The Reason You NEED a Bug Out Bag

The Start
You’re watching a movie with your family. You just got off from your accounting job, and you’re looking forward to spend some time with your family. Recently, you have been watching the news, and everything seems to be falling apart. However, you live in a suburb of a minor city, in a lesser known state. Surely, this won’t really affect you in any meaningful way. Sure gas prices may be up, but with your accounting job paying as well as it does, you have a nice little nest egg saved up. Then, while half way through the movie, the lights go out. You figure well, maybe someone hit a powerline, or maybe you forgot to pay the electricity bill this month. You open your door, and all your neighbors are looking around at each other trying to piece together what’s going on. Just then, all the phones in the neighborhood go off. “We interrupt your broadcast; this is a national emergency. Important instructions will follow.” “This is an Emergency Action Notification requested by the White House. The President of the United States or his rep…” Then silence. You have no service, no power, and are scared and confused. Luckily, because you have been watching the news you have a small 72 hour bag set up for you and your family. Your wife’s parents have a cabin 30 miles south of the city. They have a generator there and you had previously made plans with them, that if anything were to happen everyone would meet there. You go to your closet and grab the bug out bags. You tell your wife to get in the car and wait for you there. She takes the kids and dog out to the car and get it started. After grabbing some snacks and your son’s insulin from the fridge you head out of town towards the cabin. As you are driving, you look ahead and see that looting has somehow already started. You drive by the gas station that you normally stop and get gas and an energy drink from in the morning. You let out a sigh of relief as you look down at your gas gauge and see that it is full. You had been starting to get gas at half a tank because of the rising gas prices. The gas station that you spent 10 minutes in every morning for the past year, has already been looted and actively burned. You were so sure that the suburbs were safe from this nonsense, that’s why you took this job here. All you care about is getting your family out of the suburbs and into the quiet of the forest.

The Journey
After what seems like an eternity, you are about 10 miles from the cabin. You look back to tell your kids that you are almost there, and they get to spend the weekend with their grandparents. At the exact moment you look back, you have to slam on the brakes. Both sides of the road are blocked by a car accident. The people are outside their cars talking to each other. It’s not a bad accident, but you can’t go around it because one of the vehicles is an 18 wheeler on its side. You realize the only way to get to the cabin is on foot. You have 10 miles to walk, and it’s getting dark. You inform your family that you all have to walk the rest of the way. The closest town is the suburbs you just left and you know that no tow truck is coming to help. You each grab a bag and start walking. The trucker yells over to you and says, “Hey! Don’t worry, we called a tow truck about 30 minutes ago, they should be here anytime if you and your family just want to wait in your car.” He obviously isn’t aware of what’s happening 20 minutes down the road.’ There is never any cell service up this way, and most truckers that come this way are hauling grain from their farm to the silo. They don’t usually have their CB’s turned on or even installed. Your wife’s father is retired from farm work, but he once told you they took those of their trucks years ago. You briefly tell the trucker what happened and that help may not come. You start the long trek with your family. You and your family were going to eat while watching the movie, but were interrupted by everything that happened so no one had started eating yet. You’re most worried about your youngest boy because he had taken his insulin before everything went down. You stop by an outcropping at a curve in the road and set your bags down to pull out an MRE. You haven’t ever tasted one, but you figured if the military uses them, they can’t be that bad.

The Decision
After your family has eaten, you have a decision. Do you finish the 5 miles tonight or do you camp in the woods until morning. You made sure to pack a one person tent in your bag as well as your wife’s bag, and just figured the kids could sleep in the tent with each parent. As you are pulling out the one person tent, you hear yelling and gunshots. You throw your bag tent back in the bag and usher your family further into the trees. A few minutes later a small group drives by on bikes,and speeds past. You realize that you need to get to the cabin tonight. You throw on your headlamp and set it to red light so you can see without giving yourself away. You start to lead your family to the cabin through the night. When you are a mile away from the cabin, your daughter falls and scrapes her knee. It’s not that bad of an injury, but it is bleeding a lot. You stop and open your first aid kit and pull out gauze and ace wrap. You wrap her knee and continue towards the cabin.

