Posted: 9/6/2016 11:03:17 PM EDT
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Most of the survival/bug out discussions I have seen seem to be pretty well geared towards wilderness/country scenarios; get out of the city and go to the woods, get through open country and get home, these kinds of things. It seems to me like there is a gap in discussion of more common scenarios like riots, black outs, or storms hitting big cities. In my lifetime, I can recall riots in Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Benton Harbor (MI), Fergusson, Baltimore and Milwaukee. I was personally stuck in Dearborn, MI, just a couple miles from Detroit, for the first 16 hours of the Northeast Blackout. I also have never forgotten the Mumbai Massacre and I've never considered that an impossible scenario here. There were also lots of tourists who got stuck in New Orleans during Katrina, and the Houston flooding this year. Point being, there are scenarios where some of us could wind up stuck in the city. That is actually the most likely SHTF scenario for me. So I have been thinking about what I would need/want in a bag if I were away from home, in an urban environment and had to survive a short term scenario where I need to make it through a couple, three rough days before order/utilities can be restored. These are just preliminary ideas and I am looking for input, suggestions and constructive criticism. So here is what I am thinking to start with. 1. Clothes - I am thinking that two changes of clothes to start with. I chose comfortable clothes that would be well suited for walking if I need to evacuate on foot or comfortable if I need to shelter in place and lay low. I also wanted to pick clothes that would not stand out or draw attention in an urban environment. Tactical outfits are out.  - Pants - I chose nylon athletic/jogging/windbreaker type pants. They are loose, comfortable and they dry quickly if they get wet. - T-shirts - I just grabbed a couple of T-shirts I had in a drawer. A few things I considered were: a) Don't pick anything too stand out. Nothing with guns or messages that are going to attract attention. b) Don't pick anything with a natural target on it. No circular patterns in the middle of the chest say. c) Don't wear too bright colors. Bright colors stand out. d) Don't wear too many dark colors. People dressed in all black attract attention, and attention may be unwanted. - Underwear - These may be necessary or optional. If it's cold then you might want them, if you're sheltering in place with other people you may want them, if you're walking through the city in 100+ degree temperatures you may not want them. - Socks - Normal athletic socks. If you're going to be walking a lot then you may want to pick soft, well cushioned socks. I probably could stand to get some higher quality socks. - Shoes - For this first draft, I chose a pair of comfortable walking shoes. I will probably not add these to a bag, because I always wear comfortable walking shoes. However, if you are downtown for meetings at the corporate headquarters and you are wearing a suit, then you probably won't want to get stuck in your wingtips, particularly if you have to walk 10 miles to get out of a disaster zone. 2. Hygiene and First Aid  - For hygiene, I picked the obvious stuff. Toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, mouthwash, disposable razor and a bar of soap. - First Aid - This is a kit that I got from an emergency trauma class I took. Medical gloves, a bandage, gauze, medical scissors and a tourniquet. This could probably use some work, but is a decent start. 3. Weapon - This is something meant to supplement my EDC gun. I carry a 5 shot .38, which is fine for someone trying to rob me at the ATM or the gas pump, but definitely insufficient for a riot scenario. Maybe where you are, you can't carry your gun...say into corporate headquarters, but maybe you can have your bag in your trunk, in the parking garage. This is just preliminary, so don't go nuts...  - I picked an HK-416 .22LR pistol, with a couple extra mags, a couple boxes of ammo and a silencer. I also would keep copies of my trust docs and tax stamps in the bag. Remember, this isn't necessarily TEOTWAWKI. Maybe you're just stuck for a couple days until order is restored. In that case, you don't want to get yourself into unnecessary trouble and have problems that you have to deal with later. - I picked the HK .22LR because that's what I have. It's also versatile. If I need to kill a city squirrel for food then I can. If I need to resolve a situation without attracting any unwanted attention then I can. Maybe you want to use a Sig MPX, a Glock 21 or an AR PDW. Is the HK-416 pistol the best choice? Probably not, but it's an example of a larger weapon that you can pick which will fit into a back pack. Like I said, I'm just brain storming at this point. 4. Miscellaneous  - Spare phone chargers - Maybe where you are at, power is not out and you need to be able to get and send information. This might be the most critical piece you can have. If you can keep your communications open then you might increase your chances of getting rescued, depending on your situation. - Two means of making fire - Pretty much a requirement in any scenario. Man's greatest discover, which adds no weight and can solve a multitude of problems. - Pocket knife - I picked the Swiss Army Soldier's Knife. It had Phillips and flat head screw drivers, a knife, a saw, a bottle opener, a can openers and a wire stripper. - Pain killers - If you get a minor injury and you can relieve your pain then it would help to have one less problem. 6. The Bag:  - I picked a laptop bag from a large chain store. Nothing tactical, nothing conspicuous, nothing that would draw attention. Weight loaded is 17 pounds and there is still plenty of room to add some stuff. 7. Things that I want to add/change: - I will probably remove the shoes, that will free up space for some other items. - I definitely need to add some food. Power bars, something. - I definitely need to add either a water purifier or a supply of water. I keep a case of water in my trunk, so I can always grab all/some of that to add to my supplies. - Some sort of instant coffee. If you're a caffeine consumer and you have ever gone a couple days without it, then you know just how bad those headaches can get. The last thing you want to have is a splitting headache in a disaster where you may need to be on your toes in order to survive the ordeal. So, thoughts? What did I leave out? What can I do without? Keep in mind that my intention here is not necessarily to carry with me everything that I would need to survive a lifetime in the wilderness or survive the fall of western civilization. If it came to that though, scrounging and scavenging would have to become a way of life. My goal here is to survive a troubled situation until order can be restored and not draw undue attention to myself. |
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1) Cash in small change
2) First aid kit (add band aid, diarrhea pills, etc.) 3) Rain jacket or poncho (those thin types) 4) Flashlight - what if the place runs out of power? (spare batteries) 5) city map 6) cellphone battery charger - those 10,000mA types with a USB port or two 7) multi-tool |
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I would ditch the bar soap and throw in a pack of baby wipes.
A map of the area you are in would be useful, even if you are familiar with it. Cash is king. Be discrete. An Olaes bandage would be a good addition to the TQ, they are versatile. Maybe a solar charger for the phone as well. I would avoid clothing with sports teams on them. Consider a multi-tool. Good flashlight + batteries. 550 cord is always useful. ETA: A pair of leather gloves. |
| You dont need to store clothes/boots "IN" your bag. I keep a small duffel in my truck with spare clothes and boots. This is seperate from my get home bag. If I need to change into more appropriate clothing, I will or take it with me and change clothes when I can. |
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Handheld radio. Even a cheap baofeng. add a nicer antenna. get a case for it that can clip to belt or bag. Your idea lends to thoughts of being among people, a radio makes people think, use it to your advantage. If someone gets the impression you are in comm with someone close or not alone, it can be to your advantage. Get a few, maybe you can team up with someone trustworthy. Getting and transporting water in a urban "grid down" situation will require teamwork, radios help out a bunch here.
