Prepper:

Bug Out Bag Basics

Create Your Apocalypse Survival Bug Out Bag

By Jack Gunnar

About This Book

A tornado hits. Floods sweep the country. A deadly virus is released into the population. A nuclear bomb explodes. The zombie apocalypse finally arrives. Are you ready?

In Prepper: But Out Bag Basics, Jack Gunnar gives readers a step-by-step guide to preparing for any major disaster. A bug out bag contains an important set of supplies which will help anyone to survive the evacuation and first few days after disaster strikes.

Beginning with the preparation, this book ensures that the reader starts out on their adventurous journey with all the right foundations. Moving on to the supplies that every bug out bag should contain, this guide has impressive, comprehensive and reliable advice for both budding beginners and experienced survivalists.

Perhaps one of the most unique and helpful aspects of this book is the chapter dedicated to life beyond the bug out bag, which offers tips and advice for surviving long-term in a post-apocalyptic scenario.

This easy-to-read book is the perfect accompaniment for anyone who likes to be prepared, for anyone who wants to prepare for the end of the world, or for outdoors types who want to challenge themselves to something different.

Table of Contents

About This Book

Copyright Notice

Introduction: The Bug Out Bag Basics

Chapter One: Different Bug Out Bag Breeds

Chapter Two: Sorting Your Bug Out Bag from Your Trash Bag

Chapter Three: Get Packing!

Chapter Four: The Original Isn’t Always the Best

Chapter Five: But Out Bag Storage

Chapter Six: Life Beyond Your Bug Out Bag

Chapter Seven: The End is Nigh

About the Author

Thank You

Join The Modern Prepper Community

Copyright Notice

Dedicated to my Grandad Moh, who continues to inspire each day.

Copyright © 2015 by Jack Gunnar
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. 

ePrinted in the United States of America

...something to consider,
"Extinction is the rule.  Survival is the exception."
- Carl Sagan

Introduction: The Bug Out Bag Basics

A tornado hits. Floods sweep the country. A deadly virus is released into the population. A nuclear bomb explodes. The zombie apocalypse finally arrives.

Imagine it: you’re going about your daily business, when suddenly, disaster strikes. Are you ready?

Few people understand the real importance of preparing for major disasters, emergencies or unexpected events. By picking up this book, you’ve taken the first step in becoming a real survivor!

If one of those terrible, apocalyptic, life-changing events does take place, then chances are that a large portion of the population will be wiped out. During a time when resources, travel links and safety will be at an all-time low, you’ll need to do what you can to stay alive. If you take a little time to plan a strategy now, then you’re more likely to be one of the lucky few who survive.

You’ll need to consider slightly different things, depending on whether you’re planning for an environmental disaster, a health epidemic, a military crisis, or something a little more supernatural – or all of the above! Here, I’ll give you some of an idea of what you can do to increase your chances of survival in a whole range of situations.

The first thing that any budding prepper needs to organise is a bug out bag. This is some sort of bag which will see you through the first few days of a major emergency. The focus of a bug out bag is more on evacuation and short-term survival, rather than keeping you going for years to come, but the first few days will be crucial.

If you are in a position to stay in a location in which you are safe and comfortable – such as your own home – then obviously it would be preferable to do so. Of course this depends on the nature of the emergency and how much of a risk is posed to you. Fleeing should be seen as a last resort, which is why a bug out bag is so important. It will be filled with all the things that you need to survive for a few days, but which you simply won’t be able to get anywhere else.

Generally, bug out bags will only last you for a few days; three or four at most. You have to bear in mind that there’s a fine balance between taking enough to live on, and still being able to carry your load while you’re on the run. However, if you’re clever, you might be able to make your bug out bag last for much longer.

Luckily, I’m here to help you pack what you need, and I’ll even help you out with some of the things that bug out bags can’t prepare you for.

Strap in, because we’re about to go on a bumpy ride!

Chapter One: Different Bug Out Bag Breeds

I’ve already touched upon the idea of needing different bug out bags for different emergencies very briefly, but now it’s something that we’ll look at in more detail.

For starters, it’s important to think about what kind of disaster you’re planning for. For example, if you’re worried about an environmental crisis (such as an earthquake, flood or hurricane), you’ll need to pack different things from if you’re preparing to survive a zombie invasion.

It is possible to prepare a more general bug out bag to cover yourself for a whole host of eventualities, but that’d be doing half a job. Think of it like building a house: you build the kitchen, the bathroom and the bedroom. You fix up all the electrics and the plumbing, and you decorate the place. It has everything you need to live comfortably…except for the fact that you’ve forgotten to fit a front door. Without a vital piece of kit tailored to your situation, the rest will simply be redundant, and you won’t last very long at all.

Looking at your local area might help you to decide what kind of disaster you want to plan for. If you live in an area that’s particularly prone to hurricanes or earthquakes then it make sense to prepare for a weather-related emergency, but in a busy city you should probably prepare for a different threat.

