When All Hell Breaks Loose Part 21

I use two-dollar fabric backpacks on my outdoor courses side by side with my clients' two- to five-hundred-dollar commercial backpacks. The fabric itself is multiuse and can double as a ground cloth, sun shade, poncho, first-aid bandage, a sling to carry firewood, or bug protection to name a few.

Mobility-Impaired Loved Ones If your loved ones are mobility impaired due to age, sickness, disease, being out of shape, or a physical handicap, think NOW about options they might use to move about under their own power when needed. Even though it may be inevitable, having to a.s.sist them in getting around will be very exhausting for all concerned, even with the luxury of a wheelchair. With aid and extraordinary adaptability, physically impaired people around the world have used anything and everything to get around, from sticks, shopping carts, and car dollies to wheelbarrows and skateboards. If you lack the proper means to transport your loved ones, use your powers of improvisation and adapt your surroundings to meet your needs. If you are unable to freely move about because you're out of shape, do your best to get back in shape or realize your self-imposed limitations. After all, what you're trying to keep alive is your body. The stresses you will experience during an emergency scenario will tax even the healthiest of bodies, so become familiar with what you can and cannot do. Once you know your limits, you'll know what extra goodies you'll need for your mobility issues.

Before, during, or after a disaster, you may be forced to travel to another location.

Disasters can strike at anytime when you might not be at home, thus making it necessary to make your way back to the house using some form of transportation. Due to the crisis, your transportation options may be severely limited.

Keep your motorized vehicle(s) in good repair with the fuel tank full. Carry basic car repair tools in each vehicle.

Have needed survival supplies in the vehicle that will allow you to get back home, on foot if necessary, if the situation allows you to do so.

Don't count on public transportation after a disaster.

While still a slave to gasoline, mopeds, motorcycles, and ATVs go much further on a gallon of gas and are highly maneuverable in tight situations such as clogged freeways and roads.

Bicycles are simple, affordable, easy to ride and repair, commonly available, quick, quiet, and save tremendous amounts of your personal calories (food) and water, which is their only required fuel.

Have a rugged yet comfortable quality pair of shoes or boots that will allow you to walk great distances if required. Wearing inappropriate footwear can cause painful blisters to manifest in a few short city blocks. If you go to work in high heels or wing-tips, have a backup pair of walking shoes in the office or your vehicle.

An improvised backpack can be made with a four-by-four-foot piece of fabric.

Plan ahead for how you will transport mobility-impaired loved ones. If a wheelchair is not an option, use whatever is at hand to transport them under their own power, if possible.

The stresses experienced during an emergency scenario will tax even the healthiest of bodies so become familiar with what your body physically can and cannot do.

Should I STAY or Should I GO NOW?

"The ladies have to go first. . .Get in the lifeboat, to please me. . .Good-bye, dearie. I'll see you later."

-John Jacob Astor, after putting his pregnant wife on one of the last lifeboats available from the t.i.tanic The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that from 19001988, hurricanes left more than 1.2 million people without homes and directly affected the lives of nearly 4 million people. Floods affected another 339 million people and left 36 million homeless. Earthquakes, cyclones, and typhoons each affected 26 million people, leaving 10 million more without a home.

Although this is a home-centered book on self-reliance, statistics such as these prove that an emergency can quickly leave you homeless. I realize leaving your home, by choice or by force, will be an excruciating decision to have to make but remember, you are trying to save your body and those whom you love, not material possessions. If you're dumb enough to get killed because you refused to leave your stuff, you win the Darwin award and the planet's gene pool inches up a notch. I don't mean to discount the emotional and mental pain of having to leave your home-I know it's scary-but you need to remind yourself of your survival priorities, that it's YOU that you're trying to keep alive. Material wealth and comfort don't mean squat to a corpse.

