Evacuation Preparedness

[AZ Prepper]

The following is a great series of preparedness lists and considerations from Phil801. Enjoy...

Ready for Anything
http://www.utahpreppers.com/2009/06/ready-for-anything/ (http://www.utahpreppers.com/2009/06/ready-for-anything/)


“Ready for Anything”

That’s our Motto, this series will focus on how to live it.

Or at least, it will focus on some ideas on how to live ‘Ready for Anything’. Specifically we’ll be looking at Evacuation Kits – commonly known as 72 Hour Kits, BOBs (Bug Out Bags), G.O.O.D. (Get Out Of Dodge) Bags among other names, all of which are similar but have distinctive differences. This series will explore all over the Preparedness Rabbit Hole as we discuss multiple methods for Evacuation Preparedness and/or Shelter In Preparedness – which are similar yet critically different.

If we knew what was coming, it would be a lot easier to be prepared. Unfortunately there are endless possibilities ranging from job loss to nuclear war for which we can prepare. Through all of them there is one binary option – Sheltering In (staying in and surviving in your home) or Bugging Out / Evacuating. Another huge effect on Preparedness Plans is whether it’s just you and maybe a small part of your community that’s effected or if it’s the whole state/country/world. The definition of TEOTWAWKI (The End Of The World As We Know It) can just as easily be Global Nuclear War or a sudden layoff when the country is in a recession.

As Preppers, we tend to categorize Preps into survival time frames – Instant Chaos Survival (car crash in the middle of no-where), 3 Day Survival (extended power outage, serious earthquake), 14 Day Survival (Nuclear Fallout), 3 Month Survival (Decent food and supplies to get through a crisis), 1 year (long term food and supply storage to get through an extended crisis) and Ultimate TEOTWAWKI – Catastrophic collapse of civilization with very long term effect. This series will focus on the 3 Day Survival objective and will combine several types of preparations we should/can be making for this. 3 Day Survival is usually looked at as a transitory survival phase – being able to live long enough to get to the next stage – whether the next stage be returning home and getting back to normal or settling into a longer term survival, adjustment and re-establishment phase. Either way, you’ve got to be able to ride out the initial 3 days.

If we’re Sheltering In, our 3 Day Kits will likely be retrieved and kept on hand, likely in bedrooms or in a family room – but out of storage. If we’re Bugging Out, our 3 Day Kits will be retrieved and brought with us, serving as a supply system while we re-situate. By retrieving them for Sheltering In we can be sure that certain necessities are readily accessible such as medical, light or cooking/eating equipment and supplies. If we’re Bugging Out, we are ensuring we have food, water and clothing supplies with us as we rush to get away from the house. But how do we know what to put in there? How do we know what will be needed for 3 days? How do we know what we’ll need after 3 days and how can we be assured we’ll be able to get it? How are we transporting our 3 day kits? How much time will we have to grab and load? And on and on!

Living Prepared

The first thing to clear up is the misconception of “All I need to do is throw a bunch of junk in a bag and I’m prepared”. If you’ve been reading this site for a while then you know that none of the authors here are casual Preppers. We all live a Prepared Lifestyle. Our 3 Day Kit is not just ‘a bunch of junk in a bag’, it is actually a multi-pronged plan with multiple redundancies, extensions, and so on. Those who live a preparedness lifestyle have and maintain mulitple ‘kits’ that are specialized preparedness items in addition to a Bug Out Bag. Some of these include:


* Every Day Carry (items that are with you everywhere you go, typically in pockets or a bag)

Jayce’s Every Day Carry
A quick rundown on these contents (Top left working clockwise).[list:38jd7pj3]
1. Odd keychain, Tahoe key and fob, motorcycle key (detachable), Leatherman squirt s4, micro-mag with LED conversion kit. Usually in left pocket if in use, otherwise jacket or pack.
2. Iphone earbuds (phone is busy taking the picture).
3. Regular keychain. Car key and fob, micro-led light, cabinet and trigger lock keys, house key, safe key, pill vial (waterproof storage).
4. North American Arms Magnum Mini revolver, magnum JHP rounds. LR chamber located ‘elsewhere’
5. Boker sub-compact folding, lockblade knife
6. Access Card for work
7. Cree LED tac-light
8. chapstick
9. Wallet


ekim’s Every Day Carry

This is the bag I carry around with me on a daily basis. I don’t carry it everywhere with me, but if it is not with me, it is in my car or at my desk at home or at work so it is always nearby. I get asked about it quite often so I thought I would detail the contents in a post.

An example of an EDC Mini-Bug out bag

I bought the bag at CountyComm a while back when it was on sale and took a few months to fill it out with gear. As a matter of fact, it appears to be on sale now. I chose this bag due to the size, the abundance of MOLLE webbing, the quality of the construction and of course the price.

Below is a small gallery showing how I have put mine together and what I have put in in it. Please comment up and let me know what you think.


My Man Purse or Murse


Carmex, Tylenol and cough drops, you never know when you may need them.
Bottom of the bag, more MOLLE straps holding a breacher bar. Even the bottom has MOLLE webbing.
Close up of the breacher bar. The handle is wrapped in 550 Paracord that will be covered in a forthcoming post. Good tool for prying.


Gerber Multi-Tool, a good variety of different tools. Select one that has tools you are familiar with.
Adjustable mini-LED clip on lamp, inexpensive but accessible, aimable light source.
Inova 5 LED flahslight, nearly indestuctable. Machined solid aluminum body that is also fairly watertight. 15 month old son's hand for size comparison. 550 Paracord lanyard.


Another view, without my son's hand. Very bright with 5 LED's. Decent light penetration.
Mini-pry bar with extra long 550 Paracord lanyard. Great for small prying, nail removal, etc.
Adjustable goosneck LED lamp, laser pointer and magnetic base. Good for signalling. Use the magnetic base for fishing iron items out of small spaces.


Grimlock MOLLE carabiners. Great for attaching extra items to the bag.
Contents stowed away... Lots more room available.
Sunglasses. Can be a life saver bright snowy conditions.


