When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need to Survive When Disaster Strikes

by Cody Lundin

  Durable and Dependable

  To be blunt, the contents of your bug-out kit may be your last defense against death; so don't pack cheap gear.

  Complementary to the Physical Fitness and Expertise Levels of the User(s)

  Not all body types are the same, nor are levels of individual experience when using gear in scary situations. Unless your family is a group of special warfare soldiers, assess who will use your kit and evaluate limitations in physical fitness and usage competence before your kit is needed.

  Able to Meet a Wide Variety of Conditions

  Living conditions on the ground can radically change before, during, and after a disaster. The gear you choose to carry should be adaptable over a wide range of weird possibilities. The easiest way to allow your gear maximal adaptability is to stick to the basic concepts needed to support life.

  Comprised of Multiple-use Components

  Multiple-use components give you the option of doing more with less. The gear you carry should perform two, three, four, or more functions. Two prime examples of multiuse items are fire and a cutting edge. Both helped build every civilization upon this planet and can be used for literally hundreds of tasks. A tarp can shed rain, snow, and wind; block excess sun; catch rain for drinking; or be used as a privacy barrier or a ground cloth, among other uses. When you can no longer go to the store to fulfill your needs, you will be forced to foster an adaptive mind-set about your current resources. Think about this now, as it will dictate what type of gear you choose to pack to meet your desired intentions. The task doesn't have to be scary or a drag. Make a game out of it by posing realistic scenarios to your family with a "what would MacGyver do" analysis.

  Comprised of Calorie-Conserving Components

  Every time you move your body you burn through calories and water, both of which may be hard to come by in the chaos. Your body is like a battery and contains only so much stored energy reserves, and you don't know what shape your battery will be in when thrust into a disaster. Keep your gear simple in nature and practice using it to develop a natural rhythm that will allow you to receive its benefits with minimal effort. Ultimately, you want to remain as lazy as possible while meeting your needs. For those with families, wisely distributing physical tasks will help even out the calorie-load demands upon the tribe.

  Panic-proof—Containing Components That Can Be Utilized if You Are Injured

  Unfortunately, the possibility of you or your loved ones sustaining an injury during an emergency is high. The combination of deteriorating fine and complex motor skills along with being hurt can leave your emergency gear extremely difficult to use. Don't assume that you'll have the use of both hands and feet during your crisis.

  Comprised of Components That Can Be Easily Purchased or Made

  Although I emphasized the importance of quality gear in your bug-out pack, it doesn't have to come from a one-of-a-kind specialty shop in Highmore, South Dakota. Specialty gear can not only be expensive, but it can also be a drag to find spare parts for, repair, or replace. While there are those who will travel to the middle of the earth for the perfect survival gear, most will not. Basic emergency supplies for your family should be obtainable in a few commonly available discount and hardware stores or rigged from something you already have in the closet or the garage.

  Obtainable, yet Invisible

  Your bug-out pack should be available for you to grab in a moment's notice, not for someone else to grab at a moment's notice. Be discreet about the look and placement of your emergency supplies, especially at the office or in the car. Blabbing about your kit to others will raise eyebrows for a variety of reasons, so keep your mouth shut.

  Affordable, yet Effective

  You shouldn't need to break the bank when purchasing your supplies. Firmly determining your tribe's intention about what is required and sticking to the basics will allow you to bypass the opinions of survival specialists and their inflated egos and prices.

  Field-tested

  Having gear in your bug-out pack doesn't mean squat unless you know how to use it. Decide what you're going to carry, change things around based upon common sense and the current situation, and get your butt out into the backyard and PRACTICE setting up your disaster supplies. Remember, things will not be happy, sunny, and calm when you use this stuff. If the efficiency in the use of your gear rates 100 percent when things are good, expect your performance to fall off by 50 percent or more when under disaster stress.

  Simple!

  All of the above concepts should harmoniously revolve around the innocence and power of simplicity. According to Murphy's Law, if the contents of your pack are not simple to obtain or make, pack and carry, use under stress, and repair or replace, you may pay for your self-imposed complexities with your life.

  Bug-Out Kit Recommendations

  If you were limited to a small backpack to carry gear relevant to your family's survival during an urban disaster, what would you choose? Pretty heavy decision to have to make, isn't it? Unlike a wilderness survival scenario where the statistics show that the vast majority of deaths are caused by lack of core body temperature via hypothermia and hyperthermia, there are no statistics that I'm aware of for how people most commonly die in an urban emergency. Some studies have shown that deaths associated with rapid-onset disasters are overwhelmingly due to blunt trauma, crush-related injuries, or drowning. We can make a few educated guesses as to the faces of death; surely hypothermia and hyperthermia are big contenders when people are forced from their homes during hot or cold weather, along with dehydration or drowning, crushing injuries, fires, falling, auto accidents, violent crime, and malnutrition, starvation, and disease for prolonged emergencies.

