Bug-Out-Bag

[Droc]

Im building bug-out-bags for my family and would like some advice from Canadians specifically. 

2 adults and 2 kids under 6.

My question is food.  Im thinking light weight, small size and doesnt require added water. 

I spotted some ration bars on amazon but am also looking at MRE's but am really out of my element with the huge variety.

any suggestions?

[Lynn LeFey]

I know I'm not canadian, but I wanted to jump in here.

One of the things you should consider is the MRE snack bread sides, and a big (plastic) jar of peanut butter. Peanut butter is one of the highest density calories per weight of any food. The snack bread is for something to put it on. Something like pilot crackers or matzo crackers can last a long time too.

Also, I'm subscribed to the Zombie Squad forums. The name sounds funny, but lots of good discussion on this kind of stuff over there. Feel free to drop by...
http://zombiehunters.org/forum/

[N_N_R]

Okay, I'm not a Canadian either...... but last year I went through one of the most horrific events in my life so far- a strong earthquake. I'd read about BOBs before & stuff like this... but the event made me reevaluate my knowledge & stuff. So, about the food: I don't think it's the primary thing here. It wasn't at least for us. We were so stressed that we did not want or could not eat food for days because of the adrenaline or shock or whatever...we just forced ourselves to have a morsel or two of sth high in calories just not to pass out. Of course this is may be something individual and not advice valid for everyone, but I'd rather focus on water and other useful things and take just something as light as possible and as full of calories as possible..

[nuphoria]

Didn't know you were over at Zombiehunters Lynn? I haven't been there in ages... good fun though

Being English, I have very little of use to add to this thread. Totally agree about the peanut butter though - apocalypse ambrosia! (and my dog loves it too)

[Grant Lamontagne]

I have the dreaded affliction known as Canadianism (it's terminal BTW, all people born with Canadianism will die at some point in their lives) so I may be of a bit more help.

Lynn's suggestion of peanut butter is a great idea and one I support wholeheartedly.  Honey is another good choice, and let's face it, even if you are only on your own for 72 hours, peanut butter and dry bread is going to get really old really fast.

MRE's are also good to have, but I would suggest you stick to boil in bag type meals.  They are cheaper than MRE's and any survival kit is going to be dependent on water, so make sure you have a decent supply.  You can get decent water containers that hold several gallons at Canadian Tire or you can buy bulk bottled water at Costco and neither will set you back much at all.  It really doesn't matter what your food requirements are if you have no water.

I would suggest that you get the Mountain House (and similar) type meals from MEC.  There are also Coleman meals available at Canadian Tire which are pretty well the same thing but a bit cheaper and without the variety.  I have been trying to locate a place to buy these in bulk as $8/meal seems a bit steep at first.  I found a place in the US that would sell them at $6/meal and I thought I would buy them in bulk from there, but with the exorbitant shipping the cost jumped to just over $11/meal, so I cancelled that order in a hurry.  That's why I suggest just buying them retail. 

As for power bars and the like, I generally get those from Shoppers Drug Mart as I firmly believe that buying them from a pharmacy means there's less old newspapers ground up in them than when you buy them at the local hippy shops.  That's not to say they actually are, but I enjoy that delusion.  Plus they are somewhat more gummy, so that gives you something to do to pass the time.

But in the end, all of that should just be to add variety- peanut butter, honey and some kind of cracker or bread should be the first things to go into your pack.  If you have access to a Foodsaver type device then I'd also suggest making some bannock and sealing it up as it's a super cheap way of stockpiling some healthy (and traditional!) foods that keep forever.  here are a couple of threads we have here on bannock:

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,38588.0.html

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,28563.0.html

Most people put together a 72hr kit as that is what the rescue organizations suggest.  I like to triple that at least, since anyone can go 72 hours without any supplies (although admittedly not that comfortably!) and you never know when you may decide to help out someone else, or help may take a little longer.  My thought is that if help doesn't come within 12-24 hours, it's time to start making do on your own, which means finding ways to replenish water and food supplies. 

