The first two topics came from A.H. Trimble and are best reviewed in their entirety there.
LIPS: No, this is not about how to stay warm in winter.
Layers: This is an 8 part series applying layers as a key element in your preparedness efforts.
We then discussed How Most 72 hr Kits Can Kill You!
Those fancy pre-packaged kits in a nice organized backpack are typically filled with tools, trinkets & bobbles that might be useful in an emergency. However, most kits that you buy are lacking in the 3 most vital components that you need for survival: Water, Clothing (that fits you), and shelter. And the tools that are included may not hold up to the rigors of a true emergency. So be sure you test out your kit when you don't have to rely on it for your family's survival. Break it now, so that you know which things are good, which are good enough, and which ones need replaced. The most expensive part of a kit is buying the cheapest stuff that then breaks and needs to be replaced.
Both A.H. Trimble and Jim Philips at Safe Harbor Alliance (see links on the side panel) talk a lot about creating useful, reliable kits.
•About
10 years ago the government began advising people to have a 72-hour kit for
emergencies and disasters.
•For
over 60 years members
of the LDS church have been counseled to be prepared for a time of need or
emergency.
In a true emergency, it will take at least 3 days for the Red Cross or FEMA to show up, more like 4 (and in severe disasters don't count on help for about 10 days). Hence the name, and purpose, of a 72 / 96 hour survival kit.
The 72 Hr Kit Mission
This is a kit that is what I consider “milk toast” in
nature. It is for the normal family to use in the case where they
need to leave their home for a limited period of time. However, they will
be able to return to their home once the emergency or disaster is over. This
kit doesn’t address the issue of violence being the primary threat. Hence,
there are no weapons mentioned. This kit only addresses needs such as food,
water, and clothing.
Mixing the different kits’ contents reduces the ability to
grab the more portable 72/96-Hour Kit and move quickly if needed.
Kit Guidelines
- The objective of the 72/96-Hour Emergency Preparedness Kit is to have, previously assembled and placed in one location, all of those essential items you and your family will need during a 72 – 96 hour time period following an emergency away from your home. When an emergency occurs you will probably not have the luxury of going around the house gathering up needed items, especially if you have to evacuate your home on short notice.
- Take time now to gather whatever your family needs to survive for 4 days based upon the assumption that those items are the only possessions you will have. Your kit should be in a portable container located near the primary exit so you can grab it quickly on your way out of the house in a serious emergency.
- Each family member should have their own kit with water, food, and clothing. Distribute heavy items between kits that the adults and teenagers will carry.
- Keep a light source in the top or on the outside of your kit, so you can find it quickly in the dark.
- Personalize each family member kit. Make sure you fill the needs of each family member. Make a list of each item that will go into the kit. Write their name at the top.
- Select a backpack or bag that will only be used for this purpose. Check each item off the list as you put it in the bag. Place a copy of the list in the bag for future reference.
- Enclose the extra clothing, personal documents, and other items that can be damaged by smoke or water in Ziplock bags to protect them. If it’s raining when you have to evacuate, you will appreciate the dry clothes.
- Inspect your kit at least twice a year. Rotate food as needed. Check children’s clothing for proper fit. Adjust clothing for winter or summer needs. Check expiration dates on food, batteries, etc.
- Consider the needs of elderly people as well as those with handicaps or other special needs. For example: for babies, store diapers, washcloth, hand wipes, ointment, bottles and pacifiers, and other special supplies.
Mandatory Items
- Water – It is virtually impossible for the average person to carry enough water for 3 – 4 days; that would be upwards of 32lbs of water alone. You sstill have 3 – 4 gallons of water stored beside your Kit in case you can utilize a vehicle. However, each Kit should have at least 2 liters of water in one liter stainless steel water bottles.
- Aqua Tabs – One set of water purification tablets.
- First Aid – A basic first aid kit is absolutely mandatory for each person (IFAK). I would also highly recommend a family first kit as well (TBAK).
- Freeze Dried Food – Three meals (minimum) of freeze dried food.
- Flashlight & batteries
Suggested Items
- Toilet paper
- Hand sanitizer
- Towelettes
- Change of clothes
- Map & compass
- Food & Treats as appropriate
- Knife
- Lighter
- Handheld radio(s)
- Survival radio
TIPS
- Don’t overload your kit! You may have to carry it a long way.
- Consider using a piece of luggage (or pack) with wheels on it.
- Everyone should have their own flashlight.
- All flashlights should use the same size of batteries.
Traps
- You probably don’t need all the clothes you packed.
- Canned food is VERY heavy, freeze dried pouches aren’t.
- When you need it most, it will break. Have some redundancy.
- Use good judgement when reviewing lists on the internet. Some suggested lists will take a full trailer to transport.
Other "Bags" you might consider based on your NEED:
- 72 hr Kit
- EDC = Every Day Carry
- GHB = Get Home Bag
- Go Bag
- BOB = Bug Out Bag
- GOOD Bag = Get Out Of Dodge
- INCH Bag = I’m Never Coming Home!
GO BAG
This bag is to be small, lightweight, low-profile and
something to could grab if you couldn’t grab anything else. This would be the
bag you could carry anywhere and it would not raise any attention, let alone
suspicion. In other words, this would be the lowest level building block
of survival bag…
a “go bag.”
GO BAG Mission:
A bag that contains the absolute minimum to defend myself,
my family and begin the trip to my survival cache. To minimally survive
independent of the house, shed, shop, vehicle or work environment. And to do so
while maintaining as low a profile as possible.
This in NOT a GO Bag!
Get Home Bag
Have you ever considered being at work, school, church, or
anywhere other than home – and then wondered if a disaster hit right now, right
here, how would I get home? Especially a situation such as “grid-down”
and you couldn’t drive? Could you walk 10-20 miles in the shoes you are wearing
RIGHT NOW?
GHB Mission:
To provide necessary items required to assist in returning
home from work or another location. To provide the primary means of survival,
including: defense, first aid, communications, water, food, shelter and
navigation.
Remember the “space & weight” concept. You can always
find lots of stuff to put in your bag. BUT… Is it really needed just to
get home? That’s all you are trying to do…get home. So before you
start loading that bag up, consider each piece of gear: decide is it is
really needed? Would you rather move lighter and faster vs. carrying
the kitchen sink.
GOOD BOB BAG
A “GOOD” bag = Get Out Of Dodge bag.
A “BOB” is a Bug Out Bag.
Both represent your last chance at survival in a serious
disaster or grid-down situation where all you can carry to survive on is
contained therein.
Yes, it’s that serious!
- The GOOD BOB is not to be confused with “72-hour Kit” or a GHB by any means.
- A 72-hour kit is for the normal emergency and disaster situation where help will come.
- A GOOD BOB is more along the end-of-the-world scenario stuff.
Why
not a BOV: Bug Out Vehicle?
Its amazing just how much bad information is out there. Bad
enough that it will get people killed; probably whole families.
Follow the Spirit
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