It’s 2AM and you are quite rudely awakened by a very official sounding knock on the door. On the other side is some sort of official looking person telling you that a situation has forced the evacuation of your neighborhood. It’s not a decision at this point, but a necessity. The forces at work have made it impossible for you to stay…now what?
The number one thing we need to keep in mind is situational awareness. That doesn’t mean religiously watching Alex Jones to find out what chemicals the government is using to turn the frogs gay either. It simply means paying attention to what’s going on around you. Is it a particularly rainy spring with flood watches over the past week? Perhaps it’s a dry summer and impending thunderstorms have raised the fire danger. Perhaps there’s a railway running through your town that could be used to transport dangerous materials. Whatever the case may be, there are often signs that things might turn bad in the near future. Pay attention to these signs. Of course, sometimes stuff happens without warning, but not always. Be on the lookout for increased dangers AND the constant dangers.
Having a bug out bag ready to go is never a bad idea, although I really dislike the use of the word bag. Most preparedness blogs and such will suggest a backpack, the more military in style the better. Simply put, use what you have or can get cheaply. Thrift store suitcases or gym bags work well. Remember, under no circumstances are you bugging out into the wild wilderness to build debris hut shelters and forage for your food.
Before you start assembling your bug out bag, figure out where you will keep it. A hall closet near an entrance is a good place. Perhaps in a heated garage, mud room, or some other place that is on the way out of your home. You don’t want to be trekking around the house for it.
Since you’ve already put together a list of possible destinations, you can assemble your bug out bag accordingly. What you need is quite simple really, whatever you need to get there and whatever you need to stay there.
Clothing – for the most part, a change of clothes is a requirement unless you have prepared a fully stocked bug out cabin. Keep in mind that you will likely be going through some harsh territory, so keep the clothing on the rugged side…fashion goes out the window here. Remember to have work gloves and plenty of socks. 3 days worth of clothing should suffice.
Pharmaceuticals – This is a wider topic than most will think about. Simple personal hygiene items such as toothbrush and toothpaste, a comb or brush, hair ties, razor and shave cream, you know, the stuff you reach for every morning in the bathroom. Most people forget these items and have to find a place to purchase them from. Next will be over the counter medications such as antihistamines, pain relievers, etc. Travel size bottles of these medications fit well in small spaces. Try to get any prescription drugs that you need in a small quantity. Sorry, I can’t tell you how to do that, try talking to your doctor. If you can’t do that, keep all your prescription meds in a small toiletry bag together. Grab it on the way out.
Food & Water – not a bad idea, but don’t go ordering a bunch of MREs or Mountain House meals on Amazon just yet. Remember, you’re going somewhere and there will be food available. However, the trip may be a long one. A recent forest fire in Alberta forced evacuees to relocate 500km away. Take some snacks that are calorie rich. Water bottles for everyone is also a must.
Fuel – Keep your vehicle at least half full at all times. On top of that, buy a few gas cans and store enough gas to top you off. There are preservatives and rotation issues to deal with, but that is simply another article for another day. Why the extra gas? I mentioned a recent 500km evacuation…most vehicles today can go about 600km when the tank is full. And that is provided you are traveling at optimal speeds. Bumper to bumper traffic will reduce your range.
That’s about it for a starter bug out kit. If you were expecting advice on the best knife, rifle, fire starter kit and such, forget it. The above suggestions will get you through 99.9% of the emergencies that will likely happen in your lifetime.