Bug out Bag Contents: What Should Be in a Bug Out Bag

Posted: 8th May 2012 by admin in Bug out Bag, Bugging Out
Tags: ar 15, ar15, bug out, bug out bag, bug out bag contents, bug out bag essentials, bug out bags, bugging out

If you’ve come across this page, then chances are pretty good that you already know what a bug out bag is, and you probably know why you need to always have a bug out bag ready to go. This article will help you establish the basic bug out bag contents that you will need to survive.

Bug Out Bag Essentials: Water, Food, Shelter, Fire

First thing is first – most survival blogs and survivalists suggest that your bug out bag contains emergency supplies that will allow you to bug out for a maximum of 72 hours. What is the single most important element to human survival? Water!

Bug Out Bag Checklist #1: Water Filtration

Clean water is a must. You must have a way to filter water – even if you are planning on boiling your water first, you’ll still want to be able to filter out sand and other nasty impurities.

I suggest getting a nice water filter that is portable and lightweight, and that is capable of producing enough water to survive on for 72 hours. Here’s an example.

Emergency Water Filter- $34.95
Emergency Water Filter Used by the military during Katrina. Makes over 3 Liters of clean drinking water a day for 3 days. Makes virtually any water drinkable – even muddy water.The filter itself has a microscopic pore size of 3 to 5 angstrom; 100 times smaller than the smallest pathogens and 200 times finer filtration than competitive filters. The system this filter uses is forward osmosis. Meet all EPA standards.

This type of water filtration kit is small, lightweight, portable, and inexpensive.

Another possible addition to your bug out bag contents could be a UV pathogen killer, like this one below.

Survival Water Purification via UV Filter - $150 bucks

What a filter like this does is kill water-born pathogens that could make you sick. If you carry one of these in your bug out bag along with a few coffee filters, you can achieve great tasting and safe water during your survival situation.

If you do decide to go with a UV-type water killer, remember that these all require power. Even with a solar charger, batteries have a limited shelf life, and they will be difficult or impossible to recharge during a long term grid-down or TEOTWAWKI situation.

Bug Out Bag Checklist #2: 72 Hours of High Calorie, Long Lasting Food

Your bug out bag contents must contain a minimum of 72 hours of food rations. Most survival blogs and survivalists recommend using MREs (meals-ready-to-eat).

Here are some benefits to MREs:

MREs are lightweight
MREs require little preparation
MREs are relatively inexpensive
MREs have a great shelf-life
MREs are a great source of extra calories

72 Hour MRE Survival Pack for $29 bucks!

When deciding on the contents of your bug out bag, make sure you realize that you are going to be in a survival environment - which means you’ll be burning more calories than normal. Most survivalists assume that you will be burning at least 3500 calories each day that you’re bugging out, so make sure you account for those extra calories somehow.

To add extra calories, think about using energy bars that are super high in calories to augment your bug out bag contents. Here’s an example:

Great tasting 3600 Calorie Mayday Energy Bar - $6.95

Bug Out Bag Checklist #3: FIRE!

You need to make sure your survival bag contains plenty of ways to make fire. Most survival blogs and survivalists suggest having 3 ways of making fire – just in case. I personally like to have a lot more way of making fire.

Fire is an essential for survival. Here are the reasons you need fire in a bug out situation:

Warmth
Water purification/sanitization
Cooking
Light
Security

Here are some of my favorite tools for creating fire.

Magnesium Fire Starter

Magnesium fire starter for your bug out bag - $12.25

Here’s how to use a magnesium fire starter:

Gather wood, kindling, and tinder for your wood pile
Get an area to catch the magnesium fire starter scrapings – a piece of bark or dry wood works
Scrape a small pile of magnesium shavings onto your catching area
Add some tinder on top of the shavings
Spark it up!

Using magnesium fire starters definitely takes practice, but they are much longer lasting than matches or lighters.

Waterproof Matches

Waterproof matches, an essential bug out bag item - $0.60 for 45

No bug out bag is ever complete without water proof matches. Waterproof matches are an absolute must for every bug out bag.

