We’ve been seeing many images of hurricane devastation before our eyes. Through our sorrow over this tragic event, our determination to be prepared in the face of disaster stands even stronger. Bad things happen. Nobody wants to be driven out of their home. But a true survivor must be able to make that fateful calculation—and if your training informs you that it’s time to get out, you’d better listen.
What if you were the one in the path of the storm? What if you had but a brief window in which to evacuate? Would you be ready? Would you calmly and coolly pick up your emergency evacuation gear and get away to safety?
Don’t wait for the next hurricane or flood or wildfire to strike. The time for us to prepare our tactical bug-out bags is now!
Formulating Your Emergency Evacuation Plan
When you need to evacuate, you should just be able to grab your go bag and get away in no time. But where will you go? How will you get there? You should know the answers to those questions like the back of your hand. In other words, you’d better have a personal survival plan.
One of the key parts of such a plan is preparing a safe location that should, ideally, be no more than 72 hours away from your residence. That is, you need to have an emergency shelter if it is possible to set one up. If not, then your plan should at least pinpoint a safe location that would welcome you, such as the home of a relative or friend. If you do set up a shelter, work on storing the necessities of survival in it: water, food, medicine, fuel, ammunition, communications tools.
The plan should also cover the routes you will take to get to your safe location, and contingencies for what to do in case your family is not with you when you evacuate. All members of your family should know what to do and where to go. Once you have finished making a plan, you should practice its implementation. Take the routes. Time yourself, and train to move faster.
Of course, one crucial step of the plan should include readying a bug-out bag in case of evacuation.
Tactical Bug-Out Bags: Your Lifesaver in Times of Crisis
If you’re ever forced to evacuate, you don’t want to be gathering emergency evacuation gear and packing everything in a rush. Not only does that eat up precious time, but in the hurry to pack things, you could very well leave out an important item. You need to be ready to go at a moment’s notice, without having to pack a bag at the last minute.
That’s very possible if you have already prepared a go bag, or a bug-out bag as we like to call it. It’s a bag that’s already packed with the essential items you need to survive for 72 hours outdoors. All you have to do is grab it and go!
You do have an everyday carry (EDC) bag on you—at least we expect that you have one. It’s a crucial component of tactical living. You don’t have to replicate every item you have in your EDC. We presume you are bringing it with you in an emergency evacuation. But obviously an EDC isn’t a 72-hour survival pack. That had better contain any bug-out bag essentials you don’t have in your everyday carry.
Bug-Out Bag Essentials: What You Need to Include
Preparing your bug-out bag should mean taking into account your family emergency plan. The gear and supplies you pack in the bag should be there to support this plan of action. What emergency evacuation gear to include will depend on the most likely routes you will be taking, as plotted out in the emergency plan. Will you be traveling through the wilderness? Or an urban area? Prepare your bug-out bag accordingly.
We do recommend including the following bug-out bag essentials in packing:
First aid kit – You may already have one as part of your everyday carry. You might want to have another one in your bug-out bag, though, if you can accommodate it. We suggest packing your kit in an IFAK pouch that is externally attached to your bug-out bag. If you’re using a 14er Tactical Backpack, you can easily hook on the IFAK pouch using the backpack’s MOLLE system.
Navigation tools – These should include maps for the routes you are likely to take, to ensure that your emergency plan is implemented. The maps should be laminated to keep them from being damaged by moisture. Other navigational tools can be included as well: a compass, a GPS device.
Water and food – You need to carry enough water to last you for 72 hours of overland survival. Also carry as much food that you can handle without compromising your speed and mobility. Food will keep you energized for the rugged journey. But you still want to travel light as much as possible, so choose compact food items such as energy bars or even MREs (Meals Ready to Eat).
Communication tools – In certain disaster scenarios, the cellular phone networks could go down. You should be prepared for such an eventuality. Have a set of compact walkie-talkies ready to distribute to your family when you evacuate. In case you get separated from others, you’ll be able to contact them.
Batteries and chargers – Like it or not, we’re fairly reliant on devices in this day and age. You can probably expect your devices to stay charged for 72 hours especially if you’re not using them nonstop. But if something does run out of juice, you’ll be glad that you packed extra batteries or a solar charger. A power bank can be useful as well, but don’t just leave one stashed inside the bug-out bag. It should be charging until you’re ready to grab it and go.
Utility tools – A multi-tool is practically a necessity. Whether your need is to build a shelter, open a can of food or do a quick repair job, it can come in real handy. A multi-tool should be able to double as a blade, screwdriver, wood saw, can opener, file or a pair of pliers, among other utilities. In addition to a multi-tool, we suggest packing paracord, duct tape and a fire starting kit.
Personal essentials – This covers items that you would personally consider as necessary. Things like backup eyeglasses with the right grade of lens for you. Any medication you’re required to take, along with copies of your medical records. Plus other documents, such as your insurance information and your passport. And a set of backup keys to your emergency shelter! Be sure to keep these items safe in waterproof containment.
Tips for Choosing the Right Bug-Out Bag
When you’re deciding on what to use for a bug-out bag, you’ve gotta put that tactical thinking cap on! The bag’s got to be sturdy and good for outdoor use, and not so bulky that it would impact your mobility or put too much strain on your body as you carry it.
A tactical product would be a good choice. And when it comes to tactical bug-out bags, you can surely count on the 14er Tactical Backpack. It’s durable, made of dense, high-quality fabric that will resist punctures and repel water. It is designed for easy, adjustable organization to help you keep everything in its right place. And if you want additional storage, the 14er Tactical Backpack allows expansion by attaching external pouches using its built-in MOLLE system. This is a bag that can meet all your needs.
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