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DISASTER SURVIVAL GUIDE Table of Contents

Bugging Out & Bug Out Bags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Preparing for Situations Depends on Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prepare for the Most Likely Scenarios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Planning & Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Points to Consider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 3 3

Redundant Operational Strategy & Mobility Logistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Build In Redundancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mobility Logistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Things to Consider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sheltering in Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4 4 4

The Decision Matrix When Survival Mode is Engaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 What to Do & When to Do It . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Bug Out Bag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Personal 72-Hour Supply Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Bag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Items Already Around The House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Found Around The House Items List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Note About Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Items Purchased for the BOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Note on Avoiding Food Borne Illnesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Firearms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Medical Kits and Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adding to the Groups Preparedness Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 7 8 8 8 9 9 11 12 12 12

Additional Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Storing a Bug Out Bag Offsite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Testing The BOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 How to Hide Valuables That Cannot be Brought Along . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

DISASTER SURVIVAL GUIDE

Bugging Out & Bug Out Bags

herever we live, we already have what we need to survive in that particular geographical location. Whether we live in mansions or recreational vehicles, we keep a supply of what we need to survive at the home. We also have pipes and wires coming into the home to supply a need, and pipes going out of the home to get rid of our waste. Most of us have curbside pickup of our trash. Life is good! Then there are times that where we are living may be quickly turned into an unsafe or utterly uninhabitable region. Whether the situation is temporary such as during a hurricane, semi-permanent as in political or social upheaval, or permanent as in nuclear disaster, for each of those situations there was a time on the clock when it was time to go. Deciding when that time is and getting out with some basic emergency supplies is what this report is about.

ple of flashlights, and maybe even a kerosene heater or a fireplace. That minor inconvenience may turn into a dangerous situation if we were prepared enough to survive a couple of snow days in Pennsylvania but are actually having to survive it in Coldfoot, Alaska. In moderate climates such as in southwestern Pennsylvania, it is easy to become negligent about the simplest of preparations that would equip us to survive an extreme of climate since we do not often experience extremes of climate. Statistics demonstrate that more people die of hypothermia in moderate climates than in climates where extremely low temperatures are expected as the normal routine of winter weather. We can become adapted to the current conditions of our environments without regard to the possibility of the environment suddenly becoming extreme. Those who routinely experience climate extremes automatically adapt their normal preparedness routines because of having direct experience of regularly experiencing extremes. Those in moderate climates adapt to the moderation to the folly of ignoring the possibility of extremes. It is a simple thing to look up on the Internet, the climatic extremes for where one is adopting and adapting evacuation plans, protocols, procedures and equipment.

Preparing for Situations Depends on Location

Surviving a couple of days snowed in is usually just a minor inconvenience, even if the power and heat are off due to problems with the supply grid. A minor inconvenience, because we have plenty of blankets, food to eat, probably some candles and a cou-

Prepare for the Most Likely Scenarios

It is natural to give thought to the wildest possible scenarios that could be thrown at us by man or nature, but only prepare for the ones that are probable based on current geographical location, taking into account the social and political climate along with knowledge of the weather. It is far more prudent to have a primary, secondary and tertiary plan in place for probable scenarios than to prepare for the wildest conjuring of a vivid imagination. A man or woman who has a million rounds of ammunition buried in secret and strategic locations would be better served to have a redundant source of heat here in Pennsylvania. Conversely, a redundant source of heat would be of no use to a man or woman living in a climate that never drops below 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but who is constantly under threat of armed attack. Prepare for what is most likely to happen based on location and operational scenario. Leave the End-Of-The-World preparations to others. After all, even having a nuclear bomb shelter wont do a fellow any good if it goes off while he is sitting on the toilet in the upstairs bathroom of his house. In other words, it is certain that even the best of us wont get out of this life alive. Consider local climate for weather related disasters that can occur. Consider local factories and manufacturing for chemical disasters that can occur. Consider rail, ship, air and truck cargo being transported through the local region for chemical disasters that can occur. Consider the power grid for possible meltdown of a nuclear facility in the region. Consider military bases that could have nuclear or chemical accidents or may be a target of terrorist attack. Consider local features, landmarks and urban areas that may be targeted by enemies of our country. Consider civil unrest that may erupt in the local population, as has already occurred many times in our countrys history. Consider dams upstream that can break, landslides that can occur or even avalanches.

provide them for our guests or customers. Conditions are variable depending on personal circumstance, but most of us in the lower forty eight states enjoy more of a lifestyle of ease than one of having to continually be in survival mode. For most people their only sources for many of the things they need are the stores and the gas stations. We are slaves to our thriving economy. We work for money to buy what is needed and do not have the resources to grow or hunt for our familys own food supply. We need to buy stuff to survive and hopefully keep enough on hand to survive a protracted emergency. It also does not take a highly imaginative person to think about how the acquisition of things needed to survive may involve some folks trying to take it from us if times get bad. For most of us experiencing a disaster situation, it will not occur. Most people try to help, but it does depend on where one lives and the nature and length of a disaster. Begin with simple steps toward being prepared such as never letting the fuel tank on ones main evacuation vehicle get below a half tank. Most disasters knock out power. Even if a person has a wad of cash in his pocket, even if the clerk was willing to make a cash sale without the register working, there still wont be any gas purchased without any electricity to run the gas pump. Most can recall several times in the last few years where they have been unable to make transactions for goods to a temporary power outage. The simple practice of having a five gallon can of gas that routinely gets dumped into the gas tank of a vehicle and refilled with fresh gas does not really have an extra cost to it beyond owning the container. This means that there will always at least be a fresh five gallons of gas available when it is needed. This is a great idea for gasoline generator owners to practice. At a minimum for right now there should be at least three days of food and water available in the home or apartment for every person and pet living there. Add more if it is expected that the home will need to support family or friends who become immediate refugees during a disaster. Plan for what is likely. If mom will be there during a disaster, have supplies ready for her. It is not necessary to have supplies ready for those outside of the expected disaster zone or for those too far away to reach if there is a disaster covering a large geographical region.

