by Cody Lundin
Animal Magnetism
Animals have been used for thousands of years to carry people and goods. My family owns horses and pack mules, and I have friends who own pack llamas. While these animals are not likely to be accessible in downtown San Francisco, you can mimic the intention with a decent-size dog. My family has owned several big dogs and all of them had doggie packs in which they carried their stuff and some of ours too on cross-country treks. Long before the horse, native peoples on this continent routinely used camp dogs and travois (two wooden poles laden with gear and anchored to the dog's back) to move their camp from place to place. The dogs also served as hunters, heaters, guard dogs, and emergency food—although I promised you I wouldn't talk about cooking the family pet in this book.
Walk This Way: Fabulously Functional Footwear
During prehistoric times people were very mobile yet had limited means of getting around other than by foot. Indigenous peoples across the world commonly embarked upon great journeys of hundreds of miles on foot through extreme wilderness with the barest of survival necessities made from Nature Herself. Reflecting upon the forced marches that were perpetrated upon our own native peoples in the late 1800s should foster within you a "can-do" attitude regarding walking across town if the grid goes flop. Even during good times, your hunter-gatherer ancestors migrated hundreds of miles each season in order to find what was needed to put soup on the table.
A crucial item for transportation is a comfortable pair of footwear suitable for walking long distances. Although it may sound obvious, look down at your feet. Could you walk a few miles across your town or city with what you're wearing now? Would the Snoopy slippers hold up? If you're living in a rural area, would your trashy tennies cut it for the journey across the woods or desert? Many urban dwellers don footwear, especially for the office or nightclub, that would cripple them in a mile or two. If you blister your feet during the first ten blocks while trying to make it back home, the remainder of your journey will be extremely painful if not impossible. I'm not trying to cramp your style scene, just have a pair of spare brokenin shoes or boots, along with an extra pair of socks, at the office or in the car as a backup. Take heed, there is nothing that will ruin your day, and your feet, quicker than ill-fitting, new, or inappropriate footwear when you need to walk even a short distance. Your ability to walk or run may be your only option for evading surrounding dangers to your survival.
It's worth having at least one pair of quality footwear that will hold up to the stresses and strains of serious walking in all types of terrain. Cheap shoes and boots are just that, cheap, and should not be trusted if your compromising situation becomes long term. I have witnessed several pairs of discount-store sandals, boots, and shoes blow up on my field courses. Hot ground temperatures in the desert can completely delaminate a new pair of sandals in less than an hour. I'm not an authority on helping you choose quality boots or shoes, but shoe stores specializing in high-end footwear will be able to assist you. Make sure to break in your new purchase by wearing them several times for greater comfort and to help prevent blisters.
I'm a big fan of going barefoot for a variety of reasons, one of which is to keep my feet tough and conditioned for cross-country walking. There is a reason opposing militaries took the boots of POWs; tender feet have little hope of escaping and evading through challenging terrain. I'm not advocating going barefoot in cities. At least in the wilderness one has a chance to pay attention to variables that influence the growth of certain painfully pointy plants. In the town or city, you'll never know what terrain dangers lay around the next corner, from broken glass, to nails, needles, and much more. Because restaurant owners fear I've walked in dirtier places than other customers, and grocery store clerks lie to me about violating state health codes or worry I'll dance on the Cheetos, I carry a two-dollar pair of flip-flops in my vehicle. While I'm in no way recommending flip-flops as competent walking gear, my guess is they would beat the hell out of a pair of pumps or tight wing-tips. At that price, there's no excuse for not having a comfortable pair of footwear within reach regardless of your budget.
Improvised Fabric Backpack
I've preached several times about hunting and gathering cultures whose lifestyles mandated moving from one resource to another. One of their most valued possessions—containers—were made from the resources at hand, whether from animal skins or hair, woven plant fibers, fired clay, wood, shells, or other natural niceties. These containers transported all that was needed for a portable household.
When needing to become suddenly portable, you'll want some means of carrying gear that doesn't tie up your hands. If you don't have access to a conventional backpack, you still have options. Several years ago, fellow "abo" Matt Graham turned me onto an improvised backpack that can easily be made from a four-by-four-foot piece of fabric, although smaller and larger pieces of fabric will work fine. The fabric can be a blanket, tablecloth, thin rug, or something else, but steer away from materials that are too thick as they will be difficult to tie and bulky to carry.
You'll quickly learn how to pack your stuff so that softer items are against your back as padding, and sharp objects aren't poking you. To pack your gear, lay the fabric on the ground and start placing what you want to carry in the middle of the fabric. Smaller individual "stuff sacks" can be bought at discount and outdoor stores or improvised from plastic bags, canvas book bags, Tupperware containers, etc. These smaller containers, similar to zippered compartments on and in commercial backpacks, will allow you to separate gear without it all blending together in one confusing mass. The four corners of the fabric will be tied together in pairs; the upper left and lower right corners will come together to form their own knot, and the upper right and lower left corners will be tied together to form their own knot. (Check out the photo section for more details.) I like to position my gear inside the fabric knowing that I'll tie the upper left and lower right corners together first. These corners should be tied snugly around the bundle as they keep your gear inside the fabric from falling out. The upper right and lower left corners are tied together a bit looser as they will function as the "strap." Newer fabric will stretch and loosen, and things will jumble around causing you to retie the pack a few times. The fabric backpack can be carried in various ways, some of which are illustrated in the photo section. Similar to the hobos, smaller pieces of fabric can wrap up gear in much the same way and be carried suspended from a stick or broom handle.
