I used to keep a meticulously packed and organized BOB for the family. I have zero bags packed right now. What I do have is everything laid out and organized in a single room full of gear that I could literally toss into bags and be gone in that 10 minutes time. Every time I did the whole BOB scenario, or GHB, or whatever cute acronym is the buzz word of the day emergency kit I could always see where it was great for "ABC" emergency, and flawed for "XYZ". If XYZ were to happen I'd be yanking stuff out of a bag and replacing it with other stuff. Especially after a recent outdoor trip I know exactly what it takes for me to live very comfortably outdoors for an extended time, but with a young family it's a completely different animal.
My wife and I were just talking about this recently as she had heard about the super volcano under Yellowstone and asked :"What would we do". I gave her my thoughts which seem to fall along these lines of wildfires and natural reasons to evac an area. If we ever have to leave, we're more than likely going to be going states away, not just an hour down the road. We'd be heading either East, or Southeast at least 12 hours away either direction. Lots of great logging roads in Maine that largely go unused with wonderful little ponds scattered throughout.
Priorities in terms of loading out a vehicle:
1.) Wife & kids because we're a family. Wife knows to gather the kids and two extra full outfits of clothes, one that's somewhat nice & presentable, one that's tough & rugger, one normal. Then to focus on hygiene stuff like soap & toothpaste etc.
2.) Dog, because he's family, he has keener senses even at 11 years old, and he's fresh food in the worst of cases.
3.) Water filtration, backpacking filters, stainless containers (every family member has a pathfinder 32oz kit & cookwear), 5 gallon military water container or two, etc
4.) Outdoor gear would be every family members military sleep system, tent, tarps, hammocks, and especially my collection of heavy wool blankets. Basically making sure the Canterbury 10C's are covered, but that the first 5C's are especially covered with depth. A warm secure good nights rest is a priority and keeps people from getting sick.
5.) Food, backpacking types, canned foods, any additional empty space in a vehicle gets food dumped into it.
6.) Additional fuel stored in jerry cans. I can top off one vehicle from zero, and have enough gas to completely refuel it on the road. I will not assume additional gas will be available at stations along the way if things are so bad we have to run.
7.) Medical for boo-boo's and stuff. We have no prescriptions so we're very fortunate.
8.) Comms would be portable radios with the ability to scan Ham frequencies just to listen in. I have a small book with repeater stations throughout the nation listed in it so it should save some time trying to find out news. I have several battery backups to recharge electrical equipment on the move.
9.) Ammo can with metals, cash, and papers.
10.) Fishing kits. I can fly fish and bait cast much better than I produce furry little creatures to eat and it keeps kids minds busy.
11.) Lastly would probably be the "extra guns". My EDC is solid, my truck bag is solid, but if we have to run it'll be with two AR's, a couple bandoliers of loaded mags, a 22lr with a brick of ammo and maybe a longer range rifle. Might seem weird to have guns so low as a priority on a gun forum, but my gunfighting days are behind me, my wife isn't and never will be a gunfighter, and the kids are too little yet. We'll be armed enough to not appear as a soft target if we're even seen, but I don't have any illusions in my head that we'll turn full commando in the blink of an eye. If we're running for our lives, we're not going to the range, we're running.
12.) Soon as we're mobile, update some other like minded people and tell only those in the circle of trust where we're going. This would include calling family members and trying to convince them to leave as well. I'm painfully aware of how deaf the ears are this news would be falling on so it's my last priority to motivate and save those who I hope I can. I won't jeopardize my families well being to do it though. People have made a lifetime of choices and those have consequences.
Where I struggle is vehicles. I have a 4x4 crew cab with a lockable bed cover, so we could all jam into that with a lot of gear. We also have a minivan where we could all jam into that. We could caravan into two vehicles, and literally fill both with supplies to last us months. If we divide the family we double the chances of survival if one vehicle gets attacked or disabled. If we put all our eggs in one basket/vehicle then darwins law may apply quicker and fuel goes from a fill up and a half in the field for one vehicle to half a refuel for two vehicles. Our range of escape is limited by our fuel range, so this debate gets answered by what type of emergency it is.