Planning & Preparation

Planning and preparation is what makes disaster survival possible and training makes it more probable. Some things are not survivable. The human body can only endure so many traumas. Being blown to bits by a gas explosion caused by a ruptured main supply line usually comes quick and without warning. No Bug Out Bag is needed if one is in a hundred pieces strewn across the neighborhood, but the rest of the family who may survive should have survival items ready to go for rapid evacuation. Prepare and pack for individuals. When going out just about anywhere that human beings commonly go in public, there is access to light, a place to go to the bathroom, a water fountain and a controlled climate. We are programmed to have the necessary amenities for ourselves as well as

Points to Consider
Savvy planning and preparations rely more on the than stuff. We cannot do what we do not know how to do. Learn it in case the skills are ever needed. Americans rely on the supply grid too much. Prepare for what is most likely to happen. Leave doomsday to that weird guy who lives in the woods. Plastic money needs electricity. Cash doesnt. Plans need at least a small element of routine practice and maintenance to remain viable. The home is the ultimate source to make a Bug Out Bag since it already contains what we need.

Redundant Operational Strategy & Mobility Logistics

Build In Redundancy

that human beings are much more than just their stuff. Establish the following as part of the new survival mindset: I AM NOT MY STUFF. STUFF CAN BE REPLACED. MEMORIES CAN SERVE FOR PHOTOGRAPHS LOST. THIS LIFE IS THE ONLY ONE I HAVE. TOMORROW WILL COME.

he heading of this section sounds like it is from a military handbook, and it is meant to. Planning does not have to consume ones life, but the plans that are made need to be taken seriously with military precision. Here is another golden bit of information for those desiring to be prepared for any disaster scenario: REDUNDANCY. Put in the words of an old saying and it is still the same, Dont put all of your eggs into one basket. This is by far the most overlooked part of survival plans and prep. The solitary Bug Out Bag is not the be-all-end-all thing needed to get through. For plans and preparation of supplies it is good to have primary, secondary and tertiary redundancy. Establish the primary now and build on it to establish the secondary and tertiary as time goes on. Always establish the basics now. Redundancy and refining of planning and preparations can be built upon as time and resources permit. Laying out a plan of specific logistics for another person is not good. Each individual and each group will be different. There are similarities common to us as a species, but there is also a vast amount of personal differences, preferences and priorities among us as well. It is not prudent for those hoping to become prepared to wait for a book or teacher to fill in all of the blanks for a personal survival plan. The new student of disaster preparedness already knows exactly what he and his immediate family will need to get by for one day or a month. Use the tip of establishing redundancy when building the personal plan and gathering the needed supplies. It is a far better plan to have somewhere to go and be there instead of where a disaster is happening. The tragedies of many disasters could have been confined to only loss of property if everyone would have just had a plan in place to leave, and if they would have left when it was advised to do so. This is very true of hurricanes since there is so much lead time before the hurricane hits, but for other disasters that come without warning it is not viable. Leave if possible and have what is needed to survive close by if it is not possible to leave. Finally have smaller amounts of needed supplies ready to go mobile in a moment (the Bug Out Bag). Even a hermit can have a planned place to go if his cave ends up being in a place where disaster occurs. He can have another cave in a different geographical location. It is reasonable for most to have a different shelter to go to as well. Maybe Aunt Matilda will put the family up for a few hundred years if there is a nuclear disaster. Maybe Cousin Joe has space in his game room for the family and pets to stay while the trailer home is being pulled out of a tree in the next town. Maybe a family might only have to dip into the savings account to spend a couple of nights in a cheap motel while the disaster rages where the home is at. Leaving means to leave behind most of the stuff that people think makes them who they are. It is important to understand

Mobility Logistics
With enough time and resources the whole family along with the actual house itself could be moved out of a disaster area. Our military does the equivalent of that on a regular basis. Within days, sometimes only hours, a huge base on foreign soil can be moved to another location. For civilians the practical method of evacuation is to protect in place what one can such as windows and major appliances, and take only what is absolutely needed to get by until it is safe to return. For some disaster situations there is only time to grab a pre-prepared bag (Bug Out Bag) and go. There are points to consider in the logistics of getting out of the disaster area and into a safe zone, wherever that safe zone may be. Some of the points are not necessary for an individual traveling alone, but they are needed for groups. Most will evacuate as part of some sort of group whether it be family, friends, coworkers or even strangers stuck in the same situation.

Things to Consider
Where are our safe zones in order of primary, secondary and tertiary? How will I get there from where I am? Three routes and three methods for everyone in the group. If I am not with my group when the disaster happens, how will the others get to our safe zone? Who needs assistance to evacuate? What should other group members do based on their location at the time of the disaster? If I am killed or otherwise unable to evacuate with my group, what is the plan? Who takes over my responsibilities for evacuation? (Remember to be redundant with plans) What methods of redundant group communication do I have in place? When do we leave? What will minors in the group be required do differently since they will be subject to adult authorities in charge where they happen to be when the disaster happens? How do we evacuate our pets? What about livestock and crops? (If there is time, can something be done?) What about all of the situations unique to a particular family?

Sheltering in Place
Trying to hunker down at home during any sort of disaster is not easy to do in a suburban setting. Evacuation of urban environments is a given due to large population segments not actually living in the urban environment but only employed there. They are the first to get out, and the first who want to get out. In a rural setting the homes are spread out over a wider geographical area and