Let’s imagine that you are preparing for some sort of weather-related disaster. If this is the case, your focus will need to be on surviving in all weathers. Your clothing will need to be waterproof and very warm, just in case the movie 2012 becomes reality – albeit a few years late! You’ll need to think carefully about what you pack in terms of shelter, as it will need to protect you from all the elements, potentially even strong winds. Everything in your bug out bag will need to be tailored to help you survive in extreme weather conditions. Luckily, organizations that help people prepare for expeditions to the arctic will be able to offer you loads of advice, guidance and suggestions for supplies.

Alternatively, perhaps you’d like to prepare for something a little more unnatural, like a nuclear explosion. Should you be lucky enough to survive, it’s unlikely that you will be able to eat or use the majority of things in your local area, so you’ll need to make other arrangements, especially when it comes to food.

One other option that you might want to prepare for is the zombie apocalypse, or even something like an alien invasion. If you’ve ever watched The Walking Dead or any science fiction movies, you’ll know that in these instances, personal safety will be your biggest issue. As such, your bug out bag will need to contain all sorts of supplies to keep you protected against whoever – or whatever – might be out to get you.

Once you’ve thought about what kind of disaster you’ll try to survive, the next step is to think about the size that your bug out bag should be. First and foremost, you should consider your own size and strength; there’s no point in choosing an enormous bug out bug if it’s as big as you are, or if it’s simply going to weigh too much to carry when it’s full.

Generally speaking, bug out bags are only meant to keep you going through the first few days of an emergency – three or four at most. This is probably the most that you’ll physically be able to carry, especially in terms of water and food. However, some seasoned preppers do put together bug out bags which are meant to last a lot longer. For a beginner it’s probably best to stick with packing just enough to get by.

Shortly, we’ll cover the specifics of what type of bag to use in more detail.

As you can see, a whole lot of thought needs to go into your bug out bag way before you can get started on packing. However, by thinking carefully about what you’re prepping for, your supplies will be a whole lot more effective – which could end up saving your life.

Chapter Two: Sorting Your Bug Out Bag from Your Trash Bag

Now that you’ve decided what kind of emergency you’re preparing for, as well as how long you want your bug out bag to sustain you for, it’s time to turn your attention to the actual bag itself.

During a disaster or emergency situation, you have to bear in mind that your physical health and fitness may be at risk, so choosing a bug out bag that’s easy, comfortable and safe to carry is of the utmost importance. Well-made, sturdy backpacks are perfectly suited for this purpose, as they’ll distribute the weight evenly over your shoulders, back and legs. Aside from the fact that they probably won’t be big enough, over-the-shoulder bags or those which you have to carry by hand will just be too uncomfortable. In fact, they would probably do you more harm than good, especially if you end up having to walk long distances!

We’ve already established that something sturdy is best, and that applies to the material that it’s made from, as well. A tough fabric is preferable to any sort of plastic, which would be too easy to damage.

If you can find a bag that’s made from some sort of waterproof fabric then that would be ideal – especially if you’re prepping for a weather-related natural disaster. The last thing you want is for all your lifesaving supplies to become damaged because rain or floodwater soaked through!

At this point you’re probably beginning to worry that you need to splash out on something really expensive, but that’s not exactly true. The key factor here is on quality, so if you can find a really good, resilient, weather-resistant bag for a really good price then snap it up! Just be careful not to buy anything cheap just because you don’t want to spend out any more – all too often you get what you pay for, and a bag that rips, breaks or feels uncomfortable will be of no use to anyone. Plastic bags that you can pick up from a supermarket just won’t do!

If you’re still in doubt over the type of bag to go for, visit an outdoors, hunting or survival store and speak to some of their staff. Even if you don’t buy it directly from them, they should be able to advise you on the kind of thing to go for. After all, they’ll know exactly what will fit your specific needs! This is a particularly good tactic to use when you’re trying to source any of the items for your bug out bag; speak to outdoors and survival experts!

Alternatively, another option would be to source a backpack from a military surplus store. There are hundreds of these places out there, both physical stores and online, and they usually sell backpacks for a very reasonable price. If they’re a good enough standard for the strongest people in the country to use in the most challenging environments, then they’re good enough for preppers to use as bug out bags!

Chapter Three: Get Packing!

With your bug out bag finally at the ready, it’s time to get packing! Below you’ll find details of things that pretty much every bug out bag should have. Even if you think you won’t need something, pack it anyway – you never know when you might need it, or when it might save your life! If nothing else, you could always use spares to barter or trade with other survivors who have something that you really need.

Food and water

It goes without saying that by far the most important thing that anyone needs to survive is food and water. There’s no point in going to all this trouble of prepping a bug out bag if you leave out the most important things that will give you energy; your very life sources.

In terms of water, remember to take enough for both drinking and washing. Depending on the situation, you might not have access to running water, and even rivers and lakes may not be safe to use for washing or drinking. Even if you’re prepared to go without washing yourself for a while, you’ll need water to wash some of your supplies and cooking utensils. Just because you’re in a post-apocalyptic situation doesn’t mean you can forego basic sanitation!

When you include water for both drinking and washing, you should aim to take along four liters per day. A minimum of two of these should be for drinking, while the rest can go on washing. If your bug out bag is supposed to last you for around three days, that’ll be a total of 12 liters. It might be heavy, but you’ll be grateful for every drop.