325 GB Hard Drive for the geek in me. I have essential information encrypted on the drive in case of emergencies.
Yaesu VX-7r HAM Radio. HAM radios are a tremendously important tool during an emergency, plus they are fun day to day. Includes home made 'tiger tail' antenna for added reception.
iPod and earphones. Includes scriptures, Constitution, movies and games for down time.


Alcohol stove, tinder, matches, windscreen stored in waterproof case. Selected for small size and portability.
CRKT Tanto. A full size knife is essential for a number of jobs you might encounter in an emergency situation. Blade style is a personal preference.
CPR mask, Oil, P38 can opener, Inova LED flashlight on a carabiner. Attached to inner loop via carabiner for easy access.


SAS pocket survival manual. Great basic text. Read it BEFORE you need it.
Magellan Explorist 500 GPS unit. I need a manual compass in here as well, but this is a great entry level unit.
Notebook, pen and pencils. You never know when you might need to make notes, leave a message or burn some paper. Ink bleeds in water but pencils don't. Put a wet notebook in the freezer to dry.


'The Stick' multiple angles to dig into little crevices. Mainly for firearm cleaning, but other uses as well.
Solar charged battery with multiple charging attachments for cell phones, etc.
Spare batteries for Inova flashlight


10x Jeweler's Loupe. Use it it exam small details or to start a fire.
Signal mirror to signal planes, rescuers, or otherwise communicate.
'Metal Match'. Other than testing I haven't used it much. We will need to have a fire 'start off' to review different firestarters.


2.5X mini-binoculars. Very small and compact.
Razor blades for cutting, trimming, etc. They attach to a knife not currently in my bag.


Phil801’s Every Day Carry

I do split EDC, meaning that some stuff I carry on my person but most of it I carry in my bag. There are two reasons for this, one I sit at a computer all day and do not like to have my pockets filled with stuff. I only wear cargo style pants so I always have plenty of pockets to drop things into as needed, but I don’t like to sit at my desk with anything in them. Secondly, as a geek I carry my computer EVERYWHERE I go and I carry it in my EDC bag. If you ever see the bag pictured below, it is probably following me like a monkey on my back.



My laptop is next to my bag in this picture but when I’m on the move it is riding in the back pocket of my bag. The power cord and several other electronic gadgetry goes in the second pocket on the bag. I like to be able to work and get on the internet wherever I happen to find myself so my bag contains in essence a portable office. Now, for the other stuff I keep in my bag:



That’s everything in my supplies pocket. Here’s what all that and the stuff I do carry on my person looks like dumped out:



From top left to bottom right, this is what you’re looking at:
[list:38jd7pj3]* Camera Bag – obviously I was using the camera to take the pictures :) but I keep it in that bag along with some spare batteries and a couple memory cards. I find it invaluable to always have a camera with me. The one I carry is a Nikon CoolPix P50.
* Passport – I keep this in my bag for a couple reasons, the main one being if I become separated from my wallet (like leaving it at home) I’ve usually got my bag with me, and with my passport with me I still have ID. Plus, if I ever need to flee the country on a moments notice…… just kidding :)
* Lockblade Knife – on the next row is the knife that permanently lives in my pockets
* Pocket Caribiner – I keep this little collection in my pocket most of the time. We’ll go through it in a bit
* Advil – I always have a bottle of advil in my bag, my glovebox, in my drawer at work, on my dresser at home…. I hate getting headaches!
* U.S. Constitution – It’s covered by the altoids box but I keep this booklet with the Constitution and Declaration of Independence in my bag.
* Altoids Tin – this is actually filled with several Vaseline soaked Cotton Balls to use as fire starters if needed.
* Mini-Scriptures – I always keep the Word of the Lord with me
* Emergency Whistle/compass/flashlight/timepiece – on the next row is a handy combo survival widget
* Bag Caribiner – This collection stays in my bag, we’ll go through it next
* Mini Water Filter/straw – this water filter is the type you attach a straw to, insert the opposite end into water and suck through the straw. Can be used in a glass, a stream, a puddle on the ground – whatever
* FRS Radio – I have a HAM license but not a portable radio yet. The FRS radio will at least give me some communications ability along with my cell phone
* Verizon EVDO Card – this is a cellular network USB Modem. It allows me to get high speed internet access wherever I have Verizon cellular service – which is just about everywhere. I’ve hiked to the top of several mountains with my bag on my back and relaxed on the peak and gotten on the internet just for fun :)

These are the items I keep on a caribiner in my bag:


* Large Caribiner
* Compass/Flashlight combo
* Red Flashlight – red lights let you view things at night without destroying your night vision
* Mini-Tool – this particular toolset has a light on it, pliers, a knife, a can opener and an awl
* Fire Starters – there are two of them on this ring, one is a magnesium/flint combo and the other is a BlastMatch
* Pill Fobs/Fingernail clippers – one Fob has advil in it, the other has a much stronger painkiller.
* Large Pill Fob – this Fob has Tums in it
* Mini-Tool – this mini tool has a good standard and phillips screwdriver on it, it is much easier to use these screwdrivers than ones on other multi-tools I have



These are the items I keep on my pocket caribiner:


* 8 gig USB drive – for a geek you never know when you’re going to need file transfer capability! I also keep several important docs and files on this drive.
* LED flashlight
* Consecrated Oil Vial – this is a Religious tool I always keep with me

That’s pretty much it. I consider my EDC to be an extended part of multiple prep packs that I keep – my BOB, my vehicle emergency kit, my office kit and other general preps.[/list:u:38jd7pj3][/list:u:38jd7pj3]

* Vehicle Emergency Kits (posted here: http://ldspreppers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=569)

o Jayce’s Get Home Bag
o Phil’s Car Kit List
o Angela’s Car Kit
* Office Preparedness Kits (we need to write a post or two about this!)

* Pandemic Preparedness Kits

o A full Pandemic/Quarantine Kit
o A Pandemic Kit to supplement your EDC and Car Kit

These kits are generally considered extensions of one another.

Every Day Carry

The concept behind Every Day Carry is to keep on you at all times the bare minimum you would need to survive and are often things that are part of your daily routine. This generally means tools or items that would allow you to: Defend yourself, build a shelter, start a fire, get somewhere else. For many of us, this means carrying a concealed firearm, a knife or leatherman, a lighter of some sort, a flashlight and a myriad of other things (see the above links for detailed posts). EDC is generally kept in your pockets but can also be kept in a bag or backpack that you always have with you. It serves as your basic survival system that you are never without. This is actually core to living a preparedness lifestyle and serves as the initial building block of your Evacuation Kit.

