First off, Upinak from AK Preppers reminded me that I should have reminded everyone to have a non-electric can opener for all those jars of food your going to start saving! Thanks, Upinak!
The last item we're going to discuss in this 'regular family' series is the Bug-Out bag, or BOB. It took a long time for me to be convinced that we needed this. Bug-Out? What? 'If TSHTF I plan on riding it out here on my property. I'm not going anywhere!' But wait....what if it's not a TSHTF moment?
Remember Katrina? How folks had to grab a few things and run out of the house? Know anyone in Florida who has had to evacuate due to storms? How about folks in California who have to leave their homes because of forest fires or land slides? Midwesterners who've lost power due to ice storms? There are so many instances when you would need a 'BOB' and probably the least of them is a TSHTF moment. If some natural disaster happened in your area and you had to leave your home, you would be so much more organized and prepared if you already had your BOB ready and waiting. (Plus, you're prepared in case it is a TSHTF moment!)
Grab an appropriate sized backpack, preferably for all the member of your family that are able to carry one. You're going to want items in the pack that would come in handy in case you had to survive out of it for a few days. Some of those items might be:
Large trash bags (poncho, ground cover, fill with leaves for a mattress or blanket)
Shower curtain (tent)
String (multiple uses)
Hat, gloves
2 liter bottle filled with water
Aluminum can (cooking, boil water)
Food (high protein)
First aid kit
Meds
Knife
Matches (waterproof or in a waterproof container)
Duct tape
Soap, toothbrush, dental floss
Socks
Map
Map
TP
Fishing hook and line
Wild edible foods book
Water purifying tablets
Copies of important papers
If you have youngsters you might want some small age-appropriate toy or diapers. Because I take daily meds and can't store them in my BOB, I have a note attached to the zipper that will remind me to grab my meds when I grab the bag.
Make sure that you figure out where you'll go if you need to bug-out. Make sure you get permission from the folks who own your BO location. We personally have a few locations in mind that we could use depending on where we end up going (determined by where the problems are taking place). Talk to your close family or like-minded friends who could be joining you and figure out as much of a 'plan' as you possibly can.
The bug-out bag is a great way to prepare your family for situations that could cause short-term and long-term removal from your home.
Prep On!
Gen-IL Homesteader
Gen-IL Homesteader
