Bug-In/Bug-Out Defensive Gear, Just the Truth what do you Really Use.

[PA PATRIOT]

Started a new thread to ask a very simple and honest question, I have visited most of the Disaster Planning Forums and found that many like to embellish on the gear and weapons that they own and would use in a true large scale emergency. We all live with the day to day bills which in these times consumes most of are incomes so sometimes we have to settle for the lower end of the quality spectrum for the gear we buy and use. This is not a wish list or hope to have one day thread but what you have "RIGHT NOW" if the SHTF this very moment. So post it up with pic's/links if you have them of the gear that will defend and support your family when the crap truly spatters into the fan.

I will post Pic's of my stuff once the wife locates were my kids hide the camera.

[Chooie]

Right now I don't have much on hand, but it's probably more than most. This will have to support two adults and two small dogs.

3 cases of bottled water
1 case (12 meals) of MREs
1 case (10 packs) 3600 calorie Mainstay rations
cupboards and kitchen pantry full of dry foodstuffs (ramen, pasta, rice, beans, spices/salt, etc.)
cupboards full of canned veggies and fruit
2 20lb bags of dog food
plenty of flashlights, batteries, duct tape, pistol and shotgun ammo (rifle ammo is low except for .22) 2 way radios (FRS/GMRS and my rescue squad/police band radio), scanner, CB
7500w generator and 15 gal of fuel
a full tank of propane for the fireplace and backup stove
a full 20lb tank of propane for the grill
medium sized first aid/first responder medical kit
sturdy clothing and boots
bags/packs (probably not going to be bugging out - based on where we are, there is a much greater probability of bugging in, but it helps to keep stuff organized)
reading materials, board games, playing cards, blank notebooks and writing materials
misc. hand tools
mechanic's tools

Our water supply is a well on our property, and the well pump is wired into the breaker panel to be powered by the generator. We are on relative high ground, and sit smack in the middle of a 12 acre plot of land divided between two other family homes and a couple of horse pastures.

There's something to be said about living in the countryside... when I type out all the stuff we have on hand it seems like a lot, but to look around at what is here I see a lot of room for improvement.

I do think that if anything were to happen and we were forced to rely on what we had on hand, it would be supplemented by our other family members living nearby, who would likely want to congregate here (in-laws, brother in law, and his three young kids). That's it, though - no estranged relatives wanting to mooch supplies, or needy neighbors (most all are like minded and have their own supplies and plans). The generator is located behind the house, about 200' from the road, and is quite quiet for its size, so I don't anticipate that it will draw too much attention when we use it (basically, just to run a small fridge/freezer for perishables a few hours a day, and charge up 12v gel-cel batteries for backup lighting, as well as a large UPS to power the DSL modem and a laptop - should service resume it would be nice to have connectivity even without mains power).

Most of this stuff has been collected over the years, and was not purchased with emergency use in mind (except the generator), so there has been no real financial burden. The hardest part is figuring what would be useful and what would be wasteful to stockpile. 100 rounds of birdshot, 30 rounds of buckshot, and 5,000 rounds of .22 will go a hell of a lot further than 500 rounds of .223 (as much as I'd love to have a 20k round stockpile of ammo for an AR or two, it's just not in the cards for someone making 40k/year and building a family).

I think the most pressing issue we have is water. Three cases of 16oz bottles is just not enough for any sort of long-term situation. If our well is compromised we would be without water within a week (easily, even rationing it between us and the dogs - I'm just thankful that we have chihuahuas and not great danes).

[Mac5.56]

Interesting thread, and a good way to get some of us thinking about our differing realities (both physically, financially, ecologically ect).

So here is my story:

I live in what would become a refugee camp if a major migration of people ever happened out of NYC. I am within shooting distance of the NY State Throughway, less then two hours from the city limits. Both my fiance and I have planned for and prepared ourselves for any emergency/shtf since we first met (6 years now). Our economic reality means we live in a town (small town), and also in an apartment.

Both of us consider it fact that ANY SHTF situation, or "attack", or infrastructure collapse that involves NYC will ultimately involve us. Bugging in for us means subjecting ourselves to a Katrina type situation, and considering that our neighbors are all elderly and un-prepared for anything, they will be a major drain on resources (sorry to say this but we're talking emergency). If a Katrina type emergency hit a 75 mile area of where I live, I would be in a Katrina type environment.