Stormproof/Windproof Matches

Bug out bag contents - windproof matches

Windproof matches - extra large heads that will burn for 10 seconds in the wind $4.95

You never know what is going to happen during your bugging out – so I always suggest getting waterproof and windproof matches. Although wind-proof matches are more expensive, it would be your last resort. Your magnesium will blow away and your matches will blow out.

Bug Out Bag Checklist #4: Lightweight, portable shelter

If you’re a human, then you definitely need shelter to survive. Its absolutely essential.

Shelter protects you from the following:

Heat/sun
Cold
Rain
Animals
Insects

There are hundreds of different options you can use for shelter during your bug out situation. Here are the characteristics we look for in a bug out shelter:

Lightweight
Portable
Affordable
Longevity
Size

Super cheap & lightweight bug out shelter - survival tube tent - $7 bucks

These super inexpensive survival tents are quick to set up and easy to use. They weigh less than a pound and can fit two people.

However, both ends are open, which provides little protection against the elements, insects, or animals, and could make it a bit colder. Still, I do suggest carrying one of these with you – because you just never know.

This 1 person bivy weighs less than 2.5lbs and is easy to set up. Goes for $99 bucks

This is a one person shelter tent that retails out at around $100 bucks. It may be a bit more expensive than a tube tent, but it sure is a great little tent for bugging out in an emergency. It has plenty of headroom and a side entrance.

This is an essential item for my bug out bag for sure.

This 2 person tent is setup in seconds! Weighs less than 6lbs and retails for about $85 bucks.

This tent is an ideal tent for the survivalist who might be traveling with a girlfriend, wife, friend, or who just wants a bit more space. This tent will sleep up to two people, but you can fit a third person with the three person model.

This tent retails at about $65 bucks and is a great item for bugging out. It weighs out at 6lbs and can be setup in seconds.

Bug Out Bag Checklist #5: Firearms for bugging out

Personal protection – the survivalists’ most fun hobby. We sure love our AR15, Glocks, and guns! That said, packing your survival bag with the bare essentials is important – remember, you’re only anticipating a 72 hour bug out period, so you won’t be able to lug around 1000 rounds of ammunition. I wish we could!

That said, I’ll explain what I have in my own bug out bag and why I chose those firearms for bugging out.

Bug Out Firearms: AR15

Although I’ve never gone camping or have been in a bug out situation with my AR15, my ultimate goal would be to bug out with my AR15 and about 6-10 magazines. Here’s why I would choose an AR15 over any other rifle.

AR-15's in action

The AR15 is very reliable – which would be important in an bug out situation
The AR15 is accurate ( the shooter needs to be too)
The AR15 has the ability to switch out its bolt and magazine to make it into a .22LR – perfect for small game hunting
The AR15 has low maintenance – but I would carry some extra springs and such just in case

I could go on and on about the AR15 – but instead, read more about the AR-15 here: How to Choose an AR15 That’s Right for You

Bug out bag contents - AR15 to .22 conversion kit

Simply pop in this bolt and use this magazine to fire .22LRs from any standard AR15! Costs about $150 bucks.

Bug Out Firearms: Smith & Wesson M&P vs. Glock

Smith & Wesson M&P vs. Glock 19

Living in Florida, I never leave home without carrying a firearm, and I recommend that anyone who is legally allowed to carry should carry. Imagine the lives that could be saved! Enough about that, onto the Smith & Wesson M&P vs. the Glock 19.

I’ve been a Glock owner for years, and I stand by their reliability, their accuracy, and their performance. They have a ton of accessories and parts are readily available (and cheap!).

However, I purchesed a Smith & Wesson M&P 9c – and that quickly became my carry pistol.

Which pistol would I bug out with? That’s easy!

Both.

Arguing about Glocks being better or M&Ps being better is like trying to prove that Fords are better than Chevys, or that iPhones are better than Droids. In the end, it all comes down to opinion.

