Daily Preparedness

Who or what is BOB? BOB (Bug Out Bag, aka “72 hour kit”, aka “Go Bag”) is your best friend and hero who will help you navigate nearly any crisis. Though often thought of as merely for evacuation emergencies, BOB is also an easy method of assembling and quickly accessing equipment needed for a multitude of emergencies. Though you may never face a large-scale natural disaster, you may be forced to ’shelter in place’ or evacuate in a moment’s notice due to severe weather, broken water pipes, loss of power, gas main break, toxic chemical spill, flat tire…..the list is nearly endless. The important thing to remember is that NOT preparing does NOT protect you from crisis, it only makes any crisis more painful.

Why 72 hours? In nearly every large-scale disaster (or even localized ‘disasters’ such as a blizzard) outside help will most likely not reach you for at least 72 hours. Even if you are able to locate a safe shelter, the ’shelter’ may be nothing more than an empty school gymnasium. There is no magical ‘disaster fairy’ that is going to drop in with all of the comforts of home. If the shelter is stocked with the bare necessities, your BOB is going to make your life much more comfortable.

How do you build your own BOB? As with most things, begin simply and then expand. Before rushing out to purchase every item, see what you have on hand and then fill in or improve as needed.

Why not just buy a pre-packaged BOB? Though many commercially prepared BOBs are a fairly good foundation, they are often loaded with products of questionable quality, are more expensive than necessary and rarely fulfill your own needs. If you purchase a commercially prepared BOB, be certain that you add items you need, such as clothing, ID information, medications, medical history, etc.

Items which you may only need one of for the entire family (such as an ax), can be divided among family members.

As you choose items, think small, lightweight, shelf-stable, temperature resilient and compact. Travel and sample size items are ideal! Keep those samples of laundry detergent, soap, shampoo, hygiene products, etc!

Discount stores will carry many items that you need. Be certain to check their sporting goods and camping sections, especially at the beginning of hunting season. Specialty stores such as those that cater to backpackers, skiers, hunters or fisherman will carry small survival type items. End-of-season sales are a great time to stock up and save money. Military surplus stores are another great resource. Don’t forget yard sales, Craigslist and freecycle!

Whether you start from scratch or buy the beginnings of your BOB, begin today with what you have on hand. Remember, your BOB is a good collection point for many items you need even if the crisis is minor or you are remaining at home. Just don’t forgot to return or replenish any items you use.

1. An easily portable container. If nothing else, start with a laundry bag, large sturdy tote, duffel bag or old suitcase. Ideally, you should be able to move the container when fully filled. The ‘ideal’ would be a sturdy, well packed and size-appropriate backpack. If you cannot carry a backpack, consider a rolling suitcase. Yard sales, thrift stores and ‘freecycle’ are great sources for low-cost or even free backpacks.

• As you begin to pack your items, use strong ziplock type plastic bags to separate items. This will prevent cross-contamination and water damage.
• Be sure to note on your calendar when you will need to rotate foods.

2. Light sources.

• Hand crank flashlights are probably the best option.
• If you choose a battery-operated flashlight, store the batteries outside of the flashlight and pack extra batteries and bulbs! Without power, you will find that flashlights dim quickly, are easily broken and lost.
• Other options include non-scented pillar candles, glow sticks (great for children), small lanterns and solar lights.

3. Communications.

• A hand crank or battery operated radio is a must! Again, store batteries separately.
• A cell phone charger, but realize that cell phones are often not functional after a disaster. The system can be easily overwhelmed or interrupted. Be certain that family members have the capability of sending and receiving text messages, as these often bypass an overwhelmed cell phone system.
• Pay phones may be your only option. (See ‘Cash’ below)
• A pre-paid phone card
• A list of contact information for ALL family members. Include work, home & cell numbers
• Choose an out-of-state family member or close friend that everyone will check in with. Long distance is often functioning when local calling is not.
• Paper, a permanent marker and duct tape. You may need to leave messages en route or at a shelter.
• Strong, non-metal whistle and signal mirror.
• Stay off the phone if you do not absolutely NEED to make a call!
• If you leave your home or place of work, leave a written message. Include your name, contact information and where you are headed. Write down how you will be traveling–foot, car, bus, etc.

