Author Topic: What's in your Go Bag?  (Read 9168 times)

Sailor Sam

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What's in your Go Bag?
« on: November 20, 2018, 08:31:25 AM »
It has been a while since the Community has discussed emergency preparation. The raging California fires seem as good a trigger as any, as does this CNN Article on The Things They Took.

I'll start, so people don't feel shy. I've got one Go Bag, a Sandpiper of California brand. The model is appropriately named the Bugout Bag. I kept next to the front door of the house. I used to have one in the car, but I'm currently carless. I used to have one at work, but my current billet can make it's own water and power.

Without further ado, the content! Listed in what I consider the order of importance:

1. Clothing: 2 pairs of wool socks, 2 pairs of cotton underwear, long sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves, woolly hat, balaclava, sneakers, bandana, poncho. Frugal bonus - I used 'quitter' uniforms for the pants and shirt. With the patches ripped off, they're just very sturdy blue clothing. Ripstop material for the win.

2. Documents: 1 encrypted USB with scans of all my vital documents. A hard copy list of friends and their phone numbers. A photograph of my family.

3. Shelter: 1 blue tarp, 5x7", 2 packs of 550 paracord, mylar emergency blanket.

4. Tools: multi-tool, folding knife, safety pins, duct tape, 2 N95 masks, headlamp (batteries rubber banded to the outside), flashlight (batteries stored backwards inside), 2 extra batteries for each light source, local area map.

5. Fire: pack of waterproof matches, ziplock of dryer lint, 2 disposable lighters, flint (honestly, I never practice with the flint, and it's more for the coooool factor that keeping me warm)

6. Food & Water: camelback bladder, dropper bottle of bleach, Sawyer brand mini water filtration, 2 empty plastic water bottles, 1 'broke down' MRE and 3 Clif bars.

7. First aid kit: small, think band-aids and insect repellent, not major trauma

8. Hygiene: wetwipes, hand sanitizer, mini-roll of toilet paper, shammie towel

9. Cash: $1,000 in small-ish bills.




I won't lie, the bastard is heavy. I'm not prepping for the apocalypse. I'm prepping to evacuate to some sort of harbor of safe refuge, and have some self-carried resources once I arrive. Prepping for the not-insane.

The final part of my prep is to drill actually grabbing the bag. Come the fire alarm, it's amazing what you can plumb forget.

2Birds1Stone

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #1 on: November 20, 2018, 09:01:02 AM »
10oz of gold and a Glock.

not really, I need to think about something like this......had one years ago.

MonkeyJenga

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2018, 09:10:48 AM »
You have a picture of me and Snow in your go bag? That's so sweet!

(To the surprise of no one, I have zero plans and am hoping I will never have an emergency.)

Sailor Sam

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2018, 09:16:08 AM »
10oz of gold and a Glock.

not really, I need to think about something like this......had one years ago.

Hardcore. Not even a knife! Are you going to, like, gnaw the gold into chunks of legal-ish tender with your good bitin' tooth?


You have a picture of me and Snow in your go bag? That's so sweet!

(To the surprise of no one, I have zero plans and am hoping I will never have an emergency.)

Siiiiiigh.

big_slacker

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2018, 09:19:38 AM »
My big stupid offroad SUV has a standard array of survival gear in it, including clothing, first aid, sawyer water filter, water, emergency blankets, wood, axe, toiletries, camp chairs (who wants to sit on damp stumps during a zombie apoc), basic automotive tools, air compressor and battery pack. For some reason I never have food, but the pantry always has plenty I could just grab on the way out the door along with some guns/ammo and a tent.

QueenAlice

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2018, 09:28:11 AM »
That's a great list, thanks for sharing. We add something to our bug out bags with each possible disaster that heads our way.

I really like the USB. I think I'll work on adding that next.

We currently have:

  • Esbit stoves
  • Small camp pots/pans kit
  • Water proof matches
  • Small, very bright lanterns
  • Glow sticks
  • Small med kit
  • Iodine tablets
  • Emergency blankets
  • Rollable water bottles
  • Multitool
  • Knife
  • Baby carrying wrap
  • Absorbant towels

We don't keep clothes packed, we currently plan to just grab what we need before we dash. Something to consider. Adding a few socks and underwear wouldn't be a terrible idea.

JanetJackson

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2018, 09:33:43 AM »
I don't have a bag, but honestly should make one. 
I do have the perfect backpack and many of the things on your list, but not packed up. 
I'd also like to get one of those doggy carry backpack things (they have a name, but I can't recall right now) in case my dog were to be injured and needed to be carried (you can carry a small person in one too, if need be). 

I don't have any family or friends persay where I live, but you'd better bet I'm not leaving my dog (or any other pets I come across) behind.  That's why I lift weights and run, for situations like that.
 
I'm not a gun person, but I know how to use one and it might be a good idea to have one for protection or to end the lift or any animals who are too far injured that I come across... or I guess if things got TOO bad after some time, depending on the situation, for myself? :[

Ugh, I hate thinking about stuff like this.

