Like others have posted, you don't always know how much time you'll have, if any, when a disaster or emergency occurs.

I myself would have a hard time remembering exactly what to pack at 2 a.m. in the morning, whether I had 30 seconds or 30 minutes to complete the task.

Having the basics already prepared -- some water, food, warm clothing, flashlight, knife, etc. -- it sure can't hurt.

I'm sure there are forum members here who carry very minimal EDC all the way to those with distant bug-out locations picked and gear caches buried.

Besides, being prepared is a great way to sleep better at night. <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />