Is it really that strange that there are people who like to be prepared? Have some people shown on the National Geographic show made it seem like folks are just losing their minds in general? Is it necessary to go the extent these people explained and brought to light? What is going too far survival wise?
The short answer to all these questions is no. However, I do think the Doomsday Preppers program is making the individuals out to be loonies and such with editing and cutting major bits of video. And of course, the extent you are willing to go is up to the individual. And also the digits their bank account possesses helps dictate how far one is fiscally capable to go.
- In the scenario came when I actually needed this stuff I was accumulating, Id be happy I did.
- If a scenario never came to be for the intended use, I still got camping gear etc.
- Natural disasters have happened in recent years past, and people were helplessly unprepared.
What started out as light research, turned into something different. The research I was doing was extensive to say the least. And in the true fashion that is TSB, it went full blown compulsive at some point near the start. The way I looked at this BOB gear was, "It certainly could not hurt." And in a very white and black way, I was never really prepared before this. It was not really a worry before this point.
Should I have a bug out bag?
Yes. I think everyone should have a contingency plan for given scenarios, and have a single bag ready to go in the case of any emergency.
"Everyone needs a plan B in their life. Sometimes, I even like plan C, D, E, F, or G."
Where do you start if you are interested in BOB gear and the items you should include?
As I said before, the love for fictional horror-based movies that usually had zombies was the start. Deep within that statement there is more. I hated the idea of not being able to leave ASAP if needed and being confident I had everything to leave for 72 hours in most scenarios. The drive to learn was leading me to the eventual forum areas. Which ones do not matter specifically, but many tactical forums and zombie related forums have much more information than I can give right here. I separated from the forums I was originally part of shortly after, as I felt the direction and demeanor of the moderators, and site advocates were not on the same page as my own. They were highly unrealistic to what real world scenarios one might encounter, and what measures one should take to diffuse/resolve them. Although, the differences in ethics shouldn't deter anyone from learning the necessary information. My separation was quiet, I left because I was a paying member of the group. I refused to pay people who avidly opposed talking about the darker areas of survival, yet preach living under the guise of a "zombie apocalypse".
What types of things should I put in my BOB?
To loosely understand how and what yo put in your bug out bag, you should divide your bag into these categories. I have found this works the best for me, and many other people have too.
- Water
- Fire
- Shelter
- Food
- Medical
- Signal
- Miscellaneous
"This is an example of an exploded BOB for comparison. Its a pretty good general idea of what would be found in any given BOB, with the exception of a few important tools."
- Water - purification tablets and collapsible canteens are pretty much a must. You can get kits that allow water purification for under $100. Otherwise, you can decide to carry all the water you would need for 3 days from the start. Camelbak's are a great way to haul and drink. 100oz packs are easy to come by, and they are usually reasonably priced.
- Fire - Well derp. You cant cook, or keep warm without it in most cases. Lighters, waterproof matches, and magnesium bars will usually get the job done. Candles may also come in handy for starting and keeping light as the wax is a good fire starter. Or if you are Bear Grylls, you can rub your penis on a piece of wood and fire appears.
- Shelter - The most important things regarding shelter can be learned with learning some bush craft skills. The lessons are invaluable in a survival situation. You could carry a tent, but its heavy and bulky. Or carry some para cord, and a tarp for example to make a simple shelter. Or a hammock would work good in some cases. Yes, companies do make single person, light bivvy alternatives. They get a bit expensive. Anything light or backpacking gear seems to have been picked up and price raped by REI. If money isnt the issue, why are you reading this still?
- Food - High energy bars, granola, soup packets, or MRE's (meals ready to eat) will suffice. Or if you got the cash, you can buy food prepacked in camping outlets. Some other items are a mess kit, fishing supplies, knife, aluminum foil, and freezer bags will be useful if you plan on obtaining food while out. Should I mention guns yet?
- Medical - Lip balm, butterfly sutures, surgical knife, broad spectrum antibiotics, gauze, soap, bandages, topical ointments, anti fungals, aspirin, anti-diarrhea, safety pins, and compression wraps. Any medications taken should be stored here too. Manuals, and first aid booklets would help the average person in most cases.
- Signal - Personally, I think every bag should contain 3 items for signalling. A mirror, a loud whistle (of the rape variety), and flashlight. You can also get cheap neon items to use as signalling devices. Laser pointers work too. A US flag is always recommended as.