Car Kits

We spend a huge amount of our time in our cars. If we’re not in our cars, they are usually not far from us. It makes good sense then, to keep an extended survival kit in your car. A Car Kit is also a general survival kit for your car itself. It should contain plenty of tools to allow you to repair your vehicle if it breaks down or has problems. This usually includes: Jumper cables, a tow strap, duct tape, hand tools, a flashlight and so on. It should also contain a good First Aid Kit and items and tools to allow you to survive beyond your EDC if you break down and are stranded. Your Car Kit becomes the second building block in your Evacuation Kit in that it will not only keep your evacuation vehicle running, it can help keep you alive. One thing to always keep in mind with your Car Kit is that the items in it will be subject to extreme heat in the summer and freezing in the winter. This can cause food to spoil and water bottles to crack (from freezing).

Office Preparedness Kits

Many of us spend a large chunk of our day sitting at the office. There is a huge possibility for all kinds of things to happen either at/to the office or that we’ll have to start our evacuation from the office. A good Office Preparedness Kit will contain lots of different OTC medications and a good First Aid Kit that will serve you well for regular day to day occurrences. It should also contain basic survival items for scenarios (such as an earthquake) where you have to survive before you get to your Car Kit. This includes water, water purification, simple foods, a whistle (to alert rescuers), a flashlight, etc. Your Office Preparedness Kit should be able to stand on its own (combined with your EDC) and in an evacuation scenario you should be able to grab it and go. In certain scenarios, the Office Preparedness Kit will supplement your Car Kit if you begin an evacuation from there.

Bug Out Bags or 72 Hour Kits

Your BOB is basically a 3 day survival backpack. It should be designed to allow you to seek shelter on foot and should contain everything you need to defend yourself, keep you fed, hydrated and sheltered and somewhat comfortable. The items that go into it will be a very personal decision based on your skills, inclinations and personal experience. A BOB may be something you have to grab on the run while you’re getting out of the house as fast as possible, it also serves as an item of your Evac Kit.

Evacuation Kits

An Evacuation Kit goes beyond a BOB, actually a BOB is one of the things on the Evac Kit’s checklist. An Evacuation Kit consists of the things you need to take with you to head into the unknown in any kind of an emergency. It assumes you are heading out in a vehicle, that you have at least a little bit of time to grab things and throw them in a trailer or trunk. How much and what your Evacuation Kit contains will depend heavily on your ability to transport it. Preferably you’ll have a trailer that can be pre-loaded and just waiting to go in case of an emergency. Where a BOB list looks like you’re going on a long hike, an Evac Kit list looks like you’re going on an extended family camping trip. You may have several pre-packed bags or containers for your Evac Kit or you may have bags or containers waiting to be packed with lists of what go into them. The key is to consider everything ahead of time and make preparations to be able to load your Evacuation Kit in less than a half hour.

Ready for Anything

This post has covered the basics so we can all be on the same page going into this series (sorry if it bored some of the old pros :) ). From here we’ll start going through how to determine the contents of your Evacuation Kit, consider multiple things you may need and start figuring out how to be prepared for a possible evacuation.

I have spent many hours over the last month or so reviewing over 100 72 Hour Kit, Bug Out Bag, and Get Out Of Dodge bag lists. As I’ve gone through all these lists I’ve made a master list that we’ll start using in the next post. It is, by far, the most complete evacuation list I’ve seen but I’m also sure it is still missing some things. As we go through it, hopefully we’ll get some good feedback on what might be missing. To allow easy updating and re-distribution, I’ve made the list into a Google Spreadsheet.

The next post in this series introduces the Evacuation Kit Master List.

[AZ Prepper]

The Master Evacuation Kit List
http://www.utahpreppers.com/2009/06/the-master-evacuation-kit-list/ (http://www.utahpreppers.com/2009/06/the-master-evacuation-kit-list/)


This is the second post in a series.

Previously, I briefly introduced the Mother of all Evacuation Lists. This list is the result of reviewing well over 100 Bug Out Bag, 72 Hour Kit and G.O.O.D. bag lists and building a master list from them. The new master list can be found here: (http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=rM4nEGviCuuDLvLNJ3hHnSw&single=true&gid=0&output=html) I’m hoping to get feedback from readers on other items that should be included which I’ll add to the list. By the end of the series I’ll post an excel file that you can download and store or share. In the meantime, feel free to share the link to the spreadsheet. In this post we’ll start going over the list and get familiar with it.

Categories

Everything on the list is broken down into categories. We have Food, Shelter/Bedding, Fuel, Personal, Defense/Hunting, Misc, Medical, Documents/Money, Address/Phone Lists, Communication, Navigation, Info Carsds, Nuclear/Bio/Chem, Don’t Forget List, Fishing Equipment, Light, Books, Winter Clothes, Automotive, Water, Food Prep/Eating/Cleanup, Tool Kit, Equipment and Clothing. Over the next few posts we’ll break each of these categories down and discuss the types of items that you might include in your Evac Kits from these categories.

Organization

When I put this list together the goal was to provide an all-inclusive list that each person could pare down to what made sense for themselves. There will likely be many things on this list that you don’t feel a need for. You shouldn’t feel like you have to go buy everything on the list or anything like that. The idea is that you can reliably make a personalized list for yourself from this one and know that most everything has been considered – by over 100 people who felt that their list was good enough! Due to this goal, this list is organized a bit differently than others that you’ll find.

One of the first things you might notice is that there are no quantities given. The reason for this is that the quantity needed/desired can be very different from person to person and you should consider the item and multiple scenarios and determine how much you need.

The next thing you might notice is that many lists have a prioritization system – this one does not. You will need to decide for yourself how much of a priority each item should have. There is also no indication as to which container things should go in. We’ll talk about containerizing in a later post, but some of the items on the list should go into your BOB, others should be stored in a category container such as Fishing Equipment, others might be in a rifle case containing a rifle and cleaning equipment. This is also something you’ll need to decide for yourself.