require significant resources to carry out door to door forced evacuation procedures. In the suburban neighborhoods where homes are lined up in neat little rows on grids of intersecting streets, it is easier for teams to go door to door and force evacuations. The mindset of the authorities is to get everyone out so they do not have to be rescued later. People first and maybe a pet depending on the resources available, but it is highly unlikely that pets would be evacuated by government authorities with their owners. Consider the recent examples we have of forced evacuations. Men in body armor, carrying weapons, and kicking in doors to private homes was considered an evacuation operation to save human lives. Sheltering in place may be only temporary in order to survive the immediate onslaught of a disaster in progress. Deciding to shelter in place through a hurricane may not be allowed if there is sufficient warning and enough government resources to carry out a forced evacuation. If the scenario changes a bit to a situation where there is an abrupt shift in a hurricanes track with little warning, then government resources will shift into a different mode. The authorities will be giving instructions on how to shelter in place since they know evacuation is most likely impossible due to the change in circumstances. Sheltering in place is difficult enough without the threat of forced evacuation. It is only because the majority of the population is woefully unprepared that most forced evacuations take place to begin with. Forced evacuation from ones workplace due to some threat or disaster is different than a forced evacuation from a private residence on private property containing only adults. Yes, the arguments are valid for both sides, but many lean toward individual liberty, especially during times of threat to life. Sheltering in place for some people reading this may be the only option available. It would be extremely difficult for residents of an isolated village in Alaska surrounded by vast open areas of Arctic Wilderness to evacuate. They most likely will have to wait it out and work through it whether the disaster is snow, avalanche, flood, earthquake or volcanic eruption. People who have lived through one winter in such locations are already acutely aware of this need to shelter in place ahead of time so they prepare for such probability and sometimes inevitability. The rest of us can decide whether or not to stay, go, become a refugee, or just die. No one should ever become a refugee if it is at all possible to avoid it, but some may only have that option. If it looks as if there may ever be a need to become a refugee if there is a disaster due to physical or monetary limitations, it is better to volunteer and get involved with the government planning for the regions population who are expected to become refugees during a disaster. This way there is active involvement in working to change some of the negatives of regional plans for refugees to more of a positive. By getting involved, one will know what the plan actually is. Plus, there will be familiarity amongst the authorities. They will recognize the participant as one of their own. Being on the inside is beneficial even on a small scale.

Staying home requires a shelter that is expected to survive the disaster and redundant systems in place for when the grid goes down. Heating, cooling, light, water, cooking, communications and waste disposable are the main things received from the grid supplying the home directly. Do what is necessary to plan for the possibility of sheltering in place long before an event occurs.

The Decision Matrix When Survival Mode is Engaged

What to Do & When to Do It

here is a continuum of force in violent encounters that is much like the decision matrix of making choices to act or not act during survival situations. If the house is on fire, the immediate logic is to get out when viewed from a normal perspective. If there actually is a fire, the mental processes are also altered depending on perspective. Consider the following: A firefighter goes into a burning building while everyone else is running out. That is a violation of a primal logic system that tells us to get away from uncontrolled fires. A civilian who is not wearing turnout gear like a firefighter nor dragging a hose that will deliver extinguishing material to the flames may still go back into a burning building to save a loved one. That would be a socially accepted form of behavior. The same civilian who runs back inside to grab a laptop computer would be considered insane. At least until it was discovered that it contained the formula for a drug that will cure all forms of cancer. That is a sampling of how a Decision Matrix works. It comes down to the question, What will I do? The Decision Matrix answer is, It depends. It all depends on the variables of the scenario one is engaged in. Some people that would have otherwise survived a disaster still end up perishing because of failure to have a reasonably accurate decision matrix established. Decisions are based on information or lack of it. If there are three possible exits from a burning building and if absolutely nothing is known about any of them, then picking any one would be okay. If the exit number one is locked but two and three can be opened, it changes the matrix. The next logical step in the matrix is to pick from one of the unlocked doors. However, if information becomes available that opening door number two will set off a bomb and opening door number three leads to a fifty foot fall onto sharpened wooden stakes, then the attention is moved back to door number one as the probable primary escape route. Information drives the decision making process. Information can change on a moments notice. Thus the matrix of decision making is dependent upon the intertwining web of bits of information. Consider if hypothetical door number two in the fire is metal, welded shut and would take a minimum of twenty minutes to break open with the tools available, and there is only three minutes of air left to breathe? The matrix changes again. Maybe this is not a survivable scenario. They do happen; otherwise people would not die during disaster situations. Human beings are not invincible. It is important to establish that mindset right now. However, does a scenario such as this one mean that everyone should give up? Absolutely not. If door number one cannot be physically forced open with the resources at hand, then door number two is the next viable option if no one in the group happens to have some rope and rappelling gear. Maybe the bomb wont go off. Maybe it is a small

explosive device. Maybe the door and a couple of group members willing to sacrifice themselves for the rest will be enough to absorb the brunt of the blast. In a disaster situation there may come a time where one will sacrifice for the group. There are plenty of maybes but that is how it is in a disaster situation. Someone has to make a decision, and not making any decision at all still ends up being a decision. One can act or fail to act. Quickly processing available data to make it possible for the group to be away from the disaster is the easiest method of ensuring survival of all of the group members even though it may not be the most cost effective. It is better to spend the vacation money and be away from the nuclear power plant that is in crisis than to suddenly be forced to endure a fallout scenario. Even that decision matrix involves choices based on variables such as the emergency situation that may arise at the facility, projected amount of population who would be evacuating, current weather, wind speed and direction and myriad other factors. It stinks to be one of the decision makers in a decision matrix, but talking through scenarios with all of ones group members present is a great way to discover not only what is on individual minds but also gives multiple perspectives to the same scenario. Just like a burning building is different from the perspective of a firefighter than it is for the residents, so are the situations that we all may be thinking we will face in whatever disaster may befall us. Do not ever forget that a decision maker could end up saving everyone in the group or could end up getting everyone killed. It is that serious. Knowledge and experience make for better, but not always perfect, decisions. Any Decision Matrix needs to remain fluid to adapt to the dynamics of parameters quickly changing in any disaster scenario. Survivors of Hurricane Katrina were under the impression that someone would be immediately coming to save them once the wind stopped. If the possibility of no immediate rescue was planned for, then the abrupt change in what actually happened as to what was expected would have been easier to bear. The group working together will not be able to plan for every contingency so it is foolish indeed for one person in the group to plan for everyone else. The group needs to plan together, prepare together, train together, and choose supplies together to whatever degree of commitment that the group is willing to maintain. The civilian group of potential disaster survivors does not have to train like elite military personnel preparing to embark on a mission, but a little cooperative effort is necessary to formulate a cohesive plan and preparedness package.