When it comes to food, it’s best to go for things that are very lightweight, very high in energy, and very long-lasting.

It is well known that nuts and oats provide long-lasting, high energy nutrition, so pack plenty of cereal bars, energy bars and bags of nuts. Dried fruits are also great as they provide you with all the nutrients and energy that you’ll need, as well as giving you a little sugar kick. In any case, it’s always nice to have something a little sweet tasting now and again!

Many people like to pack bags of dried meats such as beef jerky as well, but remember that the saltier your snacks are, the more you’ll need to rehydrate, so the more of your water supply you’ll use up.

No matter what types of food you choose, it’s important to ensure that they are non-perishable; the longer they last, the better. Your bug out bag might only be designed to last you a few days, but if you’re lucky and find better food sources quickly, then you could end up storing these snacks to use at some point in the future.

Although it might be tempting to pack tinned food for exactly that reason – as well as the variety that you can have – they may become very heavy very quickly, so too many tins might not be a good idea. Try to stick to lightweight foods as far as possible.

Incidentally, your bug out bag foods should all have long shelf lives, but as we wait for Judgement Day (in whatever form it may take), replace and replenish your food stock every year. It might not be strictly necessary, but it’s best to keep the foods as fresh as possible. You don’t want to get to the point where you have to pick up your stuff and leave in several years’ time, only to find that your food supply is already nearing its expiration date. By replenishing your stock every year, it will last well into the future.

At this point, while you have food on your mind, it’s a good idea to start thinking about food preparation. Specifically, you’ll need cooking equipment, which you can buy from any good outdoors or camping store. You might want to think about getting hold of some sort of water purification supplies, or you could just thoroughly boil your water first in order to remove any bacteria and impurities. Water purification might sound like a good idea in principle, but when your bug out bag only has a limited amount of space and there is another, simpler option, then you might want to give it a miss.

Shelter

After you’ve prepped your food and water, the next most important thing to organize is your shelter, including sleeping arrangements.

Plastic tarpaulins will be invaluable here. Large, plastic sheets can be used in several different ways; tie them up to create tent-like shelters, or use them to create highly effective water collectors. If you want to use tarps to create a shelter, then remember to take a ground sheet as well as one to use as a cover; too many people forget a ground sheet and end up with cold, wet, dirty, bug-infested belongings! Don’t pack a tent: tents are so much heavier than plastic tarps, and they’re much less versatile.

In a similar way, pay close attention to what you pack in terms of bedding, as certain items can be used for more than one purpose. It’s true that sleeping bags are very warm, and you might even be able to find one that’s waterproof, but you should consider swapping your sleeping bag for blankets. If possible you should pack both, but if you’re hard pushed for space and weight, think about which will be more useful in a wide range of situations.

Clothing

Clothing is just as important as your shelter and bedding, so think carefully about what you wear. You can layer up and wear plenty of items – leaving extra space in your bug out bag – but it might be sensible to pack a few spares.

In terms of individual items of clothing, choose pieces which are lightweight and breathable, but comfortable at the same time. If they’re in some way waterproof or weatherproof then that would be great too, especially if you’re expecting a natural disaster.

Having said this, thermal clothing is always a good idea; regardless of the emergency that you’re facing, temperatures may still drop very low at night at the very least. A warm coat will come in very handy, as will thermal underwear, gloves, a hat and a scarf.

Those things aside, don’t forget the smaller, standard items of clothing. You may want to take a change of socks and underwear in order to keep fresh. Additionally, sturdy walking boots are a must-have; make sure you wear them in now, so that they’re comfortable when you need them. When you’re running for your life, you’ll want to avoid getting blisters as much as possible!

Sewing kit

One small piece of kit that will be very useful when it comes to your clothes is a sewing kit. It might not seem like an essential, but pack it anyway. They don’t take up much room, but they do contain some basic yet essential items. Don’t forget that if you damage your one and only set of clothes, you’ll need your sewing kit to fix yourself up and keep feeling comfortable!

First aid and keeping healthy

While we’re on the subject of kits, we move on to personal health and wellbeing. A first aid kit is an essential for every bug out bag, as it contains a range of items that will patch you up in a wide variety of situations. From plasters and bandages for cuts and scrapes, to eye baths to wash out any dust or chemicals, to painkillers for coping with pretty much everything; as long as you’re not facing death or serious injury, first aid kits have it all. You can get travel sized first aid kits pretty much anywhere, and that’s all you need really. Unless you’re packing for a bus load of people, there’s no point in going out and buying a big, specialized first aid kit; it’ll just be an overkill and it’ll take up too much room.

If you take any specific medication, tuck some into your first aid kit. Take as much spare medication as possible – after all, you don’t know how long it will be before you can visit a doctor, drug store or hospital again – but try and strike a balance if it will take up lots of room. As with food, make sure that any medication you take is still in date, and if it has to be kept in the fridge then don’t forget to pick it up as you head out the door!