The bottom line on bug out firearms is this – whatever firearm you feel comfortable bugging out with, that’s the best firearm for you.

Bug Out Firearms: Tactical Bug Out Accessories

But out bag contents - tactical bug out vest

This tactical bug out vest allows for a quick draw and plenty of storage, and runs about $150 bucks.

When choosing their bug out bag contents, keep in mind that you may be in situations where speed and agility could be important. Being able to draw and use your firarms quickly is also very important. All of these factors need to be addressed when deciding what your bug out bag should contain.

If a bug out situation ever faced me, I’d be wearing a tactical vest that contains a chest holster, a holster on my right leg, and plenty of areas to story ammunition and other items.

Bug Out Bag Checklist #6: Survival knife

So now you have chosen your most essential items – water, food, fire, shelter, and firarms. Take a sigh of relief – but here’s where the real fun starts.

We’ve dedicated entire blog posts to survival knives, but for the sake of time, we’ll try to go through it fast. Here are the survival knife basics:

Make sure your knife is one single piece of metal with a handle – these are 100% more reliable than cool looking knives with mechanical parts
Make sure you have a way to sharpen your survival knife
Make sure your survival knife will not fall out of its sheath during high movement activities

Here's a great survival knife with a saw edge made by Glock for about $30 bucks. Make sure your survival knife is one piece of metal from tip to hilt!

Bug Out Bag Checklist #7: Compass

During a bug out situation, I plan on keeping moving and avoiding as much human contact as I possibly can. That said, your bug out needs to contain navigation equipment like a compass.

Don’t trust a cheesy compass – spend a but of money and get a nice one.

This compass retails for about $30 bucks and has some great features for bugging out.

Bug Out Bag Checklist #8: Pots, plans, and cookware

Cooking equipment needs to be lightweight, strong, and portable. Here’s a few examples.

Here's a lightweight aluminum pot for about $30 bucks.

But out bag essentials - fork, knife, spoon

You can pick up a set of forks and knives for your bug out bag for about $30 bucks.

What to Expect During a Famine

Posted: 26th April 2012 by admin in Natural Disasters

In the event famine spreads in your area food prices will rise and riots will almost certainly ensue. The threat of starvation means that people will become desperate and often do things that are completely out of the ordinary. This could mean violence and bloodshed and a state of chaos that the local authorities may be struggling to control. How will you and your family survive in the event a famine looms?

Famines in Recent History

Unbeknownst to most Americans was the threat of famine in 2008 when the price of rice increased to staggering levels. In counties like Haiti, Egypt and Bangladesh the locals rioted and took to the streets in an effort to find food and create real attention to their need to eat.

The Effects on Society

Famine targets the elderly and the young first, as these demographics are most susceptible to the trauma and malnutrition that is created. Healthy adults are the last to suffer as children and the elderly lack the stamina that healthy adults possess. After hunger strikes disease generally follows because hungry bodies are less able to fight of infections. This will not only result in the pillaging of grocery and food stores, but also that of drug stores and places with consumable goods. All of these consequences generally lead to violent uprising as people will do what they can to avoid the feeling of food insecurity.

How to Survive a Famine

In the event a famine strikes near you the first thing you will want to do is contact emergency personnel to inform them of your family’s inability to sustain itself. The U.S. does a pretty good job of helping its citizens out and will act in the best interests of its citizens in the event a famine occurs. This doesn’t mean that you should rely on the U.S. government to bail you out of the situation. If you are reading this blog, it probably means you are willing to take some sort of proactive approach.

Food storage is always a safe bet during any time. Non-perishable food items will be your best bet as will large supplies of white rice, wheat and beans. With appropriate storage these foods can last for decades. Keep moisture levels down in these areas and try to store these items in a room that is about 75 degrees. Water should also be kept in abundant supply and you should store gallons upon gallons of water to remain hydrated. The growing of food may also be an option but this will also mean that your crops are vulnerable to theft. Hunting food is also viable, but you’ll have to consider its demand in the time of famine.

