These guys do Great Work. Any serious Prepper should join American Preppers Network.
The National Network can link you to your LOCAL affiliate Groups and Meetups.
Much Thanks to Frank Burns, Jalapeno Gal, and APN for sharing the Knowledge.
Remember, NOW is a Great Time, no?
Now works for me.
Stay Alert. Stay Informed. Stay Involved.
Cheers,
_MP
Today we are going to feature a DEEP, Theory-Based article on BOB's and Go Bags.
Time to tidy up your Kit.
Enjoy and Share.
As Preppers, we talk a lot about all kinds of equipment sets and go
into detail about what goes in them and how to organize them. But what
is the difference between these Kits and why do we have so many?
Prepper Theory is based on massive amounts of research. This includes studying reports of what has happened in a disaster, in-depth discussions with people who have lived through disasters and reading other people’s research.
It is also based on personal experience which, if not gained via living through a disaster, is gained by experimenting, drilling, simulation, etc. We also constantly search for reports of those who have been through disasters and identify what worked for them and what they wish they had done differently.
This is why The APN created our Disaster Experiences section – these stories are the stories of those who have lived through a disaster and are rich with experience and information.
We who study Prepper Theory are constantly searching for failures (which are an opportunity to learn and improve) or successes (which teach us what worked and give us ideas of how to improve on what is working), both of which are able to teach us definitive lessons.
One of the easier and more practical Prepper Practices to research and experiment is emergency gear and the idea of being able to hastily grab what you need, when you need it.
Through this process, multiple impact issues have to be taken into consideration such as:
Hasty Acquisition identifies how readily accessible particular items or Kits should be. This level goes from “on your person” or Tier 1, to “in the room with me” down to “in the basement packed away but accessible ”. Knowing how quickly you will need to be able to access your Kit based on the scenario is critical. In an earthquake, Hasty Acquisition is absolutely essential for critical Kits while evacuating prior to a hurricane allows for the Kit to be on a shelf in the basement.
Based on your Threat Assessment you should be able to identify the Kits you will need, the locations they should be at (office, home, car, etc) and how readily accessible they have to be.
For a Specialized Kit, you have to study out the scenario and identify what will be needed. For example, the Pandemic Kit will need Personal Protective Gear; for biological issues this includes a “bunny suit”, personal air filtration system, gloves, shoe covers, etc. The exact list must be customized to your personal needs. This list is created by research into the scenario and learning what is needed.
Once you know what gear is needed for the situation you are working on, quality becomes a big consideration because quality is equal to cost. If a piece of equipment is absolutely essential and absolutely must function properly, it is prudent to seek out the top quality and invest in the most reliable piece of equipment you can. Other items may be needed but not essential. In this case, it may be prudent to purchase a lesser quality item and save some money. You can also balance this with purchasing multiples of lesser quality items to establish redundancy if the cost difference is very large.
If you are working on personal defense, your firearm should be the best, most reliable tool you can afford to purchase. You should never skimp on equipment that is absolutely essential to sustaining and defending your life. On the other hand, buying a 10 pack of bic lighters is typically cheaper than buying a Zippo.
As you identify the Gear you will need in your Kit, determine the level of reliability it requires so that you’re able to decide what you should purchase.
This Kit has a high Hasty Acquisition rating – you should store it somewhere that it is quickly and easily accessible as you may need to grab it on the run.
Other considerations for your Kit container are based on environment and expectations. Consider whether pests will be attracted to the Kit while in storage and if you need to make sure it is rodent proof – especially if there is food stored in it. Also consider your Risk Analysis – if flooding is a potential issue, does your Kit need to be water proof?
Some Kits may require multiple containers, a Heavy Medical Kit has the potential to need several containers. If this is the case, be sure to clearly label the outside of the container to make it easy to identify which one you need.