While you’re taking the time to think about how to care for yourself, it’s a good opportunity to look at anyone else who might be in your group as well. There’s no doubt that prepping an escape plan for you and you alone would be an awful lot easier, but if you live with other people and think you’ll have to flee with them, then give some thought to any extra items you could take which would benefit them. Children and the elderly might have some specific care needs, especially in terms of medication and sanitation, so pop a few spares in your own bug out bag. Of course, don’t forget to do the same for your pets!

Fire starters

So, now we’ve taken care of everything to do with you. Next stop: all the basic camping supplies that you need to survive!

One of the first skills that man learnt thousands of years ago was the art of making fire. When you’re taken back to basics, faced with surviving in a post-apocalyptic world, creating fire is a skill that you’ll need, too.

Luckily for us, nowadays we’ve invented a whole bunch of items to make fire starting very simple. These include matches, gas powered lighters, and even fire starting blocks which catch alight within a matter of seconds. Gone are the days of rubbing sticks together and waiting for dry grass to catch; we have it a lot easier than prehistoric man ever did!

Tape and ties

Certain items will be particularly useful for a large number of things. Duct tape, cord and paracord can be used to secure or tie things up, to repair damaged goods, to create something new – pretty much anything your imagination can think of. Similarly, wire can either be used to secure things, or as a cutting implement. Channel your inner MacGyver and you can use these survival essentials to get yourself out of any scrape.

In the interests of saving space and being really economical, you can get wrist straps which are woven using paracord. Depending on the style of weaving that is used, they can include 20 or even 30 meters of paracord, which will probably be more than enough! These can easily fit underneath shirt or jacket sleeves; wear one or two on each wrist and you’ll have more paracord than you know what to do with! For the fashion conscious preppers amongst you, they come in a range of different colors if you want to be able to distinguish them for different purposes, and if you make them yourself at home they work out much cheaper and more fun than buying them ready-made.

Knives

Ok, so you have 30 meters or more of paracord, but you only need a short length to secure some logs together. You don’t have the teeth of a beaver to chew through the cord, so what do you need to cut yourself a short length? A knife! Hunting, outdoors and survival experts will know that there are several different types which are appropriate for different things, but in general terms, it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Fixed blade knives are those such as you might find in your kitchen, with a handle and a fixed blade sticking out one end. They can come with or without a sheath to protect both you and the blade, but obviously in this case it would be best to choose a knife with a sheath in order to avoid any accidents. Very similar is the folding knife, which varies only by having the ability to swing the blade round and fold it into the handle. This protects the blade, as well as halving the size of the knife, making it very easy to store or carry on your person.

Both of these knives perform pretty much all the same tasks, such as cutting, slicing, peeling, or even stabbing. With both varieties, some blades are smooth, while some are serrated; it’s up to you and your own preferences as to which you choose.

Alternatively, a brilliant option to pack in your bug out bag would be a Swiss Army knife. These are pocket sized tool kits, containing everything from knives and blades to corkscrews and even files! It all depends on what sized Swiss Army knife you go for, but bigger is always better. If you choose a slightly larger one, it’ll have more tools packed in, which will all be useful at one time or another.

If you can, it’s a good idea to try and pack at least one knife of each of the aforementioned types in your bug out bag. The good thing is that they don’t take up much room, so you should fit them in no problem; you could always hide them in your sock if you’re struggling, gangster style! When you’re deciding which of these knives to go for, bear in mind that sooner or later you might need to find your own food in the form of animals, so choose something that will be big and sturdy enough to kill and skin the creatures that are commonly found in your area.

Hunting and self-protection

Speaking of hunting, you should think about arming yourself with more than just a knife. You could be facing a society with little or no government, so people could turn on each other; your closest neighbors could turn out to be your worst enemies. This is a very sobering thought, but it could be a very real prospect.

On the other hand, if you’re faced with a non-weather-related disaster, humans could be the least of your problems. If zombies or aliens (or something equally as terrifying) take over and become a threat, I doubt you’ll want to get close enough to use a knife. In that case, a firearm would be a great comfort.

As such, you should seriously consider including a firearm in your bug out bag, as well as plenty of spare ammunition. This is true whether you’re familiar with guns or not; I doubt your enemies will be discerning and leave you alone just because you’ve never held a rifle before.

For those who aren’t familiar with firearms, a .22 caliber rifle is a great starting point. This type of rifle is pretty simple to use, it doesn’t weigh too much, and it will suffice when it comes to hunting or killing relatively small sized animals. However, if you live in an area that has a high wolf or bear population you might want to think about going for something a little bigger and more powerful; conversely, if you live in the middle of a city then a smaller pistol would probably be enough.

Whatever you decide, try to book some time down at a shooting range now, so that you can get used to how your firearm works and what it feels like to use. You don’t need to be an expert sharp-shooter, but you do need to know how to handle it, as well as the basic safety precautions. It would be awful to find yourself looking into the eyes of a zombie, bear, or even down the barrel of someone else’s rifle, only to then find yourself working out how to use your own. Practise now until you’re comfortable with using your firearm, then store it safely away until you need it!

