bug out bag......what to put in it?

[santaman2000]

The credit card would work if it was a localized situation such as a few streets flooded. But I don't think people would be happily turning up for work if something more wide spread occurred. They would be busy doing exactly the same as you, getting out of dodge. The other problem would be that everything you suddenly think you need is exactly what everybody else thinks they need which means at the very least a long wait or worse not getting it or having to fight for it. Just look at some videos on youtube of sales openings, there is one I saw recently of people running in to get a tv on super promo. Everybody piles onto a small stack of TVs and fighting errupts with one guy getting his leg broken in the mayhem. Its amazing how quickly seemingly normal people will go crazy when under pressure. I would rather try to avoid all such situations.

But it all depends on what threat you expect is likely, its a very personal thing, if you expect there will only ever be a local problem that affects you (probably most likely) an you have plenty of money in the bank then the credit card will probably do you just fine at a cost.

Exactly. As hurricane Isaak approaches now, we all know the drill. Stores are open until the last minute and employees have been given time off (in shifts) to make their own preperations. When it's within 12-24 hours away thay will close so that employees can gather their families to bunker in or evacuate. They will re-open as quickly after the storm as thay can with the employees that can make it to work (road conditions after the storm and damage to employees homes will determine who can make it in) but services offered will be basic at best until power is restored.

As you say though damage will be localized to certain areas (although they will be very large areas) and if practcal many are choosing to evacuate outside the affected area (my cousin plans on staying with her son in Kansas) where electricity, water, etc. are completely unaffected. Her credit cards will work just fine there. But as you say, everyone will be trying to buy their supplies at the same time (it still happens here where we supposedly "know the drill") That includes evacuation; Some stations will run out of fuel (all will after the event when people begin using their generators and re-supply to the stations waits for repair of the roads) and traffic will clog the roads despite contra-flow (the time when the authorities change the evacuation route to one way traffic only to increase the number of traffic lanes out) Conventional wisdom says prepare and/or evacuate early.

However another point about the "unaffected areas" should be made. During the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Ivan, police were here from all over the US, and power crews and firefighters from all over the US and Canada, to assist in recovery. Their efforts lasted for months in the case of the power crews. The reason I mention this is that while we certainly appreciated it (and would do so again) it obviously took away from their ability and service in their home areas., So even as far away as Canada felt some impact in that respect and in the efforts in unaffected areas to send aid. I'm reasonably sure that a disasterous event in the UK would provoke a like response in the unaffected areas there.

 

[Silverclaws]

You know I think the greatest teacher of preparedness is poverty and I have been with that for the last five years, so I have learned how to live very cheap, using money only as an extreme last resort, as money is my problem, the sheer lack of it which has been better sometimes and the complete reverse at other times. But what the lack of cash has taught me is prepare for hard times and how to do without much of the fragile modern technology so many depend on.

Sure I have a ten year old pay as you go cell phone, but exactly where it is at this moment in time, I am not sure, which should give some indication to how much I depend on that and the internet, well there has been times that it hasn't worked and I don't have a tv. So, I have these last five years invested in knowledge and that by buying second hand books in charity shops to learn how to do stuff for myself instead of go and buy it in the shops, as all buying stuff does is deplete something that is in short supply.

Living next to the sea, I fish and even the local pubs will accept fish in trade for beer and even wood for the fire and I have foraged to supplement my food and of living in the wilds, if it came to that, the beach is far more abundant in edibles than I have found the over cultivated land to be. Yes, money is my problem, and it is why I prepare for an eventuality where money is in short supply or plain not available and with ever rising fuel prices, what money one has doesn't buy much these days and i can't see the cost of fuel at the pump going down, nor a sudden surge in employment opportunities, so poverty is a great teacher and it is heartening to know one can survive without much money.

But as to bug out, generally I am bugging in most of the time as everything I need is here and leaving here will have to be under the most direst of circumstances, as to what they might be I can only guess, not much chance of riot up here, nor flooding, chemical leakage possibly, but I live on the coast where it is windy, but I suppose there is the naval dockyards and the nuclear subs there to consider and of course eviction from my home.

 

[cbr6fs]

Of course credit cards will work. All the shops carry the old swipe machines and carbon-less imprint foils in case they lose power. Shops hate turning away a sale.

Just ask next time you use your card what they will do in a power cut.

Not the case in my experience in both the UK and Greece.

Last year the area around where my Mum lives experienced a 2 day black out from the terrible weather.
When we went shopping not one shop would accept any means of electronic payment.