Whether your family stays put or evacuates will depend on many factors. Such factors might be forced upon you by governmental agencies, approaching floods, hurricanes, and a bevy of scenarios worthy of a Hollywood movie. In any event, you should take the concepts presented in this book regarding shelter, food, water, lighting, etc., and adapt them to what is commonly referred to as a "bug-out" pack. A bug-out pack, not unlike a wilderness survival kit, contains within it a distillation of the most important gear your family will need during its emergency, all in one portable container. This pack should be fully loaded and ready to go before it's needed so you can grab it at a moment's notice in case of an evacuation. The concept of the bug-out pack can be used in your car or office as well. You might have two or three bug-out packs. Paranoid? No, just smart. Having all of your eggs in one basket has been a bad idea from the beginning. As much as I love my self-reliant house, there is no guarantee that I'll be home watching cheap p.a.w.nshop videos when the fan blades turn brown.

Consider building a family bug-out kit first, before outfitting your home. As this pack is portable, its volume will severely limit your ability to fill it with frivolous junk. You will be forced to pare things down to the bare minimum, packing only what your loved ones truly need to deal with their emergency. This forced, minimalist mind-set will train your psyche to define more clearly your needs from your wants, something that has to be continuously guarded against in our consumer society. After reading this book, and reflecting upon the basic intentions recommended, design your kit using the recommendations, dovetailed with your family's situation. When you begin to outfit your home with self-reliant goodies, simply purchase more of the same stuff that you packed within your portable disaster kit.

Basic Bug-Out Kits *

WHETHER YOU FIND YOURSELF IN AN URBAN OR WILDERNESS ENVIRONMENT, THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT ADAPTING YOUR SURROUNDINGS TO MEET YOUR NEEDS FOR SURVIVAL, THE BETTER OFF YOU WILL BE.

The core intention of the contents of a bug-out pack is not unlike the motive of a wilderness backpacker. The modern backpacker carries whatever gear they think will meet their needs within a remote, backcountry setting. Some of this gear is necessary for survival, like proper clothing in cold weather, and some of it is fluff, like the portable espresso coffeemaker. As most outdoor enthusiasts are unfamiliar with using the natural landscape to meet their needs, the backpack becomes a scuba tank, so to speak. The backpacker can live in the ocean of the wilderness for only as long as the supplies in his or her backpack will let them. When supplies run low, they are forced to resurface back at the nearest trailhead or vehicle for resupply. Whether you find yourself in an urban or wilderness environment, the more you know about adapting your surroundings to meet your needs for survival, the better off you will be. Like the wilderness survival kit, all items within your bug-out kit should follow strict guidelines as to their usefulness in the environment you'll find yourself. Some items will be of equal value regardless of where you are on the planet, such as potable water. Gear that supports your family's basic physiological survival should be given the first consideration. That said, you may have family members who will function much better when allowed to have along some psychological comfort item. The teddy bear does not replace the coat in cold weather, but we have already discussed how a person's psychology can and does readily influence their physiology. As with all things, use common sense.

Preparing Your Bug-Out Kit Below is a list of concepts you should consider when deciding what to pack in your bug-out kit. Some of the information was borrowed from my first book, 98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your a.s.s Alive! In it, for those who want more detailed information on survival kits, I devote the second half of the book to describing in detail what I carry for desert and mountain regions. If the list of recommendations below seems a.n.a.l retentive, remember that it's often a combination of little mistakes that kill people.

Your bug-out kit should be: Relevant to the environment encountered Lightweight and portable Waterproof Durable and dependable Complementary to the physical fitness and expertise levels of the user(s) Able to meet a wide variety of conditions Comprised of multiple-use components Comprised of calorie-conserving components Panic-proof-containing components that can be utilized if you are injured Comprised of components that can be easily purchased or made Obtainable, yet invisible Affordable, yet effective Field-tested Simple!

Relevant to the Environment Encountered The world is full of many differences in geography and climate. If your on-the-grid house suddenly becomes off-grid, you will feel the landscape and weather variables in which your home sits. You and your family will be subjected to its variables in temperature, weather, and terrain. If your family lives in a hot, arid part of the world, your bug-out kit(s) should reflect this by packing hot-weather items for survival and vice versa for cold conditions.