Do remember that although we might face a lawless society in the future, we are living in a society with rules and regulations at the moment, so you should do everything by the book. Firearms can be very dangerous if used incorrectly, so if you need a licence then make sure you get one – if you don’t, then you could land yourself in serious trouble before the apocalypse even comes! Once you have your licence, firearm and ammunition, keep everything together; when you do have to flee, take your licence with you just in case you do have to prove your honest intentions.

When it comes to hunting, you might want to take a few other items in addition to a firearm. These could be slingshots, pellet guns, equipment for setting traps – anything that you could use to catch or kill small animals. Don’t go overboard; a few well-chosen tools will last you indefinitely, which is better than taking up loads of space with tools that you’ll never use.

Camping essentials

From here on in, you really need to focus on all the little extras that are camping and survival essentials. This includes sanitation supplies, such as antibacterial gel, wipes and toilet tissue!

Lighting is really important, but remember that you probably won’t have electricity, and battery supplies may be running low. As a result, pack a wind up or crank operated flashlight in your bug out bag to help you light your way. It’ll never run out of juice, making this one of the most reassuring pieces of kit to have!

Aside from a torch, other bug out bag basics include all the things that you might find inside a wallet; cash, coins and identification documents. If a disaster strikes that changes the shape of our landscape, leadership and society as we know it, credit cards and other forms of electronic banking probably won’t work, so it’s good to have a back-up plan. Although I’m not suggesting that you should keep your life savings stashed underneath your mattress, a small amount of cash and coins will give you a little cushion should you need it.

Regardless of the type of crisis you’re facing, you should always keep a copy of your identification documents in your bug out bag. These should be your driving licence, your passport, your birth certificate, your state ID card, or any other official document. In a weather-related disaster where the rest of the world is functioning normally, these documents will be essential in moving on with your life; in a supernatural disaster such as the zombie apocalypse, you might come across self-appointed leaders of vigilantes who demand to know who you are. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so keep copies with you just in case.

I’d put money on the fact that you’ll have rather a lot on your plate as you pick up your bug out bag and run for your life, but as time goes on you might want something for relaxation or entertainment. A wind-up radio is a great option as it’s small, light and won’t run out of power – just like a wind-up flashlight. In a real disaster situation it could end up being very useful as the powers that be might broadcast safety information via the airwaves; in the best case scenario you might still be able to pick up some music, but if worst comes to the worst, at least you’ll have some handy electrical components that you could use to barter with or put into creating something else!

Finding your way

Some other things that you’ll need during your survival mission are a map and compass: a real, old-fashioned paper map and a handheld compass, not any sort of modern satellite navigation device! The more detailed the map, the better it is. This might seem a bit archaic, but you have to remember that when the world as we know it is over, chances are that anything electronic will be completely superfluous. You won’t be able to charge it, and good luck finding a signal during a post-apocalyptic evacuation.

In fact, you could even take this one step further and prepare a full-scale evacuation plan. Think ahead now, and you will save yourself a lot of stress and panic in the long-term.

By this, I mean that it would be a good idea to sit down and actually put pen to paper to create a plan about what you’ll do and where you’ll go, should the worst happen. This should definitely include a map with some potential routes to safety that you could take, as well as information on emergency aid centers where you could seek refuge. When the crisis rears its ugly head, it’s likely to cause such stress and chaos that you’ll be too panicked to think clearly. If you’ve already written down exactly what you’re going to do, you won’t need to think about it at the time; you’ll just be able to get on with it!

Your survival plan should include details of what you’ll do for the first few days of an emergency, but it should also include suggestions for how to survive beyond that period. If this is a large-scale disaster, you might need to fend for yourself for months or even years to come. How are you going to cope once your bug out bag supplies run dry? When your food runs out and you’ve worn straight through all your socks and boots, what will you do? If you’re struggling for ideas right now, fear not! We’ll discuss this in more detail later on in the book. In the meantime, the point is that if you decide now, you’ll be able to put your plan into action really quickly when the time comes.

Chapter Four: The Original Isn’t Always the Best

In the previous chapter, we looked at the foundations which should make up every bug out bag, regardless of your situation or the disaster you face. However, there you can have a whole load of variations on this original, so you can tailor make your bug out bag to really suit you.

Let’s start by taking a look at the ‘adventure guy’ bug out bag. This is for the kind of person who is a bit more comfortable with going on big adventures. Perhaps he or she is used to the great outdoors, knows some basic survival skills, or has done some hunting in the past. If this sounds like you, then you probably stand a pretty good chance of surviving some sort of apocalyptic event.

In a case such as this, some of the basic tools and equipment which I’ve already mentioned may seem a little juvenile, so don’t be afraid to pack some more specialist tools. Whatever your particular skills are, it makes sense to arm yourself so that you can use them as effectively as possible. Maybe this means packing some more sophisticated hunting gear; maybe it means  stocking up on a special variety of high energy snacks that you’ve found work particularly well for you.

Even if you are one of these ‘adventure guy’ types, don’t presume that you know everything. You should still be sure to pack your bug out bag full of a wide range of items as described before, in order to cover yourself for all eventualities. Pack everything just in case, but feel free to flex your muscles by sourcing any particular items that you’re already comfortable and familiar with.