Surviving a Natural Disaster: Volcano

Posted: 26th April 2012 by admin in Natural Disasters

Volcanoes are an imminent natural disaster just waiting to happen. When they erupt, hot magma, volcanic ash and gases escape from below Earth’s surface to our planet above. Volcanoes pose many hazards to people in the immediate vicinity of the eruption, but also to passing aircraft, to changes on weather patterns, to creating catastrophic famines. Currently there are somewhere near 500 active volcanoes in the world, with about 50 of these erupting each year. The U.S. alone is home to 50 active volcanoes, providing us with a menacing outlook on the likelihood of their eruption.

What To Do If You are Near a Spewing Volcano

Volcanoes produce hazardous fumes that are bad for your health. In particular sulfur dioxide, a noxious gas, can make it difficult to breath. If you are near a spewing volcano cover your mouth and nose with your shirt to create a sort of makeshift gasmask. High concentrations of sulfur dioxide can kill you. Do your best to get out of the area as soon as possible.

Navigating Through Lava Fields

If you are near a lava field and need to get through it safely you will obviously not want to walk through casually. Instead test the terrain with the bottom of your boot to see if it melts. If your shoe can’t tolerate the heat, it is unsafe to cross. Another indicator of danger is the air quality. If you can smell heavy doses of sulfur dioxide it means that molten lava is close to the surface. Soft rocks underfoot are also indicators of thin crust. If you begin to feel soft rocks underfoot it is time to backtrack.

Water Near Volcanoes

Let’s say that you are thirsty around a volcano and are looking for a source of water. You see a pool of water near an active crater and think maybe it’s safe to drink. Think again! The noxious gases that are emitted by the volcano make the rain turn to acid, making the water hazardous. In places like Hawaii where there are lava tubes, Ohia trees grow and can often lead to the kind of pure, filtered volcanic water you pay for in stores.

Additional Info

There have been historical accounts of volcanoes that create what is called a volcanic winter. These are reductions in temperature caused by volcanic ash. These occurrences result in climate changes, killing off crops and creating winter-like conditions. These volcanic winters have been responsible for the near wipeout of humankind as livestock and crops completely die out. To survive this type of disaster, a shelter of some sort with food and water would almost be the only method to avoid the death of humanity.

AR15 Guest Blog: Prepper Joe’s Preferred AR15/M4 Style Rifle Starter List

Posted: 18th April 2012 by admin in AR-15

When it comes to finding your first AR15/M4 style rifle there are a few guidelines I recommend following (these are purely from my experience and research and are of course entirely opinion):

• Make sure it is 5.56 NATO/.223 Remington. You can shoot .223 Remington from a 5.56 but not a 5.56 from a strictly .223 Remington (Some say you can shoot 5.56 from a .223 Remington, but you run the risk of severely damaging your weapon and possibly injuring yourself—don’t do it).

• I don’t recommend building your first AR style rifle. While they are not hard to build, there are too many reports of people going out, piecing together their ideal build and then having issues with it not firing, etc. I recommend buying one straight out, getting used to the weapon, learning its mechanisms, and then slowly start piecing together your next one based on your experience.

How to Choose an AR15 That’s Right for You

• I recommend getting an AR with a flat top or optic ready top. If you get the railings you limit the ease of application and capability of some scopes. If you get a flat top/optic ready you can generally put about any scope you want on them.

• My personal preference is a 16” barrel compared to the more expensive 18” or 20” barrels. Unless you’re planning on shooting beyond 350 yards, you really don’t need more than 16”. Also, keeping the 16” barrel holds true to the tactical nature of many of these weapons—they provide easier maneuverability and adjustment to closer threats.

• Always take your time and research the weapon you want to purchase. Read reviews, read specifications, read fine text then reread the reviews! Make sure you’re going to get what you’re wanting.