Getting started building all your Kits can be a daunting task, pick the one that provides you with the greatest risk mitigation and start there. By doing this, you’ll be able to get to a good comfort level quickly and you won’t feel such an urgency to get everything done.
When I first started writing for APN, I did an article on Beginning to Prep: Things to consider, after reading it, I realized just how much information I could have added. So now comes part two. This article focuses on 72 hour bug out bags. The idea behind a 72 hour BOB is to make sure that in a short-term disaster/event, you have the basic supplies you need to make it to your pre-planned destination close by.
A few things you should ask yourself are:
Things I carry in my 72 hour BOB:
Practice Drills can save your life:
This list may seem drastic to the beginner, but I assure you this is a very good start for a 72 hour BOB and a great start to a long-term bug out bag.
One important thing your family can do is practice drills. Plan a place for you to all meet up to evacuate, so everything is organized. We keep our packs in our garage so we can grab and go.
Knowledge is power and being prepared for these things can save your family. Having children that are scared can be one of the worst things that can happen when you need them to deal with the situation at hand. You don’t want to be searching for them because they are scared in an emergency. Make sure they know to stay calm and to go immediately to your meeting spot.
These are just a few things to consider keeping in a 3 day survival bag for each family member of your house hold. Being prepared for this will ease your mind in the long run. You don’t want to have a damaged home due to tornado, hurricane, earthquake, or fire and not have a few basic essential’s to make it easier to deal with for your family.
Remember my friends, you don’t have to rush out and buy all these items at once. When you see toothpaste on sale at the store for a dollar, buy one for each pack instead of a big bag of chips. If you buy twin packs of deodorant, put one in your bag. Build as you go so this doesn’t hit your pocket hard. Please feel free to comment with your ideas, thoughts or questions!!
Keep it Spicy,
Jalapeno Gal 77
We have recently been discussing what EDC means, EDC KeyRings, and 72 Hour BOB’s are. In this article, we will be discussing what an EDC car kit means to us and
to you. We will also go over a few items that you should always have
in your car and hopefully give some new ideas and perspective on the
what and why’s of these items.
Now I have a small challenge for you! Go out to your car and pull all the items out of your car. (Trunk too!) Then separate them into two piles. The first pile being items you could use in an emergency/survival situation, and the second pile for items you can’t. Are you beginning to realize that you might not be carrying items that you should be? If you do have a lot of items that can help you or your family in a bad situation then hooray for you!! Great job!!
Some basic items everyone should already have :
Food and Water:
As always, I hope this helps ya!!
Keepin It Spicy,
Jalapeno Gal
http://www.facebook.com/MadtownPreppers
The National Network can link you to your LOCAL affiliate Groups and Meetups.
Much Thanks to Frank Burns, Jalapeno Gal, and APN for sharing the Knowledge.
Remember, NOW is a Great Time, no?
Now works for me.
Stay Alert. Stay Informed. Stay Involved.
Cheers,
_MP
Today we are going to feature a DEEP, Theory-Based article on BOB's and Go Bags.
Time to tidy up your Kit.
Enjoy and Share.
Prepper Theory behind 72 Hour Kits, BOBs, Every Day Carry and other Kits
By Phil Burns - Sat Aug 25, 7:07 pm
Behind every authoritative article on Prepping is an underlying theory that defines it.
Prepper Theory is based on massive amounts of research. This includes studying reports of what has happened in a disaster, in-depth discussions with people who have lived through disasters and reading other people’s research.
It is also based on personal experience which, if not gained via living through a disaster, is gained by experimenting, drilling, simulation, etc. We also constantly search for reports of those who have been through disasters and identify what worked for them and what they wish they had done differently.
This is why The APN created our Disaster Experiences section – these stories are the stories of those who have lived through a disaster and are rich with experience and information.
We who study Prepper Theory are constantly searching for failures (which are an opportunity to learn and improve) or successes (which teach us what worked and give us ideas of how to improve on what is working), both of which are able to teach us definitive lessons.