We’ve already touched briefly upon special care that elderly or infirm people will need, so this is another important consideration to make when thinking about variations on the original bug out bag. Older or vulnerable people are much more prone to the elements than younger, fit, healthy people, especially when it comes to the cold. As a result, you should pay close attention to the clothing, blankets and shelter that you pack in the bug out bag.

Essentially, this is all about tailoring the things you pack to suit your own personal needs. By now, you should have given an awful lot of thought to the type of emergency you’re prepping for, as well as the type of bug out bag that you’ll use, so you should put just as much thought into the items that you choose to go in it.

In many ways it would be easier to survive on your own, but in other ways travelling as part of a group would be much easier. If you have a family, each member should have an individual bug out bag, but there are many items that you can double up on. Think carefully about what to pack and how you organize yourselves, and you will end up with a much more effective stash of supplies.

For example, as a family you will probably only need one first aid kit – maybe two. If you go through something so traumatic that one or two first aid kits can’t patch you up, then let’s face it: you probably need to seek help from a doctor or a hospital. This means that it doesn’t really make sense to pack a full first aid kit in every single person’s bug out bag, which in turn leaves room for other essentials which would benefit everyone, such as more food.

If you’re really careful and organized, family bug out bags can vary widely from one to another. However, these variations might actually end up being even more practical than if you were on your own.

In chapter one, we talked about how your bug out bags for certain situations will vary greatly from your bug out bags for other scenarios, for example in a nuclear war versus severe flooding.

Now’s a good time to mention that if you really want to prepare yourself for every eventuality – if you really want to go bug out bag crazy – then you could pack up a whole series. That way, if a tornado hits your area, you can pick up your ‘tornado bug out bag’ and go; if there’s a major terrorist attack, you can pick up your ‘terrorism bug out bag’ and go; if aliens land on your doorstep, you can pick up your ‘alien invasion bug out bag’ and go.

At first, this might seem like a bit of an overkill, but look at it more as a project or something to aim for in time. Take it one bug out bag at a time, prioritizing the emergencies that you think are more of a threat. It might be a good idea to start with one original bug out bag, then branch out and put together other, more specialized bags for specific scenarios.

If you do decide to go down this route, then remember that each bug out bag should be kept for a specific emergency or location in which you intend to flee. When the day comes that you need to use a bug out bag, don’t be tempted to pick up two or three on your way out in some sort of panic. They will be far too heavy so will end up being a burden; they will slow you down and you will end up discarding them as you go. Of course, if you’re following this guide closely, then you should have pretty much everything you need to survive tucked away in one bug out bag anyway.

In simple terms; while you’re still living safely at home, that’s the only time when it’s a good idea to have more than one bug out bag. As soon as you up and go, limit yourself to one well-stocked bag per person.

Chapter Five: But Out Bag Storage

If you’ve come this far, then you should have at least one bug out bag prepped and ready to go in case disaster strikes.

Nobody knows when – or even if – one of these terrible emergencies will take place, so what happens to all these bug out bags between now and then? Sturdy backpacks which can hold everything that we’ve already mentioned aren’t likely to be small, so you don’t want to leave yours lying around. If you did, it’d be more likely to get in the way, become a trip hazard, and just generally do you more harm than good.

You need to find somewhere safe and secure to keep your bug out bag; somewhere out the way that’s easy to access at the same time. That’s easier said than done, you might be thinking, but here are a few suggestions on where to store your bug out bag.

You have several options here, so it’s definitely worth weighing up the pros and cons of each.

Firstly, when you were creating your plan of action to go inside your bug out bag, you should have considered where you’ll go if you need to leave your home. To a certain extent this will depend upon the type of emergency that you’re planning for. In the case of extreme weather you might be able to move to another part of the country; in an alien or zombie attach you’ll want to head to the middle of nowhere, far from the madding crowd; in the case of some other sort of catastrophe such as an explosion, your best chance of survival will probably come from hunkering down in some sort of bunker. Not all of these will be available to you – not everyone has a nuclear bomb shelter sitting in their back yard – but by now you should have a good idea of where your final destination will be.

With this in mind, your best bet is to store your bug out bag in your chosen location – if it’s safe to do so. You shouldn’t leave it in any sort of open or public location, but try to find somewhere safe and private to store it. This might be your holiday home, it might be a cabin in the woods, or if you’re one of the few that does have your own personal bomb shelter, then put it in there!

By storing your bug out bag in your secure destination, it will mean that on the day of reckoning, you will only have to worry about getting yourself to safety, without having to worry about remembering to take your belongings. They will already be sitting and waiting for you, ready for when you arrive.

That said, there is a major drawback to this idea. It assumes that everything will go to plan, and that you will actually arrive in your chosen place of safety in one piece. It doesn’t bear thinking about, but what happens if this doesn’t happen?

Massive emergencies for which bug out bags are necessary are unchartered territory, and they’re unpredictable in nature. We can plan as carefully as we can, but there’s still a chance that the world will throw us a curveball and we won’t be able to carry out our plans as we had expected to.

