Here are my thoughts on getting home from work after a major disaster:
Get Home Kit (Robust Version)
My Situation
I work just over thirty road miles, and three mountain ranges, from my home. Given optimal conditions, that means a two day hike, and I always add 50% for a conservative estimate.
My pack has more food than I would normally consume during that time period, and the only weakness I see is the lack of water. I can easily double that amount because I always carry a full case of water in the bed of my truck at all times. So, I can make that judgment call later.
I have divided my pack into modules:
Main
Medical
Self-Protection
Communications
Sleep-over
Barter
Winter
Robust
Now I will inventory each module, and discuss my philosophy behind each element, your philosophy may be different, so you can tailor your Get Home Kit according to your taste and expected environment.
Main Module
1.One Backpack
Pay $30 or more for this piece of equipment, and make sure it is sturdy, for it will hold the tools of your survival.
2.One Pair Hiking Boots, broken in and an extra pair of lacing string. Waterproofed preferred.
This should be a pair you wear on a regular basis, worn in, and easy for you to walk in all day.
3.Three Pair of Socks.
Stored inside hiking boots until kit is activated, then transferred to the inside of the pack.
4.One, or Two Pair of Trousers.
Can be either BDUs or Blue Jeans, or both should you wish to start out with the Blue Jeans.
5.One Sweat Shirt, with two extra shirts rolled up inside.
One never knows when it will get cold, or suddenly rain upon one's parade.
6.One sturdy Poncho, or several disposable ponchos.
See comment above.
7.Twelve Power Bars in a sealed ziploc bag.
Don't eat them as comfort food when you start out, eat one every few hours.
8.Twelve pull-top cans of food (snack-size) and a small pack of plastic spoons.
You can eat these while taking a brief break, never more than one in a sitting.
9.Six half-liter bottles of water. (Upgrade to Twelve if one overnight is expected).
Drink one bottle before you start out, while you think about your route of travel, re-checking your supplies. You should be in a calm frame of mind, knowing that you have prepared for this situation, and be a positive influence upon all you encounter and will adjust according to the situation at hand. And when you are through with your water, you will put the cap back on and return it to the pack in case you run across a water source.
10.Water purification tablets.
You WILL use these to purify ALL water you add to your supply.
11.Several bandanas.
Use for sweatbands, bandages, whatever you can think of at the time.
12.One Multi-Tool, with belt-sheath.
This should be a good one, not a cheap knockoff model that WILL fail when you need it most.
13.Fifty foot of 4 mm Perlon cord.
This is a very important part of your kit that can be used for rescue (yourself, or others), scaling obstacles, pulling debris off people, etc. YYou may use this rope to suspend your food high off the ground if you are worried about critters getting your food while you sleep.
14.One Pair of gloves.
For use with the rope, rescue work, or moving debris, etc.
15.One locking carabiner.
For use with the rope.
16.Several Heavy Black Trash bags.
You can put stuff in these. (You never know).
17.One box small white trash bags.
These are your solid waste disposal program. 'nuff said.
18.Very Important Papers, TP, or Toilet Paper.
With the cardboard cores removed to save space. Sealed inside ziploc bags to preserve their usefulness.
19.Several zip ties.
You never know.
20.One self-powered flashlight.
This is one flashlight you will use.
21.One container of anti-bacterial wipes.
Wipe your hands after EVERY call of nature, and handling of questionable objects. Conditions will be very unsanitary, and diseases of the bowels kill more people on earth than anything else known to man.
22.A small pair of binoculars.
Sometimes, it is wise to scope out the ground you are about to cross. I keep these beside me in my seat, and will be packing them while I drink that first bottle of water.
Medical Module
1.Basic First Aid Kit
Should be designed to handle small emergencies.
2.Two Battle Dressings
If it's serious enough for you to walk home, somebody could get hurt.
3.Two 4 x 4 Gauze Pads
See the above comment.
