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Friday, June 22, 2018

What is a Bug Out Bag (B.O.B.) and why do I need one?

The Bug Out Bag or B.O.B. is a backpack or pack of some sort that you have packed and ready in case of an emergency that forces you to leave your home at a moments notice.

When most survivalist talk about a Bug Out Bag they usually are focused on items in that bag that can be used to survive in the wild. Items may include a shelter, ax, water filtration, fishing kit, etc.

There is however another way to look at a Bug Out Bag that is not quite so drastic. Consider a bag you can grab that is prepared for the everyday emergency. Such as a weather emergency that has the local authorities calling for evacuation. Perhaps a friend or family member is rushed to the hospital and you need to get there ASAP. Packing in a situation like this, you are bound to forget a few important things.

Having a bag filled with necessities at the ready, can be very helpful and bring peace of mind. You could start with an Everyday Emergency Bag (an Overnight Bag) and complete a Wilderness B.O.B later, this way you have a choice of what to grab when the need arises.

The term Bug Out Bag is just one term used to describe a prepacked bag you can grab when needed. Some other terms include, Go Bag, I.N.C.H. Bag (I'm Never Coming Home Bag), Get Home Bag, S.C.A.R.E. Bag, Just In Case Bag, or Overnight Bag. Some of these terms are interchangeable but others denote a specific situation or reason to carry it.

No matter what you call it, having something prepped ahead of time in case of emergency is just smart. I recommend starting with an Overnight Bag, a bag packed in case of having to stay overnight somewhere at a moments notice, this figures on staying in a house or building with running water and electric, no social unrest or weather emergency. Things you may include might be a change of clothes, a small toiletry bag, charger for you cell phone, etc.

After you have one of these bags feel free to build a bag suited to whatever emergency you feel is most likely to happen where you are, flood, hurricane, volcano, earthquake, zombies, etc.

Keep your bag somewhere easy to grab, and check it's contents on a regular basis to make sure seasonal items are suited to time of year, items still fit, etc. Consider also packing a bag for each member of your family. Don't forget to include your furry family members, and other pets you would take with you in an emergency.

What would you keep in your Bug Out Bag? What emergency situation do you think is the most common? What should we be prepared for? Comment below and let us know.

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