Oh yeah, and don't forget to stock a decent first aid kit.  Concentrate on the basics- bandages, Aspirin and either alcohol or iodine as well as any medication you or your family might need.  Usually I try to get one prescription refill ahead (for my wife, I don't have any) and put the latest one in the kit and she'll use last month's stock this month and so on so that way it gets rotated and you aren't stuck with expired medicine.

Other than that, a shotgun and large dogs are about all you need to survive!

Def

[Lynn LeFey]

Didn't know you were over at Zombiehunters Lynn? I haven't been there in ages... good fun though

I joined last year. It was actually the thread on Multitools there, where Airballrad convinced me to come take a look at these boards.

For those of you who may not know, while the Zombie Squad folks make light of prepping with their 'Zombie Apocalypse' approach, they are an actual recognized (501c3) charity organization, and unlike every other 'prepper' board I've found, ACTUALLY HELP people in emergency situations. I cannot recommend them enough.

Other food items to consider... little fun-size bags of M&Ms. Again, high calorie. This is also a morale item, and something you can hand out to children in a bad situation. Chocolate makes every situation better.

I have chosen to stay away from dehydrated food in my BOB. I want something I can just open and eat, even if its cold. MRE or similar pouched meals are better, IMO, but as I'm poor, I would also recommend just plain old canned food. I carry several cans of beef ravioli in my BOB. Open and eat. Easy-peasy, and about 70 cents a can at ALDI, as opposed to $3 or more per entree for MREs. The can itself is negligibly heavier than the mylar packs that MRE stuff comes in, but does have issues with not conforming in tight spaces as well. I rotate the cans in my BOB every few months, although they have about an 18 month 'best by' date. A MRE pouch kept in cool, dry storage can last a good deal longer.

For dry food, I also take plain old granola bars. They're cheaper than things like CLIF bars, and still easy on-the-go food. Again, like with the canned food, I keep up on rotation. Most of these have 6 to 12 months 'best by' dates.

[Droc]

Yah, I was finding the same thing with the MRE packs being really expensive.  Im thinking canned food, and ration bars(5yr shelf life).  1L of water for each person and 3 water treatment straws for the 2 adults and 2 children. 

[ironraven]

You can get non-MRE food items that are in moist packs. They might not have the same shelf life, but you should inspect BoB every six months to a year. The other downside is they aren't a easily decontaminated- remember, the US Army developed the MRE's over packaging with the intent of being able to salvage them after decontamination in the event the Soviets used chemical warfare- yeah, no, anything exposed to nerve gas I'm not eating.

For purpose made lifeboat rations, I like Mainstays- I prefer thier lemonyness to the coconut of Datrex. Both are simple to process carbs.

Canned food is ok, remember to have two openers, and bring a cart- it's heavy.

Peanut butter, honey, these things I like, but peanut butter should be rotated on a 6 month basis for flavor. And with little kids that is something to think about. Maybe also Neutella for them, or the Jiff copycat.

I will say one liter of water isn't much- I'd increase that.

Now, without further details, it's rather hard to discuss. Enviroment, threats, transit time to the BoL on foot, and particulars of your family all effect these answers.

And to go with Zombie Squad, I'd also suggest looking at Equipped to Survive (equipped.org) as well, especially the forum. ETS and ZS offer slightly different perspectives and vibes, but lots of cross pollination on both.

[jzmtl]

Costco sells MRE for a good price on their site, however they are sold out frequently (and the listing disappears). They also sells MH freeze dried. http://www.costco.ca/emergency-food-kits.html

Another thought on food is a bar or two of tobleron, or pemmican if you can find the real thing. Both are low maintenance and extremely high energy, not exactly nutritious but that's not a concern in short term BOB.

[SAKnight]

Not Canadian, but my grandfather was, my uncle is, my Dad grew up done there, and i live in Vermont, so...

MRE's can be had reasonably cheap on Ebay, though due to their high sodium content, more water would be preferable. Also ask yourself what's the situation you'd most likely be getting ready for? For instance, where i live, nothing happens, so though it's fun to get ready, it's unnecessary, so i turn to a for fun bob, so I can just take off to the state park down the road and hang out for a while, or hike at will, etc. don't forget appropriate clothes!