There are three particular AR Styled rifles that I recommend as a first purchase. Each of these has quite a few variations available, but the base models are as follows:

Colt LE6920

Colt LE6920 – Approximately $1000-$1200 online depending on source
Barrel Length: 16.1”
Standard Magazine Capacity: 30+1
Total Length: 35.5”
Weight (Unloaded): 6.95 Pounds

Bushmaster 90888

Bushmaster 90888 – Approximately $875 online depending on source
Barrel Length: 16”
Standard Magazine Capacity: 30+1
Total Length: 36.25”
Weight (Unloaded): 6 Pounds

Windham Weaponry R16M4FTT

Windham Weaponry R16M4FTT – Approximately $825 online depending on source
Barrel Length: 16”
Standard Magazine Capacity: 30+1
Total Length: 34.5”
Weight (Unloaded): 6.9 Pounds

As you can see, all of these guns are pretty much identical. Same barrel length, very slight variations on total length and weight, and each of them will generally use the same magazines. Generally when you buy an AR, unless you’re in California, it will come with a single 30 round magazine.

I have not shot or handled a Windham Weaponry R16M4FTT, but have read many great reviews and heard good things from people close to me. I personally prefer the Bushmaster 90888 for its price and capabilities, but the Colt, despite paying more for a name, is the most reliable AR I’ve handled/shot.

Though I’ve never had the desire to dip my Colt in mud and then attempt to fire it, I’ve read reports on people doing just that and having it fire. I would never condone testing that, but it is a testament to its reliability.

This guest blog post was written and sent in by Prepper Joe over at http://prepcommunity.net/

How to Choose an AR15 That’s Right for You

What are the Most Common SHTF Scenarios?

Posted: 18th April 2012 by admin in Bugging Out, Survivalist Preparation

As a survivalist or prepper you are trained to handle many different survival situations and do your best to plan for the unknown. The thing is there are SHTF events that are more likely than others. Thus, it makes more sense to spend more time training for those events than say a comet colliding with the earth or an alien invasion.

What Are the Most Likely Survivalist Situations?

Survivalism may be attributed to your personal situation more than anything. These types of events can be played into the natural disasters of your geographic location, your financial standing, likelihood of attack on a major city, and resources in your city. You may not know what exactly to prepare for but here are some helpful considerations:

Natural Disasters

As mentioned above, geographic regions are more or less susceptible to certain disaster. On the east coast you risk hurricanes, in middle America tornadoes as witnessed recently, and on the west coast the increased likelihood of earthquakes or fires. All these places are also at risk for flooding, a devastating concern we witnessed in New Orleans by hurricane Katrina. Knowing what you are most at risk for can help you plan and purchase the resources necessary to increase your chances of living more comfortably.

Economic Collapse or Depression

The U.S. and many countries around the world (Greece, Italy, Japan) have neared complete financial meltdowns in the recent past. Are you secure enough in your job to afford an economy where income is scarce and the pitfalls of losing your income are looming? Will paper money become worthless through hyperinflation? What would you need to survive this type of devastation?

War- Conventional & Biological

It seems that the U.S. is always involved in some type of fight somewhere in the world. Many believe it is not because we want to be but because we have to be. Our presence in other countries makes us hated in some respects although 9/11 shows that we are no fools for protecting our rights and liberties. Countries, terrorists or activists who may not agree with our protocols are often threats to our great nation. In this respect it is those that live in the bigger cities- New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. -that are faced with the biggest threat as that is where it may make sense to strike first.

SHTF events are happening around the world without warning. Your knowledge of what your most inherent risks are can play a big role in shaping your preparation.

Survival Knives 101

Posted: 18th April 2012 by admin in Survival Gear, TEOTWAWKI
Tags: knives, survival, survival knife, survival knives

Your survival knife is one of the most important pieces of equipment and will save your life.

It can really be the center of your survival when all you are left is with is your survival knife. We previously ran an article on how to purchase a survival knife and this offers more insight to knives and their quality.

Survival Knife Tip #1: Blade, materials, and design

The knife blade has variations that make it an important consideration in your purchase.

