BOB need brought home

[MYellowRose]

Yesterday evening the need for BOB's for the family was brought home with no warning but luckily we didn't actually need them. The trailer park dumpster caught fire late yesterday afternoon but the Converse VFD was there almost immediately with two pumper trucks and a pickup. If there had been anything in it to cause the smoke to be hazardous it would have meant loading up 4 kids, my DD, & I into their Durango and leaving. Will start receiving early SS next month so I'll get my butt in gear & do something. Luckily this was just a warning that I'm heeding as I don't want to worry if the next time it's an actual evacuation order.

[S2man]

I'm glad things turned out okay, Rose. While many of us argue that we intend to bug-in, Lee (I think) put an end to the discussion by saying "You have to leave in 10 minutes. What do you grab"?

My first prep was lots of keys, stashed in various places in those magnetic holders. What if you urgently need to get into your house or vehicle and you have no key. Its cheap insurance. My second prep was the BOB's. They are still in place.

On this subject, DW wife suggested we pack a Bug Out Bucket. I said, "Why would we want to take a bucket of wheat with us"? Her reply, "No, silly. A bucket with flour, rice, beans, yeast, etc. What if we had to bug out for longer than 72hrs"? Hmm, food for thought (pun intended). You might be more welcome at the in-laws' if you at least brought a month's worth of food with you.

[Wyobuckaroo]

Molly

EXACTLY the reason the BOB was invented..............

I am going to venture the guess most everyone, eventually, will have a LOCAL small incident to deal with LONG before there is an other Catrina, quake, or end of the world event.

Again, local and small as the incidents may be they still need to be dealt with.

I personally keep a college book size back pack with an assortment of stuff that will make life a lot easier over a short time. It was cheap and easy to assemble, and to make "personal" for me as opposed to what the next person would want.

Keep safe, keep aware.........
Wyo

[MYellowRose]

My main problem with bugging out is I no longer drive. I've got a minimum of 1/2 mile to walk to the closest bus stop & it's within a block of the railroad tracks which would be the most likely cause of my having to leave. The other way to another bus stop is between 3/4 & 1 mile distance though at least most of that way is over a sidewalk. Another problem is my cats. If I can't stay I refuse to leave them but it would be almost impossible to take them, their food, & a litter box. I've decided one of my first purchases will be a fairly large carrier that will hold all three of them. I'll need to get a heavy duty luggage cart to haul it on and I can put my BOB atop that and pull it all along behind me. Will be putting away some money so that I can buy disposable litter pans and cat food once I'm gone. Will also need to add food & water dishes, preferably those they now use so they will have something familiar.

[kfander]

I know what you mean. I have four cats, and three of them have been with me for twenty-one years, the fourth is twelve. They travel well, but require a secure place to live, such as one where they are not likely to be eaten by a coyote or a fox. Without a car, I couldn't imagine how I'd manage. I think I would plan on staying put, and prepare accordingly.

I'll be building in places for them in the place we're putting together, where I can balance their needs with the danger of being eaten. I am committed to these, but never again will I have four cats.

[grumble]

The good thing about taking live meat with you is that it doesn't spoil.

[kfander]

The good thing about taking live meat with you is that it doesn't spoil.

Go to your room, Grumble.

[CountryGuy]

The good thing about taking live meat with you is that it doesn't spoil.

LMAO!!! So true!

But it's sad too, that a person that follows and lives this lifestyle; someone who understands the urgency with which situations could arise; would endanger and possibly sacrifice their life and maybe the lives of others to "save" an animal. How's it "saving" if you both end up dead?

I don't mean to be harsh but I'm truly unable to comprehend it.

[KarenBC]

But it's sad too, that a person that follows and lives this lifestyle; someone who understands the urgency with which situations could arise; would endanger and possibly sacrifice their life and maybe the lives of others to "save" an animal. How's it "saving" if you both end up dead?

I came up across this CountryGuy! I had a neighbour who has a couple of cats and a very large dog, as well as several full sized harps, much of the week she was on her own. The last 2 summers there have been higher than normal forest fires, some close enough that the smoke was very heavy here. This neighbour didn't drive, and I knew if worst came to worse, and it was a day that she was on her own, my son & I would be helping her to bug out too.