The problem was that because there was no electricity the electronic systems did not work, the staff told us they did start out with good intentions calling in every transaction but after an hour is was obvious this was not working as it was taking 10 to 15 mins to clear each payment.

In the end they just refused credit cards and accepted only cash.


It was the exact same thing here a couple of years ago.


In general i think things can quickly escalate to silly proportions on the preparation for disasters, for the simple fact that you really cannot prepare for every eventuality.

For me though i think it's just basic common sense to have a bag stuck out the way that has enough food, water and equipment to last your household 3 days.
I rotate the food, water, medication etc so it's not as though it's all sitting there rotting away, it all gets used.

Some folks take absolutely no preparation in life at all though, i know folks that 1 week to pay day don't even have 5 quid saved (still have the latest phone, games console and flat screen TV though), that's their family their choice.

In my experiences in my life though i know that i'm pretty unlucky, so if something can go wrong it usually does.
So clawed and fought till i've built up some financial stability for my family from my meagre earnings and i spent 10 mins and a few quid to slap together a couple of bags in case we need to make a sharp exit from the house.

As i say i really really hope it's never used BUT if we do need it then it takes up very little space (as an outdoors enthusiast i had 99% of the stuff sitting around the house already, it just needed grouping together) and very little financial outlay, but it buys me a little piece of mind.
Well worth it in my opinion.



Cheers
Mark

 

[Silverclaws]

That is another point as well, the ATM, or how most get at their funds, if there is a power outage will they work and banks themselves can shut off the machines for whatever reason, preventing runs on banks perhaps. If cash is to be relied on, make sure it is in your pocket not someone else's.

 

[santaman2000]

Without hijacking the thread, the latest update: Isaak expected to reach Cat 2 once in the Northern Gulf. 200 mile footprint. The lower Keys are evacuating.

 

[cbr6fs]

You know I think the greatest teacher of preparedness is poverty and I have been with that for the last five years, so I have learned how to live very cheap, using money only as an extreme last resort, as money is my problem, the sheer lack of it which has been better sometimes and the complete reverse at other times. But what the lack of cash has taught me is prepare for hard times and how to do without much of the fragile modern technology so many depend on. Sure I have a ten year old pay as you go cell phone, but exactly where it is at this moment in time, I am not sure, which should give some indication to how much I depend on that and the internet, well there has been times that it hasn't worked and I don't have a tv. So, I have these last five years invested in knowledge and that by buying second hand books in charity shops to learn how to do stuff for myself instead of go and buy it in the shops, as all buying stuff does is deplete something that is in short supply. Living next to the sea, I fish and even the local pubs will accept fish in trade for beer and even wood for the fire and I have foraged to supplement my food and of living in the wilds, if it came to that, the beach is far more abundant in edibles than I have found the over cultivated land to be. Yes, money is my problem, and it is why I prepare for an eventuality where money is in short supply or plain not available and with ever rising fuel prices, what money one has doesn't buy much these days and i can't see the cost of fuel at the pump going down, nor a sudden surge in employment opportunities, so poverty is a great teacher and it is heartening to know one can survive without much money. But as to bug out, generally I am bugging in most of the time as everything I need is here and leaving here will have to be under the most direst of circumstances, as to what they might be I can only guess, not much chance of riot up here, nor flooding, chemical leakage possibly, but I live on the coast where it is windy, but I suppose there is the naval dockyards and the nuclear sub there to consider and of course eviction from my home.

Great post.

Can i ask a favour though please, could you please hit the enter button a few times and start a few paragraphs?

I do enjoy your posts but with that format it's really tough on these old eyes

 

[Lister]

Just seen a trailer for this: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/doomsday-preppers

made me think of this thread

 

[Corso]

Ideally to whatever shelters the authorities see fit to open; over here the counties and cities usually open the public schools (particularly the school gymnasiums) as official shelters, with the Red Cross assisting. Otherwise to stay with relatives who live away from the affected evacuation area. Or even as Red posted, in a hotel outside the affected area.

would imagine over here first thing the officals would do would be to take your nasty dangerous BOB stuff off you....

 

[Dartmoor navigator]

So, I have these last five years invested in knowledge and that by buying second hand books in charity shops to learn how to do stuff for myself instead of go and buy it in the shops.....


But as to bug out, generally I am bugging in most of the time as everything I need is here and leaving here will have to be under the most direst of circumstances, as to what they might be I can only guess.