You should be considering the following:

Material
Design
Thickness

Survival Knife Materials

A good survival knife should either be stainless steel or carbon steel. Carbon is said to hold a blade longer but rusts faster.

Survival Knife Design

A smooth stone can be used to sharpen a straight blade knife in the wild, and these types of blades are better for chopping wood. Serrated blades generally require a special sharpener, a consideration you may want to look at depending on the application.

For thickness, you are looking for a knife that does not have a lot of flex in the blade. We recommend knives that are 3/16 to 4/16 of an inch for durable wood chopping and prying.

Survival Knife Tip #2: Only one piece

The tang of a knife is the portion of the blade that extends into the handle. Cheap knives end at the beginning of the handle whereas the best knives have tangs that go all the way to the base of the knife. A fuller tang gives the knife more power and is one of the most important factors of its strength.

Do not buy survival knives that are more than one piece.

Here are some survival knives to stay away from:

Try to stay away from any knives that fold or that are not one single piece of metal.

Survival Knife Tip #3: Handles

Mentioned above was the opinion that tangs that ended at the beginning of the handle should be avoided. Knives like a hollow handle knife fit this bill

It may sound like a good idea to have miscellaneous items in your knife but if you lose your knife you also lose those important items. Look for knives that are hard rubber or made out of a polymer material.

Survival Knife Tip #4: Sheath

The knife sheath will affect how you carry and draw your knife and thus plays an important part in your selection. Knife sheaths can be attached to your backpack by a strap contained on the sheath. This may give good access to your knife as would strapping it to your leg. You may also want to look into a knife that contains a sheath that has a belt attachment for waistline access.

Finally you will want to look at a knife with a strap that crosses over where the handle meets the sheath so it does not allow the knife to slide out.

Here’s a great looking sheath from a Glock knife:

Here's a great survival knife with a saw edge made by Glock for about $30 bucks. Make sure your survival knife is one piece of metal from tip to hilt!

Reconnaissance – Learn What You Are Up Against

Posted: 17th April 2012 by admin in Airsoft Drills, Military Drills, Reconnaissance
Tags: militia, recon, recon tips, reconnaissance, survival

According to the U.S. Army:

Reconnaissance is a mission to obtain information by visual observation or other detection methods, about the activities and resources of an enemy or potential enemy, or about the meteorologic, hydrographic, or geographic characteristics of a particular area.

Recon Patrol

Knowledge is power, and when SHTF, power is a beautiful thing.

Before the advent of technology, information about your enemy was carried out by men on horseback that would send troops into enemy territories to get information about terrain and the enemy before sending more troops into the area or pursuing the battle-related goals.

Assuming you don’t have the power of a military or aerial and satellite resources to help with your recon, you may need to resort to primitive times to get the information you need for your surviva during a grid down (TEOTWAWKI) situation.

There are three types of Reconnaissance to look at:

Terrain-Oriented Recon - surveying the terrain for its features that may affect your mission.
Force-Oriented Recon - this looks into the forces you will be up against and determines their vulnerabilities.
Civil-Oriented Recon - looks at the structures or civil dimensions of a battlespace.

Often your reconnaissance mission may require that you or your team carry out all three types of reconnaissance where other missions may just take one or two elements out of the above. Your goal as a commander of troops into a potentially hazardous area is to have a full grasp on what you are up against.

Recon Tips #1: Always use recon teams, and assign specific objectives.

Here are some common reconnaissance objectives:

Enemy – who, what, when, where, and how is your enemy assembled
Terrain – what sort of terrain are you facing? Can you find any choke points to ambush your enemy?
Troops and support available – does your enemy have more troops and support available than you?
Time available – how much time will it take to accomplish your goals?
Civil considerations – are there non-combatants or other civil areas to consider?

Recon is the most important part of your support troops.

Recon Tips #2: Give your recon team the support they need to be successful.

