By Stacey Burt


Fires and other natural disasters will force you out of your home and away from the neighborhood. Floods will be the same thing. This would also be true of the man made types of disasters, such as invasion by foreign countries and or the melting down of a power plant, locally. This means you will not have the comfort and material support of your home and planning for this will require you to gather bug out bag supplies to help you survive.

Water is critical as no one can survive for more than three days without it. Every one will need at least a gallon of it every day. You will need to pack more than that if the climate is hot or if you will be fighting through brush, heavy winds or around a fire line as this will cause more perspiration and exhaustion is easier to succumb to.

Food will have to be considered. Perishables will not be a good choice as they will not last very long and you are going to be on the move. Cans will be the best, but they get heavy. You can use the cans, afterward, to cook food in if you keep them clean and dry. Make sure you bring a can opener.

A shelter, of some kind, will be crucial if you are away from the house for a few days. This will provide covering for your family and staying dry is necessary for long term survival. Thick plastic sheeting is one thing to consider, but so is a standard canvass tarp. Either one of these can be strung up or draped over a bush for a neat little house away from home.

Blankets or sleeping bags for each member of your party should also be packed. You must stay as warm as possible so everyone can get a good nights sleep, each night. You will need the energy. These must be kept dry so as to maintain their ability to keep you dry and warm. You can also use these to cover and camouflage stuff if you have to be away from camp for a while.

You will need some way to build a fire. Matches are good for this, of course, however, they need to be contained in a water proof pouch or tin. A flint and striker system works while wet which would make this a better all purpose choice.

Fire will not only help keep you warm but can also cook food. Make sure you have matches in a water proof container. A small flint and striker system will be the best as it works even when wet and can tuck into your pocket. Keep all matches and fire starting tools away from kids until trained properly.

A bag such as this could be one bag, if it is just you or a couple of them if only two or three people are involved. It could be larger containers, but they all must be easy to carry and sturdy. Spread them out among everyone and switch off as needed. Lighter loads for the kids and heavier ones for you and other adults because you will be packing for survival and that means speed.




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