The Bug Out Bag

Personal 72-Hour Supply Kit

here is as much variety of choices in just the type of container that is used for a Bug-out-Bag (BOB) as there is a variety of choices as to what to put in one. Looking through a hundred of them from across these United States, each would be different from the other yet eerily the same. There are equally as many ways to actually pack them too. It is impossible for a survival teacher in Pennsylvania to tell someone in Minnesota what to pack in his or her BOB. Needs for a BOB vary depending on the purpose of the bag, what the season is, and where it will be stored. Everyone should have a small bag packed that goes to work or school every day. It is a smaller version of what is considered the main BOB. Be redundant. This report contains a task given to the author by USCCA to pack a complete main BOB specific to personal needs using what already was around the house and no more than $100.00 of store bought merchandise picked specifically to pack the kit. The rules for packing a BOB include that it be packed according to the current climate of the geographical location the BOB is located in. The next climate season at the time of this writing is spring in Pennsylvania. This means temperatures can be below freezing at night to the balmy seventies during the day. Depending on the

weather front moving through the region, the temperature can stay below freezing or it can stay warm enough to be comfortable outside with only a short-sleeved shirt and jeans at night. With such variability of temperatures, the precipitation can be anything from rain to snow. On March 13th and 14th of 1993 the wonderfully variable weather dumped two feet of snow over much of the state. It is still talked about as The Blizzard of 93, and just about everyone who was old enough to remember it has a story to tell. The more serious story is how the governor declared that only emergency and military vehicles were allowed on the roads. Packing a BOB for springtime in Pennsylvania requires the usual fare that could be found in just about any BOB anywhere. At least 72-hours of food and the most water that can be comfortably carried long distances. Though water is heavy at eight pounds per gallon, a little bit of water should already be in the BOB. A couple of standard size water bottles would be good. Also needed is a change of clothes and footwear appropriate to the season since one might be wearing inappropriate bug out footwear when the time for bugging out occurs. But beyond what would be the obvious basics of a Personal 72-Hour Survival Supply Kit (otherwise known as a Bug-Out-Bag referred to as BOB for simplicity), there are items specific not only to the place and season, but also specific to the needs of the individual. Since Walmart stores are practically everywhere, it is the place that the hundred bucks was spent to pack the kit. Most of the fol-

lowing items are picked for obvious reasons. Remember that this bag was packed for Pennsylvania springtime weather. If it was for summer, fall, or winter, the contents would be a bit different. The items purchased were based on their availability at the local Walmart. Better choices were available at other stores.

for non-disaster situations is kept on a hook close to the main entry/exit of the home. This way there are three sources of winter outerwear immediately available. Kept in the vehicle are supplies for other family members as well. The BOBs of family members should carry some items that are redundant across all bags for each family member as well as having user specific items. An important note to consider is that some people, when venturing out by vehicle even for just a trip to the store, make the fatal mistake of dressing for the climate inside the vehicle instead of the climate outside of the vehicle. Dress in, or have along, clothing which is appropriate to surviving a walk from a disabled vehicle to the nearest acceptable shelter. In winter weather, keep a heavy blanket and a few other items so that it is possible to shelter in place in the vehicle until rescue comes or walking out is possible. Although it may sound excessive, also keep the main method of retaining body heat within arms reach in case one is pinned inside a wrecked vehicle. It sure would be pathetic to survive a roll down an embankment just to die of hypothermia before rescue arrives. Two invaluable tools (with one that can be purchased for around five bucks and the other starting at around a hundred bucks) are a compass and a GPS unit with built-in maps and routing. Many already own both so it is not an extra expense to add them to the BOB. Pack the compass in the BOB and maybe keep the GPS in the vehicle.

The Bag
The bag chosen is a very old military duffel that was lying around for years. It has a water resistant coating on the inside of a heavy canvas shell. For purposes of packing this BOB, it was at a zero cost level since it was purchased years ago at an Army Surplus store. One can go all out and purchase a mission specific bag such as a 5.11 Tactical 72-RUSH Pack. If one has the money to spend, then go for it. But the whole purpose of this segment is to get the BOB packed with survival gear for no more than a hundred bucks.

Items Already Around The House

The whole point of the BOB is to pack a smaller portion of survival supplies into an easy to carry container to be used when the main survival container (the house) needs to be evacuated from. Most have more than one of just about everything absolutely needed to survive. Kept on hand is more than one days supply of medications, more than one meal, more than one knife, more than one flashlight, more than one roll of toilet paper, more than one bandage, more than one towel or washcloth, and hopefully more than one pair of underwear. A BOB doesnt have to be packed with all brand-new stuff. Use old clothes. They actually feel better than new clothes. Think of how an old pair of jeans compares to a new pair. Pack clothes in the BOB that are still good for a few more months of wear but are not good enough to be in ones daily clothing rotation. Do not compromise on socks. Buy a new pack for the BOB. If one is used to washing new socks before wearing them, then be sure to do that. A sudden change in such routines could cause blisters or an allergic reaction. Do not wait to find out if something will work out or not. If a routine can be maintained, then maintain it. There are fewer surprises that way. For evacuating overland it may be the feet that are the vehicle. Dry feet are happy feet. Stop and put on clean dry socks often, especially if one is not used to walking long distances. Think overkill when packing the TYPE of and not the AMOUNT of items in the BOB. Stiletto heels, or Italian leather oxfords might look good out on a date, but boots that are appropriate for overland travel appropriate to the geographical location and expected climate are what should be on an evacuating persons feet. Grabbing a BOB while running out the door in pajamas and slippers is just one of the reasons why appropriate clothing and footwear is in the BOB ready to go. Since spring is still cold in Pennsylvania this bag had supplemental cold weather gear already packed in the evacuation vehicle. Kept in the vehicle until the heat of summer arrives is an Arctic Parka in a plastic container. There is also another winter coat on the backseat. The daily winter outerwear

Found Around The House Items List

Folding Knife Toilet Paper Aluminum Foil Copper Wire Scraps Large Plastic Garbage Bags Battery Powered Lantern/Flashlight Old Sweatshirt Old Denim Pants Old (but clean) Underwear Old T-Shirt Bandanna Adhesive Bandages Roll of Gauze Bandage Triple Antibiotic Ointment Old Jar of Mentholated Rub (contains petrolatum just like Vaseline. It comforts as well as works as a kindling fuel) Compass Some Cable/Zip Ties Piece of Cordage Bottled Water Dry Kibble Dog Food in a zipper-type plastic bag for the dog Internet copies of regional map pages Scanned and printed copies of important documents placed in zipper-type plastic bag