Here are some important parts of a recon team:

Keep the ream team small – 4 recons at most
Keep the recon team agile – the less they need to carry, the better
Keep your recon team protected – two recon members should carry automatic weapons, one should carry

There are variations on reconnaissance depending on what the objectives of the mission are. For example, if the objective is to determine the location of enemy fire the act of firing first may allow you to locate enemy locations as a strategic piece of information for a future attack. Another example would be determining that a particular area of the battlefield was less guarded than other areas. This area may be a great location to base future attacks, recon missions, or make note of exploitable information in which friendly forces can pass while avoiding contact from the enemy.

Above all else, information about the enemy can prove to be your most valuable asset. Consider the above when you are placed in a situation where you have the time and resources to plan your mission so that it can be carried out in the most strategic way possible.

How to Have a Bug Out Drill

Posted: 12th April 2012 by admin in Bugging Out, Survivalist Preparation, TEOTWAWKI
Tags: bug in, bug out, bug out bag, bug out bags, bug out drill

The military trains its troops with one method - repetitive drills. Muscle memory is where its at!

Its super important that when a SHTF scenario happens, you and your family is ready to react – at least until things settle down.

Here are your goals:

Get to safety as quick as possible
Make sure you have everything you need to sustain life – fire, shelter, food, and water

Your family is probably going to think you’re a little weird for asking them to have a bug out drill – but someday, it might just save their lives. That said, here are a couple bug out drills to practice with just you or the entire family.

Bug Out Drill #1: Evacuation

This scenario is not as likely as other bug out scenarios, but here’s one to practice your speed and coordination in a stressful situation.

Imagine you get a knock on your door – its the fire department, EMTs, police, or whoever. They give you 5 minutes to pack what you need and move out.

Time you and your family – anything you can carry after 5:00 minutes will be taken, all else left. Take your family out to eat and discuss the items they brought. Get your family thinking about the essentials of your bug out.

Bugging Out During a Forced Evacuation May Save Your Life

Bug Out Drill #2: Bug Out Weekend

Bugging out can be fun – plan with your wife to bug out, but if you have kids, don’t mention it to them until 5 or 10 minutes before you leave. Give your children 5 minutes notice that you’ll be spending the weekend camping, hiking, or whatever your budget can afford. That will really give you an idea of how well your bug out bag is prepared.

Bugging Out Can be a Fun Family Trip!

Bug Out Drill #3: TEOTWAWKI Weekend – Bug-IN Weekend

Plan a bug in weekend – a weekend where you shut off the power and water to your house and spend the entire weekend with the power out and the water off. This will also give you a good idea of how you would cope in a grid-down scenario.

Before you have a TEOTWAWKI weekend, make sure you have a security plan, a plan for food and water, and a simple schedule of activities to keep your family having fun.

If you are not bugging out alone, then everyone in your family/party will need to have an idea of what they need to bring in the event SHTF and you need to bug out. A bug out bag packed with all of your survival gear prepared for each person is a must for any person preparing for TEOTWAWKI.

Bug in Weekends Can be Fun and Affordable!

Keep your bug out bag in an accessible location that is personalized for each individual. This is important because men and woman may have different needs as would a child or adult. Consider packing a change of clothing as well as shoes, a bottle of water, high energy snacks, first aid supplies and toiletries. You should also consider medicine, cash, candles, matches, a cell phone charger and extra battery and a thermal blanket.

These items should be placed somewhere convenient and someplace easily accessible. Everyone in the family should know where to find these items and what it is they are responsible for. The goal is to have this accomplished in under five minutes, essentially a grab and go.

Practice the Bug Out Drill

The military trains by repetition and so should you. Practice this drill every so often and time yourself to see how quickly you can respond to a scenario where you need to move you and your loved ones fast. You will also be able to determine the most ideal locations for your backpacks as well as the space you have in your vehicle.

