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!