Bug Out Bag (BOB)

Have you ever felt unsafe? 

Do you remember how it felt? I bet you felt helplessness, alone, fearful, stress symptoms. If you have, that’s totally normal. 

The body has an amazing system for protection. It is called the limbic system. It was designed to sense danger and alert you to it.

In fact it is so good at it people can get caught in anxiety disorder when the limbic system constantly alerts you to real or unreal threats. 

When there is a real danger around, you need something to protect yourself with. Having a tool that will get your out of harms way or eliminating the threat will be what your limbic system is calling for – action. 

That action comes most effectively when we have tools to enhance our own survival mechanism. We can’t have a tool for every situation but we can put together a tool set to solve the most common threats. 

One of these tools isn’t just one – it’s many. 

It is called the bug out bag. This bag holds many tools in case of an emergency. These emergencies can be as little as a little cut or as bad as a nuclear disaster. 

Like all things planning, you need to plan for your life an your situation. 
There are some big questions you need to ask yourself before starting. 

• What an I planning for? 
• Where am I going? 
• Who will I have with me? 
• What do I need? 
• What am I leaving behind? 

Answering those questions will really clear up the fog in preparing. 

If you live in a small town Montana, you probably don’t need to worry about a nuclear blast. You might need to plan for the power going out. 

A bug out bag is typically made to have all your emergency supplies in one place if you need it or need move out quick. 

There are a few things I considered when planning my bag

• Civil unrest
• Fire
• Tyranny/Oppression
• Looters
• Power knock out
• Nuclear disaster

I wanted a bag I could just grab and head to my parents place. I know there is going to be resources there so I don’t need to carry much.

I know I can bike or walk to my parents. It is a little over 30 miles which is definitely reasonable for one day trip on foot, although maybe not in winter…

I need enough to make the trip, have plenty once I get there and if things get really bad, I can flee the country. 

Here is my list of items. It is not a bushman bug out bag. While I am an Eagle Scout, that isn’t my jam nor do I think that is realistic. 

The list I have contains really enough to enjoy myself no matter where I go. If I leave the country I can buy more clothes with my foreign bank account, I can find an Airbnb, I can get a new job. 

Here is my list for a bug out bag

• Water
  • Hard Canteen with water in it
  • Collapsible water bottle
  • Water Filter
  • Water purification tablets
• Food
  • Tea
  • Water flavor shots
  • Energy Gel
  • Pack of Gum
  • S.O.S. Rations
  • Extra bars (Clif)
• Shelter
  • Emergency blanket or
  • Sleeping bag (reactor) 
  • Air Mattress
• First Aide
  • First Aide Kit
  • Multivitamins
  • Tourniquet
  • Israeli Bandage
  • Diarrhea pills
  • Laxative
• Fire
  • 2x lighter
  • Matches – waterproof
• Comms / Navigation
  • Radio
  • Compass
  • Maps
    • City
    • State
  • Headlamp
  • Whistle
  • Chemical Light Stick
• Tools / Weapons
  • Field Knife
  • Multi-tool
  • Paracord 50′
  • Jones Stephens Four Way Key
  • Pepper Spray (Police Strength)
  • Zip ties
  • Duct tape
• Writing
  • Waterproof Notebook
  • Pencil
  • Waterproof Pen
  • Sharpie 
• Hygiene
  • Condensed bio soap
  • Deodorant
  • Toilet Paper
  • Nail Clipper
  • Tooth paste/brush
  • Laundry soap
  • Sanitizing wipes
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Qtips
• Important Documents (USB, phone, paper)
  • Bible
  • Emergency Contacts
  • Important Addresses
    • Home
    • Friends
    • US Embassies
    • Police Stations
    • Hospitals
  • Passport
  • Secure Account Passwords (In a password manager or an encrypted document)
  • Driver’s License
  • Social Security Card
  • USB with linux
  • USB encrypted with personal info
    • Bank Accounts
    • Precious metal accounts
    • 401k,IRA,Brokerage
    • Copy of passport
    • Locations of Foreign properties
    • Physical Assets
    • Wills
    • Insurance Information
    • House deed
    • Titles
      • Home, auto, motorcycle
    • Birth Certificate
    • Medical Records
    • Tax Returns and W-2s
    • Photos
• Cash
  • $500
  • Precious Metals
• Clothes
  • Hat
  • Socks (Wool, teflon)
  • Underwear
  • Jacket
  • Facemask/gaiter
  • High visibility jacket ~
  • Rain jacket /poncho 
  • Gloves
  • Hand warmers ~
  • Belt with inside zipper
  • Set aside
    • Pants
    • Underwear
    • Belt
    • Shirt
    • Socks
    • Boots
    • Watch
• Tech
  • USB charging cable/wall plug/ car plug
  • Power bank
  • Extra Battery
• Misc
  • Respirator
    • 2X filters
  • Sun / safety glasses (Uvex)
  • Earplugs
  • Glasses
  • Extra Contacts
  • Contact Solution
  • Contact Case
  • Carabiners (climb grade)
  • 20 ft webbing 
• Bug Out Checklist

As you can see it provides really the basics to survive the majority of crisis events.