One of the easier and more practical Prepper Practices to research and experiment is emergency gear and the idea of being able to hastily grab what you need, when you need it.
Hasty Equipment Acquisition
General Mindset
The idea behind Hasty Equipment Acquisition is to establish Kits for particular situations that are immediately available. The specific contents of these Kits are determined through completing a Risk Analysis or Threat Assessment to determine what disasters or situations could occur in a particular location, the probability of it occurring, the level of damage that could occur and the immediate impact on victims. That data is essential to determining the most important part of the Assessment: What equipment is necessary to be able to survive and thrive in the given situation.Through this process, multiple impact issues have to be taken into consideration such as:
- Will this situation cause the power to go out? In this situation, is having power critical to my survival?
- Does this situation have the potential to effect water availability? What options will still be available to me, if any?
- What is the threat to my personal safety in this situation? Does it require me to be prepared to defend myself? How strong of a defense is appropriate?
- How does the impact of this situation change from day to night? Does it require full nighttime preparations?
- How does this situation change between summer and winter? Is deep, heavy snow a potential issue based on my location?
- How much time will this situation require me to utilize preparations?
Hasty Acquisition identifies how readily accessible particular items or Kits should be. This level goes from “on your person” or Tier 1, to “in the room with me” down to “in the basement packed away but accessible ”. Knowing how quickly you will need to be able to access your Kit based on the scenario is critical. In an earthquake, Hasty Acquisition is absolutely essential for critical Kits while evacuating prior to a hurricane allows for the Kit to be on a shelf in the basement.
Kit Identification
Once an understanding of potential threats has been developed, we are able to begin developing kits that will provide us with the items we will need to survive. These Kits go from the mundane to the highly specialized and based on scenario, may include other Kits as part of a larger Kit. For example:- A Pandemic Kit, designed to contain Personal Protective Gear in the event of a major biological outbreak
- Medical Kit – more advanced than a simple First Aid Kit and potentially specialized to provide care for a known issue of a family member or friend – such as diabetes, allergy, etc
- First Responder Kit – A much more advanced Medical Kit containing all basic life support systems required as a First Responder
Based on your Threat Assessment you should be able to identify the Kits you will need, the locations they should be at (office, home, car, etc) and how readily accessible they have to be.
Gear Identification
Most situations will call for common base items such as the ability to start a fire. These are generally considered the “Ten Essentials” and will be the subject of an upcoming article. Your Ten Essentials Kit should be part of every Tier of your Every Day Carry solution. Based on the redundancy rule we live by, “One is None and Two is One” it is essential that every specialized Kit know where its Ten Essentials is coming from. A Pandemic Kit need not have the Ten Essentials in it, but you should know that when grabbing that Kit, it is extending the Ten Essentials Kit that you got from…. where?For a Specialized Kit, you have to study out the scenario and identify what will be needed. For example, the Pandemic Kit will need Personal Protective Gear; for biological issues this includes a “bunny suit”, personal air filtration system, gloves, shoe covers, etc. The exact list must be customized to your personal needs. This list is created by research into the scenario and learning what is needed.
Once you know what gear is needed for the situation you are working on, quality becomes a big consideration because quality is equal to cost. If a piece of equipment is absolutely essential and absolutely must function properly, it is prudent to seek out the top quality and invest in the most reliable piece of equipment you can. Other items may be needed but not essential. In this case, it may be prudent to purchase a lesser quality item and save some money. You can also balance this with purchasing multiples of lesser quality items to establish redundancy if the cost difference is very large.
If you are working on personal defense, your firearm should be the best, most reliable tool you can afford to purchase. You should never skimp on equipment that is absolutely essential to sustaining and defending your life. On the other hand, buying a 10 pack of bic lighters is typically cheaper than buying a Zippo.
As you identify the Gear you will need in your Kit, determine the level of reliability it requires so that you’re able to decide what you should purchase.