Oh, and Def:

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3040/will-using-expired-drugs-kill-you

[Grant Lamontagne]

Thanks for that link.  I'm not a real firm believer in expiration dates, and certainly not as a hard and fast rule but my wife seems to think that at the stroke of midnight on that day things go bad.  I've been known to eat things after the date and I'm not dead yet....

The one that gets me is the expiration date on bottled water! 

Def

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[Lynn LeFey]

Expiration dates on food, especially canned food, is about quality, not safety. After the 'best by' date, food looses some flavor, or changes color to something less appealing. Nutritional value will very slowly degrade, but in general, if the can isn't swollen, it can be consumed safely.

MREs/canned food, sodium and water... This can be an issue. The Coastguard Ration Bars are designed not to enhance thirst. That's not the case with MREs and canned food. In my BOB, I carry 2 liters of water in clear plastic bottles (so they can be reused for SODIS- solar disinfection), packets of Chlor-Floc (Chlorination/Flocculation), and a filtering water bottle. I live in an area where water is never likely to be a real scarcity (the Mississippi River flood plain), so finding water isn't an issue, but treating it could be. In any event, I'd recommend sticking some water purification tablets (or cheaper, a little bottle of plain clorox bleach) in your BOB for backup water purification. Next to staying warm or cool, water is the next most important thing to survival.

[mrynnr]

Just saw this thread... Anybody want to show pics of their bug out bag? Maybe list what you have in it? Thinking about starting one

[Lynn LeFey]

I was going to run out to my car to get it to take some pics and... someone took my car!

Luckily, it was my husband, and I'd simply forgot he was going to drive to work today instead of car pooling.

My 'Bug Out Bag' is really more what people are now-adays calling a 'get home bag'. It resides in my car, and carries stuff I might need to get home in the event of problems.

I can tell you SOME of the stuff in my pack, but can't remember all of it.

First Aid Kit supplemented with a Quick-Clot Sponge, insect repellant, sun screen, and Moleskin (I THINK it's an Adventure Medical Family First Aid kit, but I don't actually remember), 100' of safety orange 550 paracord, Leather work gloves, Orange Safety Vest, 2 yellow rain ponchos, a white bandana, a small AM/FM radio and batteries (2AA), a crank powered flashlight (Energizer Carabiner Crank Light), a Katadyn filtering water bottle, an SOL 2-person survival blanket, a cheap compass, spare charger cord for my phone and USB wall plug for it, 2 heavy duty 4-mil 50-gallon trash bags, duct tape, a roll of toilet paper, a lighter, fire tinder (dryer lint and cotton balls with paraffin)...

and 2 multitools: the Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Tool Pack (which also has a ferro rod and flashlight), and a Victorinox Rucksack.

I'm sure there are a number of things I'm forgetting. The food in the backpack is out at the moment, and i need to replace it. We carry about 12 bottles of water in the back of our vehicle, so I'd stuff the pack with clean water before I left it.

I also don't recall the pack it's all in, but it's a not-terribly-expensive pack (in the $40-50 range) and not terrible big. It's also red, not some tactical color. In fact, if you look at the colors of gear I've listed, it becomes obvious I'm more concerned with getting hit by a car on the side of the road while changing a tire than I am with being all run-for-the-hills camo. For me, this is an emergency kit, not a commando kit.

I should probably say that this kit has been built over at LEAST 5 years, one piece at a time. I have almost exclusively asked for this kind of gear as Christmas presents, and stuffed the newest piece in the pack as it was acquired. If I had to guess, I'd say a reasonable kit could be put together for $50, and slowly upgraded as funds allow. In fact, I picked up a couple inexpensive used swiss army knives to stick into a new kit (we may be getting a second vehicle soon).

[mrynnr]

I was going to run out to my car to get it to take some pics and... someone took my car!

Luckily, it was my husband, and I'd simply forgot he was going to drive to work today instead of car pooling.

My 'Bug Out Bag' is really more what people are now-adays calling a 'get home bag'. It resides in my car, and carries stuff I might need to get home in the event of problems.

I can tell you SOME of the stuff in my pack, but can't remember all of it.

