Bug out Bag(New)

[Rajat]

I am sure there are more members with bob's??

Well !!

[essdee1972]

Briha sir, (over)smart phone with roaming is normally in my shirt front pocket, would need some solar charger for the same. Sun glares rest below the hand brake of the car, and tummy upset (and fever, and pain, and blah, and blah) medications are very thoughtfully provided by the St. John's Ambulance folks in the First Aid kit. I just go through the expiry dates about once a month or so (have a piece of paper inside with a list, so don't need to do a comprehensive search every time).

Moin, Classic Milds normally are very difficult to store, I end up consuming the whole lot . Hence I wanted to keep ciggie paper and loose tobacco in a waterproof dabba. The day's supply would probably be in my pockets!

Choombak, I have a similar problem as Anand - family members' age ranges from 78 to 8 (also 1.3, if you count dog age in human years). I will need about a ton of snacks and dog food. Also, finishing such a humongous amount of granola bars as expiry nears will be task in itself!! In a quake (God forbid!), I will be easily to grab the home snack bar (or shelf, rather) by the time my family reaches the staircase!

Slingshot, thanks for the list. I had forgotten about documents and batteries and toilettries..... will need to pick up some tiny sizes next time I am near a Basecamp store. By the way, can you share how you persuaded your better half to be prepared for this? Mine thinks I am slightly touched in the upper storey!

Also, do you keep anything in your car? I was a little apprehensive about carrying the big knife every day!

Would looooo.....oove to have a bug out kit like Sandy.... if only just the AKM!

Please keep 'em coming, folks! We can at least get to an India-specific list. The problem with most survival sites it that they are US-based (hence include multiple weapons in the list, which would be impossible here, plus the availability of other stuff, e.g. MREs, is much more there than here. Another thing on these sites is the excessive harping about SHTF and TEOTWAWKI (i.e. S**t Hits The Fan, and The End Of The World As We Know It). Of course, my feeling would probably be biased.

Just as an aside, in most Indian cities, the commonest SHTF situation would be riots. Wouldn't bugging IN be better in those cases? Particularly if you are in a gated community?

Would also like to know what people keep in their vehicles, or EDC bags (I mean normal work / laptop bags) to tide over unfortunate occurrences (like huge traffic snarls) on the daily commute?

[sandy_3126]

MRE's variants are available in India, the MTR's and similar comapany's ready to eat meals, the stuff that is sold in AL packaging wrapped in carboard boxes,non-refrigerated stuff found in typical food isles. typical shelf life is around 1-2 years.

[sandy_3126]

I dont buy the entire SHTF stuff that youtubers keep on hammering out videos on. I do not believe that the fabric of our society is so easy to collapse,. What I do believe is that our disaster preparedness and response in case of large scale earthquake or a pandemic is a joke. Society in america is built here to buy rations on a weekly basis. And panic sets in the communities here very easily. Socially there is immense distrust among communities for each other and government alike. Hurricane katrina was the prime example.

I remember back in India, my family would buy rice and other grains for six months and store it, just to beat rising prices, it also ensured enough supplies. My kitchen garden had everything from tomatoes, chilies, sweet potatoes, peas and different saags. Along with very close knit community in which we lived, in retrospect I can see how easy it would have been to survive a riot like situation.

With San andreas fault line close by and 10er expected any minute since last 5 years, earthquake, is the biggest concern for me.

[slingshot]

Slingshot, thanks for the list. I had forgotten about documents and batteries and toilettries..... will need to pick up some tiny sizes next time I am near a Basecamp store. By the way, can you share how you persuaded your better half to be prepared for this? Mine thinks I am slightly touched in the upper storey!

Also, do you keep anything in your car? I was a little apprehensive about carrying the big knife every day!

Essdee, I was working at The Oberoi on the night of 26/11. It was a night of inches and seconds. We evacuated more than 1500 staff and guests that night from The Trident and The Oberoi. And we tried our best to save injured guests and staff and move them to hospitals. A small team of us were finally able to leave the hotel at 3 am and we camped at CR2 and then at Air India building, waiting to re-enter the hotel, once it was cleared. We lived off the street and with the kindness of nearby residents who looked after us. Mumbai is an incredible city...it really has a tremendous community spirit.

People are woefully under prepared for such situations, as was evident to me. So I am determined that in case I am ever in a situation that demands a prepared mind, I shall not be found wanting. People need leadership in these situations and if there are at least a few people who are aware of what needs to be done, the work of calming people, safe evacuation, speed, becomes easier. Though I can tell you, it is not easy.