Popular Types of Kits
There are many Kits that are so essential and basic that they are frequently referred to by name without much definition. Some of these can get confusing and knowing what the difference is isn’t always evident. Here are several of them:72 Hour Kit
This Kit is specifically designed to sustain life for 3 days. The three days designation comes from a couple of factors: 3 days worth of food and water is about the max for a portable system, even then it can become too heavy and cumbersome. Three days is generally considered a reasonable amount of time for assistance to arrive and extend your supplies. If you are mobile, 3 days is a reasonable amount of time to get to a new location where further resources can be acquired.This Kit has a high Hasty Acquisition rating – you should store it somewhere that it is quickly and easily accessible as you may need to grab it on the run.
Bug Out Bag
The Bug Out Bag, or BOB, is specifically designed to be on the move. It typically contains some food and water but it is generally considered a more primitive system kit and will have tools and equipment to acquire, prepare and consume food and water. It does not have a time designation to it as it is expected to potentially sustain you for an extended period of time. It focuses heavily on personal defense and relies heavily on skill.Every Day Carry
Every Day Carry or EDC is a system to always have on your person or within reach, items that may be essential to you given a wide range of scenarios. It also includes the mindset of Concealed Firearm Carry and always being prepared to defend yourself and your family.Car Repair Kit
The Car Repair Kit is always stored in your vehicle and contains the items and tools needed to make expedient repairs to your vehicle to avoid being stranded. These items typically include tire repair kits, wiring and hose repair, jumper cables and a tow rope.Car Survival Kit
If you were to be stranded in your vehicle, especially in a remote location during winter, the only things you would have to allow you to survive are those that are currently in your vehicle. This Kit is intended to sustain you during this time and to help you get to or call for help.Office Kit
Many of us spend half of our day away from our home and vehicle in an office. If a disaster strikes while you’re at work, your Office Kit should be capable of sustaining and protecting you. This is a highly personalized Kit as we all work in different areas.Get Home Bag
This Kit is typically stored in your vehicle. If you are away from the home and a disaster strikes which makes it impossible for you to drive home, you’re going to be walking. The intention of this Kit is to provide you with everything you will need to make that walk. It should include a change of clothes, especially if you typically wear clothing and shoes that are unsuitable for a several mile walk. The contents will vary based on how far you expect you will need to be hoofing it and what type of environment you will be traveling through.Kit Building
One of the most important components of any Kit is the container. The appropriate type of container will vary based on the intended use of the Kit and the mobility expected for the Kit. A Bug Out Bag will require a very sturdy and high quality backpack while a Pandemic Kit might be in a large Tupperware container. In some cases, the container must be the best quality you can find and afford, in other cases it just needs to hold stuff.Other considerations for your Kit container are based on environment and expectations. Consider whether pests will be attracted to the Kit while in storage and if you need to make sure it is rodent proof – especially if there is food stored in it. Also consider your Risk Analysis – if flooding is a potential issue, does your Kit need to be water proof?
Some Kits may require multiple containers, a Heavy Medical Kit has the potential to need several containers. If this is the case, be sure to clearly label the outside of the container to make it easy to identify which one you need.
Getting started building all your Kits can be a daunting task, pick the one that provides you with the greatest risk mitigation and start there. By doing this, you’ll be able to get to a good comfort level quickly and you won’t feel such an urgency to get everything done.
Beginning to Prep II
By Jalapeno Gal77 - Thu Aug 16, 5:00 pm
When I first started writing for APN, I did an article on Beginning to Prep: Things to consider, after reading it, I realized just how much information I could have added. So now comes part two. This article focuses on 72 hour bug out bags. The idea behind a 72 hour BOB is to make sure that in a short-term disaster/event, you have the basic supplies you need to make it to your pre-planned destination close by.
A few things you should ask yourself are:
- What sort of disaster am I preparing for? Tornado’s, fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, personal safety (Stalkers, etc…), job loss, economic collapse, etc.