Sailor Sam

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2018, 09:53:33 AM »
I've actually made the decision NOT to pack any ammo, or plan on grabbing my weapon. Like I said, I'm not prepping for the breakdown of society. I'll be disaster, straight towards non-disaster. Though, to be fair, my Closest Point of Approach for non-disaster is the nearest base, which will have all the weapons and a very robust anti-intrusion system.

use2betrix

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2018, 10:01:44 AM »
For camping we have a 1966 M416 off-road military trailer with rooftop tent. It stays packed with the items we needed for an 8,000 mile, 2 month road trip we took last year. We slept in the tent every night but 3. It easily has enough supplies to last off grid for a couple weeks, would just need to resupply water and food. Our 4Runner has a deep cell battery with 50qt fridge to keep food cold, and we also have a portable solar panel.

Aside from that, we’d just need to pack some clothes, grab our safe, and a rifle and handgun.

We don’t have a “Go Bag” per se, but we could be VERY ready to go in about an hour if necessary. In fact, we love camping so much that we’d really just go off grid and camp in that situation even if better accommodations were available.

Dicey

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2018, 10:15:07 AM »
This is an excellent list. My only quibble is with the fabric content of the undies. Cotton is super slow to dry. The performance, wicking stuff is easy to wash and dries in a flash. Unless you just hate them, something to consider.

Are "quitter" uniforms ripped from the bodies of washouts or is it a term of affection for uniforms that have been retired from your own inventory?

Bracken_Joy

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2018, 10:27:00 AM »
We really beefed our packs up after the wildfires... either last year or the year before, I forget. I only sort of had a rag tag collection of things near our camping gear before that. One of your threads kicked my ass into getting my ducks in a row.

Still a little short on clothing options, though I've been trickling items in there as they go out of circulation for general wear. Still, multiple socks and underwear and a pair of tennis are in each pack. Heavy on the first aid, since I'm a nurse and find I'm often called on to apply those skills, which are damned hard to do with no supplies. One of the more "prepper" items I opted for was potassium iodide, in the case of nuclear exposure. This isn't just a "oh no, north korea" purchase, the PNW has a lot of nuclear power of varying degrees of safeness, and that whole 'fault line' thing scares me. Helps that they were pretty cheap. As for food, we have some water, iodine tablets, MREs, and tuna pouches. Pocket knives in both packs. Hmm what else. Glow sticks, thermal blankets, orange flagging tape, fire starters and waterproof matches, all the hiking kit basics we duplicated in there.

In the event of a slower evac, we also keep all our camping gear in one spot, including our cook bin as a single unit (stove, gas, pots/pans, etc). We also keep a couple flats of water around, and certain items I always restock before I'm out, like canned tuna and peanut butter.

This is an excellent list. My only quibble is with the fabric content of the undies. Cotton is super slow to dry. The performance, wicking stuff is easy to wash and dries in a flash. Unless you just hate them, something to consider.

Are "quitter" uniforms ripped from the bodies of washouts or is it a term of affection for uniforms that have been retired from your own inventory?

This is a good one re: the undies, and I have 2 pairs of quick dry fancy ones that I hardly wear. I may shift them into my pack.

Hmm. Other thoughts, I need to step up the 'vital documents' aspect for sure. I don't have any of that! Next to-do. (Although luckily there are many on a cloud service I could log into, but obviously would need internet for that).

Sailor Sam

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #11 on: November 20, 2018, 10:35:16 AM »
This is an excellent list. My only quibble is with the fabric content of the undies. Cotton is super slow to dry. The performance, wicking stuff is easy to wash and dries in a flash. Unless you just hate them, something to consider.

Are "quitter" uniforms ripped from the bodies of washouts or is it a term of affection for uniforms that have been retired from your own inventory?

Yes, the cotton undies aren't ideal, but I never remember to purchase better alternatives. It's not much fun to buy something, then stash it in the bag, perhaps never to be used. Maybe I'll put them on my christmas list.

I'm also too cheap to buy a *ahem* cup shaped hygiene item. That is definitely NOT going on my Christmas list. ;) I should throw some disposables into the bag. I'll try and remember to accomplish that today.

The quitter uniforms come from Plebs that wash out of the Academy. They're barely worn, and cost something like 10% of the cost of new. The glut only happens once a year, and you have to actually be at the Academy, and they tend to be in stripling sizes (ah, to be 17 again!), but when the stars align I make sure to take advantage.

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #12 on: November 20, 2018, 10:40:23 AM »
Now!  There's a good idea, an emergency kit.  I don't even have a first aid kit any more.  Scanning important documents is a heck of a good idea.  It's even better than the wet moldy box in the basement where they are now.