The wife understands this now. An event like this, changes perspective.

In my car, I usually keep a crowbar. And its important to have an icebox at home. And the car has other stuff like a first aid kit.

[essdee1972]

Slingshot..... so you were one of the heroes of the 26/11!

My salutations to you and your entire team.

[brihacharan]

[quote="essdee1972"]

Slingshot..... My salutations

> In fact it was on the top of my mind
> During my school days I was a crack shot with a sling shot - could knock off 'Dragon Flies' on reed stems from 15ft away.
> Also my neighbor's mango trees provided 'Achar' .... those were the days
Briha

[Rajat]

Essdee, I was working at The Oberoi on the night of 26/11. It was a night of inches and seconds. We evacuated more than 1500 staff and guests that night from The Trident and The Oberoi. And we tried our best to save injured guests and staff and move them to hospitals. A small team of us were finally able to leave the hotel at 3 am and we camped at CR2 and then at Air India building, waiting to re-enter the hotel, once it was cleared.

Words would not have been enough.

[slingshot]

Essdee, Rajat, Briha,

Though it feels good to be part of a team that saved lives, I must state that on that night, we were responding with collective instinct, training and deep sense of pride of a team. Just like the team at The Taj. Even though the threat was very high, the team did the right thing...proactively help the injured, first aid, move guests and staff to safer locations, evacuate, provide food, comfort, encouragement & motivation, keep a sense of calm (inspite of the deep instinctive fear in all of us) and help people help themselves.

This was possible, due to the intensive training that all hotel personnel have to go through. The training in Fire fighting, evacuation, first aid, safety, CPR is not optional. It is mandatory. In fact, if hotel employees do not pass these tests, they do not get confirmed as an employee. So most hotel employees will be able to handle a 'static' threat better. A fire is a static threat...as it is usually localised...and if basic first aid for fire and proper procedure followed, it can be kept localised and handled. The terror attack was however a 'dynamic' threat. As in, these chaps were free to roam anywhere, hence the threat could not be contained in one location. Very difficult to handle this kind of threat.

Both hotels have been in operation for many years and the staff have a deep sense of pride in their place of work. The only reaction...was the right reaction. Anything else was unthinkable. We are not heroes. We just did what we were trained to do. And every day, we wish we could have done more.

[slingshot]

and sorry about going OT on this. lets bring this back on topic...BUG out Bags!

[Mark]

With San andreas fault line close by and 10er expected any minute since last 5 years, earthquake, is the biggest concern for me.

I lived in the San Francisco Bay area back in the early 70's, and they were talking about "the big one" happening even back then. Our house had 2 sets of foundations under it, the second set was put there after the house shifted off the first ones during the 1906 earthquake.

[Moin.]

Essdee, Rajat, Briha,

Though it feels good to be part of a team that saved lives, I must state that on that night, we were responding with collective instinct, training and deep sense of pride of a team. Just like the team at The Taj. Even though the threat was very high, the team did the right thing...proactively help the injured, first aid, move guests and staff to safer locations, evacuate, provide food, comfort, encouragement & motivation, keep a sense of calm (inspite of the deep instinctive fear in all of us) and help people help themselves.

This was possible, due to the intensive training that all hotel personnel have to go through. The training in Fire fighting, evacuation, first aid, safety, CPR is not optional. It is mandatory. In fact, if hotel employees do not pass these tests, they do not get confirmed as an employee. So most hotel employees will be able to handle a 'static' threat better. A fire is a static threat...as it is usually localised...and if basic first aid for fire and proper procedure followed, it can be kept localised and handled. The terror attack was however a 'dynamic' threat. As in, these chaps were free to roam anywhere, hence the threat could not be contained in one location. Very difficult to handle this kind of threat.

Both hotels have been in operation for many years and the staff have a deep sense of pride in their place of work. The only reaction...was the right reaction. Anything else was unthinkable. We are not heroes. We just did what we were trained to do. And every day, we wish we could have done more.

Chief, you've mentioned this to me before, salutations from me as well...knowing you, I'm sure if you were carrying your Bk2 you would have sent a few scumbags to hell yourself....


Esdee and Chief; And on the subject of BOB's, you guys are nuts, lugging this stuff around in mumbai...Lolllzz..Like the Michael Moore movie on gun control in which a guy sleeps with a 44mag under his pillow

[essdee1972]

Slingshot, as Kipling says, "If you can keep your head, while all around you are losing theirs.......". At a time when senior police officials lost their heads, you guys kept yours!