I use two-dollar fabric backpacks on my outdoor courses side by side with my clients' two- to five-hundred-dollar commercial backpacks. The fabric itself is multiuse and can double as a ground cloth, sun shade, poncho, first-aid bandage, a sling to carry firewood, or bug protection to name a few.
Mobility-Impaired Loved Ones
If your loved ones are mobility impaired due to age, sickness, disease, being out of shape, or a physical handicap, think NOW about options they might use to move about under their own power when needed. Even though it may be inevitable, having to assist them in getting around will be very exhausting for all concerned, even with the luxury of a wheelchair. With aid and extraordinary adaptability, physically impaired people around the world have used anything and everything to get around, from sticks, shopping carts, and car dollies to wheelbarrows and skateboards. If you lack the proper means to transport your loved ones, use your powers of improvisation and adapt your surroundings to meet your needs. If you are unable to freely move about because you're out of shape, do your best to get back in shape or realize your self-imposed limitations. After all, what you're trying to keep alive is your body. The stresses you will experience during an emergency scenario will tax even the healthiest of bodies, so become familiar with what you can and cannot do. Once you know your limits, you'll know what extra goodies you'll need for your mobility issues.
Before, during, or after a disaster, you may be forced to travel to another location.
Disasters can strike at anytime when you might not be at home, thus m
aking it necessary to make your way back to the house using some form of transportation. Due to the crisis, your transportation options may be severely limited.
Keep your motorized vehicle(s) in good repair with the fuel tank full. Carry basic car repair tools in each vehicle.
Have needed survival supplies in the vehicle that will allow you to get back home, on foot if necessary, if the situation allows you to do so.
Don't count on public transportation after a disaster.
While still a slave to gasoline, mopeds, motorcycles, and ATVs go much further on a gallon of gas and are highly maneuverable in tight situations such as clogged freeways and roads.
Bicycles are simple, affordable, easy to ride and repair, commonly available, quick, quiet, and save tremendous amounts of your personal calories (food) and water, which is their only required fuel.
Have a rugged yet comfortable quality pair of shoes or boots that will allow you to walk great distances if required. Wearing inappropriate footwear can cause painful blisters to manifest in a few short city blocks. If you go to work in high heels or wing-tips, have a backup pair of walking shoes in the office or your vehicle.
An improvised backpack can be made with a four-by-four-foot piece of fabric.
Plan ahead for how you will transport mobility-impaired loved ones. If a wheelchair is not an option, use whatever is at hand to transport them under their own power, if possible.
The stresses experienced during an emergency scenario will tax even the healthiest of bodies so become familiar with what your body physically can and cannot do.
23
Should I STAY or Should I GO NOW?
"The ladies have to go first. . .Get in the lifeboat, to please me. . .Good-bye, dearie. I'll see you later."
—John Jacob Astor, after putting his pregnant wife on one of the last lifeboats available from the Titanic
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that from 1900–1988, hurricanes left more than 1.2 million people without homes and directly affected the lives of nearly 4 million people. Floods affected another 339 million people and left 36 million homeless. Earthquakes, cyclones, and typhoons each affected 26 million people, leaving 10 million more without a home.
Although this is a home-centered book on self-reliance, statistics such as these prove that an emergency can quickly leave you homeless. I realize leaving your home, by choice or by force, will be an excruciating decision to have to make but remember, you are trying to save your body and those whom you love, not material possessions. If you're dumb enough to get killed because you refused to leave your stuff, you win the Darwin award and the planet's gene pool inches up a notch. I don't mean to discount the emotional and mental pain of having to leave your home—I know it's scary—but you need to remind yourself of your survival priorities, that it's YOU that you're trying to keep alive. Material wealth and comfort don't mean squat to a corpse.
Whether your family stays put or evacuates will depend on many factors. Such factors might be forced upon you by governmental agencies, approaching floods, hurricanes, and a bevy of scenarios worthy of a Hollywood movie. In any event, you should take the concepts presented in this book regarding shelter, food, water, lighting, etc., and adapt them to what is commonly referred to as a "bug-out" pack. A bug-out pack, not unlike a wilderness survival kit, contains within it a distillation of the most important gear your family will need during its emergency, all in one portable container. This pack should be fully loaded and ready to go before it's needed so you can grab it at a moment's notice in case of an evacuation. The concept of the bug-out pack can be used in your car or office as well. You might have two or three bug-out packs. Paranoid? No, just smart. Having all of your eggs in one basket has been a bad idea from the beginning. As much as I love my self-reliant house, there is no guarantee that I'll be home watching cheap pawnshop videos when the fan blades turn brown.