But bugging in is a reality that may be thrust upon us for a short time so for bugging in I have:

BUG IN
1. Enough jarred and canned (by hand) produce from gardens we have had over the past three years (at our past house) to provide for about 2 months.
2. Currently pickling about 2 gallons of cabbage.
3. Cupboards full of dried and easy to cook food.
4. A freezer full of food that will once defrosted will provide a weeks of fresh food.
5. Propane and white gas to cook on two cooks stoves if electric is lost.
6. Candles for light if need be.
7. A massive reserve of fresh water located in the boiler directly below our apartment that I will be using to fill multiple water bladders.
8. Enough ammunition to make me feel safe (some of the people on here would disagree, but I am more then content with my stockpile) Enough Ammo for my MP 15 to last through a non-long term SHTF, several boxes of Shotgun Shells for pump shot gun, and enough 30.30 rounds for my partner to compliment the AR-15 if need be.
9. We intentionally took a middle floor apartment to give us a field of fire out the window if need be, and to limit access from the ground, but also provide easy (jump capable) escape.
10. Surefire flash light, utility knife, automatic knife.
11. Two gas/particle respirators as well as two sets of goggles for police sanctioned gas attacks (trust me it works).
12. Non-Lethal chemical attack first aid supplies.
13. First Aid Kit including CPR mask, my fiances medication, ext.

[10 - 13 are completely mobile as are 8 and the guns so I will not repeat them in the bug out scenario]

BUG OUT:

1. The most important thing we have is knowledge of our area. Very broad knowledge, combined with a location that is remote and within a reasonable destination, multiple ways to get there, and a plan.
2. We always have enough gas in our vehicles to get there. This is a no-brainer, but ask yourself how many times you or friends drop below a 1/4 tank, and you'll see how easy it is to forget.
3. All of the things mentioned above in brackets
4. Two back packs, one is a Kelty for my Fiance, and one is an old internal frame from teh 70's for me that I don't like and am currently replacing, but it is what I have. Will have an Elberstock G4 Operator before the end of the month. In these packs we have a basic set of rations that will get us by for about a week. Not super long, but long enough for the two of us to start to do what we do which is be out doors.
5. Two 1 liter water bottles each.
6. MSR water filter.
7. MSR white gas cook stove
8. Water proof contour maps of our entire county and the two adjacent.
9. Two compases (and for that mater two sets of knives, utility knives, ext).
10 A two person light weight, internal frame (there are no poles you pull "out" of the fabric) Walrus backpacking tent. We have set this thing up in down pours in under five minutes, including fly. And it's DRY. Best tent I have ever owned.
11. Two 0 degree rated sleeping bags (these could be of better quality, one is better then the other).
12. Two sets of under armor underwear, five sets of hiking socks, a pair of Salomon hiking boots I love, and clothing rugged enough to not need washing. (this is my summer kit)
13. The last and second most important thing is that we both have the physical capability of moving this stuff. We train every week in the outdoors, doing no less then 8 miles a day on some of the hardest single elevation gains I have ever done in my life (and I grew up backpacking in Wyoming). When the day comes, if it comes, we can move fast on every end of the spectrum including the hiking.

I can go on about my Bug Out kit, but I think you get the idea...

[PA PATRIOT]

The one thing I read the most is that people state they have a Bug-In set-up, Bug-Out in a Vehicle bag and a Bug-out on foot back pack. I would say all would have to be independent from another so if you had to transaction from one mode to another it could be done immediately without trying to grab parts of one to add to another. Now firearms/Mag's/Ammo and support gear is a no brainier as they can be used for all situations if the total weight is kept to were adding a pack to your back does not cause a coronary. Now does everyone do this or would you have to hunt around to collect everything to may need from the main Bug-In supply.

[Mac5.56]

If you have packs in the back of your car (post bug out), and two sleeping bags ready to strap on with beaners, why is there an issue between car and foot? They are one in the same, you just ditch the ride. As for the house, it's pretty small, I know where everything is.

[Outlander Systems]

I'll go over this topic some more, once I've done some inventory.

I recently moved into a new house, and my "office" is like a tactical gear/computer equipment/book junkyard. In short, a total train wreck.

I can state that nothing I've posted on this topic is an embellishment of any sort. If anything, I'm WAY under equipped.

I still have not purchased the Steripen or any water treatment for that matter, yet.

Buying stuff for the house has recently put tactical/doomer gear on hold for a minute. Being put on an indefinite 20-hour a week furlough sure hasn't helped preps either.

Most recently, I've added an extra 50lb bag of rice. COSTCO's selling it at, what I consider to be, a steal: $15.00!

As well, I've discovered that at Wal*Mart, the 5 gallon paint buckets are actually food grade. A buddy of mine phoned the manufacturer in Ohio, and was told that:

1) These buckets ARE food-grade
2) They're not marketed as such

Good news, on that front. They're perfect for bulk food storage.