Lightweight and Portable Be prepared to leave the proverbial kitchen sink behind. If your kit is not lightweight and portable, it will be impractical to lug around, and it will prevent you from moving quickly. During an evacuation, governmental agencies might limit the amount of gear your fleeing family will be allowed to take, especially if you are forced to utilize public transportation. Attempt to have your hands free from carrying gear. In other words, limit the items you pack to what can be carried upon your back or body with the a.s.sistance of backpacks, daypacks, f.a.n.n.y packs, and straps in general. It will be easier to move quickly and you'll have better physical balance with everything packed up tight. Your hands are thus free for collecting, defense, and performing countless tasks for your survival. I have had more than one student ignore this recommendation and carry their camping gear in two duffel bags, one in each hand. This is NOT an efficient way to carry gear. They quickly became exhausted, dehydrated, and much more p.r.o.ne to injuries on the trail.

Waterproof Many disasters involve large amounts of moisture, whether snow or rain. Even for dry disasters, you can't afford to let some items get wet, such as extra clothing, medications, or matches. In this age of plastic, there is little excuse for not keeping your lifeline dry. Put critical items in zipper-lock freezer bags and double line your entire pack with two garbage bags before packing the items inside. Depending upon the weight of the items packed, the double-lined garbage bags will trap a certain amount of air and possibly keep your bag afloat or allow you to use it as a float if needed. I routinely pack my outdoor gear in garbage bags within my homemade fabric backpack. When needing to swim across a pool within a canyon or whatever, I fold up the material pack, put it inside the garbage bag, retie the bag securely, and utilize the buoyant bag as a float as I kick myself across the water.

Durable and Dependable To be blunt, the contents of your bug-out kit may be your last defense against death; so don't pack cheap gear.

Complementary to the Physical Fitness and Expertise Levels of the User(s) Not all body types are the same, nor are levels of individual experience when using gear in scary situations. Unless your family is a group of special warfare soldiers, a.s.sess who will use your kit and evaluate limitations in physical fitness and usage competence before your kit is needed.

Able to Meet a Wide Variety of Conditions Living conditions on the ground can radically change before, during, and after a disaster. The gear you choose to carry should be adaptable over a wide range of weird possibilities. The easiest way to allow your gear maximal adaptability is to stick to the basic concepts needed to support life.

Comprised of Multiple-use Components Multiple-use components give you the option of doing more with less. The gear you carry should perform two, three, four, or more functions. Two prime examples of multiuse items are fire and a cutting edge. Both helped build every civilization upon this planet and can be used for literally hundreds of tasks. A tarp can shed rain, snow, and wind; block excess sun; catch rain for drinking; or be used as a privacy barrier or a ground cloth, among other uses. When you can no longer go to the store to fulfill your needs, you will be forced to foster an adaptive mind-set about your current resources. Think about this now, as it will dictate what type of gear you choose to pack to meet your desired intentions. The task doesn't have to be scary or a drag. Make a game out of it by posing realistic scenarios to your family with a "what would MacGyver do" a.n.a.lysis.

Comprised of Calorie-Conserving Components Every time you move your body you burn through calories and water, both of which may be hard to come by in the chaos. Your body is like a battery and contains only so much stored energy reserves, and you don't know what shape your battery will be in when thrust into a disaster. Keep your gear simple in nature and practice using it to develop a natural rhythm that will allow you to receive its benefits with minimal effort. Ultimately, you want to remain as lazy as possible while meeting your needs. For those with families, wisely distributing physical tasks will help even out the calorie-load demands upon the tribe.

Panic-proof-Containing Components That Can Be Utilized if You Are Injured Unfortunately, the possibility of you or your loved ones sustaining an injury during an emergency is high. The combination of deteriorating fine and complex motor skills along with being hurt can leave your emergency gear extremely difficult to use. Don't a.s.sume that you'll have the use of both hands and feet during your crisis.

Comprised of Components That Can Be Easily Purchased or Made Although I emphasized the importance of quality gear in your bug-out pack, it doesn't have to come from a one-of-a-kind specialty shop in Highmore, South Dakota. Specialty gear can not only be expensive, but it can also be a drag to find spare parts for, repair, or replace. While there are those who will travel to the middle of the earth for the perfect survival gear, most will not. Basic emergency supplies for your family should be obtainable in a few commonly available discount and hardware stores or rigged from something you already have in the closet or the garage.