Consider building a family bug-out kit first, before outfitting your home. As this pack is portable, its volume will severely limit your ability to fill it with frivolous junk. You will be forced to pare things down to the bare minimum, packing only what your loved ones truly need to deal with their emergency. This forced, minimalist mind-set will train your psyche to define more clearly your needs from your wants, something that has to be continuously guarded against in our consumer society. After reading this book, and reflecting upon the basic intentions recommended, design your kit using the recommendations, dovetailed with your family's situation. When you begin to outfit your home with self-reliant goodies, simply purchase more of the same stuff that you packed within your portable disaster kit.
Basic Bug-Out Kits
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WHETHER YOU FIND YOURSELF IN AN URBAN OR WILDERNESS ENVIRONMENT, THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT ADAPTING YOUR SURROUNDINGS TO MEET YOUR NEEDS FOR SURVIVAL, THE BETTER OFF YOU WILL BE.
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The core intention of the contents of a bug-out pack is not unlike the motive of a wilderness backpacker. The modern backpacker carries whatever gear they think will meet their needs within a remote, backcountry setting. Some of this gear is necessary for survival, like proper clothing in cold weather, and some of it is fluff, like the portable espresso coffeemaker. As most outdoor enthusiasts are unfamiliar with using the natural landscape to meet their needs, the backpack becomes a scuba tank, so to speak. The backpacker can live in the ocean of the wilderness for only as long as the supplies in his or her backpack will let them. When supplies run low, they are forced to resurface back at the nearest trailhead or vehicle for resupply. Whether you find yourself in an urban or wilderness environment, the more you know about adapting your surroundings to meet your needs for survival, the better off you will be. Like the wilderness survival kit, all items within your bug-out kit should follow strict guidelines as to their usefulness in the environment you'll find yourself. Some items will be of equal value regardless of where you are on the planet, such as potable water. Gear that supports your family's basic physiological survival should be given the first consideration. That said, you may have family members who will function much better when allowed to have along some psychological comfort item. The teddy bear does not replace the coat in cold weather, but we have already discussed how a person's psychology can and does readily influence their physiology. As with all things, use common sense.
Preparing Your Bug-Out Kit
Below is a list of concepts you should consider when deciding what to pack in your bug-out kit. Some of the information was borrowed from my first book, 98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive! In it, for those who want more detailed information on survival kits, I devote the second half of the book to describing in detail what I carry for desert and mountain regions. If the list of recommendations below seems anal retentive, remember that it's often a combination of little mistakes that kill people.
Your bug-out kit should be:
Relevant to the environment encountered
Lightweight and portable
Waterproof
Durable and dependable
Complementary to the physical fitness and expertise levels of the user(s)
Able to meet a wide variety of conditions
Comprised of multiple-use components
Comprised of calorie-conserving components
Panic-proof—containing components that can be utilized if you are injured
Comprised of components that can be easily purchased or made
Obtainable, yet invisible
Affordable, yet effective
Field-tested
Simple!
Relevant to the Environment Encountered
The world is full of many differences in geography and climate. If your on-the-grid house suddenly becomes off-grid, you will feel the landscape and weather variables in which your home sits. You and your family will be subjected to its variables in temperature, weather, and terrain. If your family lives in a hot, arid part of the world, your bug-out kit(s) should reflect this by p
acking hot-weather items for survival and vice versa for cold conditions.
Lightweight and Portable
Be prepared to leave the proverbial kitchen sink behind. If your kit is not lightweight and portable, it will be impractical to lug around, and it will prevent you from moving quickly. During an evacuation, governmental agencies might limit the amount of gear your fleeing family will be allowed to take, especially if you are forced to utilize public transportation. Attempt to have your hands free from carrying gear. In other words, limit the items you pack to what can be carried upon your back or body with the assistance of backpacks, daypacks, fanny packs, and straps in general. It will be easier to move quickly and you'll have better physical balance with everything packed up tight. Your hands are thus free for collecting, defense, and performing countless tasks for your survival. I have had more than one student ignore this recommendation and carry their camping gear in two duffel bags, one in each hand. This is NOT an efficient way to carry gear. They quickly became exhausted, dehydrated, and much more prone to injuries on the trail.
Waterproof
Many disasters involve large amounts of moisture, whether snow or rain. Even for dry disasters, you can't afford to let some items get wet, such as extra clothing, medications, or matches. In this age of plastic, there is little excuse for not keeping your lifeline dry. Put critical items in zipper-lock freezer bags and double line your entire pack with two garbage bags before packing the items inside. Depending upon the weight of the items packed, the double-lined garbage bags will trap a certain amount of air and possibly keep your bag afloat or allow you to use it as a float if needed. I routinely pack my outdoor gear in garbage bags within my homemade fabric backpack. When needing to swim across a pool within a canyon or whatever, I fold up the material pack, put it inside the garbage bag, retie the bag securely, and utilize the buoyant bag as a float as I kick myself across the water.