10 Things You Must Have In a Bug-Out Bag

How long would it take for you to put a bag of emergency items together during a crisis? An hour? Maybe a couple of hours? Well, during an evacuation or other emergency situation, you may only have minutes to act fast. Will you be prepared to survive without emergency assistance for at least three days?

What is a Bug-Out-Bag?

A bug-out-bag is essential a 72-hour portable kit. It should contain the emergency items you’ll need after an evacuation. Since these kits are designed for 3-day survival, the main focus is all about evacuations. Bug-Out-Bags are very popular with Modern Survivalists.

The purpose of a bug-out-bag is to be prepared for survival during an evacuation. This is one of the concepts behind being a true survivalist. Because, as we know, it’s never about “if” a crisis will occur. It’s just a matter of “when” a disaster will strike.

10 Essentials for Your Bug-Out-Bag

Remember that a bug-out-bag is not about long-term survival. Your goal should be to focus on items needed for 3-day survival. Bug-Out-Bags should be as lightweight as possible, making them easy to quickly grab-and-go. Here are ten essentials that you must have in your bug-out-bag:

  1. Water – Emergency preparedness experts recommend one gallon per day, per person. So, you need three gallons per person for drinking, washing and bathing for three days.
  2. Food – It’s recommended that your food storage contain non-perishables, such as canned foods and dehydrated foods. You also want to include ready-to-eat non-perishables, such as freeze-dried foods.
  3. Blankets – As a survivalist, you probably already have a bag prepared with a tent and sleeping bags. This is great! However, if you don’t have these items, be sure to pack thick blankets to keep you warm. They’ll also come in handy as padding if you have to sleep outside.
  4. Coat – Many emergency are caused by natural disasters. Even during hot seasons, it’s best to have a thick coat with you. It can help protect you from winds, rain, even excessive heat from the sun.
  5. Extra Clothing – Pack enough underwear and thick socks for three days. Also, make sure your survival shoes are heavy and strong enough to take harsh conditions, such as flooding. As far as other clothing items, there should be enough to keep you clean and clothed for three days.
  6. Battery Operated Radio – You’ll need this, along with extra batteries to stay tuned for special alerts. Your local emergency rescue teams will broadcast emergency information such as evacuation locations, food storage locations, etc…
  7. Battery Operated Flashlight – Most survivalists already have flashlights packed in their 72-hour kits. Check yours regularly to ensure that it works properly. Also, be sure to pack extra batteries.
  8. Important Documents – List of important phone numbers, evacuation routes and evacuation center locations, maps, passports, birth certificates and copies of IDs.
  9. Cash – Remember that when disasters strike, many things we take for granted every day stop working. Some of these things include ATM machines, credit card processing machines, phone lines, electricity, etc… If this happens, you’ll need hard cash to buy things you may want or need during your three days of survival.
  10. 10.  First Aid Kit – Should contain basic first aid essentials. Be sure to include any special medications people in your home take. Also, include hand sanitizer, sun block and vitamins.

Author Bio

This article was prepared by Chett Wright of FoodInsurance.com. They are leaders in freeze dried foods. Ready to add products with a 25 year shelf life to your food storage? Click here to start your order now.


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6 thoughts on “10 Things You Must Have In a Bug-Out Bag”

  1. Additions to the sunscreen in your first aid kit, a good idea to add some Deet & one of those little bars of ‘Grandma’s poison ivy soap’. If you’re bugging out to the woods, there’s a good chance you’ll have misery in store for you without them.

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  2. Most of these items can be easily carried in a inconspicous shopping bag. I lean more towards a larger back pack to hold my “essentials”. Water Filtering Straws, fire-starters, Snares-Fishing kits, come to mind as essentials also.

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  3. The most obvious item missing is a good knife. This is essential for many camp chores, including creating a temporary shelter, cutting small pieces of wood for a fire and so forth.

    Another obvious necessary item missing is a rifle (or at least a handgun). A rifle is more important than a handgun because it can be used for fighting and hunting at distance. A pistol is also good, but the range and power are much more limited. A reasonably proficient marksman should be able to control a 400-800 yard area, while a person armed with a pistol is generally limited to 25 yards or so. There may be desperate people who will injure or kill people for the contents of those bags. There may also be evil people taking advantage of the situation to rob you (or worse). Action may be necessary to stop them and walking around unarmed with emergency supplies is foolish.

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  4. I agree with Tom, a knife is usually the very thing considered for any survival pack or Bug Out Bag. I am a gun guy, too. (Perhaps too many DIFFERENT guns, as advised after my article)! There are lots of options there. The Henry AR-7 and Ruger 10/22 Takedown fit in small packs.

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