- Miscellaneous - Compass, money, knife sharpener, survival manuals, maps, needle and thread, extra glasses/contacts. All of these items are good to have. While I don't consider some of them miscellaneous and more so ultimately necessary, the US ARMY SURVIVAL MANUAL does.
"This single person bivvy tent is great for backpacking. Lightweight backpacking gear is $$$ if its price that dictates your gear."
This list is a very basic idea of what you would want to have with you in a BOB. Weight is key. Think durable, multipurpose, and lightweight. Imagination can do wonders for a bag like this. This by no means is a finalized version of what every person needs in a bug out bag for every situation. Your bag will change through out the year seasonally to conform with what will be needed clothing wise and equipment wise. Plan for a specific, generalized scenario. It will help with the overall usefulness of your BOB, and make for a more comfortable survival situation.
You can spend obscene amounts of money on something like this. But truth be told your equipment is of no use if you are a busted up, rambling mess in the woods someplace. Knowledge is the golden key to this, and practice using the tools and smarts you acquire will make your chances for surviving go up exponentially. Read manuals, and find forums where the information is free to you. Find ways to try and get others involved doing the same thing. If you care about them, you should care about their survival too. Remember though, the first aid in your backpack is not meant for your friends. Its ultimately meant for yourself. Spread the information to them and hopefully they will share an interest in learning and achieving alpha level survival skills like your bad ass self.
"Sorry, TSB refrains from posting his personal collection. A few items in this picture would work"
Oh, and I almost forgot. Not only can this whole bag be left to the imagination but I kind of forgot one very important thing. Defending yourself! The possibilities are endless. I suggest carrying a firearm (or 8) to help in the possible situation you encounter zombies or food you want dead. A short - medium range rifle, and a pistol will work for most people. This is open to interpretation, and local laws play into this heavily but lets be honest. If the shit hits the fan, you want to have this part covered. Because laws wont mean dick. You will need every necessary means to defend yourself, and to be able to thrive and survive if any SHTF scenario does arise. Firearms make that part a little bit easier. Tools like machetes, hatchets, axes, saws, and shovels are also in this area I think as they are multi use.
"For survival purposes and to keep moral up, I keep a copy of The Road Warrior in my BOB."
Congratulations! You are now a sniveling ball of compulsive, paranoid, doomsday preaching homeless vagrant! I kid. What you are now is aware of a plan of what might be necessary in a hit the deck situation. I try my best to stay on topic, as this specific area could be written about for days on end. I might even consider doing follow ups about this exact subject. What I figure I can offer is a very easy to understand and follow guideline to making you more aware of what it might take to be prepared person. Think of it this way. You might want to outlive all your neighbors and sworn enemies just to be able to wear tires as armor, and see a real life gladiator arena. Why not?! Just to be able to say, "back when the (insert awesome apocalyptic event) happened" would be worth it.
"They have delicious meals. Alpha children are the future."
Some people make Bug Out Bags (BOB), some make Get Me Home bags (GMH), and some people concentrate on Every Day Carry kits (EDC), all of which are important. I have at least some idea about each one of these and hope to touch eventually on each subject. I will provide links about where to begin, and I will also provide as much pictures (because I know people love pictures) to explain and gain understanding in depth. My hopes is that someone finds this of use. The whole point of writing this as a blog is to gain understanding and interest in the areas I have studied. I'm finding that after a long time of trying to explain individually to people, and open forum its exasperating and fruitless. Being a survivor is about being the ultimate alpha. Its about being prepared, and being conditioned mentally, and physically to endure any situation. With the economic situation changing here in the States, and the dollar becoming worth less than it was yesterday, it may not be that strange to start thinking about this off the grid information. You have to rely on yourself. You cannot rely on your government, or your local authorities to take care of you as we have seen in the past natural disasters and with any degree of alert.
"The Clark Griswald beachside vacation 20XX"
Links of interest for further reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doomsday_Preppers
http://survivalcache.com/bug-out-bag/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contingency_plan
US ARMY FM21-76 SURVIVAL MANUAL FREE TO READ DOWNLOAD IT!
http://www.equipped.com/fm21-76.htm
ONLINE STORE FOR GEAR
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/
FORUM - BUG OUT BAG THREADS
http://www.survivalistboards.com/tags.php?tag=bug+out+bag
No comments:
Post a Comment