Obtainable, yet Invisible Your bug-out pack should be available for you to grab in a moment's notice, not for someone else to grab at a moment's notice. Be discreet about the look and placement of your emergency supplies, especially at the office or in the car. Blabbing about your kit to others will raise eyebrows for a variety of reasons, so keep your mouth shut.

Affordable, yet Effective You shouldn't need to break the bank when purchasing your supplies. Firmly determining your tribe's intention about what is required and sticking to the basics will allow you to bypa.s.s the opinions of survival specialists and their inflated egos and prices.

Field-tested Having gear in your bug-out pack doesn't mean squat unless you know how to use it. Decide what you're going to carry, change things around based upon common sense and the current situation, and get your b.u.t.t out into the backyard and PRACTICE setting up your disaster supplies. Remember, things will not be happy, sunny, and calm when you use this stuff. If the efficiency in the use of your gear rates 100 percent when things are good, expect your performance to fall off by 50 percent or more when under disaster stress.

Simple!

All of the above concepts should harmoniously revolve around the innocence and power of simplicity. According to Murphy's Law, if the contents of your pack are not simple to obtain or make, pack and carry, use under stress, and repair or replace, you may pay for your self-imposed complexities with your life.

Bug-Out Kit Recommendations If you were limited to a small backpack to carry gear relevant to your family's survival during an urban disaster, what would you choose? Pretty heavy decision to have to make, isn't it? Unlike a wilderness survival scenario where the statistics show that the vast majority of deaths are caused by lack of core body temperature via hypothermia and hyperthermia, there are no statistics that I'm aware of for how people most commonly die in an urban emergency. Some studies have shown that deaths a.s.sociated with rapid-onset disasters are overwhelmingly due to blunt trauma, crush-related injuries, or drowning. We can make a few educated guesses as to the faces of death; surely hypothermia and hyperthermia are big contenders when people are forced from their homes during hot or cold weather, along with dehydration or drowning, crus.h.i.+ng injuries, fires, falling, auto accidents, violent crime, and malnutrition, starvation, and disease for prolonged emergencies.

As the variables are so huge as to what could happen during a crisis, it's all the more reason to keep things simple and stick to basic core concepts for supporting life. If you live in an earthquake-p.r.o.ne spot, you should research earthquakes and modify your bug-out pack and everything else in your house to reflect this danger. There is no one-size-fits-all bug-out pack any more than there is a one-size-fits-all home preparedness plan for every household. Anyone who tells you differently is a fool or a liar and usually stands to profit from their opinion-at your expense. Take what you want from my recommendations below and modify them to fit your needs, which at this point should be fairly clear.

Bug-Out Kit Ideas Remember, think like a backpacker and modify your "bug-out backpack" to take into account the variables of your urban wilderness. The art of how you pack your gear is important as well. Don't bury frequently used items under the sleeping bag. Think ahead about what high-use items you'll need from your pack and keep them easily accessible. Human beings are highly visual creatures so mark gear when appropriate with brightly colored tape. Individual stuff sacks help to separate and compartmentalize gear to make it easier to locate and identify when floating around in the bowels of a large-capacity pack.

Modify this list as you see fit based upon the needs of your family. In essence, much like the wilderness backpacker, your bug-out pack should hold the key to your independent and portable self-reliance when renewing your survival supplies is not an option.

Large-Capacity Backpack or Duffel Bag How much pack room you'll need is dependent upon what you choose to put into it. You'll find that the following items, whether you carry all of them or not, will quickly fill even the largest pack. If you have several family members, items can be divvied up between your tribe using multiple packs. Even so, each individual should carry items critical to their survival such as adequate clothing and water should they be separated from the main group.

Tarp or Tent I've already written about the virtues of tarps in the shelter chapter. Pick a style and size that's portable but still protects your family from the environment. Tents are easy-to-set-up, bugproof, portable shelters that keep you dry and out of the wind. Backpacking tents are extremely durable, compact, and lightweight.

Clothing Appropriate for the Season and Weather Clothing is your first line of defense against the killers hypothermia and hyperthermia. Clothing is supremely important and should keep the survivor warm, cool, protected from the sun and from bugs, and be quick drying, durable, and nonrestrictive. I realize clothing is bulky and takes up a lot of s.p.a.ce in your pack but you cannot afford to skimp on this item, especially during cold weather. Having a fresh, clean change of clothing will ensure optimal insulative properties from the clothing itself and give a lift to your morale. If applicable, it will also help to mask your initial appearance and help you better blend into the environment when people are "looking for the guy in the blue sweater."