If something happens to either a persons primary shelter or living location which makes sustaining life there untenable, then getting

out is what needs to be done. Getting out with some stuff to make survival possible away from home and without grid support is the goal. The BOB is just the very basics of what the bags owner needs to survive for 72-hours, getting from the disaster of point A to the safe shelter of point B. The BOB needs to be small enough to be carried by the method of transport out of the evacuation zone and have enough stuff in it to last the owner until he or she gets to the destination where resupply is easily obtainable. It is not a kit to set up a new life in the wilderness. The BOB is just stuff to help get away from whatever is behind that may injure or kill to a place considered safe and appropriate enough to resume what is considered an acceptable mode of living. It supports until one can get resupplied. For most the primary evacuation method is by motor vehicle. This makes it easier to carry heavier and bulkier items as long as the evacuees still fit in the vehicle with all of the stuff. The actual BOB is packed with items that will also help its owner to survive for 72-hours traveling outdoors without a motor vehicle in the current region and climate. Hypothermia is the biggest danger outdoors. Staying dry is part of staying warm. Do no get wet, including sweat, is the rule. A person can die of hypothermia in weather that seems warm enough to survive. Lack of food and water coupled with exhaustion already compromises optimal conditions for a body. A night that is just a bit cool can end a persons life. Shelter, fire or appropriate clothing is needed to stay alive. Even deserts sometimes drop below freezing at night. Do not forget the items that are easy to forget. Pet food is needed for pets who are evacuating along with the rest of the group. Fortunately for dogs and cats the dry kibble is easy to store and carry. Carry copies of all important documents but keep them secure at all times, especially when the BOB is stored and do not forget to carry copies of the written bug out plan. The written plan should answer questions as to the what, when, where, how and why questions of bugging out for the group.

to the last available meeting place should be taught. The recurring theme should be to stick to a plan that is tenable but choose to survive if the plan is no longer possible to work. Teach the mindset of how it is best to get out and away and meet up much later after a situation reaches some resolution than to have group members die just so they could get back together. The BOB and plans are to help the group to survive, not to walk into situations that will kill.

Items Purchased for the BOB

Feminine Pads $ 6.12 Radio Crank Light $19.88 Mosquito Net $ 1.88 Space Blanket $ 2.88 Rope $ 4.88 Cordage $ 4.88 Tarp $10.88 Matches $ 0.97 Bic Lighters $ 3.87 Waterproof Match Holder $ 1.00 Bug Repellent $ 1.88 Cookpot with Lid $12.88 Super Glue $ 1.00 Duct Tape $ 2.88 Clorox $ 1.22 Hand Sanitizer $ 2.47 Hand Soap $ 0.98 Body/Foot Powder $ 3.27 Toothbrush $ 1.00 Package of Socks $ 6.00 2 Pouches of Tuna $ 1.96 1 Pouch of Microwave Rice $ 1.50 2 Pkgs of Ramen Noodles $ 0.34 1 Franks Redhot Hot Sauce $ 0.98

Tax 6% $ 4.47 TOTAL $100.07 The items take up considerably more space in their retail packaging than they do after the cartons, blister packs and other packaging are removed. Having all the gear that is desired to put in the BOB only requires getting it to fit in the BOB now. It takes a little thought and planning as well some trial and error. If all of the stuff that is picked for this bag does not fit, then rethink the items one by one. Maybe something can be omitted or substituted for something that will serve more uses. The hand soap in the pump dispenser bought at Walmart was not a good idea. Trial and error experience. It was decided to pack a tiny bottle of liquid dish detergent instead. With the antibacterial type, one can wash hands or the cookpot with it. The choices made for many of the items packed in the BOB are obvious. In packing a BOB, multiple uses for each item is of strategic importance. Some of the other items uses may not be so obvious to those not familiar with improvisation. Below is an explanation of the use or uses of some of the more esoteric items packed in the kit as well as notes about safety for some other

Note About Plans

Ask a soldier about plans. Most will reply how a plan is only good up to the point that it is implemented. The reason for this is that not every contingency can be thought of. All disaster situations are dynamic scenarios that can change from day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute, and even second to second. That is why the best plans are adaptable. Plan some absolutes such as meeting places for the family or group if everyone is separated at the beginning of a disaster. If the earthquake hits while everyone is at work or school, then preplanned meeting places out to the tertiary level are a good start. However, fundamental instruction on how important it is to get away from the disaster rather than choosing to go through it to get

items. Be sure to be aware of expiration dates on products. Write them down and swap out old stuff about to expire with fresh replacements. Use the old stuff before it expires so no money or items are wasted. It is not hard to keep track of such details, but it is also an easy thing to just put it off until a later time. Keep track of items in the BOB that have batteries that cannot be removed such as the one in the crank radio. If the BOB is stored in a place that has temperature extremes, be sure the products are able to withstand such extremes. Swap out batteries before their expiration dates if they are subjected to temperature extremes. The internal battery in the crank rechargeable radio for this BOB is not easily removed and may actually be soldered in place. Remove batteries from devices that will be stored in the BOB if they are user replaceable as they are in most flashlights and radios. There are some devices made where the owners manual does state that batteries do not have to be removed for long term storage. Batteries should not be stored loose. They should be individually wrapped with non-conductive tape over the metal contacts of the battery, stored separately in a plastic zipper bag for each battery, stored inside their original packaging that is then placed in a zippered plastic bag, or stored in a container specific to keeping extra batteries for mobile storage. Batteries can short and cause a fire. Do not allow the BOB to be the cause of the need to evacuate. Batteries can also easily corrode and ruin an electronic device. It does not matter if the batteries are of the cheap Dollar Store variety or the top selling name brand alkaline type. They can leak. Feminine Napkins Aside from the intended use, this product is perfect to use in place of many bandages. They make great tinder too. Bandages are expensive, but this is an inexpensive alternative. Though not sterile, they are clean. Even sterile bandages are instantly unsterile after they are removed from their packaging. Dry unread newspapers are clean too. Crank Radio Communications is a needed commodity when evacuating. Local radio personalities may not be as popular as they once were, but they would be a welcome voice in time of disaster. The radio crank light purchased for this BOB is one of those typical hyped consumer items with the built-in 125 decibel siren, but the light and radio work just fine. It was the only radio of this type available at the store when items were purchased for the BOB. A more professional product would have been preferred but this one is acceptable. Remember that these devices that work by turning a crank to charge them and do have an internal rechargeable battery. Charge them every couple of months to keep the battery in proper condition, and store the electronic item inside a zippered plastic bag that contains a desiccant. Desiccants are the little packets of silica included in many prescription pill and supplement bottles to keep product dry. Many new electronic items also have a desiccant in the packaging. Do not throw them away, use them.