WSS |
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Short list turned into me dumping my work bag... Anyway, food for thought
Texas:
Water/Food:
Night:
Walking:
Misc:
EDC bag is an old Northface Surge... Laptop in the back slot, power adapter in bottom pocket, middle slot has the two hats but otherwise empty and everything else in the front/organizer pockets, or side-pockets. There are few other misc items within not listed above. USB drives, keys, usb cables, business cards etc. FWIW, I built a small tool-kit similar to this that I keep in my EDC/work bag - some of the above is worked into this kit along with other tools: 
I believe this was mentioned in Ragnar's GHB thread, definitely worth a read - http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_17/594775_My_cross_country_GHB.html If you're going to leave your bag in your vehicle, consider the heat. Food spoils/melts. Liquids evaporate. Things like wipes (baby, alcohol, sanitary, etc) dry out, batteries don't last as long. You'll need to rotate "perishables" if you carry them. You might keep such items together in a common compartment/bag so they're easy to grab/rotate. Right now I keep most of these in my EDC bag that doesn't spend much time in the heat/cold. Exception being spare rechargeable lithium batteries in the truck... Note to self: Butane lighter is MIA, replace. Sawyer Mini. 4-way silcock key although pliers/mini-vicegrips may suffice. Small/Portable 18650 & AA battery charger. Spare socks, change of clothes. |
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Items, besides what others have mentioned, that I'd add include a hat, a lightweight long sleeve shirt or better yet a windbreaker (temp control, water resistance, sun protection, cover your slung weapon, etc.), a water bottle (wrap with duct or Guerilla Tape), one of those small filter straws or some other small water filter, a multitool, 50’ of paracord, a carabiner, a LED headlamp with a red light feature, a pair of safety glasses, leather gloves and at least one N-95 mask, P38 can opener (easier to use than a Swiss Army Knife), lightweight spoon or spork, some hard candies or even better some cough drops, a small LED keychain light like the Photon, a small compass, and a bandana. I also keep two of those small keychain personal alarms and some wire in my bag; you can set up trip/door alarms with them if you need to sleep somewhere less than ideal. Another handy item is a spare bag in case you run across supplies, something like the Sea to Summit Ultra-sil day pack packs in its own stuff sack down to the size of a hacky sack but is easy to open and toss extra stuff in.
Add a sling and a light to the .22. Add a can of pepper spray. Ditch any sports logo attire. |
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Quoted:
Handheld radio. Even a cheap baofeng. add a nicer antenna. get a case for it that can clip to belt or bag. Your idea lends to thoughts of being among people, a radio makes people think, use it to your advantage. If someone gets the impression you are in comm with someone close or not alone, it can be to your advantage. Get a few, maybe you can team up with someone trustworthy. Getting and transporting water in a urban "grid down" situation will require teamwork, radios help out a bunch here. WSS That's a good idea. When I approach trespassers or poachers on the ranch I would always be on the phone when approaching them. Seemed to make them very nervous and leave quickly worried about who I was talking to. Before I started doing that they would be a lot more cocky. And I have no service in the area 
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If the power does go out, you won't be able to charge your phone. Throw in one of these?
http://www.goalzero.com/p/307/flip-10-recharger |
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A lot of great input. I went shopping and picked up a few things...  I found that i already had the following: - Poncho - Flashlights - Carabiner I also had a SEAR manual, and a compass/thermometer/whistle. Several years ago my brother gave me this Jeep radio/emergency light. I remember that during the Northeast Blackout I couldn't get a cell connection because they were over used, but the radio stations were still broadcasting. It would be good to have a secondary means of getting information if the cell service is out. I will probably upgrade this to a radio that can use headphones so as to minimize noise. I don't want to attract people to the sound of my radio after all. I picked up: - 50 ft of paracord - leather palm work gloves - 2 bandanas - 2 plain gray pocket T-shirts - Band-aids - Instant coffee packets - markers - a roll of duct tape - coffee filters (I use K cups at home) - some bigger ziplock bags I also added: - notebook paper - Crystal lite w/ caffeine packets - 1/2 roll of TP - 3 plastic shopping bags - some rubber bands I ordered: - 2 x 64 oz stainless steel Kleen Kanteen bottles (not insulated) - 1 plain gray long sleeve t shirt - 1 plain cotton baseball hat without any insignias I've decided to ditch the extra shoes since I always wear comfortable shoes, and go with extra stuff. With the Kleen Kanteen, I can use the coffee filters and rubber band to filter dirty water and then boil it for drinking, if necessary. The instant coffee packets work well with 8 oz bottled water, and I always have at least 20 of these in the trunk. Take a small sip, put the coffee in the bottle, shake it up until it dissolves and drink. It isn't tasty, but it will keep me from having caffeine withdrawals in a bad situation. I still need to add sunblock/insect repellent, and figure out what I am going to do for food. I am also going to ditch the HK 416 pistol. I will add a box of carry ammo to this bag, and then take another weapon if I am going somewhere. No need to leave a gun in the car since I've been burned once already on that. I am also going to add a means of recharging my phone if the power is out. I'll add a couple of kitchen trash bags too and I am going to order a sillcock key. |