GuitarStv

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #13 on: November 20, 2018, 11:14:20 AM »
- tire levers
- zip ties
- mini-pump
- two spare tubes
- multi-tool w spoke wrench and chain breaker
- spare quick link
- arm warmers
- leg warmers
- cycling cap
- buff
- gilet
- three 750 mL bottles
- assorted homemade granola/energy bars
- gummy bears
- 5$ cash

It's enough for me to get about 200 km from the house in any direction.  Wife and kid are on their own though.

dcheesi

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #14 on: November 20, 2018, 11:35:01 AM »
All in the back of my SUV (from memory):

Bag with one full change of clothes (socks, undies,jeans,t-shirt,collared shirt,hat)
Boots
Blankets, towels
Rain hat
umbrellas
Faux-sherpa lined hoodie1
Small shovel (that doubles as a makeshift hatchet, or ninja throwing-shovel ;)
Old, probably worthless bug spray and sunscreen
Backpack containing:
  compass
  wind-up radio
  LED lights
  paracord
  steel cable
  fishing line & hooks
  first aid kit
  storm matches, magnesium fire starter
  folding wood-saw
  folding multitool (Victorinox Trekker)
  water purification tablets
  rain poncho

etc.

(1No actual Sherpas were harmed in the manufacture of this product)
« Last Edit: November 20, 2018, 11:37:02 AM by dcheesi »

dougules

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #15 on: November 20, 2018, 11:38:24 AM »
Does everywhere have natural disasters that might end up involving evacuation?  Fire for me would likely be my house specifically or me and my neighbors.  I'm too far inland for a hurricane, and I'm on a rise that would only flood if half the state had already drowned.  Our natural disasters tend to be the ones that don't give enough warning for an evacuation, mostly tornadoes with a small possibility of earthquakes or sinkholes. 

PoutineLover

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #16 on: November 20, 2018, 11:57:46 AM »
I don't have a go bag, and since I don't have a car I suppose I could really only bring what I could carry on my back or on my bike, and even that is pretty weather dependent. Luckily I think there's a pretty low risk of major fire, earthquake, hurricane or nuclear strike where I live. If anything, I should be prepping for a winter power outage and then I'd mostly have to worry about keeping warm and procuring food.

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #17 on: November 20, 2018, 12:18:41 PM »
I did have to evacuate my home with my children and our pets this past summer due to an encroaching wildfire. Because we just under suggested as opposed to mandatory evacuation (which came the next day), I had enough time to put together a 3-prong approch:

1) Pack as if we were heading off on a normal long weekend to the ocean. Changes of clothes for everyone, toiletries and some snacks and water. Laptop and books. Pet food, leash, cat carrier.

2) Pack as if we might return to charred ruins: this was mostly in a Rubbermaid tote with photo albums, jewelry box, quilt made by grandmother, some small pieces of pottery and art. Photographed each room. File folder with important documents and passports.

3) Pack for emergency/extraordinary circumstances: filtration masks for humans, everyone wearing boots in case we had to abandon the car, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, ax, extra water. I don't own a gun so didn't bring one. Not sure I'd be able to shoot my way out of a wildfire in any case.

We did return to a completely intact, ash covered house 5 days later. One fire was contained less than a half mile away. Ensuing mixture of guilt and relief.

Currently, in light of the latest Northern California wildfire, which is not all that far away, I have most of Contingency #3 already in the car. No real danger but on alert. The rest of life is business as usual here. There's rain in the forecast for tomorrow, hoping against hope it pours.

mm1970

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #18 on: November 20, 2018, 12:57:07 PM »
We don't have a go bag.  Last winter's local fires caused school shut downs, evacuations (but not us), bad air quality. We voluntarily evac'd 2 times.

The second time, it was 8am on a Sat, and I was heading to my morning grocery run.  I could see the flames on the hillside from my house.  I continued to the store, bought all prepared foods and snacks, and went home.

We packed the car with clothing, electronics items, important papers (though we also have a safety deposit box).  We took some photos.  I actually put on my engagement ring.

And we left, only to sit in traffic for an hour because a semi truck carrying some sort of oil overturned and closed the freeway going north (the fire was to the south).

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #19 on: November 20, 2018, 03:22:25 PM »
For camping we have a 1966 M416 off-road military trailer with rooftop tent. It stays packed with the items we needed for an 8,000 mile, 2 month road trip we took last year. We slept in the tent every night but 3. It easily has enough supplies to last off grid for a couple weeks, would just need to resupply water and food. Our 4Runner has a deep cell battery with 50qt fridge to keep food cold, and we also have a portable solar panel.

Aside from that, we’d just need to pack some clothes, grab our safe, and a rifle and handgun.

We don’t have a “Go Bag” per se, but we could be VERY ready to go in about an hour if necessary. In fact, we love camping so much that we’d really just go off grid and camp in that situation even if better accommodations were available.

We just started converting a van for leisure (mostly hoping we'll go part time in the next year or so and have 4 day weekends every week). The fires were kind of a lightbulb that we've got the ultimate go bag now (or, rather, when it's complete; it's kind of a work in progress atm). It's essentially a class B RV (bed, water, kitchen, electricity, etc). It means we can leave at any point in time and move across country at a whim. Ideally we'd just have to grab the dog and important papers and leave forever if necessary.

Abe

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #20 on: November 20, 2018, 10:24:08 PM »
Good list. We live in Southern California so have plans for a fire evac and for earthquake evac (longer term, more widespread destruction requiring farther evacuation).