As a result, storing your bug out bag away from your person could end up being a complete waste. If you end up heading in a different direction or if you need the contents sooner than expected, then it will be of no use if it’s sitting in a hut in the middle of nowhere.

If this sort of unpredictability is something that you’re worried about, then perhaps the second storage option would be a better idea for you.

Of course, this option involves storing your bug out bag at home. As I mentioned before, don’t leave it lying around as it’ll just get in the way; keep it safe in an easily accessible cupboard or chest of sorts.

Whatever you do, don’t store your bug out bag somewhere that’s difficult to access, such as in a locked basement or attic. When trouble hits and you need to evacuate as quickly as possible, you won’t have time to race around your house, let alone fuss with locked doors and flights of stairs. Fumbling around with these sorts of obstacles will just cost you precious time – and maybe even your life.

Instead, you want to find a cupboard that is quick and easy to get to when you’re in a rush. One that’s kept unlocked and near the front door is ideal, if you have one!

Having said this, storing your bug out bag at home is not without its faults, either. For starters, you will actually have to remember to take your bug out bag with you as you evacuate, which may not be the first thing on your mind. In addition, you might just about have room to store your own bug out bag, but if you have a family or live with other people, then finding space to keep all the bags could prove to be a real challenge.

These are the two best options which are open to you when it comes to storing your bug out bag. Both options have their advantages, and both have their disadvantages. It’s up to you to decide which option is most suitable for you, your living situation and your escape plan.

Whether you plan to store your bug out bag at home or in some other secure location, there are a few things to look out for which should remain constant in every storage spot. You should choose somewhere cool and dry; the temperature should remain constant, rather than being prone to fluctuate between very warm and very cold. This is important for preserving your supplies (especially the food) as any changes in temperature can have a serious detrimental effect.

Lastly, but certainly not least, I will reiterate the fact that you should replenish your food supplies annually. Even if this means making a special trip out to your safehouse in the middle of nowhere every year (if that’s the option that you’ve chosen), then so be it. Taking the time and effort to refresh your stock of food and drink will be worth it; you’ll find that the benefits of having fresh food for longer far outweigh the hassle of the journey!

Chapter Six: Life Beyond Your Bug Out Bag

So, disaster has struck and the apocalypse has happened. You’ve grabbed your bug out bag (which you put a lot of time and effort into preparing) and you escaped to safety. You made your own shelter and even your own tools. However, it’s been a few days, you’ve eaten through your food supply and your water has almost run out. It doesn’t look like life will be returning to normal for the foreseeable future, so what do you do?

Bug out bags are brilliant for enabling you to survive for a matter of days, but there’s only so long that they can last. Eventually your supplies will come to an end and you’ll have to make some sort of other arrangements.

What does a bug out bag not cover you for, and more importantly, what can you do to survive in life beyond your bug out bag?

A decent bug out bag will last for three or four days comfortably – any more and you’re lucky – so it won’t be enough for you to live off in the long-term. This means that you’ll have to find some sort of more permanent shelter and steady, reliable food source to have any real hope of surviving.

If you can, then sit down and talk to a friend or relative who lives in a different area – preferably as far away as possible! This will be your ‘disaster buddy’, who can take you in and give you a place to stay if you’re hit with an emergency. Of course, it should go both ways, and you should be willing to take them in if trouble goes their way instead.

A disaster buddy is a great back up plan to have, so that you’ll have somewhere safe to go while you try to get back on your feet. Hopefully, your bug out bag will be just big enough to last for your entire journey!

However, this might not be something that you’re interested in; even if it is, there’s always a chance that your plans won’t go as expected and you’ll never get the help of your disaster buddy. As such, you ought to have a ‘Plan B’, so that you survive – with or without your disaster buddy.

As we discussed before, food and water are the most important things to secure.

Thanks to the supply of plastic tarps in your bug out bag, you’ll be able to fashion a simple water collecting device. However, you should probably get some skills under your belt which will allow you to collect water much more effectively. Instead of just waiting for rain to fall, collect seawater then brush up on your high school science to find out how you can use evaporation to separate the water from all the salt contained within. This is actually a really easy thing to do – there are loads of tutorials online if you get stuck – and the best part is that you end up with both drinkable water and salt to season your food!

On the subject of food, be prepared that in the long-term you might have to set up some sort of farm to grow plants and animals for you to eat. You’ll find that growing a few herbs in a vegetable patch like you do at the moment is a little different from growing all your own vegetables to feed yourself and your family. It’s best to start reading up now on the best types of fruit and veg to grow, and the tips and tricks that you’ll need to cultivate them successfully. That way, once you’re in that situation you can step right into it without having to worry about trial and error as much.

In addition, it may come to the point where you need to breed certain animals to give you enough meat to eat. To a certain extent this depends on the type of disaster (certain emergencies may wipe out some species but not others), but you could breed anything from rabbits to cattle to fish. It doesn’t really matter what meat it is, as long as you have enough to survive, then that’s the most important thing.