The Safe House
Once you get to the cabin you are reunited with your wife’s family. They have a generator going. The front room lights are on, and her dad is waiting outside for you. Once you get within 100 yards of the property you hear your father in law yell out to you, “Who’s there?! State your business or I will shoot!” You call out, “White rabbit!” He responds, “Black hound!” He greets you at the door, and thanks you for getting his daughter and grandchildren out of the city. Without your planning, you may not have made it out.

Bug In/Bug Out

As a prepared citizen you need to know what to put in a bug out/bug in bag, but first you need to have a plan. Are you going to bug in or are you going to bug out? This will change how you prepare. Bugging in is simply stockpiling supplies and gear so you can stay in your house, neighborhood, or town for a prolonged period of time. You need to stockpile food, water, water purification, fuel, batteries, medicine, weapons, ammunition, etc. Bugging out has a different approach. Yeah, you could probably guess, bugging out means to get up and leave. This isn’t a slow evolution. This is an “Oh crap” moment. This is get yourself and your family to safety as fast as you can. To bug out you need nearly the same items as bugging in, but in less quantities. Bugging out will only work if you have somewhere safe to go. Maybe you have a cabin in the woods, like the story suggests. Maybe you have a group compound in the mountains that you and a few families have been putting money into for just such an occasion. No matter the end game it always starts at the same point. “We need to leave right now.”

Bug Out Bag

Your bug out bag starts with the bag itself. You don’t need a $800 backpack with all the bells and whistles. Get a larger backpack from Amazon or Walmart. That’s all you need. It has to be rugged and durable enough to withstand some wear and tear, but honestly, a school backpack is just fine. Kids try to destroy them every year at school and they usually last a decent amount of time. Get a bag with a big pocket and a few smaller pockets. A bag with a water bottle holder is a bonus. These pockets will be filled nearly to the brim so make sure they are big.

What’s in the Bag?

I’m glad you asked! Before I get to what necessities go in the bag. I just want to remind you. This is my opinion, and what you put in your bag should be pertinent to you and your family. As we go through this list, don’t feel overwhelmed. I will leave links at the end of the blog.

Note: The links below are affiliate links. If you click on them and buy a product, I will receive a small commission. However, this does not come out of your pocket. Any price that you pay does not affect how much I earn.