First Aid Kit supplemented with a Quick-Clot Sponge, insect repellant, sun screen, and Moleskin (I THINK it's an Adventure Medical Family First Aid kit, but I don't actually remember), 100' of safety orange 550 paracord, Leather work gloves, Orange Safety Vest, 2 yellow rain ponchos, a white bandana, a small AM/FM radio and batteries (2AA), a crank powered flashlight (Energizer Carabiner Crank Light), a Katadyn filtering water bottle, an SOL 2-person survival blanket, a cheap compass, spare charger cord for my phone and USB wall plug for it, 2 heavy duty 4-mil 50-gallon trash bags, duct tape, a roll of toilet paper, a lighter, fire tinder (dryer lint and cotton balls with paraffin)...

and 2 multitools: the Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Tool Pack (which also has a ferro rod and flashlight), and a Victorinox Rucksack.

I'm sure there are a number of things I'm forgetting. The food in the backpack is out at the moment, and i need to replace it. We carry about 12 bottles of water in the back of our vehicle, so I'd stuff the pack with clean water before I left it.

I also don't recall the pack it's all in, but it's a not-terribly-expensive pack (in the $40-50 range) and not terrible big. It's also red, not some tactical color. In fact, if you look at the colors of gear I've listed, it becomes obvious I'm more concerned with getting hit by a car on the side of the road while changing a tire than I am with being all run-for-the-hills camo. For me, this is an emergency kit, not a commando kit.

I should probably say that this kit has been built over at LEAST 5 years, one piece at a time. I have almost exclusively asked for this kind of gear as Christmas presents, and stuffed the newest piece in the pack as it was acquired. If I had to guess, I'd say a reasonable kit could be put together for $50, and slowly upgraded as funds allow. In fact, I picked up a couple inexpensive used swiss army knives to stick into a new kit (we may be getting a second vehicle soon).

thanks Lynn! This has given me some very good ideas on where to start

[Chako]

Here is a link to what I have in mine. Mind you, I have added a few granola and chocolate bars to the kit.

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,44422.msg717994.html#msg717994

[Lynn LeFey]

Oh, hey... a couple posts down from Chako's kit (in his link) are pics of most of mine.I THOUGHT I'd taken pics of my kit before, but couldn't remember for sure.

I've removed some of the gear (trowel, change of clothes), changed the flashlights, and utterly forgot about the deck of cards and spare glasses in my kit.

I go back and forth on whether the trowel is a good idea or not. I've pulled the clothing out, but am seriously considering investing a a good 'ultralight' set of clothes like backpackers get, but man... those things are crazy expensive.

I should say that we ALSO have an actual 'bug out bag',  with a bunch of stuff we would need if we had to leave our home. This has more stuff like if you had to go stay at a hotel for a few days kind of thing, including kitty litter and cat food for our cat. Again, not tactical.

[mrynnr]

Here is a link to what I have in mine. Mind you, I have added a few granola and chocolate bars to the kit.

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,44422.msg717994.html#msg717994

thanks for the link! I missed this thread.

[comis]

If the 'bug out bag' is for emergency/disaster response from a home setting, which you will have to leave the house in a very short notice due to unforeseen reasons, I do suggest the following for a 72-hours-till-rescued bag for cold weather:

-Something to keep your core temp(space blanket, heavy duty trash bag, wool blanket, jacket, tube tent)

-multiple gauze pad, large syringes, bandage, tape, gloove, dishwashing soap, first aid stuff
-personal/family daily needed drugs(for ex, diabetic)
-Vital personal medical info(blood type, allergy, medicine)

-Water (in plastic bottle)
-1L cooking pot, and means to purify water(purification tablets, pump)

-Communication and Signal(walkie talkie, spare cell phone, mirror, flashlight, flare, radio)

-Fire starter(wind proof lighter, ferro rod, tinder) to keep warmth and signal

-personal/family info/emergency contact/passport copy etc(in print or encrypted in usb)
-Printed locations for local hospitals/supermarkets/hotels
-maps

-Spare home/car keys

-Money

-Multitool, 5-6" knife, cordage

-Food


If you have extra room, it'd be nice to have:
-Anything that you might take for a weekend trip staying in a hotel
-anything that could occupy minds without batteries(especially for kids)

I have been told in some extreme cases, where people who lived in very rural area can't get help until a few days later since most of the roads have been blocked/collapsed after earthquakes.  And people may have to stay out of buildings since there are always aftershock.  I had been in some minor earthquakes within a high rise, and you'd be surprised how panic can people get and I have to practically yell for them to respond.  It is probably best if whatever we put in the bag is easy to understand and use, and make it very accessible to everyone who has to leave the house in a split second.

