In September 2020, a wildfire destroyed most of the town of Malden, Washington. Most of the population had to evacuate. Were they prepared for this? Are you prepared?
One way to be ready for an event such as the fire in Malden is to have a bag ready that you can just grab and go in case of emergency. Some people call this a “bug out bag” or an emergency supply kit.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), recommends the following items for an emergency supply kit.
- Water and non- perishable food for several days
- Extra cell phone battery or charger
- Battery powered or hand crank radio that can receive NOAA weather radio alerts and extra batteries.
- Flashlight and extra batteries.
- First Aid kit.
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place.
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation.
- Can opener (if kit contains canned food).
- Local maps
FEMA also recommends that you have any necessary prescriptions, infant formula and diapers, pet food, water and supplies, and important family documents. For a complete list of FEMA’s recommended emergency supply kit items, you can go to www.ready.gov.
In an interview with an instructor at the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) school who wished to remain anonymous, he stated the importance of having a bug out bag as well as what should be in the kit.
“ A bug out bag is a necessity for three reasons,” he said. “Being prepared gives you the flexibility to get further away from the danger/emergency quickly and without having to stop for supplies as early or often. It also gives you confidence and a sense of ease if an emergency were to occur. Having a bag ready can significantly increase your survivability (quality of the condition you’re in and duration of how long you can survive.
“Bare essentials that you would need in case of an emergency include something for water purification, a multi-tool, weatherproof matches or a butane torch with extra fuel, tinder, a map of the local area, a compass and a stand alone global positioning system (GPS). A secondary means of communication such as a satellite phone or walkie talkies should also be in the kit. Basically something that doesn’t depend on a cellular network in order to function. A mobile battery pack or another power source is necessary to charge these devices.”
We all have to eat but you can’t carry a refrigerator on your back. What are the best food items to pack in case of emergency?
“Of course food and water are necessities,” said the instructor. “Mountain House and other brands make dehydrated meals. They are a bit expensive but are usually light weight, have good nutritional value, and generally taste better than some alternatives. Some other options for food are tuna packets, ramen noodles, peanut butter, dehydrated fruits, jerky, nut mixes, tortillas (a good source of carbs that don’t get moldy quickly like bread), hard candies (these are less likely to melt and can be good for morale), vitamins (easier to pack than fruits and vegetables and they won’t spoil).”
So what is the right pack for you? You don’t want to take too much stuff and weigh yourself down, and you don’t want an uncomfortable pack if you have to carry it for an extended period. In an in person interview with Kurt,Perrigo from the REI camp department, he has all the answers.
“For a 72 hour kit, or bug out bag, I recommend a pack with 35 liter capacity or more,” he said. “It depends on how much gear you’re packing. If you’re thinking of a kit, maybe you’ve got other people with you and you want to be able to carry some gear for them, you can go with a little bit bigger bag.”
“Also pick a pack that has a hip belt versus a thin, little waist strap.” said Perrigo. “This helps distribute the weight on the hips a little more comfortably. The weight is on the hips and not on the shoulders.”
While a good pack is expensive, Perrigo recommends shopping locally as opposed to buying online.You may pay more but you will get a pack that fits your needs and doesn’t cause strain.
“Our prices range from around $120 to $140 for a 35 liter pack,” he said. “The advantage to shopping with us as opposed to online is that you can come in and we will load up the pack and get it fitted to you so it is comfortable. It fits you like a pair of shoes. REI.com also has lists of bare essentials for bug out bags.”
While a lot of the items in this article are expensive, they can be worth it if they keep you or your loved ones alive. Knowing that you are prepared in case of an emergency is good for your peace of mind. You can’t put a price on that.
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