Bug-out bag
Encyclopedia
A bug-out bag is a portable kit that contains the items one would require to survive for seventy-two hours when evacuating from a disaster. It is also known as a 72-hour kit, a grab bag, a battle box, and other popular names include "Personal Emergency Relocation Kits" (PERKs) GO Bag and GOOD (Get Out Of Dodge) bag. The focus is on evacuation
, rather than long-term survival
, distinguishing the bug-out bag from a survival kit
, a boating or aviation emergency kit, or a fixed-site disaster supplies kit. The kits are also popular in the survivalism
subculture.
The term "bug-out bag" is related to, and possibly derived from, the "bail-out bag" emergency kit many military aviators carry. The concept passed into wide usage among other military and law enforcement personnel, though the "bail-out bag" is as likely to include emergency gear for going into an emergency situation as for escaping an emergency.
In addition to allowing one to survive a disaster evacuation, a bug-out bag may also be utilized when sheltering in place as a response to emergencies such as house fires, blackouts, tornadoes, and other severe natural disasters.
or survivalists feel that having a BoB (Bug-out-Bag) on hand is a requirement, others in the survival community feel that having such a bag does little more than provide a false sense of security . Arguments against spending significant resources on creating and maintaining a BoB typically focus on the impractical nature of actually using a BoB for its intended purpose (i.e. to "get out of Dodge") and the fact that the vast majority of preppers have little to no field time with their BoBs. There are prevailing arguments that many bags contain large amounts of heavy gear that would do little more than slow down the survivalist and that most BoBs have never even seen as much as two miles of trail time, let alone days of survival. Unfortunately, water is a key component of survival kits that contributes to their weight. Water weighs 2.2 pounds per liter. Many experts recommend you carry up to 4 liters, or about 1 gallon, per person, per day.
Fortunately, some Bug-out-Bags, which are sold as off-the-shelf kits have been designed to be light-weight and yet remain effective. In fact, kits such as those sold by the American Red Cross weigh only 12 pounds, and even more fully equipped kits such as those sold by retailers such as greenbeetlegear, weigh roughly 20 pounds.
Emergency evacuation
Emergency evacuation is the immediate and rapid movement of people away from the threat or actual occurrence of a hazard. Examples range from the small scale evacuation of a building due to a bomb threat or fire to the large scale evacuation of a district because of a flood, bombardment or...
, rather than long-term survival
Survivalism
Survivalism is a movement of individuals or groups who are actively preparing for future possible disruptions in local, regional, national, or international social or political order...
, distinguishing the bug-out bag from a survival kit
Survival kit
A survival kit is a package of basic tools and supplies prepared in advance as an aid to survival in an emergency. Military aircraft, lifeboats, and spacecraft are equipped with survival kits....
, a boating or aviation emergency kit, or a fixed-site disaster supplies kit. The kits are also popular in the survivalism
Survivalism
Survivalism is a movement of individuals or groups who are actively preparing for future possible disruptions in local, regional, national, or international social or political order...
subculture.
The term "bug-out bag" is related to, and possibly derived from, the "bail-out bag" emergency kit many military aviators carry. The concept passed into wide usage among other military and law enforcement personnel, though the "bail-out bag" is as likely to include emergency gear for going into an emergency situation as for escaping an emergency.
Rationale
The primary purpose of a bug-out bag is to allow one to evacuate quickly if a disaster should strike. It is therefore prudent to gather all of the materials and supplies that might be required to do this into a single place, such as a bag or a few storage containers. The recommendation that a bug-out bag should contain enough supplies for seventy two hours arises from advice from organizations responsible for disaster relief and management that it may take them up to seventy two hours to reach people affected by a disaster and offer help. The bag's contents may vary according to the region of the user, where as someone evacuating from the path of a hurricane may have different supplies than someone one that lives in an area prone to tornadoes or wildfires.In addition to allowing one to survive a disaster evacuation, a bug-out bag may also be utilized when sheltering in place as a response to emergencies such as house fires, blackouts, tornadoes, and other severe natural disasters.
