My bug out plan works in two phases. Phase one is for if we have to leave our home and head to our "safe place." Phase two is for if we have to leave our safe place. Phase one - 1. Find a "safe place." This should be somewhere away from groups of people but not terribly far away from civilization. Just remember that every mile between you and the possible rioting is a mile between you and a hospital. How far out you go should depend on your first aid and survival skills. With luck you own a nice secluded cabin somewhere you can use, if you're not that lucky (I'm not!) think R.V. or trailer and a plot of public land or private land you've gotten permission to use. If you can't get an R.V. or trailer you'll have to think vehicle or tent. 2. Plot several routes from your home, place of work, etc. to your safe place. Make sure everyone in your party knows these routes well and try to avoid highways. If it gets to the point you need to leave your house chances are good everyone else will be trying to leave too. Talk about a traffic jam! Besides, under martial law they close down all major highways to prevent "mass exodus." 3. Assign specific jobs to everyone in your group. For example, I'm in charge of first aid. This means that I am responsible for all first aid supplies and knowing how to use them. If you have children in your group assign one person for every 3 or 4 kids. Just like in a fire plan, you don't want everyone running around in a burning building looking for kids someone else has already taken outside. Make sure the children know who is responsible for them. 4. Stock your safe place. If you've got that cabin you've got it made, simply bring your supplies the next time you're there. R.V. or trailer? Even easier, you can't stock as much but it's usually as simple as taking the supplies to your driveway. Tent or vehicle? A little more difficult because of space, but all you have to do is load your supplies in the trunk. If you don't even have a car it might be wise to join up with a trusted friend or relative who does. I'll continue with phase two, bug out packs and first aid supplies. Okay, your safe place burns down or you have to leave in a big bad hurry for some unforseeable reason. This is where phase two comes in and there are only two real steps here. 1. Pack a survival bag for every member of your group, even babies. This bag should have everything that member will need for 3 or 4 days. Notice I said NEED. You may have to carry these packs for long distances + packs for children, elderly, first aid, etc. So what do you NEED? FOOD - dehydrated is good but remember you'll need extra water to prepare it. I pack 8 cups of dried fruit, 16 to 20 strips of jerky, 8 meal replacement bars, 16 to 20 honey graham crackers and 4 dehydrated meals that need cooking in each pack for a 4 day supply. That may not sound like much but actually it's excessive. WATER - The rule is 1 gallon of water per person, per day. Water is heavy! If at all possible carry one gallon per person and plan fill up stops along the way. You can purchase water purification tablets at many camping stores. CLOTHING - I pack the following per person for a 4 day supply: 4 pairs of wool socks, 4 pairs of cotton socks, 2 pairs of good hiking boots - break them in before you need them! 4 pairs of underware (ladies, remember you will be walking in these!), 2 good bras for women, 2 good jock straps for men, 2 pairs of canvas pants, (like they use in military uniforms, they are durable, warm yet breathable, and they dry quickly. You can buy them at most Army surplus stores.) 4 T-shirts, 2 long sleve button up cotton or canvas shirts, (again, check your Army surplus store.) One heavy coat (with removable liner if possible) or sturdy jacket depending on the weather where you live, 2 pairs of long johns, (again, depending on your weather.)2 hats, (baseball caps or woolen) and 1 pair of durable gloves. FIRST AID - In the individual bags I pack : Antibacterial ointment (like Neosporin), sun block, 4 gauze pads, 1 roll of white medical tape and 4 large Band-Aids (I prefer 3M to Brand Aid brand.) If anyone in your group required daily medication I would put a three day supply of their meds in every pack. (Everybody but Bob lose their packs in the river? At least Grandpa still has some of his insulin!) MISC. - I pack: 1 good spoon, fork, knife, tin cup, tin bowl and 1 medium sized tin pot;(Most camping supply stores sell these items as a kit.) lots of bandannas (may sound silly but they can be used for just about anything, ie. straining stream water, tying hair back, etc. they're cheap and they take up virtualy no space.); multi vitamins; extra eye glasses, medications, tampons or other personal items; 2 toothbrushes and small tube of toothpaste; 1 roll of toilet paper; one roll of sturdy garbage bags; several wooden matches in a waterproof case; 1 pocket or swiss army knife and one sleepng bag. Last but possibly the most important your BIBLE! SOME THINGS THAT CAN'T HURT - Sweetened powdered drink mixes, fishing supplies, boy scout handbook, first aid guide, journal and pen, map of the area, compass, magnifying glass etc. If you have very small children don't forget their favorite doll or "lovie" and a few cookies or other treat. If you're a hunter it can't hurt to bring your rifle and some bullets but please remember these are prime theft targets and they may not stop at taking the gun. In short, if you're not prepared to defend it, don't bring it. Also, please remember that I am by no means a survival expert. This is simply how I have prepared myself and my family. Earlier I said there were two stages to Phase two - the first was pack your bug out bags. The second is simple, have several options of where you will go from here. These supplies will only last you a few days, what are you going to do after that? The more options you have, the better off you'll be. Talk this over with every member of your group well in advance. At what point will you leave your house? Will that decision fall to one member of the group? A commitee? Will you leave at the first sign of a riot, or wait until martial law is declared? Know how everyone feels about this now, avoid arguements fueled by stress later.