For fire evac, our evacuation goal is to a reasonable hotel, so we keep a suitcase with:

- 3 sets of clothes for each person, and a blanket (gets cold at night here).
- Diapers, small toys and such for the son
- Important documents (hard copies and USB backup)
- First aid kit
- N95 masks

For earthquake, our goal is to survive the initial shock. For this, we have a steel bedframe rated for 1.5 tons as initial protection against falling debris (assuming we're at home). After the initial shock, we would try to leave the disaster area for an airpot and flight out of the area. Assuming that is not possible, secondary plan would be to travel to an unaffected neighboring state and get a hotel. If roads are impassable and we need to shelter in place, we have two go-bags and a tent. These provide clothes, shelter, MRE, cook-pot, fire-starters, hatchet, water purification, flashlights, lanterns, batteries, walkie-talkie/radios, paracord, surgical kit and cash. In the pantry we have water and dried food for 1 week ready to load in the car. I also keep my gas tank at least 3/4 full at all times. 

expatartist

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #21 on: November 21, 2018, 12:58:04 AM »
Great thread @Sailor Sam thanks for starting it. My Go Bag has very little in it: just a fire extinguisher, fire blanket, towel (to cover mouth) & water bottle to dampen towel, next to my door. Really should throw in a fire-resistant wool top as well just in case.

I live on the 12/F of a rickety building between hills and the sea in a flat part of town that's not prone to flooding, near the world's most densely populated neighborhood https://theculturetrip.com/asia/hong-kong/articles/this-neighbourhood-is-the-most-densely-populated-place-on-earth/ Our biggest concern is fire. For typhoons we've usually got plenty of notice and I've always got a travel bag ready to go for quick trips.

dang1

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #22 on: November 21, 2018, 02:57:06 AM »
most of the stuff on this thread + inreach se + bgan terminal

ROF Expat

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #23 on: November 21, 2018, 03:59:27 AM »
I believe in being prepared for emergencies, but I don't keep a go bag. 

I live in a solid old house on high ground, so I'm not worried about floods.  Wildfires aren't an issue in my area.  Without  those two threats, I believe that in virtually any other circumstance, I'll be better off hunkering down at home, so that's where I've made my efforts.  I have a generator with a very large propane tank.  I regularly have plenty of food in the freezers and the pantry and I keep a few frozen gallon jugs of water in each freezer to keep things cool as a backup to the generator and for emergency drinking water.  If I know a hurricane is coming, I'll fill freeze some more bottles and fill the bathtubs.  I have a basement with normal tools as well as useful materials like wood, tarps, plastic sheeting, and rope.  I think I could be quite comfortable for a week or two and safe and healthy for much longer than that, although my diet might get a bit odd. 

I'd much rather take my chances at home where I rely on my own preparations than evacuate to some high school gymnasium where I rely on others for all my needs.  And being on the road immediately before or during a crisis is likely to cause more problems than it resolves.  Live under a tarp on MRE's and treated water while hugging my pistol and cranking my windup radio?  No thanks.  I'll be at home with my family and dogs, breaking out the good wine and grilling steaks.  Maybe invite a few of the neighbors over... 

I'm not mocking anybody who does have a go bag, because there are definitely circumstances where they'll be helpful.  I'm just pointing out the potential advantages of staying home.  YMMV.

Astatine

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #24 on: November 21, 2018, 04:35:39 AM »
This is a timely thread for me, bushfire season will be ramping up very soon and where I live there is a moderate risk of bushfires (it's the only natural disaster scenario that I need to prepare for). Our emergency plan is to evacuate, not stay and defend.

We haven't set up a bugout bag for this summer yet but DH always has some supplies in his day-to-day backpack, like spare insulin and hypo treatments (jelly beans, muesli bars) for me, some basic medical supplies (including a compression bandage for snake bites or sprains) and a battery pack for our phones. My day-to-day bag also includes some basic medical supplies like antihistamines, painkillers and iodine to disinfect small wounds.

This year's bugout bag will include:

Wind-up radio/torches x2
Battery pack for our phones
Phone chargers/cables
Food (high GI carbs, low GI carbs and some tinned food)
1 weeks worth of my essential medications, 2 weeks worth of insulin in Frio bags, 2 glucagon kits, spare equipment for monitoring blood glucose levels
Panadol
Basic first aid kit, including compression bandages
Water
Socks and underwear x2
Cat food & a bowl
Toilet paper

We always leave the cat carrier set up near the front door in summer in case of an emergency evacuation.

When fire season hits, we always have 1 litre of water and a couple of cotton towels on the back seat of our car, and a pair of leather gloves in the glove box in case we are ever caught in a fire. (we figure we can wet the towels and breathe through the fabric if needed, or cover ourselves) We also always have a couple of lightweight spray jackets and a tarp in the boot of our car.

Things we need to do: make little laminated cards of important contact info, including friends' phone numbers, my doctors etc; give a backup of our important documents to our friends to keep in their fire safe and/or buy a small fire safe for our place.
« Last Edit: November 21, 2018, 04:40:44 AM by Astatine »

JLee

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #25 on: November 21, 2018, 05:48:40 AM »
My big stupid offroad SUV has a standard array of survival gear in it, including clothing, first aid, sawyer water filter, water, emergency blankets, wood, axe, toiletries, camp chairs (who wants to sit on damp stumps during a zombie apoc), basic automotive tools, air compressor and battery pack. For some reason I never have food, but the pantry always has plenty I could just grab on the way out the door along with some guns/ammo and a tent.

I have a pretty well kitted out SUV as well, not preloaded with food/clothing though. Tools, air, battery, solar, first aid, etc.  I should consider adding some clothing though. That said, I'm right outside NYC so if something catastrophic happens the roads are going to be massively clogged anyway so I am probably better off not going anywhere.

neophyte

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #26 on: November 21, 2018, 06:29:00 AM »
I was just thinking about this. I have all my backpacking gear spread around the house and then I round it up everytime I go on a trip. It would not be a bad idea to just store it all in my bag where I could just grab it in case of emergency. It would make my closet neater too. I think I'd still store my sleeping bag unstuffed outside of the bag so the down doesn't get compressed, but grabbing 2 bags that are next to each other isn't much harder than grabbing one.

I should just do it.

Dicey

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #27 on: November 21, 2018, 06:36:38 AM »
All in the back of my SUV (from memory):

Bag with one full change of clothes (socks, undies,jeans,t-shirt,collared shirt,hat)
Boots
Blankets, towels
Rain hat
umbrellas
Faux-sherpa lined hoodie1
Small shovel (that doubles as a makeshift hatchet, or ninja throwing-shovel ;)
Old, probably worthless bug spray and sunscreen
Backpack containing:
  compass
  wind-up radio
  LED lights
  paracord
  steel cable
  fishing line & hooks
  first aid kit
  storm matches, magnesium fire starter
  folding wood-saw
  folding multitool (Victorinox Trekker)
  water purification tablets
  rain poncho

etc.

(1No actual Sherpas were harmed in the manufacture of this product)
How do you disguise this gear in your SUV? Even in my relatively low-crime area, a full backpack would be an obvious  temptation.

Sailor Sam

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #28 on: November 21, 2018, 06:45:28 AM »
I was just thinking about this. I have all my backpacking gear spread around the house and then I round it up everytime I go on a trip. It would not be a bad idea to just store it all in my bag where I could just grab it in case of emergency. It would make my closet neater too. I think I'd still store my sleeping bag unstuffed outside of the bag so the down doesn't get compressed, but grabbing 2 bags that are next to each other isn't much harder than grabbing one.

I should just do it.

Do it! Do it today, and report back.

OtherJen

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #29 on: November 21, 2018, 07:30:07 AM »
Does everywhere have natural disasters that might end up involving evacuation?  Fire for me would likely be my house specifically or me and my neighbors.  I'm too far inland for a hurricane, and I'm on a rise that would only flood if half the state had already drowned.  Our natural disasters tend to be the ones that don't give enough warning for an evacuation, mostly tornadoes with a small possibility of earthquakes or sinkholes.

My area is the same: bad warm-weather storms with very short notice (increasingly rare, and damage is spotty), or big snowstorms with plenty of notice. We’re far enough from industrial areas and nuclear reactors that evacuation would only be necessary in a huge regional disaster.

Sailor Sam

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #30 on: November 21, 2018, 07:40:27 AM »
Does everywhere have natural disasters that might end up involving evacuation?  Fire for me would likely be my house specifically or me and my neighbors.  I'm too far inland for a hurricane, and I'm on a rise that would only flood if half the state had already drowned.  Our natural disasters tend to be the ones that don't give enough warning for an evacuation, mostly tornadoes with a small possibility of earthquakes or sinkholes.

My area is the same: bad warm-weather storms with very short notice (increasingly rare, and damage is spotty), or big snowstorms with plenty of notice. We’re far enough from industrial areas and nuclear reactors that evacuation would only be necessary in a huge regional disaster.

Disasters can also happen on a small scale, too. House fires, chemical releases from road and rail systems, etc. In the end, it comes down to your personal Operational Risk Assessment, where you weigh possibility against consequences. For me, the risk of needing to evacuate my dwelling on radically short notice is very low, but the consequences would be severe enough that I want a pack ready.

My view is also admittedly skewed. I occasionally work in disaster relief, and have an unusual level of personal experience standing next to people who have just lost everything but the soaked jammies they are standing in. The look on their faces is highly motivating.

meerkat

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #31 on: November 21, 2018, 08:12:35 AM »
Wildfires are not a risk in my area but house fires certainly are just in the normal course of dwelling in a house. I need to restart my efforts at pulling together a go bag.