Food
At least 3 days worth of food. Whether or not you bring one meal a day or 3 meals a day its up to you. MRE’s are surprisingly heavy when you have more than a couple days packed. Your bug out bag needs to be light enough to be carried long distances, but also supply you enough to make it to your final destination
Water bottle
A couple things with water bottles. First, you will die of dehydration much faster than starvation. Your body is 70-75% water. You need it to survive
Second, a metal water bottle it needs to be able to withstand heat. Why? You ask? If you fill your water bottle up from your sink or fridge before you leave, and you have a 2 day journey ahead, where are you going to get your water from? Maybe you have some set aside to throw in your car (you should). If you don’t have any extra water, then you’re going to need to get it from somewhere. That somewhere could be a slow moving creek, lake, or a river. Unless you have some antibiotics, and aren’t worried about getting sick then go ahead and drink from those sources. DON”T DO THIS! Buy a metal water bottle from Amazon or Walmart. You can boil this. Second, make sure it’s not bright in color. If you are bugging out, do you want your neighbor Joe to be able to find you because you picked out a hot pink water bottle? Also who’s to say that the paint on the bottle isn’t toxic? If that toxic paint gets onto the spout of the bottle, you could be ingesting that.
Third, I’m putting this here because it has to do with water. Get a Lifestraw or learn how to make a purifier. This is why I put rubber bands in the optional section. Lifestraws aren’t terribly expensive. Even if they were, is saving a few dollars worth your life? If you don’t want to go that route there is a way around it and it’s free! Water purification system. Now, on the move like you would be in a bug out situation, this isn’t optimal. If you’re bugging out there is urgency in moving. However, if you get the time to do this and you’re safe her are the steps.
1. Find a plastic bottle. It could be a plastic water bottle (less output), or a bottle you find on the side of the road
2. Washout the bottle
3. Cut a whole in the top of the bottle
4. Start a fire
5 Hang the bottle with a rope somewhere you can let it drip water into
6. Tie a cheese cloth, old shirt, or a piece of cloth to the bottom of the bottle
7. Place a decent amount sand into the bottle
8. Once the wood is charcoal, place the (not hot) charcoal into the bottle.
8. Place gravel on top of the charcoal
9. Pour the unfiltered water into the bottle
10. Let the water filter into your metal water bottle
11. Place the bottle or bowl on the fire
12. Take it off the fire and let it cool
12. Drink clean water.
Fourth, salt or electrolytes. You will be sweating if you’re bugging out. Yes, even in the winter. Your body cannot produce electrolytes. This is why salt is important in your diet.
Extra clothes
This one is pretty self explanatory. I will add, however, keep a sweatshirt or a jacket in here. Even in the summer when its hot outside, the temperature can decrease significantly at night. Pack enough clothes for you to change into that will keep you relatively clean, sane, but not enough were it will weigh you down.
Extra socks
Pack 2 extra pairs a day. You can roll them to be pretty small and make them take up less space.
Matches
Also self explanatory. Use them to start fires. Keep them in a ziplock bag and airtight. Try to not let them get wet. Hypothermia can get you killed just like dehydration.
Kindling
What you use to get a fire started with. The matches are the fire source, but this is the fuel source. Keep this in a dry airtight ziplock bag as well.
Light source
Flashlight or headlamp. I personally recommend a headlamp with a red light. Like I mentioned in the story, a red light won’t broadcast your location. Red light is much harder to see at a distance due to how our eyes see the light spectrum. This will allow you to see where you’re walking, and keep you safe.
First aid kit
You don’t need anything fancy. Just get a first aid kit from Walmart. However, if you’re big into medicine like me, North American Rescue sells med bags for a decent price.
Extra meds
If you have a medical condition or require medications daily, make sure you have enough medications to get you through long periods of time without a pharmacy.
Batteries
Keep AA, AAA, 9V, D, and CR2032 batteries in your pack. You will be surprised with how many batteries you may end up needing. You don’t have to buy the massive pack of batteries, but just keep a few extra.
Knife
Get a decent knife. This is one of the items you don’t want to skimp on. This is a multi use tool. You can use it for cutting, shaving wood for kindling, and protection. Unless you carry a gun with you (I didn’t include firearms because that should be on your person), this may be the only thing you have to defend yourself. Save money in other areas, but don’t hold out on this.
Compass
You need to know what direction you’re going
Ammunition
If you carry (and you should) make sure to keep a box of whatever caliber you carry. I recommend you carry 2, but its entirely up to you.
Carabiners
You can hook your water bottle to your bag, secure a rope, hang a tarp, or secure your gloves to your bag. This is a very useful tool to have.
Optional but recommended
Rope
Multiuse, and you never have one when you need one.
Duct tape
Pretty straight forward. If it needs to not move, put this on it.
Chapstick
Use to prevent blisters. Unless you spend a lot of time walking or were in the military, you will get blisters. Can also be used for fire starting
Sunscreen
Only one real use. I’m not going to waste your time here
Bar of soap
Cleanliness is a luxury. If you’re bugging out you may not have time, but if you do this will help keep you clean, odorless, and will help prevent disease. Also dude wipes work well. I used those in the field while I was in the Navy.
Rubber bands
Really only used for securing things
Cheese cloth
Used for a water filter or even a wash cloth.

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Lights
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About The Author

Oliver is the owner and operator of Doc’s Tactical. He is a Critical Care and Community Paramedic in his hometown. Oliver spent 8 years in the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. He graduated High School from Faith International Academy in Davao City, Philippines. He values spending time with his family, volunteering at his church, and serving his community. He is active in his local Jiujitsu gym and is dedicated to better himself and his loved ones daily. Because of his Faith in Jesus Christ and his service to his community and his country, he wanted to share his knowledge of first aid, preparedness, and faith to everyone who will listen.