Get home bag + emergency survival kit

[big country]

After the tornadoes all over the country recently, I thought it was time to revisit our get-home bags that are kept in each of our cars. Today I pulled everything out of them, sorted through it, took pictures, and just refreshed my memory of what was in there. I found a few items I needed to add to the bags, so it is good that I went through them.

This post is my commuter car for work, 98% of the time it is only me. Work is about 5 miles as the crow flies so that is what I'm looking at for getting home. I could probably do the walk in an afternoon if I had to and roads were clear. Who knows what the situation will be, even though it doesn't sound far who knows what could happen to make that take longer than anticipated.

Here is the contents of the first bag:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v89/maverick2003/IMG_0765.jpg

Top row:
Berkey sport water bottle + filter.
dry bag containing rain wear, rain jacket and rain pants.
Leather work gloves
Twist lock containing lots of small items (see picture 2)
Denatured alcohol fuel for stove + other uses.
Gram Weenie alcohol stove + windscreen
Titanium cup, fits on stove for boiling if necessary.

Middle Section:
Paracord donut. Not sure how much cord, but there is quite a bit.
4 AA Energizer lithium batteries, 15yr shelf life
2 spools of wire for snares, ties, etc.
LED headlamp runs on 1AA battery
Compass + whistle
Mora clipper carbon steel knife
Coldsteel Bushman

Bottom Row:
Gerber folding saw
U-dig-it folding trowel
Smiths knife sharener
SOG multitool


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v89/maverick2003/IMG_0767.jpg


Top row:
Water purifier tabs
superglue
innova x1 LED light runs on 1AA
1 extra AA Energizer lithium battery
REPEL 100% DEET bug spray
Chapstick
Small Composition pad + pencil
Emergency foil blanket

Middle:
Small bundle of duct tape
White paper package of needles, 4 needles all different sizes.
small box of strike anywhere matches
small folded bundle of aluminum foil
extra pencil
BIC lighter
Magnesium block + firesteel and striker
Pouch of dryer lint (AWESOME tinder)

Bottom Row:
Large saftey pins
Small Saftey pins
Thimble
P-38 can opener
small bundle of coated nylon thread
small bundle of mono filament fishing line 10lb test.
4 small panfish sized hooks
4 small lead "bite on" sinkers



What else would you guys add? There is a small first aid kit that is on order that will be arriving early next week that will be included. (Adventure Medical kits 7oz ultralight kit). I will post the second bags contents later tonight. That bag is in the family car and is a little larger to accommodate the extra passengers.

[big country]

Reserved for post two

[willie pete]

awesome....you got a lot covered ....how 'bout a little bit of 90% Ag coins? ..you know just to have some "barter" or in case you have to buy something? may sound weird, but I keep a very small amount of FRN's (1's,5's,10's) & some 90% Ag coins in my travel tool box (the one I keep in my trunk)...just for an extreme emergency ;)

[MNeagle]

Looks good.

How about a small laminated list of important phone numbers?

Food?

Will your first-aid kit have asprin?

[MNeagle]

another handy item is a bandana.

~tie to your antenna if you're stranded
~wet & wrap around your neck to help w/ heat
~large bandage/tourniquet/sling
~dust mask

etc.

[big country]

Thanks for the ideas. All excellent ideas. I will add a bandana that is a great idea. I will also add some FRNs and 90%. For food, I was carrying a small twist lock of rice but I took it out to rotate and I'm considering replacing with a 4000 caloried emergency ration or two. I will need to order them.

Other thoughts?

[willie pete]

Thanks for the ideas. All excellent ideas. I will add a bandana that is a great idea. I will also add some FRNs and 90%. For food, I was carrying a small twist lock of rice but I took it out to rotate and I'm considering replacing with a 4000 caloried emergency ration or two. I will need to order them.

Other thoughts?


For Cold Climates; a knit pull-over cap and these.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dMnYtmGNlc

[mightymanx]

Current pictures of loved ones so if they are evacuated/displaced you can ask people have you see her (pointing to the picture)

That works a hell of alot better than have you seen a small blond girl about 3 feet tall who answers to Daddy.

Pepto or some other kind of anti-diahrea medicine constipation sucks, but Diahrea/dysentary can kill you and you will get it from poor water sanatation etc. Remember boys and girls the 1800's cure for dysentarty was opiates they stop you up, so if you are out of pepto and can find morphine, vicodin. percocett etc. you can save your ass (pun intended)

Lots of food like mainstay bars lots of calories per pound.

[MNeagle]

Not sure if you live in snow country or not, but we have those hand/foot warmer packs too. Here are more items of my winter tote kit not in your list:

choppers (suede mittens w/ fleece lining)
hooded head cover/3-1-type

Emergency auto banner ("Call Tow"/"Call Police")
Can of Fix-a-Flat; Instant de-icer
Socks
Bag of drink mixes (instant coffee, cup-o-soup, cocoa, cider)
Hard candies (life savers)
Garbage bags
Candle in covered tin
Flare
Hand powered (squeeze/no battery) flashlight
Playing cards
Feminine hygiene items

Also, I carry my old eyeglasses in my vehicle as a backup, since I need them for driving.

[Book]

Work is about 5 miles as the crow flies so that is what I'm looking at for getting home.



That's less than a two-hour walk.

:)

[big country]

Work is about 5 miles as the crow flies so that is what I'm looking at for getting home.



That's less than a two-hour walk.

:)


I'm not a crow and I live in the mountains. A straight walk is out of the question.

[MNeagle]

& probably all uphill going home??

[MNeagle]

how about a firearm for predators?

oh, and make sure it's a backpack type bag, so you can have both hands free.

[big country]

There are tons of hills here. It is seriously ridiculous. I live in West Virginia in a very hilly part of the state (north central).

For cold weather, I carry extra gloves + hat and a windbreaker jacket behind the seat of my truck. I will remember to put some handwarmer and foot warmer pouches in there too. Those things are awesome on a cold day. I assume I'll grab a proper jacket in the AM before I leave. I don't keep that permanently packed in my bag because honestly, I'm too cheap to go buy more hats and gloves from the sole purpose of packing them and forgetting in my truck -- especially when I really only need them 3 months a year. The leather work gloves could work in a pinch for unexpected cold weather.

I will get pictures and update for bag number two tomorrow. It is very similar to the first, but has a much larger first aid kit, better cookware and utensils.

I don't have a gun packed because this bag is within reach of me as driver and I do not have a CCW in this state. I have one from my old state, which has reciprocity here, but because I am a resident here now I HAVE to have a CCW from this state, according to the sheriff. It is packed in a should bag, not a backpack type bag. A backpack is a good idea, but this bag is what I had laying around the house. I'll check around (watch yard sales) for a good price on a school-type backpack.

[drafter]

I started with a 72 hour backpack/kit from "Emergency Essentials" then added whatever I felt was lacking like a leatherman tool, extra MRE heaters, etc.. Could probably get all the items cheaper seperately than their kit, but I just wanted something simple and ready to go without a lot of fuss on my part.

[Book]

2484




4 AA Energizer lithium batteries, 15yr shelf life



http://www.amazon.com/PowerPax-SlimLine-Battery-Caddy-Yellow/dp/B004XO8DMG/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1332125897&sr=1-3http://www.naturescapes.net/store/images/D/powerpax-4pk-holder-yellow.jpg

:) Powerpax

[zap]

I don't have a BOB in any of my cars (oh I have knives, water, fire, blankets, money) I'm in Cali. If a disaster strikes, I sure hope I am close to home, I think my biggest problem would be ......needing to be invisible on my way home.