My "doom" scenario involves bugging-in, unless circumstances prevent that. I'd definitely not like to participate in any ensuing chaos from some sort of calamitous event. I'd rather park my fat ass on the couch, drink stockpiles of wine, and eat Ramen™.

Bugging out is a different adventure altogether. I'm trying to organise my kit into "modular" format, so that they can work individually for tasks, but compliment each other as a whole, if that makes any sense.

I ditched my Ranger RD-9 knife for a RAT-7 recently as well.

I highly recommend considering barter items for a doom-economy as well. Booze and smokes are high on my list, since I'll use 'em up, doom or no doom.

Unfortunately, my stockpiling of lamp oil has hit an abrupt halt. Wal*Mart, the sole purveyor of the 64oz bottles of Lamplighter fluid, no longer carries it. Alternate sources of procurement are hard to come buy, if not impossible. I know of no others that stock it in my area, which is a severe let down.

I've been hoarding the 80oz bottles of SoftSoap™ as well, since, like booze and tobacco, I've always got a use for it.

Typically, I've avoided freeze-dried/MRE type meals, since they're not something I eat on a daily basis. I haven't ruled them out, but I also haven't placed a Code Red priority on them.

I'm trying to get back into the doomer fray, but with the recent move, it's been tough.

[Mac5.56]

smokes is a good one! Never thought of that. After knowing someone who was an ex-pat in Angola I can tell you that smokes/chew are gold in a barter system. I carry hand rolled.

[rob_s]

I have visited most of the Disaster Planning Forums and found that many like to embellish on the gear and weapons that they own and would use in a true large scale emergency.

I wonder how you arrive at this conclusion.

So post it up with pic's/links if you have them of the gear that will defend and support your family when the crap truly spatters into the fan.

Maybe it's just me, and maybe my tinfoil is on a bit too tight, but there comes a point where that doesn't seem like a very smart thing to do.

However...

Some of your extrapolations and conclusions are a bit odd.

Car:foot isn't really that complicated at all. big Rubbermaid tub for bug-in/bug-out, with a pack inside filled with the bare necessities. Drag out the tub post-disaster if staying home and make use of the contents, or throw the tub in the vehicle pre-disaster if evacuating. Vehicle gets bogged down and you need to transition to foot? Open the tub, grab the pack(s) and get moving.

You also make it sound like bugging in or bugging out is some big dramatical event. If your preparations are made with an eye towards a Red Dawn scenario then maybe so, but I've been force-evac'd more than a few times due to hurricanes and I've "bugged in" quite a bit as well. Frankly even with zero prep time I was able to gather the basics, throw them in the car, and leave, and post-hurricane even with no power and twice in strange houses with ZERO done to prep we were more than comfortable with what was in the house the day before the storm.

Unless you're preparing for global meltdown or you're living in a shack in New Orleans, the only real preparation you need is a credit card to get the **** out of the cesspool post-disaster.

and frankly most people are ill-prepared to deal with any kind of global meltdown if that's your thing. Too many people think that surviving one of these events has much at all to do with the case of MREs in yourr closet and the 15k rounds in your garage.

[6933]

rob-Couldn't agree more. I've done the last minute hurricane preparedness and with an educated idea of what you need, it is possible. Two days before, not a problem. Day before, might not be able to get quantities of what you need, but supplies will exist.

MRE's and thousands of rounds; like you say, that's not prepared. Mil would drop them off to me in NOLA-bugged in-and they take getting use to. If that's all you have, that's all you have. But if your body isn't use to them, and in a disaster scenario, the craps can be a big deal. Be prepared and stock other food. But, to be prepared, there is so much more to it than ammo. and MRE's. If one is made of money, then getting seriously prepared can take several months. That's if there is no building, retrofitting, etc. going on. Becoming proficient with a pistol and AR takes many, many hours of training that most likely must be paid for; at least starting out. My upcoming classes have had me saving for months and scrounging Wally Worlds all over the place for ammo.

For me, preparation is a continuously evolving process that has been going on and will continue to go on.

[Outlander Systems]

I think "survivalists", despite being marginalised in the LameStream Media, are more appreciative of the amenities modern society affords us.

Lord knows I am.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for how precious civilisation is, as well as how fragile a thing she be.

I agree with Rob, to a certain extent.

Contrary to "consumers" consuming consumables, preparations are more than just buying one's way out of calamity.

Gathering items for a rainy day is very important, and I won't negate that fact; however, in terms of "true" preparedness one must always be mindful that MacGuyver rules the day, not Rambo.

I tend to think about what things I really truly appreciate in modern society, and what I would truly be heartbroken to go without. Number one on that list, impossible to procure in a catastrophe:

Ice Cream.

A world without ice cream is, well, damned frightening.