  As the variables are so huge as to what could happen during a crisis, it's all the more reason to keep things simple and stick to basic core concepts for supporting life. If you live in an earthquake-prone spot, you should research earthquakes and modify your bug-out pack and everything else in your house to reflect this danger. There is no one-size-fits-all bug-out pack any more than there is a one-size-fits-all home preparedness plan for every household. Anyone who tells you differently is a fool or a liar and usually stands to profit from their opinion—at your expense. Take what you want from my recommendations below and modify them to fit your needs, which at this point should be fairly clear.

  Bug-Out Kit Ideas

  Remember, think like a backpacker and modify your "bug-out backpack" to take into account the variables of your urban wilderness. The art of how you pack your gear is important as well. Don't bury frequently used items under the sleeping bag. Think ahead about what high-use items you'll need from your pack and keep them easily accessible. Human beings are highly visual creatures so mark gear when appropriate with brightly colored tape. Individual stuff sacks help to separate and compartmentalize gear to make it easier to locate and identify when floating around in the bowels of a large-capacity pack.

  Modify this list as you see fit based upon the needs of your family. In essence, much like the wilderness backpacker, your bug-out pack should hold the key to your independent and portable self-reliance when renewing your survival supplies is not an option.

  Large-Capacity Backpack or Duffel Bag

  How much pack room you'll need is dependent upon what you choose to put into it. You'll find that the following items, whether you carry all of them or not, will quickly fill even the largest pack. If you have several family members, items can be divvied up between your tribe using multiple packs. Even so, each individual should carry items critical to their survival such as adequate clothing and water should they be separated from the main group.

  Tarp or Tent

  I've already written about the virtues of tarps in the shelter chapter. Pick a style and size that's portable but still protects your family from the environment. Tents are easy-to-set-up, bugproof, portable shelters that keep you dry and out of the wind. Backpacking tents are extremely durable, compact, and lightweight.

  Clo
thing Appropriate for the Season and Weather

  Clothing is your first line of defense against the killers hypothermia and hyperthermia. Clothing is supremely important and should keep the survivor warm, cool, protected from the sun and from bugs, and be quick drying, durable, and nonrestrictive. I realize clothing is bulky and takes up a lot of space in your pack but you cannot afford to skimp on this item, especially during cold weather. Having a fresh, clean change of clothing will ensure optimal insulative properties from the clothing itself and give a lift to your morale. If applicable, it will also help to mask your initial appearance and help you better blend into the environment when people are "looking for the guy in the blue sweater."

  Comfortable Walking Footwear

  This is arguably one of the most important items on this list. If you trash your feet due to ill-fitting or inadequate footwear, your portable bug-out pack will no longer be portable as you won't be able to walk. The added weight from the pack and weird conditions or long lines you may be subjected to will take their toll on your tootsies so have comfortable footwear that also has the needed ankle support. Footwear is so important that I recommend you have an extra pair of durable sandals that can be easily clipped onto the outside of your pack. If appropriate for the season, sandals allow you to air out and dry your feet and socks; wetness is one of the main culprits behind the creation of blisters.

  Wool or Synthetic Blankets or Sleeping Bag and Pad

  Have the portable insulation required to sleep comfortably during outside temperature extremes. The ability to achieve adequate sleep is paramount to your attitude and overall survival for a number of reasons. Backpacking sleeping bags and foam sleeping pads are super-lightweight and portable and lash directly onto most conventional backpacks.

  Space Blanket[s] [Large and Small Sizes]

  Multiple-use space blankets come in handy in hot and cold weather and are explained in the shelter chapter.

  Water Disinfection Method[s]

  Water is your life's blood. The majority of found water sources will need to be disinfected after a disaster.

  Water Bottles with Lanyard and Duct Tape

  Durable storage containers will be needed to disinfect and transport potable water. Duct tape wrapped around the bottles can be peeled off and used for many tasks.

  Sanitation and Hygiene Supplies

  If you become sick during an emergency due to improper sanitation, your game might be over. Tampons or sanitary napkins can also be used on wounds or as fire tinder. Toothbrushes and dental floss take up very little space and make being on the road much more comfortable.

  Garbage Bags/Barrel Liners

  Lightweight, cheap, compact nonpermeable barriers can adapt to dozens of survival needs. A barrel liner can be put over yourself and your pack to keep both dry in the nastiest downpour.

  Nonperishable, No-cook, High-energy Food

  Lightweight, compact, long-lasting freeze-dried or dehydrated backpacking food fits the bill nicely. In a pinch, water can be added directly to the foil packets, heated or otherwise, and the contents consumed with a stick or by squeezing the foil pouch itself. Unless you have no other option, the weight and bulk of canned goods are oppressive and should be avoided when carrying your life on your back.