- How many people/animals should I be prepping for? (Husband, wife, kids, sisters, parents, dogs, cats, goats, fish (just kidding)
- What time frame would I like my BOB to have? 24 hours, 72 hours, an indefinite way to survival?
Things I carry in my 72 hour BOB:
- Extra copies in a zip lock of each persons, Drivers license/State ID, Birth certificate, Social security cards, passports, shot records, and any other important documents. (I would not advise keeping these in your car kit)
- Concealed weapons permits
- Extra cash in small bills only for gas, motel, taxi, bus, plane tickets or whatever else might come up. We also keep a pre-paid visa card with about $50.00 on it. (not our bank card)
- 3-4 days of required prescription medications. Other medications for allergies, fever, motion sickness etc. Travel size packets for our bags work best.
- Extra changes of clothes and bandana’s. We keep clothes packed according to season. (no cotton)
- Your basic hygiene items. (Toothbrush, travel size soaps, toothpaste, deodorant, tampons/pads, toilet paper, etc)
- Wet wipes/Bath in a bag
- A small mesh bag for dirty clothes
- Water: You can pack bottled water or you can also buy prepackaged water made for hiking. Water purification drops/tablets.
- Water Filter such as LifeStraw OR Katadyn Hiker pro.
- Food: We pack things like to go packs of tuna, Ramon noodles, powder soups, energy bars, instant oatmeal packs, jerky, Gatorade/Crystal light packs, all of those are good for kids to, but in our kids packs we also pack things like Vienna sausage, or Chef Boyardee microwave dinners. It is important to pack things you will all eat and remember to rotate them out so they stay fresh.
- Dog/cat food in a Zip lock bags. Copy of current shot record including Rabies shots. We vacuum seal the dog food so it stays fresh longer. This is one item you don’t want to have to spend money on in an emergency.
- Compass, emergency whistle/mirror, street/highway maps of your area and your destination.
- Small LED flashlight/extra set of batteries.
- Multipurpose tool, survival knife, fold up handsaw, well fit work gloves, duct tape.
- Pocket stove, fuel tabs/can of fuel, wet fire tinder, mess kit, Ferro Rod/striker.
- Pre made snares in a tin.
- Poncho, tarp, para-cord.
- Sleep pad and 0 degree sleeping bag. Emergency space blanket. (no cotton)
- Lightweight pop up tent
- Home made first aid kit
- Hand gun/ammo, stun gun.
- Fully charged disposable pre-paid cell phone/charger. (Charge the phone and keep it turned off)
- Eye glass repair kit
- Entertainment: Cards, note pad and pencil, dice.
Practice Drills can save your life:
This list may seem drastic to the beginner, but I assure you this is a very good start for a 72 hour BOB and a great start to a long-term bug out bag.
One important thing your family can do is practice drills. Plan a place for you to all meet up to evacuate, so everything is organized. We keep our packs in our garage so we can grab and go.
Knowledge is power and being prepared for these things can save your family. Having children that are scared can be one of the worst things that can happen when you need them to deal with the situation at hand. You don’t want to be searching for them because they are scared in an emergency. Make sure they know to stay calm and to go immediately to your meeting spot.
These are just a few things to consider keeping in a 3 day survival bag for each family member of your house hold. Being prepared for this will ease your mind in the long run. You don’t want to have a damaged home due to tornado, hurricane, earthquake, or fire and not have a few basic essential’s to make it easier to deal with for your family.
Remember my friends, you don’t have to rush out and buy all these items at once. When you see toothpaste on sale at the store for a dollar, buy one for each pack instead of a big bag of chips. If you buy twin packs of deodorant, put one in your bag. Build as you go so this doesn’t hit your pocket hard. Please feel free to comment with your ideas, thoughts or questions!!