There are also a few categories that may not make much sense – Address/Phone Lists is a list that you keep in your BOB that contains the phone and address of several important contacts you may need while you’re evacuated. We’ll be providing a list you can fill out and print in a later post. There is also a ‘Don’t Forget List’, this is a list of things that you aren’t going to keep pre-staged but that you must not forget when you are rushing around trying to evacuate. It’s a customized check list for before you leave the house – we’ll be providing a downloadable worksheet later in the series. Finally, the Info Card contains vital information for a family member. Each family member should have one in their BOB with the parents/guardians having a copy of all them in their BOB or Document Case. We’ll also be providing a downloadable worksheet for this. Several of these lists are such that you’ll need to update them on a regular basis, like every 6 months.

Over the next few posts we’ll be going through the items in the categories and discussing their use and why they’re included. Once we’ve done that, we’ll discuss Kit Inventories – reviewing our kits on a regular basis to make sure they’re ready to go.

The next post in this series is here: Evacuation Preparedness List Review Part 1

[AZ Prepper]

Evacuation Preparedness List Review part 1
http://www.utahpreppers.com/2009/06/evacuation-preparedness-categories/ (http://www.utahpreppers.com/2009/06/evacuation-preparedness-categories/)


This is the third installment of the Evacuation Preparedness Kit Series.



In this post we’ll be discussing the items in the different categories on the Master List.

As we go through these categories, keep in mind that your 72 hour kit will be more like packing for an extended hiking trip whereas your Evacuation Kit will be more like packing for an extended camping trip. Also keep in mind that redundancy and the ability to shed your larger kits and still be able to survive with your smaller kits is critically important. You may find yourself in a scenario where you have bugged out with your Evacuation Kit, but for whatever reason you have to ditch most of it and go on foot. Your G.O.O.D bag had better be able to support you while your on foot. Potentially, you could have to drop supplies all the way down to your EDC and be able to survive off the items in your pockets. Redundancy across your kits is paramount.

Pre-Planning

This is a topic we’ll cover in more detail in a later post, but it’s important to start off your evacuation planning by considering several scenarios – what you take with you is only one of the considerations!

Bug Out Vehicles

The first thing to know is, what vehicle(s) will you be evacuating in? Your Bug Out Vehicle (BOV) is going to be a critical part of your successful evacuation since it’s what will get you there! We’ll have an in depth post on this later in the series but you need to consider comfort for all those riding, gear storage, fuel capacity, reliability and so on. If you are able, it’s a great idea to have a vehicle that you can hitch a trailer (camping or regular) to (or an RV). This way you can pre-pack your gear into the trailer so everything is ready to go at a moments notice. If you don’t currently have an adequate BOV, you may consider starting to save up for one and looking for good deals.

Timing

Getting out ahead of the crowds is an important part of evacuating. You do NOT want to be in the situation pictured at the top of this post! By planning ahead, pre-packing, pre-staging your gear in your trailer, etc. you can get a huge jump on the un-prepared masses and Get Out of Dodge before the traffic jams start. Meet with your family, plan rally points, make sure everyone knows what will happen in an evacuation.

Bug Out Location (BOL)

Where are you going to go? You might head to a friends place out of town or state. You may head for the mountains. Where you go is going to depend on lots of factors including what the emergency is that made you bug out. Plan ahead and know where you can go. Many preppers buy small (or large) parcels of land away from civilization and turn it into a retreat. This may or may not mean building a cabin, building a storage facility, etc. But having a retreat provides you with a location to get to and a place where you can pre-position some of your supplies.

You may end up going to a town just outside the danger zone and stay in a hotel or campsite there. If you’re doing this, plan on having ways to look up phone numbers etc. so you can call ahead and find vacancies to reserve. Of course, right outside the danger zone will probably be cramped and crazy. You may want to head another 30 miles or so out. With this plan, many preppers will pre-stage supplies in small storage units or at friends houses along the way.

Route Planning

Once you know where you’re going to go and you know your family rally points, plan out how to get there. Consider typical traffic, where traffic jams may occur in an evacuation, types of roads, etc. The best plan will avoid the masses as much as possible. Try to figure out a route using uncommon roads to get out of town and hit the highway quickly. If you can’t avoid high traffic areas, plan multiple optional routes to work around traffic so you can pick an alternate based on the situation.

Comfort

We’ll talk about entertainment later, but consider the comfort of the passengers in your BOV. You don’t want kids packed unsafely in between storage crates in the back seat. You’ll want to have games and books for the kids, some snacks, water, etc. Consider how long a drive it is to your BOL and plan a trip kit accordingly. Then be prepared for the 2,806 “Are we there yet?”. You’ll want to keep them from getting bored but also from getting scared. Also consider weather – if it’s hot you’ll want extra water, if it’s cold you’ll want extra blankets. You’ll want to avoid wasting gas idling in a traffic jam just to run the heater/AC.

The List

Keep in mind (or re-read the second post in this series) that the purpose of this list is to make sure you’ve considered everything. You should be paring down the list to what you personally feel you need to have. And so, on to the Category review.

Food



The majority of the food types listed are dry, high in energy types of food. Most of them are lightweight and will keep for extended periods of time. Note that many of them require water to be added to them – you should keep this in mind when you are deciding your water requirements. There is a variety of foods listed, these are suggested possibilities. You should build a list of the foods you want to take with you and stock on those (don’t feel like you need to get each item on the list).

Your Evacuation Food Crate

The Canned foods on the list, which include the liquid foods like honey, should be stored in a box or crate (labeled ‘Food’) and made ready to go. These are the heavier foods and you won’t want to carry them around in a BOB. The fragile foods like crackers should also be stored in your food crate along with whatever amounts and types of other foods you feel you need to evacuate with. Keep in mind that your Evac Kit is your top comfort level, you’re keeping stuff to make several meals on the road – you don’t have to be over-limiting in what you’re willing to pack.