  Heavy-Duty Zipper-lock Freezer Bags

  These tough, collapsible, multiuse, food-grade plastic, waterproof containers are sent straight from heaven.

  Methods to Light Fire

  Along with the cutting edge, this item has helped build every civilization on the planet. Fire can be used to cook food, disinfect water, make tools, regulate core body temperature, signal for rescue, psychologically calm scared survivors, keep away bugs, consume trash, create light for the night, sterilize first-aid kit supplies, and more. Have three gross-motor methods to light fire in three different locations on and around your person.

  Knife

  Sharp metal knives have endless uses. As with fire, practice using them beforehand in order to be able to achieve the greatest number of uses with the safest results under stress.

  Flashlight with Extra Batteries

  A kid-safe light source makes life easier in hundreds of ways.

  Rope or String

  This is useful for countless tasks and to lash other gear or found items to your backpack without having to carry them in your hands. Dental floss is incredibly tough and compact.

  First-aid Kit

  A basic first-aid kit should be a part of everyone's pack. Don't pack medical gear that you don't know how to use.

  Cook Pot with Lid

  Use the pot for storing survival gear, cooking food, disinfecting water, digging a sanitation trench in soft earth, and much, much more.

  Portable Radio

  Super small radios are handy for keeping up with the disaster and the following emergency response.

  Lightweight Leather Gloves

  Survival tasks can be very rough on smooth city hands. Painfully blistered hands can seriously affect your ability to get even the most basic tasks accomplished. Open blisters are open invitations for infection due to decreased sanitary opportunities.

  Game[s]

  Boredom might be your biggest enemy. A simple deck of cards or some other small game to occupy the attention of survivors can be invaluable for morale.

  Pet Supplies

  Don't forget a leash, pet food, and whatever else is required if you plan on hitting the road with your pet.

  Mirror

  A small mirror comes in handy for removing foreign objects from the eye and checking on your sense of self. Although any mirror can be used to signal for rescue, the sightable military models excel at being able to hit the target under stress.

  Whistle

  The piercing blast from a brightly colored, "pea-less" whistle can be used to signal or warn the family or attract the attention of rescuers while saving vocal cords, water, and calories lost to shouting.

  Bandana

  Cotton or synthetic bandanas have hundreds of uses. It's a potholder, a headband, a scarf, a hat, a filter worn over the mouth for dusty or cold air, a wash cloth, a signal flag, a bandage, a sling, a container, cordage, pack-strap padding, a sediment filter for straining water, or anything else your imagination can come up with.

  Sunscreen and Insect Repellent

  Depending on the climate and season, these two items can make or break your experience. Remember that proper clothing should be able to deal with both.

  Medications and/or Extra Glasses

  Nothing else matters if you're dead before nightfall because you forgot your medications or couldn't see the approaching gang of thugs.

  Money in Small Bills

  Paper money talks as long as the system still supports its use. Throughout the centuries, people have bought off other people to save their own lives. Don't discount the unfortunate fact that greed will override altruism for many people when pushed to the wall by survival stress.

  Identification and Pertinent Important Papers

  You now require a passport to get back into the country when visiting other lands controlled by the United States. Don't give authorities the excuse to hold up your access to lifesaving transportation or supplies due to questions about your identity. Take the hint and carry the identification required to allow you to flow through roadblocks and other emergency response obstacles like greased lightning.

  Cell Phone

  Don't count on this working after a disaster but they are too compact, lightweight, and valuable to emergency communications to leave behind. Use sparingly to save the battery.

  Watch or Clock

  Knowing the time may be necessary to coordinate with other family members or to cooperate with emergency response personnel.

  Car Kits

  Whether you have a car kit or not and how comprehensive it is depends upon how important your vehicle is to your overall survival plan and how much space you have to store supplies. It's not uncommon in America to commute several miles to wo
rk. I know people who commute nearly a hundred miles per day, one way! If your vehicle serves you in this fashion, as a sort of home away from home, plan accordingly and make sure you pack the needed emergency gear whether you stay put at your current location or try to make it back to the house.

  My vehicle is equipped with the bare necessities from the above bug-out kit list along with modifications. Many parts of the western United States are vastly different from the East in regard to distances between towns and cities. When I have hitchhiked back East, as soon as I was leaving one town I was entering another. In the West, there can be well over a hundred miles between the tiniest of trailer-park trash settlements, let alone a town of any size. Some of my vehicle survival kit components allow me to obtain supplies, if necessary, from the outdoors while making my way back to civilization. As I've said time and time again, there is no one-sizefits-all survival kit destined to meet every need, so modify your kit as you see fit.