Friday's Thoughts and Other Stuff (Emergency Evacuation Kit)

Dear Preppers and Survivalists,

Emigración Elegante
illustration by
Tomás Sancha Lengo

The Container
Last week, I focused on the surplus military packs that you and your family might encounter as you get ready for the tough times ahead.

While, ...

The same is true for the commercial packs. You will find small packs, like waist packs, medium-sized packs, such as book bags, larger packs, like mountaineering packs, and extra-large bags such as a huge rolling cloth suitcase that are appropriate for an emergency evacuation kit.

And, ...

You have still more options such as the hard, rigid, plastic containers, that you and your family will find at the local farm and home stores or sporting goods stores that are made by companies such as Plano, Durabilt, and others

Either way, ...

 Schloss Hartheim (ca 2012)
photograph by
Isiwal

Where Are You Going?
That's right!

An event has happened. Your family has grabbed their emergency evacuation kits, and you're headed out the door.

Where are you going?

Are you headed to the local shelter that has been setup by emergency services, that has cots, warm blankets, hot food and drinks, books to read, and helpful volunteers?

Or, ...

Are you headed across the state to your deadbeat brother-in-law's trailer because the hurricane took an unexpected hook?

Or, ...

Are you fleeing the country, a few years ahead of the coming political genocide?

I'll stop because you get my point. The situation, your mode of travel, and other factors such as the weather will determine the contents of your bag.

First Set of Three Warning:
First, what you carry for your emergency evacuation kit and what you carry the kit in is up to you, your partner, and your family.

Second, people have these elaborate kits with all kinds of 'stuff' that might not be appropriate for you and your family.

Third, if you came here looking for 'The List,' you are going to be disappointed

So, .. Let us begin.

My Bag and Its Contents (ca 2012)
photograph by
Ishikawa Ken

The Contents
First, I want you to think about the priorities of life. No, not finding a good partner, raising your children to be successful people, having an enjoyable career, and other things, even though; those are important. I'm talking about, ...

Oak Island Residents
living in tarp shelter after Hurricane Ike (ca 2008)
Patsy Lynch
Federal Emergency Management Administration

Shelter
You and your family will survive about three hours, in extreme weather, without appropriate shelter. This means, you and your partner need to immediately protect your family from Mother Nature.

This can be as easy as renting a hotel room, as simple as building a sunshade from a queen-sized bed sheet, or as complicated as fabricating a wilderness shelter.

So, ... Let us look at some options.

First, you and your family can buy a family-sized tent. These are available from your local sporting goods store, national hunting and fishing stores, and online.

But, ...

They are heavy, can be expensive, and inappropriate for an individual.

Next up is the quintessential blue tarp. They come in various sizes and colors, are versatile, and inexpensive.

But, ..

They are going to require some cordage, better known as rope, to be useful for family and some practice to setup an appropriate shelter.

Third, for individuals and families with tight budgets, you can use salvaged plastic sheeting and improvised cordage to make a tarp shelter.

Lastly, you and your family can learn to make improvised wilderness shelters, such as debris shelters, a lean-to, or other natural shelters, even log cabins.

Second Set of Three Warnings:
First, if you think, you and your family are going to pack a bag and forget it, you are sadly mistaken. You will need to practice with the contents of your emergency evacuation kit, so you learn its limitations and can make improvements or substitutions, as needed.

Second, some people will suggest expensive 'stuff,' such as tents, cordage, and tarps, that might not be appropriate for you and your family.

Third, there are other options for you and your family that I will explore, over the next few months.

Plastic Water Bottle (ca 2018)
photograph by
Kykywinks

Water
Depending on the situation, your emergency evacuation kit might only need to contain a liter bottle of water. For other situations, your kit might need to provide water for multiple days, thus requiring a water filter and a method of purifying the water.

Let us look at some options.

First up is the easiest method, that I know of, for providing water in an emergency evacuation kit, buy several liter bottles of water and put them in your family's bags.

Next, you could purchase several durable and reusable plastic water bottles. They are always available, used, from our local charity store. A step up is the metal, usually aluminum, water bottles with various logos.

A third option is the surplus metal canteens carried by soldiers, from different counties, many years ago. Heck, even the military plastic canteens are pretty good options for your family.

Another option is the hydration bladders from companies like Camelbak, Platypus, and others

Needless to say, ... All of the above options need to have water in the containers, long before the event forces you to quickly leave your home, which leads to my next point, water filters.

Water filters will allow you and your family to obtain water, so you don't have to carry a lot of water in your packs, if you plan to walk during your escape from an event.

Third Set of Three Warnings:
First! If you plan to obtain water along your route, you are going to have to plan and recon your route, so you know where the water can be obtained.

Second, water filters clean the water by removing impurities. Water filters don't remove oil, soluble chemicals, or certain diseases.

Third, water filters aren't water purifiers. They can be two different pieces of equipment or techniques.

Защишаемая территория города Хельсингборга
photograph by
Vitold Muratov

Food
During a short-term emergency evacuation, food is overrated, especially when you and your family can survive several days or weeks without food.

However, ...

Tell that to your young children and loving, caring partner when the children are hungry and wanting something to eat.

So, ...

Depending on where you store your emergency evacuation kit will determine what kind of food you can store. Let me explain, ...