Bug Out Bag Food Packet



The food you store in your BOB should be the highest in energy/protien that you can get. You’ll want enough to have a few meals with and also several snacks. Gum and Hard Tack candies are great for you BOB. I personally keep several packets of Ramen Noodles and oatmeal in my BOB for meals along with a few MREs. While your BOB will sustain you for a couple days, you’re likely going to need to supplement your food supply with hunting and foraging. Make sure you have the skills and tools to do so.

EDC Food



In your EDC Kit, you should have high energy foods that you can eat on the run. I recommend bouillon cubes for their high protein value along with some jerky and a protein bar or two. A pack of gum and a few pieces of hard tack candy are nice as well. If you are required to live off of your EDC Kit, you should have or develop foraging and hunting skills as well – you won’t be able to keep enough food to last you long. Your EDC Kit should include any tools or items you will need for foraging and hunting.

If you’re planning to take a pet with you if you have to evacuate, don’t forget to store some food for several days for them as well!

Water



You won’t last long at all if you haven’t planned for water. Water preparation is one of the most important things in your Evacuation plans! If you’re going to overkill anywhere, this is the category to do it in!

We’ve covered water preparedness at home, but for Evacuation it’s a bit of a different thing. Depending on how many people you’re going to be supporting, I personally would start off with a couple 5-7 gallon jugs full of water that can be thrown in a trailer or truck during your evacuation loading. You can store these full or empty – if you store them full be sure to rotate the water every 6 months (follow other guidelines for safe water storage as well). The key here is to have something prepared so that in an evacuation you can grab your water and go.

You’ll also need to make sure you have ways of carrying water as you work down through the BOB and EDC Levels. Water bottles, canteens and hydration bladders work well in your BOB. It is also a good idea to keep several store bought bottled water bottles in your Vehicle Kit, Office Kit and Bug Out Bag. An empty hydration bladder is very compact, I suggest keeping one rolled up in your EDC Kit as well.

Water Filters



There are lots of different water filters available and I would strongly recommend you have several of them in your preps. I suggest keeping a really good and decent sized one in your Evacuation Food Kit so that when you’re throwing everything in the trailer you’ll know you have it. With this filter, keep in mind that the purpose of it is to refill those 5 gallon jugs – so make sure it’s easy and fast to use!



You also need to make sure you have a separate water filter in your Bug Out Bag. The purpose of this water filter is to allow you to fill a container and take the container with you. There are some great bottle filtration systems that allow you to fill your water bottle and it is filtered as you drink it. I carry two of these in my personal BOB.



You’ll also want to keep a Straw Filter in your EDC gear. These filters are ultra compact and let you drink from almost any water source. The one pictured can also adapt to a hydration bladder. If you’re on the move with only your EDC you’ve got to be able to consume water safely!



If you’re using a hydration bladder, there are inline filtration systems you can get that allow you to fill them from almost any source and filter them at consumption time. (If you’re doing this, make sure you know which bladders have had unfiltered water in them and don’t use them for clean water!)

Hydration bladders can be stored/used independently or incorporated into day packs or backpacks where the drinking tube allows you to use them without removing them. This makes them ideal for almost any of your Kits.

Fuel (Automotive)

If there is cause for evacuation, history has shown us repeatedly that fuel almost instantly become a rare commodity. If you’re not already, become accustomed to keeping your vehicle, especially your Bug Out Vehicle (BOV), full of gas as frequently as possible. Consider your half tank marker to be your empty marker and fill it back up!



If you have a 20 gallon tank on your car, store six 5 gallon cans full of gas at home. This gives you 10 gallons to top off your tank with when you bug out (preferably you’ll be ahead of the game and be able to do this at the gas station and take that 10 gallons with you) and allows you to take a full tank of gas with you.



If you’re able to, consider storing even more cans of gas at home. A good way to store this away from your house is to dig a trench at the back of your property, put the cans in it and cover the trench with plywood (to hide it, throw a little dirt over the plywood and incorporate a flower garden around it). Be sure to use Sta-Bil to keep your gas from going bad. We’ll have a post going into this in depth shortly.



Be sure you have a plan for carrying your gas with you in your BOV so that when you evacuate you’re able to grab the gas cans and go. There are external carrying systems you can get for your vehicle, or you can just stow them in a trailer or the back of a truck. Planning to store gas inside the vehicle you’re driving is a bad idea as there is a good chance that fumes can accumulate in the car making everyone sick.

It’s also a good idea to keep a siphon system or just a length of hose in your evacuation kit (and your Vehicle Kit). In a pinch you may need to get fuel out of a different vehicle and into your BOV.

Shelter/Bedding



Your Bug Out Vehicle (BOV) might be an RV, Camp or other Trailer that you can sleep in – or it may be a little car that the last thing you’d never want to sleep in (a later post in this series will discuss BOVs). Either way, it is a very good idea to have a large tent that will comfortably house your family and much of your gear for several days in your Evacuation Kit. You’ll also want to have a box or crate pre-packed with bedding (blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, etc) so you can just grab it and go. Be sure to include tarps, ropes, tent stakes, etc in your Evac Kit. Your shelter is a critical part of successful evacuation, spend a bit of time and effort making sure it is all there and packed properly.

Bug Out Bag Shelters



Assuming you don’t have your Evac Kit shelter with you, your BOB should contain a backpacking tent and sleeping bag or, if you plan to rough it a bit, a tarp can serve just fine as a shelter. If you’re using a tarp for a shelter, make sure you practice building different types of shelters with it – bugged out is not the time to learn!



For EDC, it’s a good idea to carry an Emergency (or Space) Blanket with you. They are extremely compact and will give you something to wrap up in during the night. It is a good idea to also learn survival skills that will allow you to create a shelter while on the run, and then carry the tools with you to do so.

In our next segment, we continue working through the categories in our master list. If you have anything to add about these categories, please do so in the comments!

[AZ Prepper]

Evacuation Preparedness List Review part 2
http://www.utahpreppers.com/2009/06/evacuation-preparedness-list-review-part-2/ (http://www.utahpreppers.com/2009/06/evacuation-preparedness-list-review-part-2/)




This is the fourth installment of the Evacuation Preparedness Kit Series.

Clothing



This is another highly personal selection category. The main thing to consider is that you have NO idea what type of situation you’re preparing for. I suggest packing two separate crates for clothing. The first should be regular/warm weather clothes with the second containing winter clothes. This way you won’t have to carry or dig through all the winter clothes unnecessarily.