With this in mind, plan ahead. Now’s the time that you should start to become familiar with farming techniques, humane killing methods and meat storage. Even if you’ve never farmed or killed an animal before, you’ll need to know the best ways of doing so, as it will become your way of life. Of course, refrigeration probably won’t be an option, so you’ll need to learn some other ways to keep meat fresh and edible for longer.

As alien as this might seem, these are all the sorts of things that cavemen had to do thousands of years ago. If they worked for them, there’s no reason why you can’t survive on the same methods – it will be a bit of a culture shock, but that’s all.

Next come shelter and housing. Your sleeping bag and plastic tarps won’t be enough to keep you warm and dry forever. Sooner or later you will need to seek permanent shelter, and if something ready-made isn’t available nearby, you’ll have to build something yourself. This means chopping wood, hammering nails, sanding surfaces and shaping a roof. These skills aren’t difficult, so you don’t have to be a builder or carpenter to get them right. However, take a course or read a few books now – it might save you a few sore fingers once the time for building comes!

As for clothing, can you make your own? You might have your sewing kit in your bug out bag, but do you even know how to mend or darn rips and tears? Once you’ve worn through your socks and ripped your shirts, you won’t exactly have a whole wardrobe of clothes waiting in reserve. You don’t have to be Dolce or Gabbana, but if you have at least a basic understanding of knitting, sewing and altering clothing, then you’ll be able to fashion garments for you to wear for the rest of your life. Don’t forget that you won’t have electric sewing machines, so you’d better get practising by hand!

I’ve just mentioned that you won’t have electric sewing machines – well, it’s pretty likely that you won’t have electric anything. If this disaster situation is serious or lasts for any more than a few weeks, you might want to think about alternative sources of energy. Instead of relying on coal, gas or oil powered devices, turn your attention to renewable energy sources such as hydroelectricity or solar power.

Once again, these are plans that you can put into motion now. If you do have a specific location which you intend to head for, then install solar panels or a wind machine there. Everything will already be in place for when you need to use it, which will save you months’ worth of time and energy. You won’t be able to store any sort of power in your bug out bag, so if you want any sort of power after the apocalypse, you’ll have to get creative and use what nature gives you!

There are hundreds of techniques, tips and tricks that you could familiarize yourself with now, but it won’t be until you actually find yourself in the situation of fending for yourself that you really learn how to survive. There will be a lot of trial and error as you discover what really works for you, but by prepping now you’ll have a head start on any other survivors.

These are all essential skills that you will need to learn if you want to stand any chance of surviving life beyond your bug out bag. Learning now could end up saving your life, but even if the apocalypse never comes, at least you’ll still have some awesome new skills to impress your friends!

Chapter Seven: The End is Nigh

If you’ve made it this far, then good job! You’re all prepped and ready to go on a great adventure when you find yourself staring the end of the world in the face.

If you’re lucky enough to survive the major tornado, earthquake, flooding, lethal virus, nuclear explosion, alien attack or zombie invasion, then the odds are already stacked in your favour! Hopefully, by following the guidelines in this book, you will have everything you need to see you through the first few days and beyond.

As you know by now, this is no easy feat. It requires a lot of careful thought and planning, even before you begin organizing your supplies. You’ve thought hard about what type of crisis you’re planning for, as well as which bag to use.

If, at any point during your packing, you become unsure of exactly what equipment would be best, don’t be afraid to talk to experts. Whether they’re hunters, survival experts or people working in specialist shops, use them as very helpful resources. Not only will they be able to offer advice on what supplies to get, but they should be able to steer you in the right direction of where to buy them.

It’s important to be careful and organized with your packing; don’t just throw everything in together, but arrange it neatly. The more care and thought you put into packing your bug out bag, the more useful your supplies will be.

As a general rule of thumb, if you’re in doubt over whether or not to take something, put it in your bug out bag just in case. That is, providing you have enough room and you’re not going to sacrifice one of your other essentials. When you’re out in the middle of nowhere, with your world having turned on its head, everything will become valuable and you never know when you might need that little something extra. If you’ve got room for it, pack it!

From then on, you’re on your own. If you thought prepping your bug out bag was hard work, then you’ve got another thing coming!

You can prepare as much as you like, but living in a post-apocalyptic world will be unlike anything that any of us can imagine! If you’re fully prepared then you stand a pretty good chance of surviving, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be easy. This will be the steepest learning curve that you’ll ever see, but hopefully it will be one of the most enriching experiences of your life, as well.

Plan well. Pack your bug out bag. Then go forth and survive!

About the Author

As a native of Eastern Tennessee, Jack Gunnar spent his childhood roaming the great Smoky Mountains with his Cherokee grandfather.  It was this tight bond with this grandfather that he learned to appreciate nature in all of its wild and extreme forms. Jack’s grandfather taught him the essential fundamental skills of survival no matter the location.

As an adult, Jack has been involved in search and rescue, disaster preparedness, and law enforcement throughout Appalachia and neighboring areas. As an expert on self-sufficiency and wilderness training, Jack has written articles and blogged over a decade.  Jack currently teaches courses on self-defense and urban survivalist tactics.

Jack currently lives in Sevierville, TN with his wife and two daughters.

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