If there is anything scarier than facing a disaster it must be facing
a disaster unprepared. So when you have a SHTF moment that is worthy of
a J.J Abrams movie adaptation, I want you to be prepared. That’s why I
am going to cover the essentials…the gear you will need in case you have
to “GTFO” quickly. With a little bit of planning you will be prepared
for whatever disaster life throws at you. Most experts suggest that your
GO-BAG should contain enough supplies to last seventy two hours. Since
most major disasters often disrupt services and normal life for longer
than 72 hours, I think it is a good idea to have a Bag that will allow
you survive for an indefinite period of time.
There are dozens of
sites on the internet with plenty of information on prepping and
survival and it can be overwhelming and you might be wondering how you
can prepare for a disaster without becoming one your self. It’s actually
pretty basic stuff and all you need to do to increase your chance of
survival in a true SHTF Scenario is to prepare for your needs in the
aftermath of any disaster by stockpiling food, water, and survival gear.
The crisis is still going to be there, you are just going to be better
prepared than the rest of the masses for the discomfort that can last
for days and even weeks.
Don’t let preparing for a disaster turn you
into one. Take your location and determine what is the most likely Type
of disaster to happen where you live and prepare for it. Then start
prepping for next most likely one and so on. Most SHTF situations are
caused by natural disasters, home fires, and other normal forces of
nature. There may even come a time it may be necessary to stay off grid
and hidden from people (like the crazies that came out of the woodwork
after Katrina). And zombies, you should always be prepared for a zombie
apocalypse.
The population has the mindset that the government will
be right there to helping us when our community has been destroyed.
Think again. Hurricane Katrina taught us that the government’s response
time can be seriously lacking and is probably why the United States
government now encourages you to be prepared and have an emergency
supply kit. I agree with them; every man woman and child should have an
emergency kit ready. Don’t waste time scrambling around looking for your
GTFO bag essentials at the last minute. Get it done and be prepared.
You will increase your chances of survival if you have your essential
emergency supplies ready. The bag just makes it easy to GTFO. This bag
is now commonly known as the “GO-BAG”, BUG-OUT BAG (B.O.B), and READY
BAG. It does not matter what you call it as long as you have one ready
to GTFO, QUICKLY. Important papers including all licenses, birth and
death certificates, inoculation records, passports, deeds, pertinent
medical records, and other important papers should be photo-copied and
placed in a 100% waterproof pouch, along with (perhaps) a few selected
pictures. The pouch should either be put into your GTFO Bag, or placed
in an area that would allow quick and easy insertion into your GO-BAG.
Along with about $200.00 in cash as well because ATMS might be down
along with credit card machines, so cold hard cash will help.
Now
we cant forget the women, they are with us for better or worse and when
things get worse in a SHTF situation, Keeping Sanitary conditions will
be very crucial to survival and my wife as found a few objects that she
has packed for her and the girls in their GTFO Bags and has even given
me a basic understanding of proper sanitation for women that is
necessary to ensure that diseases and illness do not occur. Typically,
in a post SHTF situation, we need to think about sanitation conditions
because they are going to be at a minimum (at the very least).
Therefore, a woman’s personal hygiene is essential to her health and
should be considered a Top priority. When sanitary conditions are not up
to par, there is an increase of diseases such as cholera, typhoid and
diphtheria. Typically, women and children are the most affected by poor
sanitation conditions. Taking proper precautions and stocking up on
sanitary items will help eliminate most dangers for your loved ones.
There are so many variables concerning food, clothing, footwear,
personal medications and toiletries to make an attempt at providing a
sensible Rock Solid GTFO Bag List. My list is a guide designed to keep
it simple and stay alive. You will have to give personal and serious
thought to these items yourself. Different people will require different
items depending upon location, time of year, health and other factors.
Bear in mind you won't be as squeaky clean then, as you are now, so you
don't need that many toiletries. Your Axe Body Spray isn't going to keep
you alive, and in fact, could kill you. (Body Spray can be smelled from
long distances in an environment devoid of those types of odors).
Voodoo Tactical Praetorian Rifle Pack 15-0029 Hydration Backpack Black
Your GTFO BAG as I’ll call it should be designed to carry heavy loads
and Voodoo Tactical has combined the best features found in the newest
technology hiking packs into one rugged Rifle Pack.