Consider that during an evacuation you will likely be outside a lot, be doing much manual labor, could be schlepping through the woods, and may be doing industrial type cleanup. You will want to have good sturdy clothes with you! Also consider and prepare for different inclement weather. It could be rainy, windy, sweltering hot, or freezing cold.

Also take your footwear into serious consideration. You’ll need sturdy boots for clean-up and hiking and tennis shoes for around camp to give your feet a break from the boots. You’ll also want to make sure you can keep your feet dry as much as possible. I never met a camper who thought they had too many socks!

Cleaning Clothes



You’ll also want to make sure you have a method for washing out your clothes – especially if you end up outside a lot or doing disaster clean-up. This is another area that you’ll want to pay careful attention to and make sure you Know Before You Go how to wash your clothes! There are several techniques for doing this including using a scrub/washboard for cleaning hard dirt/stains, a plunger washer (plunger, 5 gallon bucket, water, laundry soap) for cleaning/rinsing and a clothes line and clothes pins for drying.

Bug Out and EDC Clothes



In a bug out situation, you can’t assume that you will have suitable clothes on when you bug out. You should have at least 2, preferably more, changes of clothes in your BOB. You’ll want to add and remove winter clothing considerations as the seasons change. Gloves are always a critical component of a good BOB.

For EDC consideration, many serious preppers wouldn’t be caught wearing clothes that weren’t suitable for survival. I personally only wear cargo or BDU style pants (in nice business dress colors), shirts which can conceal a firearm, sturdy boots and carry gloves and a beanie in my EDC bag. Serious preppers are Ready for Anything Day in and Day out. If this isn’t describing you, you may want to consider whether your accustomed daily attire is very fitting for an emergency situation and assess whether you want/need to make any changes.

Fuel

There are many, many techniques and tools for starting and maintaining fire – and to survive you MUST have this ability for heating yourself, cooking food and generating light. I have been working on a post that covers many areas of fire starting, look for it soon. Here, we will just briefly touch on several ways to start fire (create a flame) that you may include in your evacuation kit – remember, redundancy is your friend:


* BlastMatch or similar magnesium/flint combination
* Matches (waterproof)
* Lighter
* Magnifying Glass
* Steel Wool/9 volt battery

The type of fuel you pack in your Evacuation Kit will depend on what type of stove you have. Make sure that you pack enough fuel to cook and heat for several days. You may also be using battery powered light sources – if so you may consider stocking rechargeable batteries, a solar battery charger and solar panels. We’ll have a post soon on this particular topic as well.

Fuel and EDC/BOB



Whereas in your Evacuation Kit you can pack a lot of fuel, your BOB and EDC kits will have much less to none. For your Bug Out Bag, I suggest getting a compact backpacking stove and keeping the stove and one can of fuel in your BOB. I also keep a Blast Match (pictured above), 2 lighters, matches and a flint/steel set in my BOB.

For EDC, I keep a BlastMatch Evacuation Preparedness List Review part 2 and a lighter in my EDC Bag. If you’re on the run with only your EDC and you need to cook or need heat, a fire is probably your best bet. It would be wise to obtain the training and experience needed to be able to survive with just a fire.

Food Prep/Eating/Cleanup



I strongly recommend that you buy or build a good Chuck Box to keep all of your camping kitchen supplies in. I will be following this series up with a full pictorial post and plans on how to build your own Chuck Box. Not only does it serve to hold all your kitchen gear for your Evac Kit, but it helps keep it clean, organized and accessible. Camping kitchen gear is famous for being lost, filthy or broken.

From experience, I suggest you pack more silverware and dishes than you think you need (not just one per person). Make sure that you have a wash and a rinse basin along with sponges, a scouring pad and dish soap. For you Evac Kit I would pack everything on our Master List for the kitchen.

BOB/EDC Food Preps



In your BOB you’ll want to pack a compact cooking set – the most important things are a pan to boil water in and a frying type pan. With those two pans you can cook almost anything over a fire. A wide metal plate, deep metal bowl, a metal mug and a spork type utensil are, in my experience, the best personal outdoor eating gear. Mostly because they don’t take up much room, you can pack stuff inside them easily and when using them, you can put them over the fire to heat or boil their contents. I keep a scouring pad with them as well for quick and easy cleaning.

For EDC, a spork and the previously mentioned Hydration Bladder Evacuation Preparedness List Review part 2 and Straw Filter Evacuation Preparedness List Review part 2 along with the assumed Pocket Knife will allow you to eat (it may not be the most convienent way to eat, but it’s convienent to carry). Survival and Foraging skills will help you learn good methods for eating without containers.

Books



The list has only a few books listed. A proper emergency and survival book list would have to be it’s own never-ending list. I’ve attempted to put some examples of categories of books that you might find useful in your Evacuation Kit, you’ll need to choose your favorites that you’ll want as both a reference and as reading material to pass potentially boring time.

I will say however that, if you’re religious, having your scriptures with you can help calm things and provide you with fine reading while you wait out the emergency. I personally carry a very small set of scriptures in my EDC bag.

Personal Items



Some quick comments about this category:


* Toilet paper is something you really don’t want to be without. Pack what you think you’re going to need, then add a roll or two. Keep a roll in your BOB and at least some in your EDC.
* Tampons have their obvious uses, but they also make a great blood absorber. If you’re in a situation where there’s a heavily bleeding wound, you can stuff a tampon in there to clot it off.
* Extra Glasses – if you missed it, here’s our post about getting quality, inexpensive glasses online (http://www.utahpreppers.com/2009/01/vision-prep-storing-eyeglasses/).
* Contacts – if you wear contacts and if you don’t have a spare pair in your kit, make sure you put a spare contact case and some saline in there. Chances are you’ll be wearing them when you bug out and will need to take them out.
* Hand Sanitizer – here’s our post on how to make your own hand sanitizer (http://www.utahpreppers.com/2009/04/pandemic-preparedness-diy-sanitization/)

Most of these items I keep in both my Evacuation Kit and my BOB, but other than TP, contact supplies, hand sanitizer and glasses, I don’t keep any of them in my EDC.

