How Prepared are You?

As many of you know, I am a computer geek, and a gun nut. It does not take much convincing for me to get more RAM for the PC, or some 'tacticool' accessory for the shotgun or handguns. (Really amazing what you can legally buy ammo wise...) It did not take me long in some gun forums to see how they are pretty much geeks, just on guns, not 'puters.

Some of they go a bit overboard, but over preparing beats no preperation, in the event of an emergency. And like most groups, they have there own acronyms for different stuff: BITN (Bump In The Night) and one that really got me thinking, is BOB, or Bug Out Bag. But that actually seems very practical, and I am going to set up my own BOB.

During Katrina, or Rita, don't remember which, I abandoned my home, because it was pretty scary, I was in a trailer, and I was also house sitting a neighbor's brick house... But, what do you take? I really did not know what to grab, just grabbed my laptop, and Fred and left. Got lucky, no damage. But it would not be a bad idea to have one bag to grab.

Of course, you would hope you would never need it, but if the Taliban were trying to take over your home, or there was an earthquake (think Haiti..), Hurricane, or maybe your home is on fire...

So, besides the obvious, extra grenades, extra set of keys for the tank :-D, what would you put in a BOB? Since I would be taking one or more guns, I would have a little extra ammo, small gun cleaning kit and the normal stuff: first aid kit, small tools (6 in one screwdriver, and a pair of pliers), change of clothes, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, at least 6 meals of some sort (not sure what yet candy bars and canned food maybe), matches/lighter, pen and paper, flashlight, small radio, extra batteries, emergency blanket, bottled water and perhaps a water filter, some food for Fred, extra jacket or rain gear, depending on the climate, and maybe a book or two, depending on how much room this conglomeration of stuff takes up!

Oh, and cash. Remember when the power grids went down a few years ago? LoL, and toilet paper... I am not planing on the 'end of the world', but if you only have a min or so to get out of your home, would be nice to have it all prepared. Sure, maybe I am paranoid, but that does not mean they are not out to get me!!

So, what else would you add? Besides a straightjacket. :-D

 

I read and reread your list, Fred. Where's the booze?:-D:-D

 

Pretty good, Fred. I use a lock box. I would add, bank account numbers, a pad of checks, a medical history list, and meds. list, along with Dr's names and locations.. That is in addition to "Fred" and the ammo, and all the other items you mentioned. Oh, and no on the straightjacket. I 'd leave that. :-D

 

The booze is hidden from potential thieves.. Maybe in the first aid kit??

 

This is a really interesting concept to me. And as TeeCee pointed out, if you are on medication, pack a few days worth of pills, and your medical info.

Something like this would cost very little, but if you only had food and water for 3 days, in most countries you would be ok, until the calvary arrived. LoL, food for thought anyway.

 

Precisley, Fred, if you are on any serious meds, like BP, or diabetic, keep some packed away, but do rotate them. Meds lists are important..

As for the calvary, they can raid the chicken coop anyway!

 

I figure I'll forget the ONE vital thing LOL

Funny story though, my mother read in a earthquake preparedness pamphlet to store bottled water but to rotate it.
While over there one day she was moving them around in circles saying, "I don't understand what good this does"
I'm not sure I even explained it to her, would have made her mad, bless her soul.

 

I always do that the same week that I have the air in my tires changed. :-D:-D:-D

 

What the heck is a dunny roll?:confused
A wind up torch?:confused

 

Moss is so much nicer to use - gotta be where there are some old trees though

 

I posted this on another forum I go to. One person had an excellent suggestion, water purification tabs, and or water filter system. Pack a couple of liters of water, then filter you own. Much lighter to carry. :major

 

go listen to the song by Hank Jr. "A Country Boy Can Survive". It tells the tale

 

All this is great and very informational but do remember if you are packing for a possible storm also put things that can ruin from water in zip-lock bags or as I do during the hurricanes, Vacuum seal them. Things such as toiletries, lighters/matches,electronic devices...and such. I have a vacuum seal gadget and the big vacuum bags that will hold BIG blankets.When they say there's a tropical storm coming I will start bagging.Another thing to consider taking prof of your last payments on import things such as Mortgages and vehicles and deeds/titles.There are so many things that should be done but as you said in the beginning FredG, if you only have a minute then just the bare essentials.

 

It depends on why I am leaving and for how long as to what I pack in a bag.

I typically don't have a BOB lying about even though I have the equipment to assemble such a thing and all the knowledge needed. Most of the stuff I would put in a bag, I use very often and don't want sequestered in bag or are perishable and would need replacing.

if I was going out the door and not coming back ever based on time involved and order of importance.

cats
Pistol case
change of clothing
extra socks
pocket stuff (cell phones, cash, extra keys)
Rifle case
important docs (they really aren't that important to me)
toiletries (soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, towels, the like)
Mud boots (galoshes to you city folk)
lighter and lighter fluid

on and on like that

typically if I leave in a hurry, it's only for a couple days and then it's wallet, cell phone, feed the cats, fill their water bowl, grab some clothes, hide the guns and out the door

 

around here, it's called voting stubs