This is part of my series of lists on being prepared.

A bug-out bag is a kind of a survivalist term for a basic disaster supplies kit. I like the term bug-out bag because it emphasizes to me that I should try to keep it small enough to fit into a couple of bags the wife and I could carry.

This gets into a tricky question. I'm not going anywhere without my wife and our cat. The cat won't walk on a leash, I don't think. So, I have to try to imagine us carrying her in a pet taxi and carrying backpacks. I really hope it doesn't come to that, but I'll plan for it.

Anyway, here's the list for the home kit. I'll have to think about a kit to keep at work or in the car too.

1. Clothes

I'll wear a left-over pair of combat boots I have broken in but are still pretty new. I prefer Dickie's for work now and have several pairs. They're pretty durable. A white t-shirt and denim work shirt. In the bag will go some spare skivvies and t-shirts.

2. Water

Water is heavy and I'd rather not carry it, but you've got to have it. I'd rather not carry big bottles, the smaller ones are more flexible for packing. I don't know if the smaller ones are sturdy enough. Do I need to go with a canteen? Well, I always have many bottles of water in the fridge and freezer at home. I'll have to come back to the canteen idea. I guess that's a measure of how pessimistic I am.

We're supposed to have three gallons of water per person for 72 hours. Two people, plus a gallon for the cat, that's seven gallons which weighs 58 pounds. That's a lot to carry. I guess we'll plan on carrying that in the car and if we have to go by foot we'll take what we can.

3. Food

I never had to eat an MRE, thank goodness. From their reputation, I think I'll be trying out some camping food. Three breakfasts, three lunches, three dinners.

Lily eats Fancy Feast. I need six cans of that.

Can opener

Pringles - It wouldn't be a hurricane without potato chips.

4. First-Aid Kit

This list looks good.

5. Other

-Swiss Army Knife or Gerber Tool
-Toilet Paper
-Duct Tape (always a good and useful thing)
-Buc-ees sells sunglasses that are also safety glasses (picture)
-Mess Kits - I guess the contents of this will depend on the food I get and if I can heat up food in the packages. At least I will need something to heat water in.
-Hand-Crank Radio
-Portable TV
-Batteries (AA)
-Compass
-MP3 Player
-Cash
-Silver Coins - I have a few, not enough though. I know I should be a gold bug, but I would think that silver would be better for everyday needs purchases.
-Deck of Cards - We're always up for a game of spades.

Labels: preparedness

No reason I can think of not to start teaching the cat how a leash works right now. Those carriers are pretty bulky. And by the time you need it, the cat might be able to carry a pack of it's own food.

You're missing a gun of some sort. Open-carry holster.

Tarp & clothesline make a shelter. Space blankets, fire starters, first aid. Power Bars. Ditch the teevee - important news will be on the radio. Binoculars. Pen and paper. Nalgene water bottles.

Sorry, I think about this stuff a lot. Boy Scouts, what can I say?

TFG

Good stuff Rob. I hope you don't mind if I toss out some more advice!

On water: Try to find some plastic Nalgene bottles. They're durable and most are marked so you can measure water (for cooking). Maybe also some camelbak or other bladders for larger storage -- these can strap inside or outside of backpacks, so they're useful.

Also, consider a full-blown backpacking water purifier (not just a filter, but a purifier. The distinction is important). They are not that expensive and provide peace of mind. Water is important.

Freeze-dried backpacking food is actually tasty, and takes up little space. Look for it on sale at places like CampMor, REI-Outlet, Academy, etc, and stock up. REI recently had two-person packs of Stroganoff for $1.83. I bought ten of them just for camping (in addition to stock of chili mac on hand). We were set for a few weeks if need be. Also, ramen and freeze-dried veggies make for a damn tasty lunch if you're hungry and your favorite burger joint is closed thanks to lack of power (or you've just hiked five miles with a pack, heh). Breakfast/granola/protein bars last a long time and make for a good breakfast. Also keep around some beef jerky. You'll be set.

You'll want a backpacking stove and plenty of fuel. I like the pressurized containers (and have kept around my old Coleman Xtreme single burner backpacking stove for car camping and disasters), but you might prefer a multifuel unit. And some small pots, to boil your water for the freeze-dried food.

Store some probiotics in your first-aid kit. If you get a stomach bug, they will help.

Thanks y'all. I appreciate any and all suggestions.

1. The Gun - That is a question I started to consider and ran into a brick wall.

My inclination was to stow it in a backpack, but then I need a case and could have trouble getting to it quickly.

Open carry could get some attention I may not want.

So I think I need a CCL and a concealed holster. I have a 9MM and always have 50 rounds of hollow point (rotating for freshness) five per two magazines. I'd up that to ten per if I needed to carry them. I also need to reserve a box of 50 standard rounds to pack (hunting?).

The missus is quite handy with the pistol (Corsicana girl). I'm also thinking about getting a second pistol, or rifle....

2. Not being a camper, I'd never heard of a backpacking water purifying system. Thank you.

As water purifiers go, I have this guy:

http://www.moontrail.com/hydration/firstneed.html

It's been a good one. You might beat that price with some searching.

take the cat are you serious???????????????

Two cats now, yes. I wouldn't evacuate without the cats. They're my children.