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.