Actually the first thing that needs some serious thought is whether bugging out is the right thing to do. Obviously for some urban people it is but the vast majority of us rural and small town folks should stay put.
Once you leave home - you are a refugee.
I don’t disagree with the idea that you should stay put as long as possible - that’s also true of aircraft crashes, etc. The question though is if you were forced to what are the essentials you would take with you.
Yeah, but I work in the city, so I have a bag in case I get caught away from home.
Exactly. The issue that some of us rural / small town folk might face is that of returning to our place of safety. A lot of us have had to range farther to find work, so the return home may be a difficult one depending upon circumstances.
For example, I work approx 42-44 miles away from our place in rural north Idaho. Ideally, I'll just get up from my desk, excuse myself by pleading a 'family emergency' (which won't be far off the truth) and drive home. However - I'm quite prepared to walk and or fight my way home if I must. So I've constructed a Get Out Of Dodge kit that will easily sustain me for 3 days in the field, and for five days if I stretch it. It's designed for speed and mobility, but it still weighs about 60 pounds with a full load-out of food, water and ammunition. That weight includes everything right down to weapons, helmet and combat uniform.
I've completely re-written my original post, A High Mobility 72 Hour Kitand I plan to re-publish it complete with pictures.