Author Topic: Emergency bug-out bag for evacuation in 5 minutes (Read 6541 times)

Neil Obstat · « **on:** August 07, 2012, 02:05:14 PM »

I got a promotional e-mail from Lee Ballanger (sp?) with this message, with a 40-min.
video of his sales pitch. Bottom line: $197 plus shipping (18 lbs.) or 2 or more
"e-packs" for free shipping -- watch video. He says this shopping list will cost you
more than $197 to buy, and it takes all day from store to store to get it all, if
you can find it all. If you wait for an emergency, you won't be able to fill your
list because everyone else will be doing the same shopping. I would add that
you'd need to get a few more items that are not in this kit, see below...

The video

http://www.independentlivingnews.com/video/epack-video.html

A Flashlight/Emergency Beacon/Radio & Universal DC Adapter
Family-Size Field Hygiene Kit
One Family-Size Solar Powered Outdoor Shower
Two Emergency Ponchos
Two Body Heat Retaining Emergency Reflective Sleeping Bags/Blankets
One Roll of All-Purpose Duct Tape
Five-in-One Maximum Duty Survival Whistle
Emergency Tube/Tent Shelter
One Stainless Steel Combination Camper's Multi-Function Tool
Four Hand Body Warmers
One Emergency First Aid Kit
US Coast Guard approved; High-Quality Emergency Rations
50 High-Quality Water Purification Tablets
Several packages of pocket tissue
A roll or two of toilet paper
One emergency candle
A Sturdy garden trowel, made by Fiskars
Two disposal bags
One note pad
Two standard No. 2 pencils
Two filter masks, wrapped, type N95
Three packages waterproof matches
One pair of all-purpose work gloves
Two twelve-hour yellow light-sticks
A pair of collapsible drinking tumblers, 4 oz.
One 5-gallon collapsible water carrier with handle and pouring spout
50 foot rope made of super sturdy material
One deck standard playing casino-used cards

Also included with your first E-Pack is a substantial library of emergency preparedness and response reports, including:

Social Chaos Survival Guide: Smart, Savvy Precautions to Make Yourself Self-Reliant in These Dangerous Times (189-page manual)
How You and Your Loved Ones Can Survive A Nuclear Attack or Accident (288 pages)
Secrets for Surviving the Coming Terrorist Germ Warfare Attacks Against U.S. Population Centers (162-page manual)
20 Inexpensive Items to Buy Right Now to Build a Germ Warfare "Clean Room" In Your House
The Emerging Dollar Collapse Barter Kit: 14 Essential Items You Should Have Now
Smart Hoarding 101: Do It Right and Save Big Money By Stocking Up on Food, Water, and Yes, Fuel
Life Saving Basics: Make Your Own Antibiotics at Home
The official U.S. Army Survival Manual
A 12-month subscription to Independent Living, our 20-page monthly advisory for savvy, self-sufficient individuals (for new subscribers only).

And in the event that any
of these items should become unavailable, we guarantee to substitute items of equal or greater overall value, quality and utility.

It seems that "your first E-Pack" has things the subsequent ones don't have,
maybe that's why you can ship the second, etc., for free.

Even if you're not interested in ordering this, maybe the list will be of use to some
members who want to put together a kit of some kind. The first thing that hits me
is there are a few things missing that I would put on the top of my list:

~ I'd recommend a Swiss Army knife pretty high on the list
~ I would verify his "sleeping bag" is going to be sufficient!
~ portable camp stove with at least 3 extra butane fuel canisters
~ lightweight cooking pot, pan
~ small mirror, for personal use and for sending signals
~ dried food, just add water
~ disinfectant, first aid tape, scissors, gauze, band-aids (first aid kit)
~ needles and thread (one needle breaks, so you need several)
~ moleskin (has to be no more than a year old, perhaps shelf life problem)
~ water (his kit includes a water CARRIER but no water -- don't forget to fill it!)
~ slippers (your size - personal item - or else you'll wear the same shoes)
~ Don't forget socks and underwear, two changes of clothes
~ soap and two towels, shampoo, HAND LOTION, sunscreen, insect repellent
~ laundry soap
~ bottle of vodka or at least whiskey -- don't drink it all up!
(and don't tell your alcoholic friend about it because then it will disappear!)