Keep it Spicy,
Jalapeno Gal 77
EDC Car Kits
By Jalapeno Gal77 - Tue Aug 21, 2:00 pm
Now I have a small challenge for you! Go out to your car and pull all the items out of your car. (Trunk too!) Then separate them into two piles. The first pile being items you could use in an emergency/survival situation, and the second pile for items you can’t. Are you beginning to realize that you might not be carrying items that you should be? If you do have a lot of items that can help you or your family in a bad situation then hooray for you!! Great job!!
Some basic items everyone should already have :
- First Aid Kit(s): I personally prefer my pre made kit, but some people would rather buy one. The choice is yours.
- Tire repair kit: This might include; air inflate and sealant , fix a flat, tire iron, tire jack, gloves, and spare tire.
- Jumper Cables
- Water: At least a gallon. We keep 3 gallons in our trunk.
- Window Scraper: For ice/Snow
- Tools: Screw drivers, oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze, adjustable wrench, slip joint pliers, Allen wrench set, tow line
- Salt:Rock Salt is commonly used to melt snow and ice. In our winter EDC car kit, we have a rubber made container full of rock salt. There have been times when I was leaving work and there was ice in the parking lot (it slopes upwards to get out) and I can not get traction to drive off the lot. This is the perfect time to have this in your vehicle. As we all know, the winter can be dangerous and you never know when you might slide off the road, due to ice, and rock salt comes in very handy to be able to get going again. How many of us have a hard time walking on ice to get to the door from your car? This is another perfect example of a good time to have rock salt in your trunk. It is much cheaper to have the salt then fall and end up in the emergency room.
- Emergency Items: Road flares, small or fold up shovel
- Tire Chains: If you live in an area where these are necessary.
- Seat Belt cutter: I leave mine in my glove box and I also have one on my key chain.
- Tin Cans & Tea Light Candles: These can be used if the snow/ice packs up around your tires and you do not have rock salt. Put the candle in the tin can and set it on either side of the tire to melt the snow/ice. (the can will get hot) If worse comes to worse, it can also be used as a heat source.
Food and Water:
- Water purification tablets
- Filtration water bottle for each family member
- Several gallons of water or emergency water pouches
- Food/energy bars, powdered soups, camping meals, nuts, jerky or any other snack that will not go bad for a while in the trunk. Make sure to change these items out often to make sure.
tube tent
- space blanket
- Magnesium fire starter/striker and lighter
- Poncho with hood
- Emergency tube tent
- Wool Blanket
- Change of clothes according to season
- Bandana
- Hand/Foot warmers
- Flashlight and extra batteries or a solar hand cranked powered light with an all weather radio and USB device charger.
- Glow sticks
mess kit
- Emergency whistle
- Work gloves
- Survival Guide/ First Aid book
- Multipurpose tool/Swiss army knife
- Duct tape
- Deck of cards, note pad, pencils/pens, List of phone numbers
- Signal Mirror
- Pocket Stove
- Hygiene items: wet wipes, toilet paper, deodorant, toothbrush/paste, diapers if you have small kids. (I buy travel size items for my 72 hour kits)
- Pre-Paid calling phone & card/ emergency cash
- 3 days of prescribed medication
- Compass/ local street map and state map
- Mess kit/utensils
- Walking shoes/socks
As always, I hope this helps ya!!
Keepin It Spicy,
Jalapeno Gal
Madtown Preppers Alerts are for informational use only. These
alerts purpose is to inform you of news events in order for you to
adjust your family preparedness programs. We believe that knowledge is
power and in order for you to make informed decisions, we try and
bring you verified information, not to increase fear but to inform
you. We do not endorse any of the sources we link to in any article.
http://www.facebook.com/MadtownPreppers
Thanks, Please Subscribe on the blog, just enter e-mail and get daily updates.
ReplyDeleteOn FB: Nebudchenezzar Shipworks.store
Madtown Preppers
store.nebudchenezzarshipworks.com
Cheers!