A transceiver type of radio (walkie talkie) is preferred and one should be packed in each bag. These items can be added later. There are many brands of transceivers that are programmed with the Family Radio Service (FRS) and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) frequencies. GMRS requires an FCC license. It is also good to have built into the transceiver the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) National Weather Service Frequencies. Weather Alert will send an alarm tone when there is inclement weather or emergency information. If an alert is issued, the tone that is sent by NOAA Weather Alert will cause the walkie talkie to switch over to the weather frequency so that the alert or warning can be heard. The new alert system provides much more than just weather emergency alerts. NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) now reports much needed emergency information on many hazards and also reports AMBER Alerts as well. So whether the evacuation disaster is caused by an environmental emergency from a hurricane to a chemical spill, the NWR will have important information available to its listeners. Still keep a basic AM/FM radio be kept in the BOB. Some are really tiny and take up hardly any space and add very little weight. Tarp If the evacuation travel method changes from the primary method of using a vehicle to walking out, a tarp such as the one purchased for the BOB will make a fine improvised spring shelter. Wearing the arctic rated parka, which may be overkill for Pennsylvania in the spring, and rolling up in the tarp loosely, then slipping out of it and tying the foot end shut with cord makes an impromptu waterproof sleeping bag for one. Weave cord through the grommets at the head end of the makeshift bag so that it can be cinched tight against the body. One could also tape the end of the rolled tarp with duct tape. A tube tent or lean-to could be made for the group using the rope and a couple of nearby trees. Super Glue This is great for fixing many things that need glued, and it works great for gluing skin together too. Clean out a nasty laceration and seal it shut with Super Glue to keep the germs out until qualified medical personnel can further treat the wound. The medical grade Dermabond is the same stuff (cyanoacrylate) but is certified as being sterile. Many have used cyanoacrylate glue and have never had an issue with it. Be careful if it is decided to use it to close a wound. If fingers are used to hold the wound closed with Super Glue, those fingers will stick to the wound too. Matches It is tough to find Strike Anywhere matches anymore. Most places have the ones that need the box to be able to light the match. Take matches out of the box and put them in a waterproof match container. Do not put the striking surface inside the container with the matches. Have it stored separately in a zippered plastic bag. The jostling around of matches from moving the BOB around could cause them to light inside the plastic container they are stored in if the striking surface is inside the container with the matches. Bic Lighters These lighters are a durable and useful source of fire. They quit working in really cold temperatures unless kept close to the body to keep them warm. Store them so that noth-

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ing can press against the gas valve. They wont work if they are emptied because of something pressing down on the valve letting all of the butane out. Plus it would be a fire hazard. Be careful, be smart and follow the manufacturers directions. Food Why the store-bought pouches of food and not fancy MREs? Pouches can be found at just about any grocery store, expiration dates are clearly indicated on the packaging, and the food can be used as part of daily meals when it is replaced as it approaches the expiration date. The new pouch-type containers for a variety of foods on the store shelves today are made of the same things that the MRE pouches are made of and there is a wider variety of choices available.

it to hold delicate items while it is in the BOB. In this BOB it is stuffed full of items that should not be jostling around in the bag. Wrap the pot with plastic wrap to keep the lid on and the stuff inside while in storage or use a piece of duct tape to hold the lid on while the cookpot is in the BOB. Clorox Sodium hypochlorite can be used to disinfect questionable water as well as disinfect the cookware. Use only the unscented variety. Do not get it on bare hands because it will seriously dry them out. Also, the chlorine will react to the glycerin in most hand lotions and burn skin. Be careful with it. Double zipper lock bag it. To disinfect drinking water, it takes about 2 drops of Clorox (bleach) per quart of water. Mix it through the water, and let it sit for at least thirty minutes. It should have a slight bleach smell to it. If not, add another drop of bleach. Be aware that even though the bleach will kill germs, it wont remove pesticides, metals or dangerous chemicals from the water source. Be choosy when picking a water source to drink. Adequate hydration is an absolute necessity when the body is in survival mode. Urine should be clear. When it starts to turn yellow, the body could use some more water. To make water safer and more palatable, a Katadyn Pocket Filter with an accessory carbon filter is recommended to filter any water that does not come from a city water source. Some take the extra step of using Katadyn Water Treatment Tablets after filtration to be sure to kill any viruses that may be in the water. It is an added expense that needs to be considered and possibly added later. Pack the BOB with the basic items and add to it later. There is not a printed schedule of when a disaster may happen. Space Blanket I think they are too thin and flimsy to do much good but it did not take up much space, and it is so shiny that I can think of other uses for it. Socks If the feet are the transportation, then they need to stay dry and blister free. Clean socks a couple of times a day on feet that are not used to walking will help prevent foot problems from developing. One can walk with a broken arm, if an eye is lost, even with a head wound, but no one can walk if feet give out due to the pain of injury. A minor blister can become debilitating in just a few hours. Check feet often throughout the day. This packed BOB weighs in at a whopping 32 pounds! It is a lot to be lugging around on foot. The old duffel bag chosen to pack this BOB would not be a first choice but was picked to show that we all can use what we have on hand. It would be simple to adapt an old sheet to make a wide shoulder strap for this duffel. The message is to improvise. Being that this bag is packed for a primary evacuation method by motor vehicle, it would have to be lightened considerably for foot travel. Simply taking a little bit of each item in the BOB will lighten it considerably. Leave the pants, underwear and t-shirt behind as well, and just keep the sweatshirt and socks. It is recommended that families with children involve the kids in