Comfortable Walking Footwear This is arguably one of the most important items on this list. If you trash your feet due to ill-fitting or inadequate footwear, your portable bug-out pack will no longer be portable as you won't be able to walk. The added weight from the pack and weird conditions or long lines you may be subjected to will take their toll on your tootsies so have comfortable footwear that also has the needed ankle support. Footwear is so important that I recommend you have an extra pair of durable sandals that can be easily clipped onto the outside of your pack. If appropriate for the season, sandals allow you to air out and dry your feet and socks; wetness is one of the main culprits behind the creation of blisters.

Wool or Synthetic Blankets or Sleeping Bag and Pad Have the portable insulation required to sleep comfortably during outside temperature extremes. The ability to achieve adequate sleep is paramount to your att.i.tude and overall survival for a number of reasons. Backpacking sleeping bags and foam sleeping pads are super-lightweight and portable and lash directly onto most conventional backpacks.

s.p.a.ce Blanket[s] [Large and Small Sizes]

Multiple-use s.p.a.ce blankets come in handy in hot and cold weather and are explained in the shelter chapter.

Water Disinfection Method[s]

Water is your life's blood. The majority of found water sources will need to be disinfected after a disaster.

Water Bottles with Lanyard and Duct Tape Durable storage containers will be needed to disinfect and transport potable water. Duct tape wrapped around the bottles can be peeled off and used for many tasks.

Sanitation and Hygiene Supplies If you become sick during an emergency due to improper sanitation, your game might be over. Tampons or sanitary napkins can also be used on wounds or as fire tinder. Toothbrushes and dental floss take up very little s.p.a.ce and make being on the road much more comfortable.

Garbage Bags/Barrel Liners Lightweight, cheap, compact nonpermeable barriers can adapt to dozens of survival needs. A barrel liner can be put over yourself and your pack to keep both dry in the nastiest downpour.

Nonperishable, No-cook, High-energy Food Lightweight, compact, long-lasting freeze-dried or dehydrated backpacking food fits the bill nicely. In a pinch, water can be added directly to the foil packets, heated or otherwise, and the contents consumed with a stick or by squeezing the foil pouch itself. Unless you have no other option, the weight and bulk of canned goods are oppressive and should be avoided when carrying your life on your back.

Heavy-Duty Zipper-lock Freezer Bags These tough, collapsible, multiuse, food-grade plastic, waterproof containers are sent straight from heaven.

Methods to Light Fire Along with the cutting edge, this item has helped build every civilization on the planet. Fire can be used to cook food, disinfect water, make tools, regulate core body temperature, signal for rescue, psychologically calm scared survivors, keep away bugs, consume trash, create light for the night, sterilize first-aid kit supplies, and more. Have three gross-motor methods to light fire in three different locations on and around your person.

Knife Sharp metal knives have endless uses. As with fire, practice using them beforehand in order to be able to achieve the greatest number of uses with the safest results under stress.

Flashlight with Extra Batteries A kid-safe light source makes life easier in hundreds of ways.

Rope or String This is useful for countless tasks and to lash other gear or found items to your backpack without having to carry them in your hands. Dental floss is incredibly tough and compact.

First-aid Kit A basic first-aid kit should be a part of everyone's pack. Don't pack medical gear that you don't know how to use.

Cook Pot with Lid Use the pot for storing survival gear, cooking food, disinfecting water, digging a sanitation trench in soft earth, and much, much more.

Portable Radio Super small radios are handy for keeping up with the disaster and the following emergency response.

Lightweight Leather Gloves Survival tasks can be very rough on smooth city hands. Painfully blistered hands can seriously affect your ability to get even the most basic tasks accomplished. Open blisters are open invitations for infection due to decreased sanitary opportunities.

Game[s]

Boredom might be your biggest enemy. A simple deck of cards or some other small game to occupy the attention of survivors can be invaluable for morale.

Pet Supplies Don't forget a leash, pet food, and whatever else is required if you plan on hitting the road with your pet.