This Voodoo
Tactical Praetorian Rifle Pack meets the requirements of prepers on the
go. With a fold-out platform for your rifle stock and a cord-lock sleeve
to covers the barrel of your weapon for added protection. Perfect for
any rifle from an AR15 to a .338 Lapaua. There is a padded space between
the front pockets so you can shoot right off your bag. The perfect size
pack has padded comfort back and adjustable padded shoulder harness
with attached electronic instrument pouches. Multiple side, upper and
lower rear pockets, all with reversed YKK coil zippers to keep the sand
out. Plenty of universal webbing for various pouch attachments,
integrated handles extra straps and buckles. Hook-n-loop I.D. patch on
front, advanced harness retention system for maximum load carry and
enhanced removable padded waist belt with universal straps. Hydration
compatible. Padded side-zip compartment for hauling your laptop with
"inside the pack" office pockets. Measures 11"L x 7"W x 20"H. Tools
Weapons
In a true SHTF situation you might be dealing with a “Without Rule of
Law” situation, or close to it, and people are likely to do crazy things
to survive and those that are not prepared are going to want what you
have. Being prepared to defend your self is part of the survivalist
mindset. I will not go into specifics about what type of gun you should
pack because that is hotly debated and really a personal choice but you
need to keep in mind you are going to need durability and reliability
because you will most likely have limited access to spare parts, so you
want take a weapon that can withstand the outdoors.Whether your thinking
of a handgun,shotgun or rifle, there are plenty of choices for
survivalist. No matter what you choose is has to be comfortable to you.
Outside of guns your survival knife could be used as weapon if you had
to. Also something as simple as a big walking stick or club can be a
strong deterrent for bad guys. It’s all about giving your self options.
My
options to handle those pesky zombies are my trusty HK45 Combat
Tactical and my CM901 equipped with a Leupold 1-8 Mark 8 CQBSS Scope
Running a SureFire Suppressor
KA-BAR Full Size US Marine Corps Fighting Knife, Straight
As a Former Force Reconnaissance Marine I carry the most famous fixed blade knife in the world. My trusted USMC Fighting knife.
The Ka-Bar USMC Fighting Knife was designed to serve our troops during
World War II and is still going strong nearly 70 years later.A fixed
Blade have its advantages over folding blade knifes for extended
survival situations. With less moving parts fix blades are more durable
while folding blades and multi-tool blades have there place in your
GO-BAG they don’t do it as good as a fixed blade knife.
A BUG-OUT PLAN/TOPOGRAHIC MAP & COMPASS
a BUG-OUT PLAN needs to include the location of emergency areas,
rallying points, multiple evacuation routes, maps of the area, trail
maps, etc (make sure you use a water proof laminate to protect your
plans). If you don’t have a compass I would recommend you get a quality
Compass like the
417 OFFICIAL U.S. MILITARY TRITIUM LENSATIC COMPASS (MODEL 3H)
and a topographic map that uses contour lines torepresent elevated
terrain and show man-made structures and start practicing old-school
navigation until it becomes second nature because you never know when
you may need this skill to dramatically increase our chances of staying
alive in true SHTF scenario.
ASR Tactical Technora Ultra Composite Survival Cord Rope (50', 450lbs Breaking Strength)
Cordage can be made in the wild but having some in your GTFO bag can be
the difference between life and death. If you need to make a shelter, a
tourniquet, or make a snare to trap dinner, cordage is going to be
invaluable. This particular cordage has smaller diameter cordage inside
the larger cordage which can be used for small traps or other purposes.
Surefire Minimus Tactical 100 Lumens Variable-Output LED Headlamp, Desert Tan HS2-A-TN
Having a Headlamp is a must, allowing you to keep your hands free. This
SureFire Tactical Headlamp features a high-efficiency LED that provides
brilliant white light, adjustable in output from zero to 100 Lumens via
the knurled no-slip right-hand control knob. It runs on a single 123A
battery contained within the tilt-control knob, and features a battery
access cap with a short leash so you can’t drop it. The proprietary
refractive optic produces a wide beam optimized for your natural field
of view, and included red, blue and green filters give you the option of
low-signature light that also preserves dark-adapted vision. Another
valuable SHTF feature is a setting for a long-running SOS beacon for
when you want to be found. The fine-weave SF camo headband is strong yet
comfortable, and features a moisture wicking Breath-O-Prene forehead
pad. Built from tough polymer and aerospace aluminum, hard-anodized in
Desert Tan, the Minimus Tactical is lightweight, and tough.