Currently have (not in a bag and not in a useful location):
* Credit card holder thingy on a lanyard for our toddler. I used MSPaint to splice together pictures of relatives most likely to retrieve him if he were to get separated from us and included their phone numbers, printed it, and folded it up into the holder thingy. If shit goes sideways I will also be sharpie-ing our phone numbers on him. He has a speech delay so a stranger wouldn't even fully understand him if he said his first name and he has no clue about surname, parents' names, birthday, address, etc.
* Cash. Should probably add some smaller bills.
* Glow sticks/glow necklaces

Need to add:
* Scans of important documents. Password protect them as needed, share password with certain parties. These will go on a tiny jump drive that I think can also fit in kid's card holder thingy in case we get hit by a bus.
* I think there's also room on the jump drive for pictures maybe
* Socks, underwear, a few pull ups
* Baby Doll. Since there's two Baby Dolls, might as well keep the spare in the go bag when it's not in rotation.
* Wipes
* First aid kit
* Bottles of water
* Dog collar, leash

Need to also practice getting out the window/kid's window.

Most of our stuff is "hunker down" type emergency supplies:
* Flashlights (need to do the battery tricks you mentioned), LED candles
* Canned food.
* Water. A lot of our water supply is frozen with the intention of putting it into the fridge when a hurricane bears down on us so that if the power goes out the food will keep cold longer.
* Medicines (try not to run out entirely before the next refill, refill early as allowed during state of emergency conditions)
* Dog food

Jon_Snow

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #32 on: November 21, 2018, 08:17:39 AM »
I prefer the term "runny sack".


dashuk

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #33 on: November 21, 2018, 08:38:48 AM »
I live somewhere too soggy for wildfire, too high for flooding and geologically stable.

House fire is the only thing that we probably should be prepared for. Assuming we grab car keys and money on way out, immediate shelter (friends) is about 30s away, 24hr supermarket is ten minutes away and long-term shelter (family) an hour away. Failing to do so (or car also on fire) just means an hour delay at step one for family to drive up.

Should probably be a bit better prepared for that scenario in terms of precious things - important documents (like the house insurance for a start), the hard drives all the computers get backed up to (particularly photos), etc. We have to store that stuff somewhere, could easily be bagged.

Also some interesting ideas in here on "sit tight" preparations.

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #34 on: November 21, 2018, 08:43:52 AM »
I prefer the term "runny sack".

Ah, @fart_face, this is why you remain my favourite play thing.

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #35 on: November 21, 2018, 12:23:14 PM »
Haven't looked at it in over a year, so let me go grab it out of the closet...

Depending on where I will be going and the type of emergency/global melt-down, I may lose some of these items for weight's sake.  It currently weighs 13-14lbs.  Lose the water bottles and it drops significantly.  But this is my bug-out bag as I dig it out:

2 Pair Sunglasses
Leather Gloves
First Aid Kit (Sunscreen, Gauze, Bandaids, Adhesive Tape, Immodium AD, Ibuprofen, Burn Cream, Antiseptic Wipes, CELOX (Instant Blood Clotter) Tampons, and First Aid guidebook)
Roll of Duct Tape
18 oz Stainless steel cup
Emergency Aluminized Blanket
Pack of Babywipes
Toothpaste and 2 toothbrushes
50' 550-Paracord
Polyethylene Tarp
2 packages of Mountain House Freeze Dried Meals (good til Dec '27)
4 Bottles of water
Hatchet (easily droppable for weight purposes)
Box of 22LR ammo
Swiss Army Knife
Frame lock Folding Pocket Knife
Small LED Flashlight
4 Battery "Glowsticks"
Small LED Lamp
4 Extra AAA Batteries
6 Pack of Industrial Face masks
4 pairs of vinyl gloves
3 Pack of Lighters
Playing Cards
Emergency Whistle (with Built in Flint and Button Compass)
4 Tealight Candles
30 pack of Aqua Purifying Tablets
Small Sewing Kit
2 Clothes-pins
« Last Edit: November 21, 2018, 12:25:14 PM by FIREandMONEY »

kimmarg

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #36 on: November 21, 2018, 06:35:57 PM »
In each car for adult: (2 cars, 2 adults in family so 1 bag/person)
Warm hat
Warm gloves
sweatpants
tshift
thin fleece
hand warmers
mylar blanket
snacks
headlamp and batteries
glow stick
$20
mini first aid kid
wipes

In house 'go bag':
Important papers: passports, cash, credit card, safe deposit box key, copy of birth certificates, copy of SSN cards
Medical: eyeglasses for all who wear them, epipen, 1 week of prescription medication, migraine meds
electronic: USB backup drive for both laptops, phone charger, USB battery 'brick'
Ponchos x2
mylar blanket
hygiene: hand sanitizer, travel pack of wipes, sunscreen

In house kid go-bag:
1 size up fleece footed PJ's (warm or clothing works for both)
1 size up pants and shirt
toiletries: diaper/pulls ups, wipes, plastic bag, hand sanitizer
kid snacks (food pouches, was formula when smaller)
light: headlamp + batteries, glow stick
comfort/entertainment: pacifier, stickers, crayons

In the cloud:
scanned and password protected copies of:
drivers license
passport
insurance cards
eye glass prescriptions

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #37 on: November 21, 2018, 11:56:33 PM »
Some Canadians taught me to keep cans, candles, and matches in the car in the event I need to pull over for a few hours in cold weather.