Note on Avoiding Food Borne Illnesses

No mention has been made about silverware being packed in this BOB, whether it is a special camping style of silverware or just an old mismatched fork and spoon from the kitchen drawer. One of the main illnesses while living in survival mode is food borne. People do not take the time to be as germ free as possible when preparing, serving and eating food, and they are equally as poor in practicing good hygiene when cleaning up the cooking, serving and eating utensils after a meal. Use disposable plastic ware in a BOB. A mess kit might be nice to have, but it uses plenty of water and disinfectant or antibacterial soap to clean it up. The cookpot can be boiled clean with water. If silverware is a must-have, boil it clean in the cookpot after meals. Do not let the tiniest speck of food remain in the pot or on the utensils. Hot Sauce - The hot sauce is a luxury item. Every BOB needs a luxury item or two, but be aware of the weight cost of adding too much to the bag. Some canned foods taste decent cold such as cans of Chef Boyardee Beefaroni or spaghetti. Cans are heavy and this needs to be considered. The hot sauce was only available in a glass bottle. I do not recommend glass bottles in any BOB if they can be avoided. However, the luxury of having some hot sauce during a disaster provoked this decision. Alternate food items can be chosen to save a significant amount of weight in the bag. Datrex Food Ration Bars are self-contained and temperature stable. If the BOB is going to be stored in a too warm or too cold environment for the foodstuffs that one wants to pack in it, then Datrex Food Ration Bars are the way to go. They are designed for long-term (five year) storage in a lifeboat. Tuna in a pouch or cans of food will spoil or burst open inside a hot vehicle in the summer. Datrex Food Ration Bars remain stable. The normally long MRE shelf-life degrades to less than a month if stored inside a vehicle that will climb to over a hundred degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. Cookpot With Lid A container that can be hung over a fire on a makeshift stick tripod is worth its weight in any BOB. A Kelly Kettle is preferable for a BOB, but this cookpot with a lid and bale is good. It is made of enameled steel and is able to hold 3.5 quarts. Use it to make the Ramen Noodle Soup, cowboy coffee and tea, to sterilize water, to heat water for washing up, and use

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packing their own BOBs. Even if little Nancy wants to put in her old standby Teddy Bear, do not ruin the educational experience. Use such choices as teaching moments. Nancy could be taught that she can use Teddy as a pillow as well as a friend if the family has to leave in a hurry. If the older kids want to pack an old Gameboy that has not been played since the latest and greatest electronic game became available, then why not? It is better to keep kids occupied during disaster scenarios so there is less time to be fearful. For each change of the seasons, all family members need to get together for Repack BOB Day. Maybe order a pizza and get a good DVD. Repack the bags with items for the season that has changed, and enjoy the time together during and afterwards. Talk about survival. Have everyone in the group camp out one night with just the group BOBs. Find out what works and what doesnt before the disaster happens.

man-made, is the need for immediate medical care, and it is the one thing that is grossly neglected by those who are hoping to be prepared to survive a disaster. A person who packs a BOB with a couple of hundred rounds of rifle ammunition would in most instances of survival be better served by packing a wilderness medical kit. How many suburbanites have been killed after a disaster because they ran out of ammo as compared to those who ran out of blood that was pouring out of a wound sustained in the disaster? If one had no medical training and was packing the first BOB, it would be better to take the hundred bucks spent for this bag and use it to get certified in CPR and at least basic first-aid. Ideally take appropriate wilderness medicine courses that would meet personal needs, and then outfit with the tools needed to do some really important post disaster survival things such as stopping someone from bleeding to death, splinting a broken bone, or even using a surgical stapler to close up a severe laceration. Most people just do not know what to do to treat wounds and injuries. That is a sad thing. There are those who cannot even generally describe a surgical procedure they are going to have done. As USCCA members there is talk about people being lead around like sheep all of the time, but unfortunately there is a bit of that sheep mentality permeating the ranks of those who want to be prepared to survive disasters. It is better to have the tools and know-how to treat disaster injuries as best as one can when there is not a doctor around more than it is to have food. If in packing a 72-hour bag there was given the choice of either food or medical supplies, take the medical supplies. In many disasters, buildings fall on people. Flying debris from a tornado can do things such as cut, tear, and crush human bodies. The treatments that trained persons can offer to injured friends, family or even ourselves could make the difference of who actually makes it or not. It is more probably for most disaster scenarios to need bandages instead of bullets.

Firearms
It is not recommended to pack a firearm inside of a BOB due to the living situations of each reader possibly being vastly different. The choice of firearm to take would vary depending on the reason for evacuating. If running out the door because of fire or flood, most would grab their daily carry pistols on the way out the door or already have it. If evacuating because of a local collapse of society, it would be better to pick a specifically chosen firearm for such purposes rather than having a generic caliber and type of weapon already in the BOB. For those who would like to have a small, lightweight firearm to pack in a BOB that is going to be locked up, consider a Henry Repeating Arms AR-7 .22 Long Rifle Survival Rifle. It would be great for hunting small game for food in a protracted survival situation, and the ammunition is small enough that a higher quantity of it could be carried as compared to the same quantity in a higher caliber.

Medical Kits and Training

This information deserves special attention. It is that important. Simply put, no one should trust his survival to a bag of stuff, but everyone should have that bag of stuff ready to go out the door on a moments notice. They should have smaller bags of stuff at work and at play. Wearing just a suit to that dinner on a cold night? Do not forget to pack a parka, hat, boots and gloves in the vehicle just in case something does not go as planned. A popular poster has the word THIMK on it, spelled out in big letters. It is a parody of the word THINK. The history of it is that THINK was an IBM slogan and Mad Magazine did a parody of it spelling it THIMK. It does not matter who thought of it, but it certainly is appropriate to what the reader is hoping to learn from this book. Fear can drive people to distraction in preparing for unforeseen disasters, yet apathy can leave people caught unaware. There is a balance that must be achieved. The five letters of THIMK means that the speller got it 80% correct, but that one wrong letter changes everything. One very important thing about all disasters, whether natural or

Adding to the Groups Preparedness Gear

A great family Christmas gift is a NOAA Weather Alert Radio that stays on day and night waiting to warn of emergencies. Television has the Emergency Alert System, but the messages wont be heard if the family is watching a DVD or playing a video game when the alert is issued. Newer NOAA Weather Radios can be purchased that have Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) technology. This makes it so that the receiver can be programmed so that only alerts for the users specific region will be heard. Since cell phones may be the first thing to go during a natural or man-made disaster, a SPOT Satellite Messenger is an incredible device. It is an additional expense, but it is well worth the cost. The SPOT communicates by uplinking directly to satellites. This way predetermined messages and even a call for emergency rescue can be sent from just about anywhere on Earth. If it is just used once to uplink an OK message to family at a distant location during a disaster, then that information wholly justifies the cost.