4. Clothing

• Pack at least a long-sleeve shirt, pants, jacket, gloves, hat, underclothes, 2 pair of socks and sturdy shoes.
• Pack clothing in plastic bags or vacuum pack to keep them clean and dry.
• As you choose clothing, think versatility and layers.
• Be certain to review clothing periodically for fit and function.
• For children, plan ahead and pack a size or two larger than they need.

5.  Water

• Water is king in any emergency! Humans can go much longer without food than they can water.
• Specially packaged water ‘cubes’ or pouches designed for long-term storage are the best option.
• If using commercially prepared bottled water (not long-term pouches), remember to rotate yearly.
• Keep water separate from clothing and other items.
• Water purification tablets, straws or small filters are a great addition!
• A small bottle of regular, unscented chlorine bleach can be used to disinfect water.
• A canteen will allow you to gather additional water if possible.
• A gallon per person per day is ideal. Less is acceptable if you are not relying on salty or dehydrated/freeze-dried foods. Outside temperature and physical activity will contribute to the amount of water needed.
• Store bottled water near your BOB, to allow you to grab and go with extra water.
• If your food contains liquid (such as canned fruit) calculate that liquid into your daily need.
• NEVER DRINK WATER WHICH IS OF QUESTIONABLE PURITY!
  

6. Food

• Package food items in ziploc style bags. Packaging a day’s or meal’s worth of food per bag helps with portion control.
• Do not pack high salt content foods. They will make you thirstier and water is critical.

• Shelf-stable, long-term food is the best option. If your body can tolerate them, the longest lasting and most temperature resilient food are ‘power bar’ type food bars that meet U.S. Coast Guard standards. These compressed nutrition bars are lightweight, densely packed calories that will last at least five years in a wide range of temperatures. They are expensive, but if you do not want to worry about rotating food, they can be a good investment.
• Mark your calendar to remind yourself to rotate the food!
• Widely available food choices include power bars, ‘Lara’ bars, granola bars, compressed dried fruit bars, MRE-type meals, beef jerky, cup-a-noodle type soups, crackers, dehydrated and/or freeze-dried foods, juice boxes, instant oatmeal, nuts, trail mix and canned foods such as meat, fruit, vegetables, and soups. Either pack a can opener or purchase only pull tab cans!
• Purchase food that can be eaten without having to be heated.
• A small amount of comfort food, such as candy, can add variety, calories and a bit of happiness.
• Do not forget to take into account special dietary needs, baby formula (even if nursing), and the elderly.

7. Tools & Other Necessities

• At the minimum, have a good quality pocket knife or multi-tool that includes a sharp blade, scissors and a screwdriver.
• Other tool choices would include a small crow bar (or blue bar), folding shovel, hammer, pliers, bung wrench (for turning off utilities and opening buckets), multi-head screwdriver, pliers, and ax.
• Duct tape is a necessity! Distress orange duct tape can also be used to signal for help if stranded.
• Compass
• Mess kit including fork, spoon, knife and cooking capability
• Small stove with extra fuel
• Matches and fire starting equipment such as flint & steel, magnesium strips and steel wool
• Dust mask and latex gloves
• Safety glasses
• Map of immediate area and national atlas. Ahead of time, plan multiple ways of evacuating your area and choose several rendezvous points outside of your immediate area.
• Strong garbage bags. Garbage bags can be used for lining latrines, dispose of trash, as a rain covering, sealing up leaking shelters, body bags and other assorted uses.
• Bungee cords
• Extra batteries!

