What is a Bug Out Box

"Viking Mom, Why do you have that huge box in the back of your car?"

"Um, Don't you pack light?"

These are questions we often hear when people see the Bug Out Box.

The Viking Homestead is in East San Diego County, which has historically had some major fires. In away you can add it as season out here. Louisiana and the Gulf has hurricane season. The Midwest has tornadoes. Berk has dragons. East County has fires.

"What do you put in a Bug Out Box?"

Each area is going to have unique items specific for that region. The Gulf region: rain boots. The Midwest: wind breakers. Berk: water buckets. East County: oven mitts.
I know I am being funny but this is a serious matter. Please consider being prepared for some basic emergency.

Here is my list and what goes into a Bug Out Box.

A Basic Emergency Check List

All of these items can be stored in a Rubber Maid container.

· Prescription medications and glasses

· Infant formula and diapers (keep some for sharing if you don’t need them)

· Pet food and extra water for your pet (Don’t forget a can opener.)

· Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container

· Cash and traveler’s checks and change. Don’t rely on ATM’s working.

· Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov

· Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.

· Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.

· Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.

· Fire Extinguisher (or two)

· Matches in a waterproof container

· Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items

o Don’t forget the toothbrushes and toothpaste.

o Toilet Paper  (great for trading too)

· Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels (A good camping set is ideal.)

· Paper and pencil Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children.

Additional Items

· Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation. That is about three gallons.

· Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food

o FoodInsurance.com or Daily Bread.com

o Don’t rely on the shelters for food. Especially, if you are on a restricted diet.

· Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both

o Radio Shack

· Flashlight and extra batteries

· Several good solid pillar candles with matches

· First aid kit

o Check on specialized medication and make and make sure they are current.

· Whistle to signal for help

· Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place

· Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

· Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

· Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)

· Local maps

· Cell phone and chargers. Also, buy and keep safe the “Old School” plug in phones. These are the ones that plug directly into the phone jack. Cell phones may be unusable if towers are damaged. 

Now, here is a tough one, especially if you are in a place prone to sudden evacuation. Walk through your home and pick 5 things that are important to you and irreplaceable that are not on the list above In many occasions you will have less then 30 minutes to evacuate.

Now, list those five things so when the time comes you know where they are in the house.

1..

2.

3.

4.

5.

All these items fit in a Rubber Maid sealable container and backpacks. They can be easily thrown into the trunk of a car.

Weapons??? That is a personal decision for each and individual family.

Now, to be honest I really don’t know if it necessary to stock up on gold and silver like some economic doomsayers claim is necessary. But, toilet paper, water and anti biotic creams can and are more immediately useable commodities to trade and barter. First aide items are also tradable items.  Chocolate is always a good item to share too.

Food Insurance

We all have auto, house and medical insurance. But, do you have food insurance? If you think about it, food and water are vital to our survival. A human being can only live for a few weeks without food and only a few days without water. In light of the tragic events in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, the power outage in Southern California that brought the southern part of the state to a standstill, and the constant threat of fires, earthquakes, tornadoes zombie evasion and other natural disasters across the country, it is important to make sure we always have the basic necessities of life with enough home food storage for your family to survive for at least two weeks.

Preparing for food storage can be done in several ways.

1. In the past food was preserved through canning, dehydration and pickling.This takes some time and creativity but it is easy and fun to do. The added bonus- You know what goes into the food and it will be food you and your family will enjoy.

2... Stock piling- This is possible if you have the space. Keep in mind you want food that can last several years and can be easily cooked. Beans, rice, noodles, canned meat, fruit and vegetables.

3. Food Insurance aka freeze dried food. There are several companies that now supply freeze dried food that tastes a whole lot better then the military Meals Ready to Eat aka MRE. www.FoodInsurance.com is one company that provides affordable freeze dried food for emergencies or for stock piling.

4. Daily Bread www.dailybread.com Another resource for freeze dried food. 

Are you prepared?