She definitely had some ideas that were contrary to what I'd consider sensible in case of an emergency. She kept insisting that not only would her pets have to go, but those harps would have to be packed too. Those things are so big that all of them wouldn't fit in my vehicle, let alone putting in a 125+lb. dog and cat cages. My plan if worst came to worse and I couldn't get her to see reason, was going to be to knock her out and stuff her in the vehicle with her critters in the back! Seemed to me that when time is short and the situation is dangerous there wouldn't be enough minutes to deal with a hysterical woman. I've never had to punch anyone before (unless you count the bully I whapped with a brick upside the head in grade 1 for bullying but that's a whole other story) but I was thinking it might have to be an option.

My priority was and is human lives, critters and then "stuff". Stuff can be replaced.

[MNfarmlady]

The problem is that in some emergencies unless you have it packed by your bed you wouldn't be able to get to it if you needed it. 4 years ago we had a mudslide go through our house. :( I was able to grab my glasses and my shoes beside the bed, my DH couldn't even find his shoes. Then we had to slog through mud, rocks and nails to the pasture, then over the pasture to the nearest house. Even if we had had a BOB or a bucket, at that point we couldn't have gotten to it.
I still need to do a lot of fine tuning on this sort of thing.
Anne

[MYellowRose]

Country Boy you have a point and I must admit that as much as I love and enjoy my cats if push came to shove I would turn the two females loose outside to fend for themselves and take only my tom with me. He's somewhere between 6 & 8 years old and although he's laid back I don't think he'd survive if he was on his own. I need to get a small carrier for him and have pretty much decided to get a soft sided one that I can carry like a tote bag if necessary. I need to clean the yarn out of the small rolling suitcase so I can start packing it up for my BOB. I've given up on convincing my daughter that she needs to make them up for her family so they'll be on their own. However they have a vehicle so they'll be able to get out much easier that I will. I won't depend on them to take me as it would depend on the mood my daughter was in and whether or not we were all home at the time.

[farmerj]

The problem is that in some emergencies unless you have it packed by your bed you wouldn't be able to get to it if you needed it. 4 years ago we had a mudslide go through our house. :( I was able to grab my glasses and my shoes beside the bed, my DH couldn't even find his shoes. Then we had to slog through mud, rocks and nails to the pasture, then over the pasture to the nearest house. Even if we had had a BOB or a bucket, at that point we couldn't have gotten to it.
I still need to do a lot of fine tuning on this sort of thing.
Anne

Only thing that would have helped ther is off-site cache or not building at the bottom of a hill

[NCLee]

To clarify..... We do intend to bug-in for the majority of what can happen here. However, we do face the threat of a wildfire destroying all we have. Or a direct hit from a tornado. And, I do recommend, where possible, most folks stay put. Put becoming a refugee on the bottom of your list, to be done, only if there are ABSOLUTELY no other options.

That said, if there's a wildfire, we will have to leave. (Substitute the most likely event that would affect you, if it isn't fire.) Tailor your BOB to meet YOUR needs. For example, if you plan to leave by vehicle, keep the basics in it 24/7. Those items that can withstand that storage environment. Then, you may have a smaller grab-and-go-in-10-minutes in the closet by the front door. Providing you know where you'll be going and that you can actually drive there. In our case, we do, and the probability that we can't drive is very low.

Everyones circumstances are different. Beyond the basics that should be in every BOB, we have to tailor ours to our environment, for best results. Even making seasonal changes, as needed. No way I'm going to lug a spare set of longjohns in the summer, for example.

Plus, I can't speak for other's circumstances. In our case, we have to be practical. Especially in a walk-out situation. Due to our health situation, we wouldn't survive a week trying to walk to some unknown destination. Sure, young, strong, and healthy folks, well prepared, will probably be fine. Their BOB's should be geared towards the long haul -- a long walk to the hills. As if they were planning to hike the trails in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

In fact, backpacking and hiking web sites have a wealth of information on what to carry, how to pare down the weight, etc. What to add and what to delete from a hiking backpack. Much of this applies to BOB's, as in essence they are the same thing.