I used to be real big on the whole bug out concept, but for what it'd take for me to honestly think it's time to get out of dodge I would go into it assuming that we're never coming back. I have days now where I think about how much simpler life would be with a clean slate if the house and all the crap in it would just burn down so I know I'll have no issues walking away from it all.
Good discussion to think about, sorry I wrote a novel.
My wife and I were just talking about this recently as she had heard about the super volcano under Yellowstone and asked :"What would we do". I gave her my thoughts which seem to fall along these lines of wildfires and natural reasons to evac an area. If we ever have to leave, we're more than likely going to be going states away, not just an hour down the road. We'd be heading either East, or Southeast at least 12 hours away either direction. Lots of great logging roads in Maine that largely go unused with wonderful little ponds scattered throughout.
Priorities in terms of loading out a vehicle:
1.) Wife & kids because we're a family. Wife knows to gather the kids and two extra full outfits of clothes, one that's somewhat nice & presentable, one that's tough & rugger, one normal. Then to focus on hygiene stuff like soap & toothpaste etc.
2.) Dog, because he's family, he has keener senses even at 11 years old, and he's fresh food in the worst of cases.
3.) Water filtration, backpacking filters, stainless containers (every family member has a pathfinder 32oz kit & cookwear), 5 gallon military water container or two, etc
4.) Outdoor gear would be every family members military sleep system, tent, tarps, hammocks, and especially my collection of heavy wool blankets. Basically making sure the Canterbury 10C's are covered, but that the first 5C's are especially covered with depth. A warm secure good nights rest is a priority and keeps people from getting sick.
5.) Food, backpacking types, canned foods, any additional empty space in a vehicle gets food dumped into it.
6.) Additional fuel stored in jerry cans. I can top off one vehicle from zero, and have enough gas to completely refuel it on the road. I will not assume additional gas will be available at stations along the way if things are so bad we have to run.
7.) Medical for boo-boo's and stuff. We have no prescriptions so we're very fortunate.
8.) Comms would be portable radios with the ability to scan Ham frequencies just to listen in. I have a small book with repeater stations throughout the nation listed in it so it should save some time trying to find out news. I have several battery backups to recharge electrical equipment on the move.
9.) Ammo can with metals, cash, and papers.
10.) Fishing kits. I can fly fish and bait cast much better than I produce furry little creatures to eat and it keeps kids minds busy.
11.) Lastly would probably be the "extra guns". My EDC is solid, my truck bag is solid, but if we have to run it'll be with two AR's, a couple bandoliers of loaded mags, a 22lr with a brick of ammo and maybe a longer range rifle. Might seem weird to have guns so low as a priority on a gun forum, but my gunfighting days are behind me, my wife isn't and never will be a gunfighter, and the kids are too little yet. We'll be armed enough to not appear as a soft target if we're even seen, but I don't have any illusions in my head that we'll turn full commando in the blink of an eye. If we're running for our lives, we're not going to the range, we're running.
12.) Soon as we're mobile, update some other like minded people and tell only those in the circle of trust where we're going. This would include calling family members and trying to convince them to leave as well. I'm painfully aware of how deaf the ears are this news would be falling on so it's my last priority to motivate and save those who I hope I can. I won't jeopardize my families well being to do it though. People have made a lifetime of choices and those have consequences.
Where I struggle is vehicles. I have a 4x4 crew cab with a lockable bed cover, so we could all jam into that with a lot of gear. We also have a minivan where we could all jam into that. We could caravan into two vehicles, and literally fill both with supplies to last us months. If we divide the family we double the chances of survival if one vehicle gets attacked or disabled. If we put all our eggs in one basket/vehicle then darwins law may apply quicker and fuel goes from a fill up and a half in the field for one vehicle to half a refuel for two vehicles. Our range of escape is limited by our fuel range, so this debate gets answered by what type of emergency it is.
I used to be real big on the whole bug out concept, but for what it'd take for me to honestly think it's time to get out of dodge I would go into it assuming that we're never coming back. I have days now where I think about how much simpler life would be with a clean slate if the house and all the crap in it would just burn down so I know I'll have no issues walking away from it all.
Good discussion to think about, sorry I wrote a novel.