Light My Fire Original Swedish FireSteel Army 12,000 Strike Fire Starter - Black
These types of fire-starters are preferred over matches or lighters
because they produce consistent sparks. Good fire starting principles
apply for any kind of fire. You will need a nest of tender to receive
the spark and kindling ready. If you’ve made traditional flint and steal
or a bow drill fire you will appreciate 5,500 degree sparks these
strikers produce. Be sure to carry some tampons as a quick start tender
or cotton balls soaked in Vaseline...(NO JOKE)
Camelbak Groove 0.6 Liter Bottle, Graphite
Water is a priority. You should have at least 3 litters in your pack. A
liter a day is the absolute minimum you need to live, but you could
need up to a gallon a day. Get a good survival water bottle to make
non-potable water safe such as this quality gift from my awesome wife.
The CamelBak Stainless steel water bottle filters all the unwanted
particles as you sip, so you can hydrate on the go. It is a re-usable,
BPA-free, spill-proof bottle with a filter inside giving you many
advantages over plastic and polycarbonate bottles. Stainless canteens
can boil water, be used for cooking, and are nearly indestructible. They
also keep your water tasting clean. Many canteens made of plastic
maintain a memory of liquids you’ve had in them. In the Military and
survival settings I’ve seen these bottles go through hell and back. They
are incredibly tough and versatile. They are also easy to clean and
never leak. The loop on the lid can be used to snap it to your GO-BAG
Katadyn Pocket Water Microfilter
This Pocket water filter is designed for outdoor enthusiasts and
international travelers. Has a Private Military contractor working in
very extreme conditions, Traveling abroad having access to clean water
is crucial. I've used the same Katadyn Pocket Micro filter for many
years, on many "trips," and under very extreme circumstances. If your
budget will allow it, I guarantee you that the purchase of a Katadyn
Pocket Filter will turn you into a very happy camper. No pun intended.
If, for whatever reason, you're unable to secure a good quality water
filter, make sure you provide another method of treating water. Boiling
the water and/or treating it with bleach will work. But I don’t like
drinking bleach so I also keep a box of Potable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide
Tablets handy.
Chlorine Dioxide has a number of advantages over
other purification methods. It’s compact and does not take up much room
in your GTFO Bag. It tastes better than iodine tablets or bleach. The
instant purification straws are handy but don’t provide protection
against smaller organisms. The bottom line however, is that without some
method of treating water you WILL PROBABLY DIE!
BackUp Water-
MSR Dromedary Bag with Fill Handle, 10 Liter (Black)
You can Ditch the extra water bottles and fill your bladder. NO Joke
filling a water bladder is preferred over adding extra water bottles
because they are light and can carry a lot of water. You may consider
getting the six or ten liter bags since water supplies may be few and
far between. You can always use 1 or 2 liters if you don’t want the
added weight and having the extra capacity may be a good idea in the
long run. These bladders are preferred over plastic bladders (from
Platypus or CamelBak) because they don’t get old and rigid. The MSR bags
are a little more puncture resistant and durable. These bags are
versatile and can be hung from a tree limb and provide easy access for
hand washing, rinsing pots, and can even be used as a shower. You might
want to add a hydration tube with a bit valve for added convenience. It
will you save time by providing quick access to your water without
having to stop and pull out your water bottle. When connected to the
water bladder you will have two liters of drinking water accessible. The
tube can also be used for a variety of survival techniques, including a
solar evaporative still.