Which leads me to the next point in this post. These folks talk about how to save ounces of weight in a pack. Cut off the extra handle length of a toothbrush to save a tiny bit of weight. Remember these folks are also often days & miles away from "help" and "re-supply", when in remote locations. Much like it may be for all of us in a EOTWAWKI. In other words, only carry what's absolutely necessary for you to survive for as long as you can.

We dearly love our toy poodle. It will break our hearts to have to put her down before we bug-out. She's too old to survive on her own. We're too old to carry enough for ourselves and what she'd need to stay with us, if we have to walk out. Yes, she'll be in the truck with us along with her food and water. But, when every ounce counts, a 5 lb dog and her food/water is a lot of ounces. Should I carry those ounces, at the expense of what I need to be carrying to help my sister or better half? Or, myself for that matter? Is it better for her to go ahead and put her down? Or to let her suffer with us, as we can't carry her, her supplies, and everything else we should have in long-haul BOB's?

Yes, it does sound harsh, perhaps, even heartless. But, it's facing a sad reality that may come about and making plans to deal with the what-if's. While praying those plans never have to be carried out.

Bug-in, if you can. Bug-out, if you must. Pack that BOB with what YOU need to survive.

Lee

[MYellowRose]

I've started on my BOB for winter. So far I have a pair of sweat pants, a long sleeved tee shirt and a pair of leggings. I need to double that plus get at least two sweat shirts, socks, and undies and a couple of bras. Then I'll start on one for warmer weather. It will need to have more stuff as I'll need to make sure I have things for both spring & fall as our winter only lasts about 3 - 3 1/2 months at most. I'll need things that can carry me in both hot & chilly weather as sometimes we get both on the same day. I intend to get one or two items a payday, which I now get twice a month so I'll have the winter one done, clothing wise at least, in January then I can start on the warm weather one. Will need to find a larger rolling suitcase for it as the small one I have doesn't hold all that much. I may have to upgrade it also so I have room for food and toiletries as well as clothing. I've got lots of sample size toiletries that I can pack in both BOB's, which will save me a little money, though I do have some things I need to buy.

[NCLee]

Rose, concentrate on the basics for survival that you need first. You can do without soap, hand lotion, extra clothing, etc. You can't do without food and water for very long.

A Bug Out Bag is the equivalent to a Red Cross 72 hour kit. What you need to survive the first 3 days following a disaster. There are numerous lists for what should go into these kits. Here's an indepth look at what's involved. http://mormonshare.com/relief-society/72-hour-kits.php And a long list of what to include. http://mormonshare.com/lds-activity/72-hour-kit-list-very-good-list

With any list, you have to adapt it to meet your needs. There'll be things you need to add and things you should omit, according to your own circumstances. Most folks can't carry everything that's on every "general" list. Pick and choose the things that are most important for your own physical survival. Put those into your bag first. An extra bottle of water may save your life, while an extra pair of socks probably won't. If you have to leave something out, leave out the extra socks.

Get your vital 72 hour preps in your bag before adding things that increase comfort and ease of life. Spend your money on the vital items first. Then add comfort items as you have the money to do so.

Hope this helps, a bit.
Lee

[farmerj]

I keep a bag at work and in the car loaded with a change of clothes and meds for 3 days to get me home.

[MYellowRose]

Well, I've got two pair of sweat pants with shirts, 2 pair of leggings, and 2 tee shirts to go in my winter bag. I also have 3 Starkist Lunch To Go kits as the store has them on buy one get one free so I'll try and pick up at least 3 more before the coupons expire. Will also pick up some of what my daughter and granddaughters call "cracker snacks", the crackers with cheese or peanut butter that come 6 to a pack. I know they'll make me thirsty but they will provide some needed protein. NCLee thanks for the links, I'm going to check them out and probably print out the lists to keep with me so I can pick out one or two items each time I'm out shopping. I think that's the best way for me to do this.

[nadja]

The good thing about taking live meat with you is that it doesn't spoil.


Grumble, they also make great moving targets ! LOL