Knowledge is a far greater tool than anything you could pack in a bag.

WRT 'bugging in' - I completely agree.

 

[santaman2000]

would imagine over here first thing the officals would do would be to take your nasty dangerous BOB stuff off you....

No. But if it contains alcohol or tobbacco they won't let you in.

 

[Silverclaws]

Done so, and my apologies for my prose, it is a natural habit I forget to alter.

But yourself in Greece, you do live in uncertain times despite what nature might throw at you what with Greece's financial situation and it's possible exit from the Euro maybe around Xmas time by most accounts which will cause a people problem and especially so if savings halve overnight, the poorest will be even poorer and so possibly desperate and there rises the likelihood of riot and crime along with the destructive tendencies of rioters and what they might burn.

But for a grasp of what monetary problems face people in a country, right now in our immediate interest is what Greece is going through and then maybe Spain, Portugal and Ireland as this world banking thing does have it's problems where financially weaker countries exist.

 

[Silverclaws]

No. But if it contains alcohol or tobbacco they won't let you in.

Then it is simple, you don't let people know what you have and furthermore, you don't let them see it as the what is the likelihood the British public will subject themselves to being searched prior to entry as we know full well what the press will do post exercise.

But then again we have this ''security reasons'' clause that seems to becoming very popular and has the effect to deny people's rights.

 

[blacktimberwolf]

Without hijacking the thread, the latest update: Isaak expected to reach Cat 2 once in the Northern Gulf. 200 mile footprint. The lower Keys are evacuating.

Hope everything goes OK for you & yours santaman............Stay safe buddy.

 

[santaman2000]

Then it is simple, you don't let people know what you have and furthermore, you don't let them see it as the what is the likelihood the British public will subject themselves to being searched prior to entry as we know full well what the press will do post exercise...

Yes you could sneak them in. But you wouldn't be able to light up or take a swig un-noticed. A shelter by nature is a large open building capable of holding large crowds (think of school gymnasiums) Even if you did light up, the resulting riot from the ashmatics would attract far more press attention than a search would. The norm (here in the South) has been for the shelter manager to open a smoking area just outside the actual shelter IF!! And I stress IF!!! the shelter remains open after 3 days.

There aren't usually "searches" over here either, but even if there were they wouldn't be entirely mandatory. You would always have the option of simply walking away and not entering the shelter (they aren't mandatory after all)

 

[santaman2000]

Hope everything goes OK for you & yours santaman............Stay safe buddy.

Thanks. Obviously I'm semi-attached to the weather reports and forecasts for now. Current projection is for landfall in our general area late Tuesday. If the forecasts hold true.

 

[Silverclaws]

Yes you could sneak them in. But you wouldn't be able to light up or take a swig un-noticed. A shelter by nature is a large open building capable of holding large crowds (think of school gymnasiums) Even if you did light up, the resulting riot from the ashmatics would attract far more press attention than a search would. The norm (here in the South) has been for the shelter manager to open a smoking area just outside the actual shelter IF!! And I stress IF!!! the shelter remains open after 3 days.

There aren't usually "searches" over here either, but even if there were they wouldn't be entirely mandatory. You would always have the option of simply walking away and not entering the shelter (they aren't mandatory after all)

Not smoking indoors is without question, we are used to that here, but alcohol kept in small leakproof containers like hip flasks don't have to be swigged, the contents just need to be tipped in a cup as many people carry those anyway for day to day consumption and I certainly do when I am out fishing or camping in the middle of nowhere, it does brighten the mood when it is cold and wet. But I hardly think everyone is going to be watching everyone else in case they snook in illicit contraband, most likely they would be tending to their own affairs, but what do I know beyond common sense, I have not experienced such conditions that would merit such a move as bugging out to a safe location en masse as living on one's own one tend to look after oneself and food, I regularly go without food for a couple of days at a time, I am used to it due to my situation but water I have the means to purify.

As to searches, one must accept the likelihood of a pat down at such places as airports prior to boarding an aircraft because of security implications, such practices can be employed anywhere where there is authority, but the US I understand there is more to worry about than fags and booze for in Florida do you not have a stand your ground law in operation and where unhappy worried people are congregated in less than ideal conditions tensions rise.