Basic Tool Kit



The tools listed will allow you to accomplish most of the common types of jobs you might run into in an evacuation. I suggest putting together a toolbox that is specifically for your Evac Kit and loading it with tools NOT from your workbench, hopefully they’ll still be in there when it’s time to go. Anything on the tool list that you feel you should take but don’t have doubles of, add to your “Don’t Forget List” and grab them on your way out. If you have a BOV, you can pre-load it with the hand tools like shovel and pick.

There are a few things on this list that make sense in a BOB and possibly in your EDC kit – duct tape, Multitool Evacuation Preparedness List Review part 2, Hatchet Evacuation Preparedness List Review part 2, crow bar, wire cutters and a saw. There may be others that make sense to you. I keep duct tape in my EDC kit as well as a small crow bar. I also have several of these tools in my Vehicle Kit.

Defense/Hunting

You may want some/none/all of the items in this category depending on your comfort levels and personal beliefs. In an extended evacuation scenario, it may become necessary for you to provide food for you family by hunting. It may also become necessary (witness New Orleans) to defend yourself from those who mean you harm.

Firearms



You’ll notice that the list includes all types of firearms: Rifles, shotguns and pistols. If you don’t know much about guns but would like an introduction to what types of firearms you might need for different scenarios, you can read this Introduction to Firearms that I wrote a while ago (http://geeksnguns.com/2008/11/some-help-for-first-time-gun-buyers/). Although you probably know what you’ll want to take (if you’re a gun owner), you may consider putting together a “Don’t Forget List” for firearms. Be sure to grab as many magazines and ammunition as you feel you need and don’t forget your gun cleaning kit.

If you are inclined to prepare for a possible defensive situation, the other defensive items on this list will be useful for you. I personally include my Battle Vest as part of my 72 Hour Kit and have it pre-packed so I can grab it on the run.

[AZ Prepper]

Evacuation Preparedness List Review part 3
http://www.utahpreppers.com/2009/06/evacuation-preparedness-list-review-part-3/ (http://www.utahpreppers.com/2009/06/evacuation-preparedness-list-review-part-3/)




This is the fifth installment of the Evacuation Preparedness Kit Series. This post will pick up where we previously left off in reviewing the categories on the Master List.

Equipment



The saw, rope, paracord, raingear and work gloves are typical survival/hiking equipment. You should keep all of them in both your BOB and your Evac Kit, I recommend you also keep a length of para cord and a pair of gloves in your EDC Kit.



If you are CERT trained, you purchased a hardhat, goggles, ear plugs and vest when you bought your CERT kit. Your CERT supplies should be on your Evac list to grab but should also be in its own container so they are available to you if you are needed in a CERT role. If you’re not CERT trained, you should be, we’ll post bout that later.



The Plastic Sheeting on the list is useful for many things but most notably for the ability to seal the airways in your house to inhibit air circulation. This is useful and could be necessary for survival in a Bio/Chemical/Nuclear situation.



A fire extinguisher should be in your Car Kit already and definitely there should be a couple around your house – if you can, stick another one in your Evac Kit or add it to you’re Don’t Forget List.



Surveyor Flagging can be used to mark a trail, would be useful in your Evac Kit as well as your BOB. A spare set of keys to pretty much everything – vehicles, house, ATVs, Gun Lockers, etc should definitely be in your Evac Kit, probably in your BOB and absolutely in your EDC. Additionally, it’s a good idea to have a spare full set of keys just in a bedroom drawer or somewhere out of site but convenient. I can’t count how many times I’ve needed that spare set!

Light



Light is another area where redundancy is your friend! The best way to ensure that you always have a light is to carry more than one light source in your Evac Kit, BOB, EDC, Car Kit, Office Kit, and wherever else makes sense. The main difference is the size of the light that you carry in each of your kits. Fortunately, technology has given us extremely small flashlights that are still extremely bright. LED flashlights are fantastic for their ability to last for a very long time without running down their batteries.



In your Evac Kit, I suggest keeping a couple strong flashlights, at least one lantern and several spare fuel/batteries for them. In your BOB a couple smallish flashlights will work great. I also keep an LED pack lantern (battery powered) in my BOB. For EDC, keychain style flashlights work great and a couple lightsticks will serve for a lantern.

Misc

Many of the items in this category are very useful but not necessary for your survival – with the exception of infant needs if you’re planning on having an infant with you. Wet Wipes are fantastic for keeping hands and faces clean. I suggest having at least a box of them in your Evac Kit and a travel pack of them in your BOB.



A camera can be fairly important to document an evacuation/crisis. However, many of us have decent ones on our phones and can use those. If you want to take a camera with you, it’s probably best to add it to your Don’t Forget List. A solar shower could make a huge difference in your evacuation experience, we keep 3 in our Evac Kit.

Fishing Equipment



Having a complete set of fishing equipment with you will allow you to catch your own food during an evacuation to supplement your stored food.

I suggest keeping it all in its own container and tackle box, usable day to day but ready to go. It’s a good idea to keep some line, sinkers, hooks and bobbers in your BOB for the same reason. You should probably add it to your Don’t Forget List as well since it’s possible it won’t be sitting with everything else.

Medical



The amount and type of medical gear you carry is a personal decision. Because I have a daughter with Leukemia, I have a very extensive one. My opinion is that you should have a medical supply kit in your Evac Kit, an extensive First Aid Kit in your BOB and a light First Aid Kit in your EDC. The Master List has a pretty comprehensive list of items to keep in a Medical Kit and this post outlines the details of my Medical Kits.

Documents/Money



The Master List has a laundry list of documents that you may or may not have and which may or may not be important to you. The important thing is to consider each document and decide if it would be important for you to have – especially if you were unable to return home for an extended period of time. Any documents you feel you need, make copies or request original copies and put them all in a water proof container in which they can lay flat. Give careful consideration to Wills – if someone in your family dies during an evacuation things could potentially be very messy to get straightened up. Designation of Power of Attorney to your spouse, parents, or whoever can also be very important. Consider documents you might need if you end up staying in a shelter, etc.