4.CPR Shield
You do know CPR, don't you?
5.Several Pairs of Nitrile Gloves
Wear them when rendering assistance for your own safety.
6.Vial of Core Prescriptions
This should be carried on your person at all times, just an extra couple of days worth.
7.Bottle of Aspirin or your favorite Analgesic.
If you're lucky, all you'll have is a headache, and you'll probably be sore from all that walking, or you may have a minor wound or two that will demand your attention.
8.Bottle of Anti-Diarrheal Medication. (Immodium, Pepto, etc.)
You'll be stressed beyond your ability to cope, and your bowels will loosen a bit. This is to firm them up a bit, so you can preserve your strength for walking.
9.Spare Prescription Eyeglasses.
Ever see that episode of The Twilight Zone where the bookworm's glasses got broke? Don't let that be you. An older pair will do, and if you can afford an extra pair when you buy eyeglasses, put them here.
Self Protection
1..45 Caliber Sidearm, with several spare, and loaded, magazines.
You will hear and read of various types of knives, sticks, sprays, and other such gadgets. Reality is that nothing will end an argument quicker or more efficiently than a sidearm, the bigger the better. Use whatever you are comfortable with, and have practiced using and have been trained to use by a professional. Know the laws of the area where you reside, and where you travel, and obey them where possible. I am one who believes no law of man super-cedes the God-given right of self defense.
Communications
1.Cell Phone.
Have an extra battery for your cell phone, or a disposable cell phone. This is in case the cell towers are still operational. If the situation is bad enough for you to be hoofing it home, don't expect them to be.
2.A set of two-way hand held radios.
You need to purchase a set of cheap two-way hand held radios with extra batteries. If you are traveling with a group, the point man will need one with an ear piece to preserve opsec (operational security), the nominal commander or his/her radio operator, and perhaps wingmen to tail gunner. Or, you may need one at home for a variety of reasons.
3.A battery-operated radio to receive news reports.
Purchase a portable radio with AM/FM bands as an absolute minimum. It is better to have one which receives Weather Band, and TV Channels 2 to 13 as well. This will allow you to keep abreast of official information and can warn you of hazardous conditions along your planned path...be ready to alter it as necessary.
4. Handheld scanner.
You can use this to listen to public safety communications near you. It can give you some clues as to what dangers lie ahead of you on your route home, where the police have blocked travel (so you may hit the woods and go around) and have shelters set up. Make sure you have an up to date list of frequencies for your region, spanning several counties. The list should include input frequencies to various repeaters. This way, even if you can't hear the repeater, you might be able to hear the mobile unit communicating with the repeater. Also, several local law enforcement and fire depts use these freqs as a private channel to talk to one another "off the record" with their CTCSS tones disabled so they do not activate the repeater.
Sleeping Over
1.Hammock, Sleeping Bag, Blanket for Ground Cover.
If there are wooded areas along your route, get off the road before nightfall, and set up your sleeping arrangements while there is plenty of daylight. A Hammock will keep you off the ground, Blankets will keep you covered, and a sleeping bag will do the same if you cannot use a hammock. You can use your rope to hang your pack off the ground near your hammock at this time...taking care to remove your handgun and sleeping with it.
Barter
1.Alcohol and Cigarettes.
No matter how bad things get, these things will hold their value, and increase. Be prepared to share food and water with fellow travelers. Just because the world may be coming to an end doesn't mean its everyman for himself. I have a selection of small plastic liquor bottles and a couple of packs of cigarettes. I rotate the cigs out (usually giving them to a local vagrant) and purchasing more every three months so they'll be fresh.
Winter
1.Long Underwear, Coat, Boots, Handwarmers, etc.
Include these when October comes, and leave them in the pack until May, depending on your local climate.
Philosophy
I plan for the worst, and hope for the best. Keep all perishable items rotated for freshness. When you are prepared, your frame of mind is much better, and your attitude will reflect that, and your chances for a better outcome will increase.
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