 

[11binf]

hi folks... i picked up a book a few days ago it's called (build the perfect bug out bag,your 72-hour disaster survival kit) the book is by Creek stewart...i really have'nt got into it except for the first three chapters,but the author lets people know about the kit/products that are out thier and how to use them...the author is American so some of the chapters have an American slant ie..weapons...the ISBN #978-1-4403-1874-0 distributed in the U.K. and Europe by F&W media international.LTD Brunel House,Newton Abbot, Forde Close,TQ12 4pu,U.K. telphone(+44)1626 323200. E-mail : enquiries@fwmedia .com ...i hope this helps vince g. 11B INFANTRY...

 

[rik_uk3]

I've a Coleman stove of no great value in monetary terms but it was sent to me by an American stovie who stayed home (sent family away) when Katrina hit and the little stove did for his cooking needs. No monetary value but a great personal value for me.

I'm for want of a better word a prepper (as are one or two others here) and I've lots of food and fuel etc but don't expect it all to end in the UK overnight by any means so as far as a BOB goes I'd pick and mix as needed.

I always keep £100 folded in my wallet, have done for well over a year now plus normal cash, you never know when your card will fail.

 

[cbr6fs]

Knowledge is a far greater tool than anything you could pack in a bag.

WRT 'bugging in' - I completely agree.

I agree to a certain extent, still even Ray Mears would have an easier life if he had sorted out a few things before a trip.

Done so, and my apologies for my prose, it is a natural habit I forget to alter.

But yourself in Greece, you do live in uncertain times despite what nature might throw at you what with Greece's financial situation and it's possible exit from the Euro maybe around Xmas time by most accounts which will cause a people problem and especially so if savings halve overnight, the poorest will be even poorer and so possibly desperate and there rises the likelihood of riot and crime along with the destructive tendencies of rioters and what they might burn.

But for a grasp of what monetary problems face people in a country, right now in our immediate interest is what Greece is going through and then maybe Spain, Portugal and Ireland as this world banking thing does have it's problems where financially weaker countries exist.

Much appreciated thank you.
Indeed things are still very unsure over here, who knows what the future will bring.

Thing that gets me though are the folks that complain about it, but do nothing in preparation for it.
If someone chooses to live month to month without having any savings or investments behind them then that's their choice, i'll be buggered if i'll sit and listern to them complain when the economy does collapse though.

It's obvious that the country is no where near it's lowest point, so anyone that doesn't have some savings and/or investments to fall back on is just asking for trouble.

Likewise if you have all your savings in a Greek bank or Greek property again it's pretty obvious your going to suffer in the future.

Granted being English i have access to things many Greeks don't (Premium Bonds, buying property in the UK etc etc), but still in my opinion if your Greek you really should be working towards having 6 months living expenses saved up and investing outside the country, to offer your family the best financial security.

It's funny as i have a few Greek mates that get really angry with me when we talk about this, their usual response being i don't understand and it's not that easy.
What i find funny though is they ALL have cars under 3 years old (on finance) they ALL have credit cards maxed out buying crap like big screen TV's games consoles etc etc, they ALL have the latest version of the latest phone within a week of it coming out, they all go out to eat several times a month and they all have the latest gadgets like Ipads etc.

So they decide to buy a car for say 18k euros, the finance interest takes that to at least 24k euros, they then sell that car 3 years later for under 10k euros.
So on the car alone, without servicing, fuel and running costs they're loosing at least 14k in 3 years ONLY on depreciation.

They then buy a games console for say 300 euros, put it on their credit card and end up paying back 500 euros.
When the new version comes out they sell their "old" one for 50 euros so have lost 450 euros straight off.

Had an argument with a mate last week as he asked me ti pick him up and take him to work as he was broke and couldn't afford to fuel in his car.
Sad thing is right at the start of the month only days after he'd been paid he went out and spent 800 euros on a radio controlled car.


Sorry for going on, but it just drives me crazy how people are spending their entire lives to buy crap they don't really need all the time offering no financial stability or security for their family.

I realise this is not exactly what you'd put in a "bug out bag" but i do feel it's still on topic as it's concerning providing security for your family through a crisis and financial security which i feel is more important that the stuff you pack in a bag.

 

[British Red]

Thing that gets me though are the folks that complain about it, but do nothing in preparation for it.
If someone chooses to live month to month without having any savings or investments behind them then that's their choice, i'll be buggered if i'll sit and listern to them complain when the economy does collapse though.

Very good post!

Britain is full of them - they can see the economy doing worse, things having to be cut back etc. but somehow, they can't actually put anything in place to make sure they and their families will be okay if things take a turn for the worse.

Well, I hope they aren't shown up to be foolish....but I fear otherwise