For your car:
~ spare tire, inflated to operating pressure and TESTED by driving on it
~ lug wrench (a man died in the desert because he had the wrong size wrench)
~ two gallons of radiator water -- could be more important than drinking water
~ jack, preferably hydraulic, and several wood blocks to support the car
(if you have a scissors jack, be sure it's not too old or too used because they
can suddenly fail by shearing threads: I had this happen to me and it's no fun)
~ 3/8" drive socket set to fit your car (English/Metric) and perhaps a few 1/2"
drive items as well, depending on your vehicle
~ road reflector triangle or road flares in case of breakdown to warn traffic
~ snow chains (if you wait till you need them, they'll cost twice as much)
~ tow cable, snatch strap, heavy chain for pulling your car out of a ditch
~ glass hammer isn't necessary if you have your socket set inside the car: use
any ratchet or extension as a hammer to break car window if you become
submerged or otherwise trapped inside the car

catherineofsiena · « **Reply #1 on:** August 07, 2012, 04:01:03 PM »

I'm working on one myself and trying to get my family to comply. The most difficult thing is getting people to understand why being prepped is important. So much denial, as in, "this will never happen" or "if we run out of food I'll just go to the grocery store"....stuff like that. How much can you prep for other people who refuse to help themselves but will definitely come calling when they are in need?

One of my main questions I ask myself is "If I had five minutes or less to leave, what would I grab?" Only time for the bug out bag I'm afraid. One hour or more? That leaves time for grabbing irreplaceables in the house, space permitting.

Back to this later..........

catherineofsiena · « **Reply #2 on:** August 07, 2012, 08:38:23 PM »

Neil, any recommendations on the bag itself? I'm overwhelmed by the choices. I know it has to be something I can carry which means those big backpacking contraptions are out. It has to be reasonable for a woman and an individual's strength. I'm at a loss on this one.

Inside the bag, IMO the foods need to be things a person will actually eat. For me I'd go for dried jerkys, dried fruit, nuts, etc. Did I see a water purifier on the list? I bought a portable Katadyn and I'm going to get a second one for the car. The car version needs seasonal items relevant to the geographical climate.

I keep multiple copies of important docuмents I'd need in case I had to start life all over (birth certificate, sacraments, financials, insurance, etc). I bought a solar recharger for a cell phone and small electronics. I should get an extra flash drive.

I like small bottles of booze, chocolate and personal items (especially for women) as tradeables. Travel size shampoos and such are great depending how long a person expects to be away.

The survivalist who can survive with a knife and a heat source isn't going to be feasible for a lot of women, particularly this woman

PenitentWoman · « **Reply #3 on:** August 07, 2012, 09:35:13 PM »

I just started keeping an infant life vest in my car for my daughter.

Five years ago this past week I was 18 and about to head to college. Some friends and I took a road trip to the Mall of America and Ikea to do some shopping and celebrate our last days together. We drove over the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis less than an hour before it collapsed into the Mississippi river.

I think about emergency situations like that where you managed to survive the initial trauma, but were in danger of water, being able to quickly put on a life vest could mean life or death.

catherineofsiena · « **Reply #4 on:** August 07, 2012, 11:42:07 PM »

I remember that collapse. It was horrifying to see. I can't imagine being close to it.

Do you have an emergency life hammer or auto punch for the windows in your car? I've read the car doors won't open in the water due to the pressure so you have to be ready to break a window. I used to have the life hammer which has a cutting mechanism for seat belts on the opposite end. There are auto punches that fit on your keychain or could be taped somewhere within reach of the driver's seat.