Emergency Survival Food Supply - 72 Hour Kit - 16 Servings
Food is a must have and having tried all brands of prepared meals while
camping with my family over the years my family has voted that the meal
kits by patriot pantry are the ones we take and rely on. It’s not a
gourmet meal at a four star restraunt but you can’t go wrong with the
meals in the 72 Hour Kit. It provides one person with 16 servings of
healthy, delicious storable food for 3 days. Packaged in convenient and
lightweight 4-Serving Mylar pouches, the low-head dehydrated food seals
in the flavor and high-nutritional value. I also have some trail mix and
Cliff bars in my bag as well to snack on.
This kit is Great for
emergency preparedness, camping, hiking, or to serve as a quick and
cost-effective meal for your family even when camping and hiking.
• Blue Ribbon Cheesy Chicken Rice - 4 Servings
• Granny's Home-style Potato Soup - 4 Servings
• Lumberjack Vegetable Beef Stew - 4 Servings
Southwest Enchilada soup - 4 Servings
G.I. Plus Brand - Enhanced Woodland Camouflage Rip-stop Poncho
Staying Warm & Dry is going to be essential to your survival when
you have to BUG-OUT or even if you happen to get lost and the
temperature starts dropping fast or it’s raining. The Rothco poncho is
designed to keep you and your GTFO Bag dry while you’re hiking and
doubles as a tarp for a quick shelter. When the weather turns bad you’ll
be prepared. The benefit of this poncho over a tent is its light weight
and multiple uses. If you do add a tent consider a bivy or this tent
from Eureka. Even if you add a tent consider adding the poncho for
protection while hiking. You might want to consider adding a Poncho
Liner for added warmth and for use as a ground cloth when you sleep.
Another item that is a must have is Gore Tex Bivy for your sleeping bag.
With this item you could sleep in a foot of snow and stay dry and warm.
No matter what they say about down sleeping bags, a wet sleeping bag is
going to suck, no matter what it’s made out of.
Military Modular Sleep System 4 Piece with Goretex Bivy Cover and Carry Sack
I bought my modular sleep system a few years ago after my old one
failed me while on a training exercise and the Special Warfare Grunts I
was training with woke up nice and dry in the Morning. This was the best
investment I made because I sleep like champ and my wife loves it when
the temperature drops when we go out for our little excursions. The
4-Part Modular Sleep System sleeping bags and other components are
constructed to be used in conjunction with each other, or separately to
complete an interoperable system known as the extreme cold weather
sleeping bag. The MSS is designed to provide comfort in temperature
ranging from 50ºF to -30ºF when wearing various layers of extreme cold
weather clothing.
Adventure Medical Kits Weekender Kit
My little weekender kit was sitting under the Christmas tree this past
Christmas and is a handy kit to have with you when a loved one needs
medical attention. A first aid kit is one of the most used items in
extended survival settings and one of the most overlooked items, a well
stocked first Aid kit will help increase your chance of survival. The
Adventure Medical Kit is ideal for situations where basic medical
treatment is needed.
Clothing
The clothes you wear and pack
are the most important items that will be part of your survival
strategy. Being prepared for all types of weather conditions with a good
coat, rain jacket, and good boots will play an important role in your
comfort and survival.JUST REMEMBER YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!
• Hat (Wide Brim and breathable in the summer and warm and cozy in the winter.)
• Underwear – It feels good to change into something fresh after a few days.
• Socks – Wool in the winter and a pair of replacement socks in the summer.
• Fleece Jacket – Try to avoid cotton and get something that pulls the moisture away from your skin.
• Work Gloves – Good for going through brush, working, and cooking with a campfire.
• Flip Flops – After a long hike it feels mighty good to put around
camp in a pair of these. Getting out of your boots is a good way to
prevent fungus and foot rot.
• Insect Head Netting – This can be
used to leach acorns, catch small minnows, and fend off hordes of
mosquitoes and other bugs.
.
Rescue Gear
There may be times you really want to be found. In addition to a good signal fire add these items to your bag.
• Flares
• Signal Mirror
• Bright orange poncho
• Whistle or a Fog Horn
• EPIRB
Extended Camp Items
I have made a list of items that would be useful in extended camp
situations. These are items that would weigh you down if your bug out
bag was only intended for three days but would be valuable if you needed
to bug out for an extended period of time (a week to a month). If you
think you’ll be bugging out for more than a month you should plan on
having a bug out location complete with seeds, replenish able water, and
a solid (low profile) shelter.