FIRST AID KIT - This is the kit that will remain with the person responsible for administering first aid. Your "medic" if you will. This is what I have packed: 1 box of Benedryl - This can be used in an emergency if someone has an allergic reaction to something. 1 small pair of good scissors. 5 fine sewing needles. 1 spool of fine white thread. 2 curved sewing needles. Fine fishing line - for stiches, make sure it will fit through the eye of the curved needles. 1 large roll of white medical tape. 1 large box of surgical gloves - they make them in non-laytex for those of us that are allergic. Rubbing alcohol. Antibacterial ointment. Tylenol or other fever reducer Pepto-Bismol tablets. Asprin. Digital thermometer. Motrin or other pain reliever. One sterilized white sheet packed in a plastic bag - this can be cut into strips and used as bandages. Much easier to carry than several different sized band-aids. Safety pins. Vaseline. 10 gauze pads. 10 large 3M band-aids.

If you have small children remember to bring medications for them. Adult medication is not safe for children! Also concider buying them special decorated bandages and bringing a darker colored or paterned sheet to use over top of the white sheet bandages. That way you can remove the dark sheet to check for blood on the white bandage while hiding the blood from the child.

I AM NOT A MEDICAL DOCTOR. THIS IS SIMPLY WHAT I HAVE DONE TO PREPARE IN AN EMERGENCY.

A couple more quick tips to go with this harrange. If you have large dogs, make up or buy a pack for them to wear. Make them earn their keep! Don't forget birth control! It may seem as though you wouldn't need it under such stressful conditions, but that's exactly when you may need it most. Remember that under stressful situations children tend to fall back on old habits. That could mean a potty trained child suddenly needing a diaper, or an older child wetting the bed. Be prepared for these occurances if at all possible. I have two kids under two, their packs are very different than mine. If anyone is interested I can post the contents of their packs as well.

REMEMBER TO KEEP THESE BUG OUT PACKS AWAY FROM YOUR HOME OR SAFE PLACE SO THEY WILL BE SAFE IN CASE OF FIRE. MAYBE KEEP THEM IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR OR EVEN BETTER BURIED IN A STURDY WOODEN BOX SOMEWHERE CLOSE BY.

-- HD (home_dad@yahoo.com), July 24, 1999

Answers

Good Grief! How many mules have you ordered to carry all of this? You can't pack 2000 years of civilization around on your back. In 1965 I hiked the Wonderland TRail around Mt Rainer (96 miles going from 4500 to 8500 feet, up and down) and then climbed to the summit. I was out more than a week and my pack was 55Lbs when I started. I think you need to back up and rethink your items. Why in the world would you carry two pair of boots each? Have one pair of shoes/boots and they should be on your feet. You need to do a dry run with all your supplies. Your family isn't going to get more than a 1/2 mile and they will collapse. You will be absolutely AMAZED at all the stuff you DON'T need after you have packed it for a mile or so. Gotta go take a nap after reading this scenario. I am exhausted and can already feel the shoulder and neck muscles tightening up from that over loaded pack.

Taz...who has done a lot of treking in her life.

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), July 24, 1999.

FWIW, the bears opinion is that for those who are not accustomed to carrying backpacks a more practical limit to plan for is 30 lbs. Even a 30 lb pack can seem like your carrying a '59 Buick when you muscles are not accustomed.

You *will* get creep. That is, the pack will get heavier than you *planed* for.

Build you pack and weigh it on bathroom scales. Keep working the problem till you get it to 30-35 lbs.

Now, go back and add water and weapons (if you choose weapons).

Now go out and carry the thing around for a few hours.

Now try it in the rain. (Or did you plan on bugging out only in nice weather?)

-Greybear

-- Got Rain Gear?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), July 24, 1999.

