You spent hours packing you bug-out bag. You think you’re set for the apocalypse. You’re dead wrong.
1. You’re going to run out of water
You have one bottle of water. You have five water-purifying tabs but can’t remember how much water to use them with. You meant to get a Life Straw but didn’t. And you’re not sure where you’ll get water to purify in the first place.
2. You’re going to run out of food
You brought food you don’t like. Even if you choke it down, you didn’t bring enough. It’s also past its expiration date and might give you botulism.
3. You forgot that weather and seasons change
You packed in the summer, so you have shorts and a T shirt. Maybe you have jeans and a jacket. It’s the dead of winter. And your sleeping bag isn’t raged for <40 degrees. You didn’t pack a poncho, and now it’s rainy season. Your clothes are flashy and noticeable, but to survive the situation, you need to be the Gray Man.
4. You tried to pack for all situations
Your bag is the size of your car because you tried to pack for everything from a dirty bomb to an extended stay in the woods. And for that matter, do you even know how to use that compass you packed?
5. You didn’t take your location into account
You packed to survive in the woods. You live in downtown. Or the American Southwest.
BONUS – You thought your BOB would save you
Let’s face it: no matter how great your BOB is, it’s not an off-grid hideout in a can. It’s also not an INCH (I’m Never Coming Home) bag.
Most importantly, it’s not going to magically give you the soft (talking, observing, deescalating) skills or hard (combat, tactics) skills necessary to navigate and survive a SHTF scenario. Your brain is your most important tool. Learn wilderness and urban survival skills now before you need them. Because when the the SHTF, it’s too late.
No one can tell you what items you should have in your bag. They can suggest them, but every bag is different depending on your situation. So before you go buy some $300 premade bug-out bag or try to get all 101 items on that super-duper BOB list, use common sense.
Don’t forget to plan for the situation you’re most likely to face. For instance, if you live in AZ, you’re not going to stock up like you expected a hurricane. If you live in the city, you probably won’t be bugging out to the wilderness.
Think big-picture. What will the local and global situation be in a SHTF scenario (hint: it’s different for each disaster!) and how will it affect you?
And the 1 million dollar question: