[CottonBall]

This is your ping to the All Things Prepping, Simple Living, Back to the Basics [a place to come sit on the porch and chat, an on going thread]

This week's topic is Bug Out Bags at Post #422

If you want off/on this list, just let me know.

[Jane Long]

Thanks, CB!

I think a variety of bug out bags would make excellent, and, timely Christmas gifts, this year.

Will be checking back for more great ideas (LOVE IMs post of ideas).

[CottonBall]

Sorry I've been AWOL and skipped a week.

I was guilted into fostering a mama cat and 5 kittens. They came from the Blountville Sheriff's Department and are ironically black and white.

[Rusty0604]

Thanks!

[metmom]

Good time for this topic what with the world situation being what it is.

If it’s true that we are on the brink of a major world conflict, or at risk of imminent attack here on US soil, it would behoove us to check our prepping supplies and fill in any gaps.

Two considerations. Runnings has ammo at a very good price these days and no limit on boxes.

Also, winter is coming for those of us north of the Mason-Dixon line. I’ve seen the forecast for the winter for the northeast as milder and snowier than usual, which for us means more likelihood of power outages due to downed power lines. It’s a good time to check heating oil, propane, and wood supply.

[little jeremiah]

I am bugged out... although we had to get ready to evacuate due to wildfires a couple of times. It’s better to have something prepared, at least a list, as in emergencies it’s very hard to think straight. BTDT... I get stressed and frazzled.

[Spunky]

I came across something the other day I was going to post. It didn’t have anything to do with Bug Out though. It had something to do with food prep and sounded really good but I have forgotten what it was now. :-(

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Bug Out Bags: We don’t have them. We’re as ‘bugged out’ as we’re going to get out here in the sticks.

I’d be very surprised if anyone comes looking for us; ‘citified miscreants’ are too lazy and AFRAID of going into the woods.

Our perimeters are secure and I could see someone coming from any direction - we’re on a hill. Well, everything IS a hill in our ‘Driftless’ county. Also a deterrent to the ‘citified.’ ;)

[Manuel OKelley]

having walked thousands of miles with packs and various gear, the most common mistake I see is people assuming they can carry far more than they really can and have seen people who would be hard pressed to walk unencumbered 20 miles in a day show me their BOB with 40-60+ lbs of gear

I’m a strong guy in better shape than most ppl around me with lots of experience hiking long distances and any more than 20-22 lbs of gear and 10 lbs of rifle and belt gear slows me down.

Think damned hard about what you pack cause if you pack too much you might lose all of it.

[Iron Munro]

WATER

We all know we must have sufficient clean water to stay hydrated and healthy.
Potable drinking water is one of the most important things to plan for in a multi-day Get-Home or Bail-Out SHTF emergency.
Getting sick from drinking dirty water is debilitating at any time but would be life threatening while trying to get home or bugging out.

In either scenario you will be constantly on the go and carrying some weight; water containers and a pack of some sort at a minimum.
So your water requirement will be more than a quiet day at home - probably at last one gallon a day or more.

Yet water is one of the heaviest items to carry - a gallon of water weighs over 8 pounds.
It will be a challenge to carry enough for more than a day or two.

So you will need to continually replenish your supply of drinking water.
And you cannot count on always finding safe, ready to drink, potable water along the way.
So think the process through on the various ways you may need to replenish drinking water.
You will need some containers, a filter of some sort, a way to purify water you find (bleach, purification drops or tablets, etc.).

• How will you filter dirty or muddy water?
• Into what container?
• How will you purify it?
• Will you boil it?
• Do you have a metal container for that?
• A small stove?
• A way to start a fire?
• Bleach to purify water? How much is enough?
• Purification tablets? Do you know how to use them?
• How will you prevent dirty water from contaminating your drinking cup?

There is a lot of information on the subject available so it would be prudent to study up and try to plan for different contingencies.
An important step in preps is to try out some of the ideas, processes and equipment at home before you are in an emergency situation.