Originally Posted by
JeffM.
The scenarios you listed are fairly localized and relatively short term regarding pure survival. Katrina is the big one that we can look at in the US. A little water, food, and clothing appropriate for the weather will keep you alive. Beyond that, items that would help you A. leave the area, 2. secure shelter once a safe location is found, and D. continue living a somewhat normal life while displaced and/or facilitate returning home to do the same. A reliable vehicle, a good pair of boots & socks, and a good multitool are a good start for “bugging out”, past that, cash is king. $10k might be a bit much, but isn’t far off the mark. You should think about having enough for 1st/last/deposit on a place you could stand living in for a few months, a set of clothes appropriate for job interviews, fuel/bus pass and groceries for a month, and a bit extra for other incidentals. Copies (or originals/certified copies) of important documents that would be necessary to gain housing and employment like Social Security card/Passport/ID card, insurance policies for ease of starting the claims process for recovery/rebuilding/relocating expenses, etc. Those are solid items for any realistic bug-out scenario.