• Tactical Knife/Tool – This knife
can dig, pry, hammer, chop, cut, and saw. It can replace a hatchet,
crowbar, and folding shovel.
• Hammock
• Ground Mat
• Fishing Kit (10 LB Fluorocarbon Line, Treble Hooks Size 14, Bait Hooks Size 6, Clear Casting Bubble, Clip-on Weights)
• Fish Net – Buy a replacement fishing net or remove the fishing net from a the frame
• Knife Sharpener
• Folding Saw
• Folding Shovel
• Hatchet
• Leatherman – Multitool
• Ruger 22 Rifle – For hunting and defense
• Tarp
• Dish Soap
• Fork and Spoon
• Mess Kit
• MSR Titanium 0.85 Liter Pot – If you have the stainless steel water
bottle you may not need this addition weight but it might be nice. This
titanium pot is extremely light weight and very strong. Pots are
preferred over mess-kits because they have the ability to boil more
water. The lid on this model fits tight making for a quick boiling time
and it keeps out ashes. The metal handles won’t melt in the fire and
fold out of the way. These can boil stew and cook like a small skillet
too. It can be used in a buried ground oven. If you have one thing for
cooking it would be this pot.
• Universal Fuel Backpacking Stove – I like the MSR International Whisperlite
• White Gas Fuel with Container
• Salt & Spices (Pepper & Garlic)
• Tin Foil
• Dish Rag
• Trash Bags – Try to get black and clear bags but if you have to pick one go with clear
• Duct Tape
• Zip Lock Bags
• Metal Coat Hanger and Snare Wire
• Sewing Kit (with safety pins)
Communication Items
• Water proof Notepad and Pencil
• Solar/Crank Radio with built in solar charger.
• Two Way Radios
• Digital Camera
• Cell Phone (with USB Cord)
• Spare batteries
Comfort & Entertainment
• Alcohol (Booze for trading, for comfort, or as an antiseptic or pain killer)
• Tobacco ( Extremely valuable barter item)
• Book for Reading (Survival, edible plant guide, and inspirational)
• Deck of Cards
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Chap-stick
• Toothbrush and Toothpaste
• Toilet Paper
• Feminine Hygiene… if applicable
Don’t waste your Time or Money on:
• Emergency blankets – They keep water off but they do not keep you
warm. You will freeze to death if you try using them for warmth.
•
Excessive guns, knives, ammo. Ideally your bug out bag should get you to
your bug out location or at least to a temporary stash of more
supplies. In order to move quickly only carry enough ammo to get you to
your retreat destination. Speed and concealment will be extremely
important.
• Butane stoves or lanterns – they won’t light when it’s
cold and are usually heavy. You’d be better off getting multi-fuel
stoves that can burn white gas, unleaded, and kerosene fuels.
• Most
Snake Bite Kits – From what I could tell most snake bite kits are
outdated and dangerous to use. Research the snakes in your local area
and put together your own kit based off your research.
SAVE TIME AND MONEY WITH THIS PREPARED GO-BAG!
Combat
Ready 2 Survival 72 Hour Bugout Bag with FOX Tactical Advanced 3-Day
Combat Pack (Black) Ontario Knife Company SP1 Marine Combat Knife with
Leather and Cordura Sheath Ameriqual APack MREs SOS Food Lab Emergency
Water and 2400 Calorie Bars Adventure Medical Kits Sportsman First Aid
Kit Ultimate Survival Technologies UST Stormproof Floating Butane
Lighter (Orange) UST WetFire Fire Starting Tinders Gladding Paracord
Emergency Blanket/ Poncho and more
If zombies are not your thing then show your MARINE SPIRIT WITH 
or even add 
which works like a dummy cartridge, with an internal red laser that is
activated when the firing pin strikes the "primer" with my 
allowing me to practice drawing from concealment and engaging targets without leaving home.
or a 
when in real life that person always carries concealed or someone wearing a 
when i know they wear 
.If
you train like that then you are developing very poor training habits
that may cost you your life.Because in a gun fight you don't have time
to waste reaching for a magazine that isn't there.The best habit is to
train how you carry.