A tea candle in a can will warm up the interior of a car for several hours.  It's important to crack a back window as flame eats up oxygen.

At home, I can put a tea candle in a can and place inside my slow cooker with the lid off.  The can warms up the slow cooker ceramic which warms a small room. 

The ceramic pot needs to be removed from the slow cooker machine and placed on something that won't get hot, like a thick wood cutting board or granite trivet.  Again, a window needs to be cracked open.

I used to live in an all-electric home in a town that regularly lost power in winter, sometimes for several days to a week.

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #38 on: November 22, 2018, 01:17:52 AM »
I was in a fire area last year.  Emergency services had the horrible habit of notifying people at 2 AM coinciding with a power outage. I realized I didn’t want to be fucking around in the dark. 

So as soon as I heard I was in a “voluntary evacuation zone” I rented a car (I don’t own one). I loaded everything into it that would fit in a somewhat leisurely fashion and made a run for it.  The rental car was my go bag and loaded up like the Beverly Hillbillies truck.

It turned out I didn’t have run but I’d do it again if I had to.  It beat the hell out of the waiting and worrying and hoping too many do and I beat the traffic jams.  And of course it helped I could afford to rent the car and hotel room.  It brought a whole new meaning to “FU Money.”

Imma

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #39 on: November 22, 2018, 11:07:15 AM »
I'm glad that I live in a location where fires, flooding, storms and earthquakes are not a risk, so in case of a large-scale emergency, it's unlikely we'd have to evacuate (except for very unlikely events like war).

That leaves local emergencies as the biggest risk. The most local and biggest risk is a fire in my own home. I have most of my important documents in a webbased email account that I can always access. Hopefully I'd be able to take my bag with me, which contains my phone, passport and wallet. This would cover all my acute basic needs. My phone would be especially convenient, because through the internet banking app I could transfer money to my checking account without needing a computer and a card reader. Even if I wasn't able to rescue my wallet, I'd be able to transfer money to a trusted relative or friend's account and let them give me the money in cash.

As for external risks: one would be a short term problem like no electricity or water for a while. In our country both of those networks are extremely reliable so very few people are prepared. We have emergency supplies that could last us for at least a week of bugging in, that would be enough unless the total breakdown of society happens (and in all seriousness: I have a chronic illness that needs advanced treatments and access to expensive medication. In case of a total breakdown of civil society I'd die within the year. No need to prep for long term survival). Another risk would be bad weather causing empty shops for a few days, which happened in the UK last year. Few people have a pantry these days, but we would be able to last for at least a week if the supply chain was interrupted.

Our emergency supplies contain:
- water for half a week
- half a week's worth of other drinks from the pantry (milk, juice, soda, etc)
- food that can be prepared without water or electricity for half a week
- contents of our freezer / fridge: enough for half a week
- foods that need to be prepared (several weeks)
- prescription meds and over the counter medical supplies. I never throw away medication that I don't need anymore unless it's out of date. This includes idoine pills, handed out by the government to be used in case of nuclear accident
- warm clothes and blankets for us and guests (more than enough, I'm  quilter)
- candles, matches, lighters
- powerbanks for phones (I should get a battery operated radio instead)
- flashlight

We live relatively close to a major city center and important transport links. There is a risk of a terrorist attack, but it's hard to say how big that risk is, and there's very little we can do about it anyway. It's not something I worry about. Unless you are at that location when it happens, the best you can do is probably stay at home,  snuggle on the sofa under a blanket with your loved ones, check in on Facebook as safe if you can get internet access, and lay low until the panic dies down. Keep an eye on your neighbours, especially if they are elderly or unwell to see if they need anything. A lot of people go to disaster areas to try and help, but too much "help" makes work very difficult for first responders. If the help of the public is needed for something, emergency services will ask for it. A friend of mine was in the vicinity of a terrorist attack a few years back and it was a relief for everyone to see she checked in as safe. This meant people didn't try to call her, and if everyone checks in as safe, the phone network does not go down and emergency services and people in need can use it.

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #40 on: November 22, 2018, 11:22:30 AM »
In the recent Paradise fire people were sleeping or just getting up. They were lucky to be able to grab their kids and some got their animals too.  A go bag makes sense. We don’t have one as we are not at high risk for most disasters.

RetiredAt63

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #41 on: November 22, 2018, 04:37:08 PM »
I am at risk for earthquakes (fault line along the Ottawa River) and since the house is on Leda clay this could be a major issue for my house in the worst circumstances.  We had bad tornadoes in Ottawa this summer, so I have added tornadoes to my risk list.  Fires can always happen, a barn near me burned down a few years ago.  The biggest risk is power loss in winter, I lived through 3 weeks of no power in January 1998 (days at -20oC, nights colder, no water because no well, heat and cooking from a basement wood stove). 

So power failure is what I am most prepared for.  Short term I always have food that doesn't need cooking, mostly canned, and a manual can opener (I don't even own an electric can opener, manual openers are good hand exercise).  I have flashlights and candles, lots of candles, and matches, and I can find them in the dark.  We had a power failure just the other day (Hydro pole fire), from 4 AM to 6 PM, I was fine.

