bug-out bags

The recent fire in Goleta has motivated us to get more prepared for potential emergencies. Thanks to my survivalist husband (the cupboards are literally NEVER empty around here) we already have two bug-out bags ready in the house in case we ever had to leave the premises on foot. (There's a Wikipedia entry on bug-out bags, by the way.)

However, we didn't have the same level of preparedness in our vehicles in the case that some disaster required us to abandon our car(s) while away from home and to carry emergency supplies with us. Surprisingly, I was the one who precipitated this effort to create bags for our vehicles, largely because of my first-hand experience of being in a car during a natural disaster and not having any emergency supplies on hand. I was in my car in Santa Cruz in October 1989 when the 6.9 magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake struck. I ended up having to abandon the car and walk the remaining five or so miles home. I'd wished I'd had a bug-out bag with me at the time. I've been meaning to gather survival resources for such a scenario for some time. The Gap fire was the recent catalyst to do just that.

So, I made the request, and Alex ran with it, WAY more than willingly. He found us each backpacks and proceeded to gather supplies to fill them, like a kid in a candy store, attacking the project with his typical tenacity. I admit that I've shared in the enjoyment of packing my bag with lots of fun little gadgets and goodies. And it's comforting to know that I'll be prepared for just about anything if disaster strikes while I'm away from home.

We've created an inventory of all the items in the bags, as well as items we'd like to add. The current total is 116, about 60% of which are the items currently inside each bag. Here are a few of them:

• flashlight (1 incandescent, 1 LED)
• batteries
• insect repellent
• matches
• phone card
• $50 cash
• face mask
  
• AM/FM radio
• knife
• camp stove
• emergency rations
• poncho
• hand warmers
• first aid kit
• beanie
• blanket
• water
• food bars
• raisins
• gloves
• toilet paper
• peanuts
• energy drink powder
• sunscreen
• hat
• umbrella

We'd still like to add:

• a compass
• extra prescription medications
• a lighter
• a change of clothes & walking shoes (in the trunk, not necessarily in the bag)
• a whistle
• pen & notebook
• spare glasses & sunglasses
• duct tape
• safety pins, needle, & thread
• a camp cup
• water purifier tablets
• aluminum foil
• a bandanna

Anything we forgot?