Earthquakes might not be that common in Canada, but fire/flash flood/mud slide probably do happen, and it may cause evacuation.  I'd imagine some means to keep core temperature might be vital especially in cool weather.

[N_N_R]

Thinking about BOBs ... do you think that if those guys in Nepal had prepared BOBs it would've made any difference for them?

Do you think anyone even thought of taking something from home when leaving the house?

I think even if you do have a BOB, you must be really ... cool-headed to remember to take it or waste a second in reaching for it on your way out or something..

[raistlin65]

I'll echo the jar of peanut butter recommendation. Along with that, I have a Mainstay emergency ration bar for extra carbs, and a single sized portion of tuna in foil bag packet just for some variety.  While it might be nice to have some mountain house boiling water in the bag meals, I figure bug out bag means eat on the go bag.

Since you have kids, some kind of drink mix pack to add to water can be a nice treat.

Update: just realized the original post was from January 2013. I guess he probably has his BOBs put together now.

[bmot]

Thinking about BOBs ... do you think that if those guys in Nepal had prepared BOBs it would've made any difference for them?

Do you think anyone even thought of taking something from home when leaving the house?

I think even if you do have a BOB, you must be really ... cool-headed to remember to take it or waste a second in reaching for it on your way out or something..

I think a bag with some clean clothes and some food would be very helpful, for sure.. You see food is a big problem around there, as well as shelter.


For taking it with you, I suppose everything hangs on location.. If you put your BOB away somewhere deep in a closet, I doubt you'll think of it. If it's besides the door you exit your house through, chances are a lot bigger you'll take it with you.

[Etherealicer]

Thinking about BOBs ... do you think that if those guys in Nepal had prepared BOBs it would've made any difference for them?

Do you think anyone even thought of taking something from home when leaving the house?

I think even if you do have a BOB, you must be really ... cool-headed to remember to take it or waste a second in reaching for it on your way out or something..

I think a bag with some clean clothes and some food would be very helpful, for sure.. You see food is a big problem around there, as well as shelter.


For taking it with you, I suppose everything hangs on location.. If you put your BOB away somewhere deep in a closet, I doubt you'll think of it. If it's besides the door you exit your house through, chances are a lot bigger you'll take it with you.

Problem is, when you have very little its harder to put something away and when your house comes down you probably/hopefully grab your children first and leave the BOB behind.

[BASguy]

I'm just wondering.....where does someone bug out to? 


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[Aloha]

I'm just wondering.....where does someone bug out to? 


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Could be shelter set up by local disaster group.  Could be friends, relatives, or county state property nearby or within state.  I don't think the masses really think they'll bug out in the woods 

I know with the fires that happen here in SoCal bug out can mean many things I mentioned.  I dont have a bag I call bug out but I do have an Emergency Evacuation bag and supplies.  I like to think about it very simply in terms of what would I take on a weeks vacation plus some comfort items, plus some camping stuff.

 

[N_N_R]

Yeah, the children ... on the news they showed about a mother who returned in the house to save her 6-month-old and both died together   And that's not the only such case I presume.

Indeed, beside the exit is the best place, indeed, I think... But the situation there is such that they need to have packed a ton of water and food to be enough x-)

Speaking about earthquakes, the one we had here three years ago. Then the state helped people and gave us money to recover, kinda, repair our homes. Now, however, the state has come up with the genius idea of giving financial aid only to those considered poor. The rest may smurf off, apparently. And why is that instead of helping all people? What if someone put all they earned into a new house, didn't have any money saved, because they were building the house of hteir dreams and it collapsed in an earthquake? They'll be considered rich and not get a cent help. While in Japan or I don't remember where the politicians/officials got no salaries for a month or so, I think, so that the state could help everyone whose houses had suffered.