Mirror A small mirror comes in handy for removing foreign objects from the eye and checking on your sense of self. Although any mirror can be used to signal for rescue, the sightable military models excel at being able to hit the target under stress.

Whistle The piercing blast from a brightly colored, "pea-less" whistle can be used to signal or warn the family or attract the attention of rescuers while saving vocal cords, water, and calories lost to shouting.

Bandana Cotton or synthetic bandanas have hundreds of uses. It's a potholder, a headband, a scarf, a hat, a filter worn over the mouth for dusty or cold air, a wash cloth, a signal flag, a bandage, a sling, a container, cordage, pack-strap padding, a sediment filter for straining water, or anything else your imagination can come up with.

Sunscreen and Insect Repellent Depending on the climate and season, these two items can make or break your experience. Remember that proper clothing should be able to deal with both.

Medications and/or Extra Gla.s.ses Nothing else matters if you're dead before nightfall because you forgot your medications or couldn't see the approaching gang of thugs.

Money in Small Bills Paper money talks as long as the system still supports its use. Throughout the centuries, people have bought off other people to save their own lives. Don't discount the unfortunate fact that greed will override altruism for many people when pushed to the wall by survival stress.

Identification and Pertinent Important Papers You now require a pa.s.sport to get back into the country when visiting other lands controlled by the United States. Don't give authorities the excuse to hold up your access to lifesaving transportation or supplies due to questions about your ident.i.ty. Take the hint and carry the identification required to allow you to flow through roadblocks and other emergency response obstacles like greased lightning.

Cell Phone Don't count on this working after a disaster but they are too compact, lightweight, and valuable to emergency communications to leave behind. Use sparingly to save the battery.

Watch or Clock Knowing the time may be necessary to coordinate with other family members or to cooperate with emergency response personnel.

Car Kits Whether you have a car kit or not and how comprehensive it is depends upon how important your vehicle is to your overall survival plan and how much s.p.a.ce you have to store supplies. It's not uncommon in America to commute several miles to work. I know people who commute nearly a hundred miles per day, one way! If your vehicle serves you in this fas.h.i.+on, as a sort of home away from home, plan accordingly and make sure you pack the needed emergency gear whether you stay put at your current location or try to make it back to the house.

My vehicle is equipped with the bare necessities from the above bug-out kit list along with modifications. Many parts of the western United States are vastly different from the East in regard to distances between towns and cities. When I have hitchhiked back East, as soon as I was leaving one town I was entering another. In the West, there can be well over a hundred miles between the tiniest of trailer-park trash settlements, let alone a town of any size. Some of my vehicle survival kit components allow me to obtain supplies, if necessary, from the outdoors while making my way back to civilization. As I've said time and time again, there is no one-sizefits-all survival kit destined to meet every need, so modify your kit as you see fit.

Whether you pack the basics or the kitchen sink, make sure the components are in a portable container such as a spare daypack or duffle bag in case you need to hit the road while on the road.

Office Kits If you feel you need basic emergency supplies at your place of work, by all means pack a daypack with gear and leave it stashed at the office. Although your car kit may be waiting for you in the parking lot, getting there during a power outage might be a challenge if you work in a huge multistory high-rise. Something as simple as a flashlight might save the day for you and the coworkers who gave you a hard time about your survival gear, allowing you to safely and quickly exit a pitchblack building. I remember when, three different times in two weeks, incompetent backhoe drivers unintentionally dug up the water main to the college campus I was working at. Since I had a water bottle with me and three gallons of water in my vehicle, each time I continued to get stuff done when others scurried off on search of something to drink throughout the day.

PRIMARY PAPERWORK:.

IMPORTANT DOc.u.mENTS IN.

THE MODERN WORLD.

Sometimes in our society, the one with the most important doc.u.ments wins. If given half a chance (and not at the expense of your life!), keep the following items safe, some way, some how.

Driver's license Pa.s.sport Credit cards Medical and immunization records Birth and marriage certificates Social Security card and papers Bank records t.i.tles and deeds Insurance policies Military discharge papers Religious records Wills Miscellaneous family treasures: photos, etc.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! Persistent Paranoia or Prudent Preparation?