Moin, I don't lug the damn thing around. It usually lies at home, unless I am going on a long drive. And you actually watch Michael Moore, and are part of a site which has "..... for guns" in it's name!!!

Coming back, Mumbai is a high seismic risk area, although not so much as South California. Plus the fact that civic services are in a generally poor state here, means that the collapse of whatever infrastructure is present will be that much faster and more total. I hope you remember - it is now 7 years since Mumbai faced The Floods (capitalisation is mine). I think in case of a similar metereological phenomenon occurring today, the situation will be worse as far as infrastructure is concerned (simply because of more concrete having been added since then). Probably the only saving grace might be that people will not venture out as they did on that day.

So "some" level of preparedness is a good thing. Now some of the stuff that I keep in the bag, e.g. shemaghs, bandannas, ponchos, are there because it is just easier to store them there rather than somewhere buried in a wardrobe, so that, in case I have to run away in rains, I don't take time to fill the bag.

Another thing I need to get used to is the concept of keeping at least half a tank of fuel all the time (sufficient for 200 km in my car). Here, like many compatriots, I tend to fill only when I am scared I'll have to push the car to go home. Some mentality change required!!!

[slingshot]

Moin, Essdee, I dont lug mine around either It is kept at home and I usually take it with me when I am driving on long distances or go camping. When I leave for work everyday, my regular stuff that I have on me should suffice. Most of us lug these things around anyway

1. All my information, data and paperwork is in my laptop.
2. There is a first aid kit in the car
3. A folding blade is in my pocket - these days, carrying the Doug Ritter Mini Griptillian
4. A Swiss Champ in my bag
5. Toolkit in the car
6. Cellphone with camera & applications in my pocket
7. A Samsung Digital Tab in the bag
8. Battery chargers in my bag
9. Sunglasses in my Car
10. LUNCH...food packed by the better half...so no MRE for at least one meal period
11. Water in the car as well as in the office replenished everyday
12. I keep an extra crisp shirt and a change of clothes, in the office...for the last minute event to attend that someone forgot to tell me about
13. Multiple pens
14. One flashlight in my bag...I work in real estate...and sometimes I have to go visit under construction sites...with dark walkways

As you have guessed....have actually rummaged through the bag...and the last thing I found was the flashlight. It never fails to amaze me...how i have to rummage the bag every time to find the flashlight. Will put it in an easy spot from now on

[essdee1972]

Slingshot, you can try keeping a mini Maglite on your keychain (and remember to take it out whenever you give the car for servicing). I bought a tiny LED light by a company called Swiss Military maybe a couple of years back - this was being sold onboard a flight..... IndiGo, maybe? I prefer the LEDs higher brightness.

My EDC (pockets, bag, car) is quite similar to yours (keeping similar order):

1. All info (scanned copies of passports, DLs, cards, etc.) in hard drive. Don't have copies of the sale agreement of the flat as yet !
2. Again, car first aid kit, with Band Aids (originals were pretty lousy) replaced and the cheap plastic case changed. Some medicines added. Whole thing will still fit into a pocket. Plus hand sanitiser, wet wipes. All in the car glove compartment.
3. Browning folder in pocket / belt.
4. Car toolkit, augmented with a reversible screwdriver, a adjustable spanner, a bit of duct tape and WD 40. All plus car polish, windscreen soap sachets, etc. in a plastic bin in the boot (NEVER been stopped at malls!).
5. Mobile in shirt pocket, with camera, and the First Aid manuals mentioned earlier. I also have a rope tying manual
8. Car mobile chargers in car. I have mobile chargers at home and office. Lappie charger in lappie bag.
9. Sunglasses in car. I normally wear glasses, but the shades are also "powered".
10. Waterbottle in car, another in office
12. Pens & pencils
14. Cree LED flashlight in glove compartment, torch app in mobile.
15. Small multitool in car. I stopped carrying a knife / multitool in my bag after I once forgot to take it out before a flight and had a Chinese multitool confiscated. Since my current crop of knives / tools are quite a bit costlier than the earlier, student / intern models, I just don't take any risks!

I read somewhere on the net about keeping a backup hard drive / pendrive. They actually called it "disaster pen drive"! The idea is to have a few dedicated pen drives (at least one with every member of the family, plus one "somewhere safe") with scanned copies of all the docs one normally needs. I do have scans of passports, DLs, credit / debit cards, but all are on my general big hard drive, which also stores movies, music, etc. Multiple pen drives will invariablty mean disparity of data, because I'll simply forget to back up at least one of them!!