8. Warmth and shelter

• At the minimum, pack an ‘emergency’ or ’space’ blanket
• Wool blanket. Wool is naturally flame retardant, ‘breathes’, helps regulate body temperature and can easily be fashioned into a poncho. Felted wool is even better.
• Sleeping bag that is suitable for your temperature ranges and the ranges of any area you might evacuate to
• A sleeping mat for under the sleeping bag
• Tent that is easy to set up. For families, several smaller tents may be better than one large tent. In a shelter, a tent can provide much needed privacy.
• Tarp
• Rope
• Plastic sheeting which can be used as a ground cover and to seal up windows & doors if you shelter in place

9. Sanitation and hygiene

• Feminine hygiene products. Even if you do not think you need them, they are useful as bandages.
• Baby needs including diapers, wipes, extra clothing and diaper rash ointment
• Hand wipes (can be great substitute for a shower)
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Hand sanitizer
• Comb and/or brush
• Chapstick
• Mouthwash
• Small garbage bags to be used as porta-potty
• Sample size laundry detergent
• Dish soap or cloths that are impregnated with dish soap
• ‘Brillo’ type pad
• Toilet paper
• Kleenex

10. Paperwork

• Copy all of your ID (military, drivers license, Social Security, employment, etc) and seal in a ziploc type bag. You can miniaturize the copies if you wish.
• Complete medical history, including allergies highlighted and current medications
• Photocopies of insurance cards or complete list of insurance companies with contact information
• Location of wills, name of executor and guardian for your children
• A 3 x 5 card listing basic identifying information including at least name, address, phone numbers, emergency contact, significant medical history and out-of-state contact. This is critical for children! For children’s cards, include parents, guardian, grandparents and family photo. Either laminate cards or seal in ziploc bag. Mark with red or other identifying mark. Pack in easily accessible location. Folding card and placing inside a luggage tag that you hang from backpack is a great way to make information visible
• Include in your cellphone directory the word ICE, which stands for In Case of Emergency, and list your emergency contact person, phone number & address
• Recent photos (for identification purposes) of your immediate family and pets

11. Cash

• Understand that in nearly any type of emergency, ATMs, credit cards and checks may be useless
• If a store is open, they often do not give change
• Pack small bills ($1 & $10 bills are great, nothing larger) in every backpack
• Quarters for pay phones
• The tube that mini-M&M’s come in will hold several dollars worth of quarters and tightly rolled up bills.

12. Health

• A good, well-rounded first aid kit. Every backpack should at least have a basic first aid kit.
• Alcohol wipes, which are cheaper than hand wipes and more effective at killing bacteria
• Prescription medications for at least 7 days and a list of your current medications. You may want to keep your prescription medications where you can grab them quickly in an evacuation emergency. Always refill your prescriptions as early as you can, never allowing yourself to run out of critical medications. Many pharmacies now offer free automatic refills which will refill your prescription as soon as possible.
• Prescription glasses, hearing aids or other devices
• Mobility aids for the handicapped
• Information about first aid, survival, etc. There are many compact booklets, pamphlets and even a deck of playing cards available
• Sunglasses for everyone
• Sunblock
• Over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, antihistamine such as benadryl (even if you don’t have allergies), laxative and anti-diarrheal
• Salt, which can treat many skin infections, cleanse skin and scour pans
• Blister pads

13. Miscellaneous

• Sewing kit to include strong sewing thread, hand quilting thread, sharp needles, needle threader, buttons, safety pins and snaps.
• KEYS — either place a set of keys to every car and your house in at least one backpack or hand keys in an easy to reach cupboard. Be certain that you have keys to every car in your house at all times. Many people have been unable to evacuate, or have lost cars, because someone else in the family had the key with them. Make it a family habit to hang keys in a central location when returning home. If you have a safety deposit box, keep that key in the same location. If you must leave your home, LOCK IT UP SECURELY!
• Playing cards, small games, toys for children, puzzle books, etc. If you are in a shelter, the hours will be long and tedious. Keeping children & adult minds occupied is good for everyone.
• Scriptures

Remember, pack what you have now and then build on it! Do not be discouraged or overwhelmed.

Coming soon….BOB, Jr. goes to work and BOB rides along!