Criticism
While many preppersPrepper
A survivalist or "prepper" is an individual or group that prepares or makes preparations in advance of, or prior to, any change in normal circumstances or lifestyle without significant reliance on other persons , or without substantial assistance from outside resources A survivalist or "prepper" is...
or survivalists feel that having a BoB (Bug-out-Bag) on hand is a requirement, others in the survival community feel that having such a bag does little more than provide a false sense of security . Arguments against spending significant resources on creating and maintaining a BoB typically focus on the impractical nature of actually using a BoB for its intended purpose (i.e. to "get out of Dodge") and the fact that the vast majority of preppers have little to no field time with their BoBs. There are prevailing arguments that many bags contain large amounts of heavy gear that would do little more than slow down the survivalist and that most BoBs have never even seen as much as two miles of trail time, let alone days of survival. Unfortunately, water is a key component of survival kits that contributes to their weight. Water weighs 2.2 pounds per liter. Many experts recommend you carry up to 4 liters, or about 1 gallon, per person, per day.
Fortunately, some Bug-out-Bags, which are sold as off-the-shelf kits have been designed to be light-weight and yet remain effective. In fact, kits such as those sold by the American Red Cross weigh only 12 pounds, and even more fully equipped kits such as those sold by retailers such as greenbeetlegear, weigh roughly 20 pounds.
Typical contents
The suggested contents of a bug-out bag vary, but most of the following are usually included:- Enough food and water to last for 72 hours. This includes:
- Water for washing, drinking and cooking. Canada recommends 2 litres per person per day for drinking plus an additional 2 litres per person per day for cleaning and hygiene. New Zealand recommends 3 litres per person per day for drinking US recommends 1 gallon (3.78 litres) per person per day.
- Non-perishable food
- Water purificationWater purificationWater purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, materials, and biological contaminants from contaminated water. The goal is to produce water fit for a specific purpose...
supplies - Cooking supplies
- A first aid kitFirst aid kitA first aid kit is a collection of supplies and equipment for use in giving first aid, and can put together for the purpose , or purchased complete...
- Fire starting tool (e.g., matches, ferroceriumFerroceriumFerrocerium is a man-made metallic material that has the ability to give off a large number of hot sparks at temperatures at when scraped against a rough surface , such as ridged steel...
rod, lighterLighterA lighter is a portable device used to generate a flame. It consists of a metal or plastic container filled with a flammable fluid or pressurized liquid gas, a means of ignition, and some provision for extinguishing the flame.- History :...
, etc.) - A disaster plan including location of emergency centers, rallying points, possible evacuation routes, etc.
- Professional emergency literature explaining what to do in various types of disaster, studied and understood before the actual disaster but kept for reference
- Maps and travel information
- Standard camping equipment, including sanitation supplies
- Weather appropriate clothing (e.g., poncho, headwear, gloves, etc.)
- Bedding items such as sleeping bags and blankets
- Enough medicine to last an extended evacuation period
- Medical records
- Pet, child, and elderly care needs
- Battery or crank operated radioEmergency radioAn emergency radio is, broadly speaking, a radio receiver designed to remain functional in cases of power outage or isolation from contact with civilization...
- Lighting (battery or crank operated flashlightFlashlightA flashlight is a hand-held electric-powered light source. Usually the light source is a small incandescent lightbulb or light-emitting diode...
, glow sticks) - Firearms and appropriate ammunitionAmmunitionAmmunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
- Cash and change, as electronic banking transactions may not be available during the initial period following an emergency or evacuation
- Positive Identification, such as drivers license, state I.D. card, or social security card
- Fixed-blade and folding knife
- Duct TapeDuct tapeDuct tape, or duck tape, is cloth- or scrim-backed pressure sensitive tape often sealed with polyethylene. It is very similar to gaffer tape but differs in that gaffer tape was designed to be cleanly removed, while duct tape was not. It has a standard width of and is generally silver or black...
and ropeRopeA rope is a length of fibres, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. It has tensile strength but is too flexible to provide compressive strength...
/paracord - Plastic tarps for shelter and water collection
- Slingshot, pellet gun, blowgun or other small game hunting equipment
- Wire for binding and animal traps