Learning Survivalist Preparation from the Contagion Movie

Posted: 12th April 2012 by admin in Survivalist Preparation
Tags: preparation, survival, survivalist

In the recent movie Contagion where a deadly infection spreads throughout the world a survivalist can take notes on the importance of preparation and the societal disorder that takes place as a result. Here is a basic synopsis of the plot:

A business woman returns home from her trip to Hong Kong with a strange sickness that she brushes off as the flu or some other infection. After falling to the floor and seizuring uncontrollably she is taken to the hospital by her husband where she soon dies. Upon his return home, the husband finds that his son too was infected and that he loses both wife and son in the same day due to the unexplained illness. Thus begins the spread of the deadly infection that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization are attempting to control as people around the world are dropping dead with no vaccine in sight.

The nurses soon strike not wanting to become contaminated and what follows suit is the threat that anyone could soon die and the cessation of virtually all work forces including law enforcement. Burglaries, theft, pillaging and murder take place as it is a fight for oneself to survive and find food.

What a Survivalist Can Learn from Contagion

Many people think that an episode such as this one is not unthinkable. After all, swine flu took its course for months before a vaccine was found. The basic concerns after panic and chaos ensue are the safety of your family and their supply of food and water. In the movie grocery stores are smashed up and people with guns are taking over in an attempt to get any last meals. A survivalist would have a healthy supply of food and drink available to them in the event grocers were inaccessible.

In addition to food and drink the safety of one’s family and would be a top priority. If your home was no longer safe due to burglars and the threat of disease would you have a backup location that was remote and that also contained necessary survival items? The mere ability to have your needs prepared for would place you above the rest. Furthermore, having the foresight to determine that a sickness that makes the news may result in panic as well as the military taking over and disallowing your mobility out of a city should make any survivalist aware of the importance of moving quickly rather than seeing what pans out.

Best Bug Out Vehicle: Marauder

Posted: 5th April 2012 by admin in Bug Out Vehicle
Tags: bug out truck, bug out vehicle, marauder, survival truck, survival vehicle

If you are a fan of bad-a** survival vehicles you may have seen the Marauder SUV developed by the Paramount Group based in the perpetual survivalist nation of South Africa. This vehicle gained so much popularity it was featured in the British automotive program Top Gear. For comparisons sake, the truck was matched to the Hummer, where it was tested for driving off-road as well as over cars, ordering fast food, and being blasted by explosives. To give you an idea of how great this bad-boy is, reference this episode to watch how the same explosives that were used on the H3 that completely destroyed it left the Marauder completely operational with the exception of a single blown tire.

Bad Ass Marauder Bug Out Vehicle Specs

20,000+ lb. beast that can weigh up to 33,000 lbs. when combat ready
Holds up to eight passengers

Marauder Survival Armor

Ballistic Protection

7.62x54mm RB 32 API & .50cal API (Equivalent to STANAG 4569 level III)

Mine Protection

Mine Protection – Double anti-tank mine (14kg TNT) under any wheel
Single anti-mine (7kg) under the hull. (Higher than STANAG 4569 level 4a and 4b)
The truck or truck/tank hybrid gets its power from a Cummins ISBe4 Diesel engine that can reach 100-120 km/h depending on the tires.

Use of the Marauder Survial Vehicle

The Marauder is designed to carry a crew of two in the front and eight fully equipped soldiers in the rear. It can be adapted to be an ambulance, a command center, or to house an overhead weapon system (my favorite).

Initially developed for recon and peacekeeping missions, the Marauder can be outfitted with light and medium caliber machine guns, cannon weapons, missile launchers, and anti-aircraft guns (just kidding).

How To Get Your Marauder

In the event that you need to withstand an anti-tank blast under the hull, or a double anti-tank mine blast under any wheel, the Marauder is for you.

For $500,000 bucks the Marauder could be yours!

The company is in an agreement with the King Abdullah Design and Development Bureau (KADDB), Jordan’s primary governmental military agency that develops and manufactures defense systems, and which serves as an independent technical advisor to the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF).

Currently the vehicle is only in operation in Azerbaijan, South Africa, and in use by the Indian Army.

Latest Posts

Categories

Popular Tags

Post Archives