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Quoted: I would rather have meds (imodium/pepto/ibuprofen/benedryl etc) than a tactical med kit. I have room for both. I want to add some of these, but I want to add them in individual packets that are dated so I know when they expire. I may have to hit a gas station to pick these up. |
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Quoted: Items, besides what others have mentioned, that I'd add include a hat, a lightweight long sleeve shirt or better yet a windbreaker (temp control, water resistance, sun protection, cover your slung weapon, etc.), a water bottle (wrap with duct or Guerilla Tape), one of those small filter straws or some other small water filter, a multitool, 50’ of paracord, a carabiner, a LED headlamp with a red light feature, a pair of safety glasses, leather gloves and at least one N-95 mask, P38 can opener (easier to use than a Swiss Army Knife), lightweight spoon or spork, some hard candies or even better some cough drops, a small LED keychain light like the Photon, a small compass, and a bandana. I also keep two of those small keychain personal alarms and some wire in my bag; you can set up trip/door alarms with them if you need to sleep somewhere less than ideal. Another handy item is a spare bag in case you run across supplies, something like the Sea to Summit Ultra-sil day pack packs in its own stuff sack down to the size of a hacky sack but is easy to open and toss extra stuff in. Add a sling and a light to the .22. Add a can of pepper spray. Ditch any sports logo attire. I like both of these. I'll add them! |
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What do you guys think of these for a portable alarm? It has both a pull pin alarm for setting a trip wire and a motion detector. If necessary, then I could set it up to cover two different directions. http://www.womenonguard.com/mini-personal-travel-alarm-with-motion-detector |
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What do you guys think of these for a portable alarm? It has both a pull pin alarm for setting a trip wire and a motion detector. If necessary, then I could set it up to cover two different directions. http://www.womenonguard.com/mini-personal-travel-alarm-with-motion-detector Those look nicer than mine. Mine look similar to these. I think I got them at Target. After testing them I spray painted them OD green then retested them, put the plastic film back on the batteries and put them in my pack. |
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If you insist on a pair of clothes my question is why dont you have any that have a belt loop pants with belt?
I would also add some sort sunglasses (like the 3m safety tint). Knowing urban environments with glare kinda hard to keep up with situational awareness if you cant see |
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Hammock.
Having spent my youth in a city and always in abandoned factories and houses. The amount of broken glass is unavoidable. But there are always uprights. Sleep off the ground. I've gotten 2 packable hammocks from woot. Less than 30 each. One is in my bag the other has been in use since June. |
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Quoted:
I have room for both. I want to add some of these, but I want to add them in individual packets that are dated so I know when they expire. I may have to hit a gas station to pick these up. Quoted:
Quoted:
I would rather have meds (imodium/pepto/ibuprofen/benedryl etc) than a tactical med kit. I have room for both. I want to add some of these, but I want to add them in individual packets that are dated so I know when they expire. I may have to hit a gas station to pick these up. Rescue Essentials sells all this stuff in small packs. The site is worth browsing. http://www.rescue-essentials.com/meds-topicals-1/ |
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I would get a pair of Mechanix (or similar) instead of the leather work gloves. Those heavy leather gloves leave you basically unable to use your fingers for any but the bulkiest of tasks. I would add some dental floss. If you take apart the the floss container and only pack the spools you can carry half a dozen or so in a small ziplock bag. Obviously can be used for oral hygiene, but also useful for tying things when you don't want to use up your paracord. |
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Quoted: Rescue Essentials sells all this stuff in small packs. The site is worth browsing. http://www.rescue-essentials.com/meds-topicals-1/ Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I would rather have meds (imodium/pepto/ibuprofen/benedryl etc) than a tactical med kit. I have room for both. I want to add some of these, but I want to add them in individual packets that are dated so I know when they expire. I may have to hit a gas station to pick these up. Rescue Essentials sells all this stuff in small packs. The site is worth browsing. http://www.rescue-essentials.com/meds-topicals-1/ Nice! |