Some real-life considerations about how to think about this topic
During one of my survival skills courses that I teach at a local college, a student asked me to list the items that should be carried in an evacuation bag, also known as the “bugout bag.” In other words, if she had to immediately leave her home for some reason, she wanted to know what she should carry in her survival pack. Of course, this led to a big portion of that evening’s discussion.
“First,” I responded, “what scenario are we talking about?” The student was thinking of a serious emergency where even a car wouldn’t be useful, where she’d have to evacuate on foot.
So my first order was to convey the fact that one would rarely choose to leave one’s home – where everything is familiar and where you know everyone in the neighborhood – unless you absolutely had no other choice.
“You don’t want to leave your home and randomly wander the streets after an emergency,” I told her, “because you are now entering into the chaos and randomness of street mobs and possible violence.” I tried to impress upon the entire class how dangerous it can be to wander on foot in the aftermath of a major disaster – whether it be an earthquake, or the results of war, or flooding, or something else.
And though the effects of natural disasters can be devastating, the fear and chaos that will possess other people could be your greatest threat.
OK, so we established that wandering around may not be your best choice.
“OK,” responded the student, “but if I have no other choice, then what should I carry?”
I responded, “I want you to tell me where you would be going. You haven’t told me what disaster would compel you to leave your home. But let’s assume that you absolutely have to evacuate. Tell me where you intend to go?”
While she was thinking about it, I asked all the students, “If there was an emergency tonight after you get home and you had to evacuate, where would you go? And why would you go there?” Not a single person in the class had any idea of where they could go, and where they would go, and in all probability, they would follow crowds to some likely safe place, or would simply follow the orders of whomever happened to be giving orders.
I urged each student to obtain topographical maps of their local area and to begin to learn about their local environment. Find out where there are sources of water, reservoirs, pools, train lines, etc. In a disaster, your knowledge is far more important than your stuff.
After a bit more prodding, the student asking the question about pack contents told me that she’d go to a campground in the nearby canyons, about 3 miles from her home. I’d been to that campground many times, but she had never been there. She at least knew that there was an outhouse there, tables and fire pits, and a river that never failed to flow. I told her that the campground was a good choice. “But,” I added, “do you think anyone else in town knows about that camp?”
I answered my own question. “Yes, you are the only one who knows about that ideal camp, along with a few thousand other people.” I paused. “So do you actually know how to get there? Have you ever walked there?”
She responded “no” and “no.” “So, then, who do you intend to go there with?” I could see that she was growing impatient with my queries. “Of course I would go by myself. And I just want to know what to carry in my pack” she said with a bit of exasperation.
“Yes, yes, I know,” I told her. “So if you plan to evacuate to this campground by yourself, what sort of weapons do you intend to carry? Or, are you a martial arts expert?”
She almost laughed at me saying that she would go alone, and “I don’t believe in guns.”
“OK, you may not believe in guns – whatever that means – but other people do,” I told her carefully. “You need to realize that if you want to have any chance of getting there after an emergency – and maybe in the dark – you will need to travel in a group and with some weapons. You’re an attractive woman, and you’d be a target. You realize that, don’t you?”
The class was quiet, and thoughtful, but I could hear her thoughts that I was now somewhat sexist. “I only want to know what to carry in my pack,” she persisted.
“OK, we’ll get there,” I told her. I urged each student to get involved in their local Neighborhood Watch, and to do the CERT trainings, and Red Cross emergency first aid. In other words, we need to realize the fact that other people in our community, and our relationships with them, is a far greater “survival tool” than merely having a pack with some knick-knacks in it.
Most people would be surprised to learn the level of preparedness that already occurs in most cities, and within various agencies such as the Red Cross, Police and Sheriff departments, and City Hall. It is to each of our advantage to get to know what has already been planned in our own towns.
Everyone was getting the picture. Get to know your town, your geography, and get to know who’s who in your town, and learn about systems that have already been established in the event of emergencies. Of course you must still do your own home preparedness, but just don’t do it in a vacuum.
But the student persisted. She still wanted to know what to carry. So I polled the students who’d already been in my class for several weeks. What should one carry in a survival pack?
Someone said a knife. Yes, I wrote that on the board. You should carry some sort of useful knife that you’re comfortable with, like a Swiss Army knife, a Leatherman, and so on. Someone suggested that a bow and drill be carried for fire making. No, I said. We learn how to make fire with those primitive methods so we can do it when there is nothing else. You must have fire, but keep it simple. Carry a Bic or a magnesium fire starter. Water. Yes, you need it, and should carry at least a quart container and a water purifier. And you need to know where to find water. And we continued this way – first aid kit, small flash light, toilet paper, twine, etc. It was more important to get people to consider their individual needs than it was for me to list things that someone else thinks are important.
Survival can be deadly serious, but it can be a very enjoyable pursuit along the way. Learn what you can little by little, but apply your knowledge as you go. That way, your skills are useful and your confidence level is increased. It is never sufficient to say “I saw that on YouTube” and think that you know what it’s all about.
MORE KIT ITEMS
For some idea of what you might carry, look at Francisco Loaiza’s blog spot, where he describes 30 essential items that he recommends to his Boy Scouts. http://loaizas.blogspot.com/2010/03/franks-30-essential-items-for-hiking-or.html.
For more ideas of what to consider in a kit, you should check out John McCann’s “Build the Perfect Survival Kit,” as well as my own “How to Survive Anywhere.”
THE HOLY TRINITY
One should always practice some degree of readiness, wherever you are, at all times. Yes, I know that every modern made relies on the “smart phone,” as well as credit cards and keys to provide all possible earthly needs. However, my Holy Trinity of items you should always carry are a knife, fire starter, and cordage. Everyone has their own preferences for each of these three, but if I was pressed to make a recommendation for a beginner, I’d suggest a Swiss Army knife, both a Bic lighter and a Doan magnesium fire starter, and a small roll of parachute cord.