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Additional Considerations
Storing a Bug Out Bag Offsite

t may seem illogical to store a BOB away from home, but storing emergency supplies outside the home might be a good idea for some people. For example, someone who lives in a house in a forest may come home to find that a forest fire has destroyed their home, or that local authorities have closed the roads, and access to the house is denied. First, during fire season, it would be prudent for homeowners to carry a small or medium BOB in their vehicle. Second, a large BOB might be stored at a friends home, at work, or anywhere else that is not likely to be affected by the same disaster at the same time as their primary residence. Offsite storage can be a reciprocal agreement with a friend or neighbor. Store their BOB for them, and return the favor. This way, unless a disaster destroys both houses at the same time, both are covered. Maybe agree that each home will be the bug out destination for the other person.

that will not be opened and closed very often, instead of using an inspection cap, use end caps at both ends, glue one end in place permanently, and at the other end just apply a thin layer of heavy grease between the inside of the end cap and the outside of the tube before slipping the end cap on. Again, our old standby, the zippered plastic bag can be used to further protect papers, jewelry and other items that must be kept dry before they are placed in the tube. It does not have to be a huge tube. Lets say you are going to bury a couple of certificates, a couple of pieces of jewelry and maybe some banknotes or a gold coin or two. An 18 inch by 4 inch diameter tube would be sufficient. If one is planning on hiding a 12 gauge riot shotgun, a 48 inch by 8 inch diameter tube would be better. The next task is to decide where the tube will be buried. Lets assume one has a small backyard or some other area of private ground that is off-limits to the general population. A hole needs to be dug at least 12 inches deeper than the overall length of the PVC tube, which will be stored vertically in the ground. Digging a shallow ditch and storing a tube horizontally is not the best idea because it makes it easier for the contents to register on a metal detector. The simplest way to dig a deep, narrow hole is to rent a post-hole digger called a soil auger. Make sure that the tool is capable of drilling down deep enough to accommodate the overall length of the cache tube plus at least 12 inches. There is no point in hiding something if thieves can find it either because they were told by someone or they saw it put there. They may dig it up as soon as it is safe to do so. Find a way to dig the hole and place the tube in it without it being known. One thought would be to select a location where nobody can see what is being done. If there is a good reason for digging such as putting in a series of fence posts, it is a simple matter to add one extra hole and then come back at night when the neighbors are asleep and plant the cache tube. One very important thing to remember when it comes to burying or hiding anything is to be able to find it again. People do not search for buried pirate treasure because the pirates deliberately left it where it could be found by someone else. If there is such a thing as buried pirate treasure still to be found, it is because the pirates either died or they could not find where they buried it. A GPS is invaluable in identifying exactly where one is to within a few feet. Once the area where something is buried is located, pinpointing the location to within a few inches is very important. Otherwise a lot of time will be wasted and may possibly draw unwelcome attention. Photograph the immediate area from different angles. Make detailed notes of how many fence posts the cache is from the road. Consider what landmarks may change or disappear and note it accordingly when the hole is dug. Another alternative for caching small quantities of valuables is to use the existing infrastructure of a house. A tool shed may be a good place to hide a container under the floor. Cut an opening in the wooden floor, dig a hole for the container and then replace the floor. Throw a grimy old rug over it to cover evidence of a hole. If a brick barbeque is going to be built in the back yard, design it so that a brick can be removed to provide access to a space inside the

Testing The BOB

Once it is packed, determine how much time is needed to bug out. Test it. See how long it takes from getting out of bed to grabbing the gear and locking the front door. Repeat the test but go away for 24 hours. If this works, go away for 72 hours with only what is in the bag.

How to Hide Valuables That Cannot be Brought Along

Most people own a lot of things that they could not possibly take with them on foot, or even in a large vehicle. There simply is not time or space to carry everything. For anybody bugging out on foot, the items they would be able to carry are severely limited. Of course, ones home should be made as secure as possible before leaving, but suppose that just is not adequate enough to keep the coin collection, the jewelry or even all the important papers (birth certificate, diplomas, stocks and bonds, property title) safe. While away a lot of things might happen to a home. There is the possibility of fire, flood, earthquake and looters. Consider storing in advance important items in a secure location away from home such as in a safe deposit box in a bank vault. For around a couple of hundred dollars a year (depending on the bank and the size of the safe deposit box) valuables can be locked up in a vault constructed of steel and concrete. Although this seems like a perfect solution, check to see if the bank is situated in an area that is prone to flooding or earthquakes. Just to be on the safe side, whenever items are stored in a safe deposit box, always doublebag them in zipper-style plastic bags for added protection. Another option might be to cache valuables underground or even under water in a cache tube. The best way to do this is to use standard white PVC plumbing pipe, which is easily available from hardware stores in 4, 6, or 8 inch diameter sizes. Cut to the desired length, and glue a PVC end cap at one end and an inspection cap (which can be repeatedly opened and closed) at the other. This makes an extremely durable, watertight container. For a tube

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structure where valuables can be stored. Just be sure that when the barbeque is burning, the heat wont damage the valuables. These are just a few basic ideas. Use the imagination to come up with a solution that fits personal needs that can easily be built or installed. If the little hidey-hole requires someone else to build it, then the idea of having a hiding spot has been defeated. The fact remains that when bad times mix with securing valuables, one must find some way to keep them secure until the items can be retrieved at a later date or when needed.

Conclusion

ugging out is not the solution to every problem. There are times when it is safer and smarter to sit tight and try to improve the situation or wait for help to arrive. The important thing is to know when to stay and when to leave and to have a detailed plan and the necessary equipment to survive. Identify the people who can truly be relied upon in a disaster and also those people who may be a threat. When a disaster befalls individuals, members of a community or citizens of this nation, the way we conduct ourselves during a crisis says a lot about us. If one takes the time to release a neighbors dog from his chain in the front yard before the flood waters get deep, if a seat in is saved in the vehicle for a neighbor, if one is like the construction worker, police officer, firefighter, or EMT who rushed towards Ground Zero on 9-11 to help, then he or she is an asset to humanity. We determine what kind of people we are not by what happens to us, but by what we do when the going gets tough.

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