In case I need to leave I make sure I can always get at the people door to the garage, no matter how much snow we have, and I can open the garage door without electricity.  I always have at least a half tank of gas in the car.

My first backup is evacuate to Ottawa (I know several routes to get there, including secondary roads), second is to evacuate to Toronto.  I know where my documents are, can grab in 5 minutes. Hmm, maybe I will pull the super important ones together and put in an envelope so they are that much faster to grab.  I have a backup thumb drive in my safe deposit box.

RetiredAt63

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #42 on: November 22, 2018, 04:42:55 PM »
One of the more "prepper" items I opted for was potassium iodide, in the case of nuclear exposure. . As for food, we have some water, iodine tablets, MREs, and tuna pouches. Pocket knives in both packs.

Potassium iodide and iodine tablets in case of strontium 90?   Or as a disinfectant?  Seriously, my sister was pregnant when Chernobyl had its meltdown, and we were paying very careful attention to fallout patterns, she and her doctor had iodine supplements ready just in case.  Hmm, Chalk River is upstream/upwind for me, I guess if I have to evacuate from it the first thing I grab is my iodine drops.

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #43 on: November 22, 2018, 05:37:16 PM »
I have light weight hiking gear sitting around. I should keep it more readily set to go, but there's everything in there to survive for many days. Clothing, sleeping stuff, shelter, cooking equipment, basic first aid. Everything on my back and weighing in under 12lb.

Everyone should look into getting a Sawyer squeeze or similar. They will filter the nasties out of pretty much any water, do so for many thousands of gallons of water, and cost little. That way you can carry a couple of liters and no more at any given time.

I live in a place where fires and most recently mud slides are a problem. Earth quakes are a real possibility too.

While I like the idea of my FJ cruiser saving my ass, in reality the roads will block with traffic and you are done. Just look at all those burned out cars in Paradise.

IMO, a bicycle or better still dual sport motorcycle plus hiking gear would be the most reliable and redundant strategy for many who live in high density regions.

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #44 on: November 22, 2018, 07:11:30 PM »
Great thread, thanks for starting it. Gives me a lot to think about.

I'm mostly in the camp of expecting to hunker down at home. We're well equipped for power outages because we have them routinely. And we've got camping gear, which doubles as emergency gear.

We've got some emergency supplies, but not gathered into one place. It's a good idea. Right now it would probably take maybe half an hour to make a list, gather everything together, add things we forgot, head for the door, remember yet more things and grab them, and then be out.

If nothing else, we should probably at least make a list of things we'd need in an emergency. That would cut down prep time considerably, especially in potentially panicked conditions.

One thing we do have is an emergency escape ladder we can hang out the second-story window in case of fire. That's more house prep than evac prep, though.

Cassie

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #45 on: November 22, 2018, 09:12:30 PM »
My things used to be very important to me such as pictures and antiques.  Now at 64 if I get out with my dogs I am happy.

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #46 on: November 23, 2018, 10:39:10 AM »
Don't have one, don't believe I need one.  I live in a prairie town surrounded by crop land with no river (no flooding) or train tracks (hazardous spill) anywhere near.  No earthquakes or tsunamis either.  The only real threats are tornadoes and winter snow storms, where it's best to shelter in place anyway.  In the event of a fire of any kind, I'd just grab the animals and run.  Neighbours and family would help out.

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #47 on: November 23, 2018, 10:57:43 AM »
Mine's changed over the years as kid's gotten older and moved out, and I moved to a house in the middle of a city in an area that's likely to see tornado and flooding damage and not much else. My gear now tends to be more of a "survive for two weeks without power" rubbermaid tote in the basement/deep freezer type of setup, with a duffel in the front closet for "house on fire need clothes and cash" scenario. My apocalypse plan has long been to grab my go gear and bike south to a friend's self-sufficient off grid farm.

My first cat was trained to jump inside my Go Bag, which she did during a string of frequent building fire alarms.

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #48 on: November 23, 2018, 12:19:05 PM »
In my household emergency kit there's a 1kg brick of Lavazza gold, a 12 cup plunger, a paper refill bag of Nestle espresso instant, a few cans of Nestle 'Coffee & Milk' which promises to be an 'add boiling water only' experience (has built in condensed milk). These augment my ample store of coffee in the kitchen.

My go bag has several cans of canned coffee sourced from the local Asian supermarket.You can warm them up by sitting them in a basin of hot water, or drink them cold as is.

There are other things in it as well but I feel I have the basics covered.
« Last Edit: November 23, 2018, 12:31:12 PM by Boganvillia »

Imma

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Re: What's in your Go Bag?
« Reply #49 on: November 23, 2018, 12:35:51 PM »
My things used to be very important to me such as pictures and antiques.  Now at 64 if I get out with my dogs I am happy.

One person in this thread mentioned packing a single family photo and I think that's a great idea. A close family member only had one picture of their mother, who died young due to a house fire. That single picture meant a lot to them. ( Although these days most people would be able to source other pictures of their loved ones through family and friends and Facebook. This person's mother died in the 1930s)