Canned foods will expand and contract, from heat and cold, if they are stored outside Glass containers are inappropriate for backpacks unless you protect them from breakage. Those flexible foil pouches filled with snack foods and drinks are also susceptible to damage from heat, cold, and being punctured.

And, ...

The same goes for all of those so-called survival foods, like Meals, Ready to Eat (MRE), Snackies, Survival Bars, and others.

And, ...

Make sure your family likes the food in your emergency evacuation kits because, ... If they don't eat it, they will still be hungry and ... complaining.

But, ... I have some suggestions.

Look at the snack section of your grocery store. You and your family have lots of choices, now a days. Fruit bars, snack bars, energy bars, crackers and cheese, pita chips and humus, and many others. You can also investigate the canned foods aisle. They have meat, cheese, and other items in those flexible foil pouches that you could use for your kit. Lastly, you can make your own items, like hardtack..

Fourth Set of Three Warnings:
First, there are many people selling expensive so-called survival food that may be inappropriate for you and your family, and I'm just not talking about your wallet.

Second, you will need to rotate the food in your emergency evacuation kit. It can't sit in your bag, year after years, because it will go bad, especially if exposed to heat and cold.

Third, don't forget the can opener, if you are packing canned food.

37mm Antiaircraft gun manned by soldiers
of Battery F, 70th Coast Artillery,
at Wickham Anchorage and Viru Harbor, Solomon Islands
photograph by
Unknown

Protection
This is one area that preppers and survivalists go overboard because they are worried about protecting their family during an emergency evacuation.

Rightly so, ...

Because history is full of stories of rapes, murders, and other crimes during an emergency evacuations.

But, ...

You're going look really funny, leaving your home carrying a bolt-action rifle with a scope, in .308, .30-06, or 8mm Mauser, a defensive rifle with a light and a red dot scope, a SKS, AR-15, or AK-47, a defensive handgun, in .38 special, .40 cal, .357 magnum, or .45 ACP, and a pocket knife, a belt knife, and a machete.

So, ...

I suggest you and your partner purchase a pocket knife for everyone in the family and a concealable defensive handgun for you and your partner with a holster and several reloads, either magazines for a pistol or some speedstrips for a revolver.

Then, call it good for your emergency evacuation kit because you and your family are going to try, very, very hard to avoid any confrontation.

Fifth Set of Three Warnings:
First, some shelters restrict a family's freedom to carry a defensive weapon, like a knife or handgun. This means, you might have to violate the law to carry protection for you and your family during an emergency evacuation because you will need to carry your knife and defensive handgun concealed.

Second, you think I'm joking. I have met people that planned to carry a long rifle, a defensive rifle, a handgun, a backup handgun, a pocket knife, belt knife, and a machete and several reloads for the rifles and handguns, during an evacuation.

Third, this is probably the second item that you will want to store separately from your emergency evacuation kit because you should always be carrying your defensive handgun.

A Promotional First Aid Kit
used on the first
direct transatlantic flight by airship
source
Science Museum

Medical Care
More than likely, most preppers will buy a standard first-aid kit from one of the big box retailers and call it good. That is O.K., but these first-aid kits have their limitations, usually limited to bandaids and several disinfectant wipes. Plus, they are relatively expensive for what you receive in a prepared kit.

So, ...

You might want to assemble a first-aid kit, like the one suggested by the American Red Cross.

Next, you are going to need a supply of any daily medications that you and your family normally take. These medications should be stored in their original bottles with an original label. It might be a good idea to also keep a copy of your prescription in a safe place, in your bag.

With that said, ...

This is probably the only item that you will need to store separately away from your bag, especially if your emergency evacuation kit is subject to extreme temperatures.

Sixth Set of Three Warnings:
First, druggies and other villains are going to covet your medications, especially the narcotics, so you probably want to be very careful when you take your medicine.

Second, you and your family need to get off your 'drugs,' like nicotine, alcohol, sugary drinks, and other things that impede your health, during good times and bad times.

Third, you and your family need to practice your medical care skills becasue the first-aid manual might not be there.

Two New York National Guardsmen
signalling with flags (ca 1915)
source
Library of Congress

Communications
Now a days, everybody has a cellphone, but what happens when the batteries die?

So, ...

You need several methods of signalling potential rescuers. One method is waving a bright piece of cloth, like a bright orange pillow case or half of a bright yellow twin sheet.

Another method is using a whistle to signal a potential rescuer. Some of the new whistles are pealess, so they work and work and work.

The third method is a mirror. If you have some extra cash, buy a 'real' signal mirror. More about that later.

Seventh Set of Three Warnings:
First, more than likely, you and your family are going to want to be found, so make sure you have several methods of signalling potential rescuers.

Two, some people think they will be able to shout to signal a rescuer. They are mistaken. A person can shout for only a few minutes before getting horse

Third, ...


Lastly, ...
This isn't an all inclusive list of items or areas that you need to consider for your family's emergency evacuation kit because some people would say that I, incorrectly, left of ...

Lighting - a small, inexpensive AA flashlight with spare batteries.

Duct Tape - gray, green, or multiple colors

Cash - to buy your way out of trouble

With that said, ...

I'll be back next week writing about some situations and the things, you and your family might want to carry in your emergency evacuation kits.