'll poke around the forum archives for those discussions.

Along this line, does anyone know what GIs, especially arored types, are wearing in Iraq now? Cetainly they are in an environment where they have to think about flammability.

Armor and aircrew wear nomex. Everyone else wears BDU's.

Aircrew are not permitted to wear anything but cotton, leather, wool, and nomex while flying.

Yep, in sharp contrast to my backpacking clothing, I wear natural materials almost exclusively when flying.