I used to teach survival course for my teams as I was the E&E / SERE NCO for our unit....... I stressed that if it wasn’t in your pocket or you were wearing it you wouldn’t have it when the SHTF .
We used a simple soapdish mini survival kit back then that was dummy corded to the troops pocket. We modified out gear with extra long rigger belts, used 550 para cord as our boot laces. Leatherman or other brand of multi-tools . Layered our clothing . Practiced the fine art of multi-purpose use or don’t carry it if at all possible.
EDC has good and bad ideas yet brings to light some cool why didn’t I think of that deals. Like using a multi-pocket large baby / diaper bag that is durable as heck vs a expensive maxpedition or bag master gear bag......it works well !
one cool item recently added to my emergency gear was a jerven bag that is perfect ! I used a homemade vacuum packing system I have to pack it down to the size of a paperback book. It’s issue to troops in Norway. I tested it during our last cold rain / sleet storm. Stayed toasty and dry.
https://jerven-com.secure.flexiweb.no/
Good stuff.....
Other good links;
http://www.frugalsquirrels.com/
As to work place PC carry. I use an ankle rig for a snub 357 340S&W w/ 2 spare bianchi speed strips and a small altoids can pressed into service as a personal survival kit. Only other items really carried are a Surefire E2 defender, a fire steel rod on my key ring and a LM tool. Neck lanyard with company ID card has a Photon IIIS on it and my wallet has a few rakes, pick and torsion bars for doors that need to be opened in an emergency. Finesse vs breaker bars per se..... A messenger bag carries my lunch and a couple bottles of water along with a weather shell and a small blow out kit for medical emergencies albeit the ladies bathrooms usually have all the emergency bandages one will need ...
Primary skills and how too ideas should be carried in yer mind vs any tool or gear bag. But simple tools make it easier .......just a few will do .
Stay safe !
I was amazed at how many troops never thought of a pocket knife and a sheath knife before deploying. If I was their platoon sergeant, I'd tell them that if they have the money for a MP3 player, DVD, and a digital camera, they'd damn well better have those knives, too. A high-intensity flashlight is good, too, but those don't have to be too expensive. We are living in the golden age of high-tech flashlights.
I have a lockpick in my briefcase because I work the midnight shift, and I sometimes need to get into file cabinets that we don't have keys for. And since our own country is part of the battleground in this war, I refused to go totally disarmed, except when I have to go through a metal detector. I'd be fired for carrying a piece, even though I had a license, and even though they look the other way if the doctors carry.
So I have to stick with blades, which is much better than being naked. I have a Marfione titanium "charge card" in my wallet, along with a few sharp and pointy plastic objects in my briefcase. I also use them when I defrost the departmental refrigerator, because everybody else is too lazy to do it.
And a Cold Steel "safekeeper" in my briefcase, tucked away in one of the many hidden compartments. Sometimes only Cold Steel will do you you really need cold steel. In a sane world, I'd carry my FN FiveseveN openly.
My Kershaw 1670 Blur is just a pocket knife, but with the sharpest edge of any blade I've ever owned. But for general "in public" cutting, I have my little, non-threatening Victorinox "data" knife. If TSHTF, I also have a copy of my most important data with me. "Preparedness" in today's world should include consideration of your computer and your irreplaceable data.
Good plan!