Perishable items will be damaged or ruined if left in the car, or the trunk of a car, during a sunny day with the outside air temperature above 70 deg. F.

When I was young and foolish I had the opportunity to carry a 52 lb. machine gun tripod, along with my pack, on many extended hikes through hilly forested terrain in the Ardennes. Sometimes in rain, sometimes in foot-deep snow, sometimes at night. I found it taxing, but I was in good shape. At the time we were all motivated by circumstance amd occasional episodes of terror.

This is not a practical option for me now.

You might hire bearers, as the Everest expeditions do. With enough of them your party could transport practically any amount of goods. A drawback to this scheme is its high visibility.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), July 24, 1999.

Excellent First Cut List. After someone ASSEMBLES ALL of it, they can pack and repack to their heart's content, getting the weight down, and cutting down on the redundancies. Didn't see any cord, 5mm rope, or 550 cord (chute cord) in there. didn't see fire there either. oops there are the matches, and HERE redundancy is OK. Why the bowl? got a good Sierra cup? works for both. Why extra eating knife? You already have at least one mentioned, and if it's ME I ALWAYS have at least 2 or 3 edged tools on my body (yes, including when I go into the airport for clients).

I'll also accept the 2 pr of boots, as, as soon as posible, I will have to get out of the tennies I wear all the time and this gives me an extra pair, but both are lashed to the outside.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), July 24, 1999.

GBear, LOL!! Don't get nice enough weather for *rain* 'round here in January in most years...Is El Nino due back? He's our only hope for that.

-- Tricia the Canuck (tricia_canuck@hotmail.com), July 25, 1999.

Bug Out Bag - Personal

Legend: SP = Sportsmans Guide (www.sportsmansguide.com 800-888-3006) CTD = Cheaper Than Dirt (www.cheaperthandirt.com 888-625-3848)

Item Number Vendor Cost

Jansport Alpine Trek pack F99C-35033 SP 69.97 Guide Gear Backpack F99C-35068 SP 79.97 Audiovox FRS radios (2) F99Y-36301 SP 79.97 Ark Emergency Survival kit ZAA270 CTD 14.97 3 days food and water (one person) First Aid kit F99Y-34969 SP 11.97 Utensil sets (4) F99Y-33198 SP 11.97 Solar Cooker F99Y-37797 SP 14.97 Water Purifier F99Y-13887 SP 29.97 Windproof/waterproof matches(50)F99Y-21053 SP 6.97 Candle Lantern F99Y-37470 SP 14.97 Two-pack replacement candles F99Y-37471 SP 2.97 Trioxane fire starters (36) F99Y-18428 SP 4.97 Bivy shelter F99Y-28533 SP 49.97 Compass F99Y-28563 SP 7.97 Survival tool F99Y-33520 SP 17.97 Axe-Shovel-Saw Field Guide to Medicinal Plants F99Y-14950 SP 14.97 Field Guide Edible Wild Plants F99Y-14949 SP 14.97 Ditch Medicine F99Y-39783 SP 19.97 Heat packs (20) F99Y-8927 SP 14.97 Heavy duty repair kit F99Y-4909 SP 9.97 Pocket stove F99C-22313 SP 12.97 Survival knife F99C-37571 SP 5.97 Space blankets (4) F99C-13712 SP 7.97 Poncho BH1000 CTD 7.97 Camo Compact MGR330 CTD 4.97 Wool mittens ZBF185 CTD 3.97 P-38 3-Way can openers (5) MGR942 CTD 2.97 Mess kit MGR908 CTD 3.97 Solar Dynamo radio/light MGR883 CTD 19.97 Mug MGR930 CTD 2.97 Camp thermometer CAMP541 CTD 1.97 Nylon twine ZBB835 CTD 6.97 Field Surgical kit CLN950 CTD 24.97 Wilderness Survival Guide ZAA655 CTD 19.97

Bug Out Bag - Car Kit All of the above items plus:

Item Number Vendor Cost

Ark Emergency Survival kit ZAA270 CTD 14.97 3 days food and water (one person) Compact folding shovel ZBB906 CTD 5.97 Wool blanket CORP105 CTD 14.97 Canteen MKT1045 CTD 7.97 Sleeping bag + 10 degrees F99C19488 SP 39.97

Clothes and personal items were left out of the above list as there are different enviromental requirements for each region. Most of the above items are very small and will not fill the pack above the 1/2 way point. I hope this is helpful

-- ExCop (yinadral@juno.com), July 27, 1999.