If you don’t have one, I strongly suggest getting a fireproof/waterproof portable safe. You can get them at Wal-Mart for around $60.00. Store your document bag in it along with the money we’re about to talk about. Make sure you put the safe on your Don’t Forget List.

Money



There are several forms of money suggested on the Master List, I suggest you set aside as many of the types as you can – store them in your portable safe. Once an evacuation starts crazy things can happen – ATMs run out of cash, power is out and credit cards don’t work, things that are cheap become in high demand and prices skyrocket. If the worse happens and there is an economic collapse, your paper money will be worthless. Precious metals like gold and silver however will still have intrinsic trade value – as will food, fuel, and other necessities. Having a cache of these with you will help ensure you can acquire the things you and your family need. I explain in detail about purchasing silver for this reason in this post.

Electronic Files



Unless you have a laptop with all your files on it, you can’t really take your computer with you and depending on the scenario, it might not be there when/if you get back. I very strongly recommend you get a 16 GB or larger USB Flash Drive that you can put all your digital pictures, documents, videos, etc. on. These are wonderful devices that can take a beating and will store all your files on them. Here’s one of our posts discussing this.

Info Cards



I’ve seen several Info Cards over the years. I’ve taken several of those and several other suggestions and created a new one that matches the Master List. Some of the information you may not be comfortable with including or feel that it’s too personal, that’s fine, fill in whatever you feel is necessary.

You can download the Utah Preppers Info Card here (http://www.utahpreppers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/family-member-emergency-info.rtf).

There are a couple strategies with the Info Cards. First, each person in the family should have one in their BOB. For younger children this helps them have information on themselves that they probably won’t know. If they become separated from you or your spouse for some reason, it will help them get taken care of. If their is some kind of medical emergency with any of your kids, it will ensure that they have their information with them to help them get treatment.

Second, both parents should have copies of Info Cards for everyone in their family. If one of your children or your spouse goes missing during an evacuation, the card has everything on it you will need to post a missing persons report. Also, if you have to take anyone for medical treatment you will have all the information you need for them.

Don’t Forget List



The Don’t Forget List is a checkoff list that will help you be extremely efficient if you have to evacuate. I recommend you print it out and keep it on a clipboard with a pen attached to the clipboard with a string. Store the clipboard on one of your storage shelves where you KNOW where it is. If you have properly maintained your Don’t Forget List, when you are evacuating you can grab it and start checking things off as you load them. You can also put where they are stored on the list (i.e. outside shed, garage, store room, buried in the backyard, etc), this will help if you’re are panicked and scatterbrained during the evacuation. If you’ve properly prepared and pre-staged, you should be able to load up in under half an hour.

You can download the Utah Preppers Don’t Forget List here and add to it all you like (http://www.utahpreppers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/dont-forget-list.rtf).

Address/Phone Lists

A Phone and Address List will make sure you have critical information on how to reach those you need to. It may be that phone/cellular service is down and you have to drive somewhere, you’ll have addresses with you. Or, if you are somehow separated from your Mobile Phone (oh the horror!) and have to act like it’s the 80’s again, it will provide you with a hard copy of all your important numbers.

You can download and edit the Utah Preppers Address List here (http://www.utahpreppers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/address-phone-list.rtf).

Communication



Being able to communicate is vitally important. For most of us, that starts with our Mobile Phone, but those may not always function properly for us. There are several other ways to send and receive communications.

Receiving Updates

With a hand crank radio you can get weather updates and local news information. Sometimes this is the best way to get this information even if your Mobile Phone is working. With the hand crank system you NEVER have to worry about powering it and it takes very little cranking to run the radio for several minutes.

I keep one of these in my Evac Kit and in my BOB.

Sending a Signal



A whistle, smoke, strobe light, flare and several other things all send a message of “I’m here, Please come!”. You should have tools to send these types of messages in your Evac Kit, your BOB and your EDC. For our post reviewing whistles, click here.

Sending and Receiving

There are several Radio Systems that you can learn and invest in. HAM radio is the most reliable system out there. You have to be certified to use them though, it’s very very easy to get licensed for Ham Radio, is very cheap and fast as well. If you haven’t gotten licensed yet, search for classes in your area and spend an afternoon getting your HAM Technician license. This will give you a call sign and authorize you for basic HAM use. There are several types of HAM radios you can get from a large base station to a hand-held portable. The one pictured installs in your vehicle.



FRS (Family Radio Service) Radios are the cheapest and easiest radios to use. They only have a limited distance though and are totally unsecured. Anyone can use them. I suggest designating with your family ahead of time certain channels that your family will communicate on. For added security, you can create a rolling system. For instance, start on channel twelve at midnite and every hour roll one channel or subchannel forward. For simple family communication, just pick a channel, preset it, and leave it there. Consider providing every member of your family with one of these. Definitely put one in each vehicle, keep one in your BOB and in your EDC. If you’re looking for help, you can scan through the channels to find someone talking – if you can hear them, you know they are close. Butt in and ask for help.

Keeping writing materials in your Evacuation Kit is also a good idea for several reasons. In an actual evacuation, it would be wise to regularly journal what is going on. It also gives you a way to send a message to someone. Having pre-stamped postcards allows you to address them to loved ones, like your extended family, and drop them a note that you’re ok.

Navigation



Even if you know where you’re going, you still have to know how to get there. When evacuating, you may NOT know where you’re going to go. Keeping tools and resources that will help you find somewhere to go and how to get there is very wise. Storing maps and compasses will help you both on the road and on foot. Having a GPS will be extremely helpful, but be cautious relying on it. Make sure you have spare batteries for it or a way to charge it. If you plan to bug out to the mountains or woods, make sure you have good topographical maps of your region and that you know how to use them.

Nuclear/Bio/Chem

We have several posts on the site that deal with Nuclear Preparedness, with more coming soon to complete the series. We also have several posts dealing with Pandemic Preparedness including how to put together a full Pandemic Kit. For a myriad of scenarios, you really should at least have an N95 Mask and Nitrile gloves in your Every Day Carry, Bug Out Bag and Evacuation Kits. These tools help keep you safe in scenarios beyond those mentioned such as a massive dust storm, wildfire, volcano, etc. Breathing is important!

This completes our review of the Master Evacuation Kit List.