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Here are some ideas to get you started…
Here’s what you might want in your Bug-Out Bag (click to enlarge photo):
- Sleeping bag.
- Standard military hard foam pad. Good for a dry spot in wet conditions and as a fairly good “door” in an improvised shelter. Marginal for actually sleeping on, but hey, better than nothing.
- 8 x 10 nylon camo tarp. A waterproof wrap for the sleeping bag/ground cloth/improvised tent or a camo cover. Has grommets but can be “up-graded” with item #18.
- Ziplock bag containing copies of birth certificates, plasticized maps, immunization records, insurance records, title insurances, contact info for friends and relatives, etc. Each pack contains a complete set for the entire family.
- New Testament. We will all need support in trying times.
- Wash cloth/utility cloth.
- Two bandanas (earth-tone). Nothing is more useful than a bandana. It can be used as a tourniquet, pot holder, sun block, sling, sweat band, extra pocket, gun swab, head cover, dust mask, and of course blowing one’s nose. The list is huge. Ask a cowboy.
- Duct tape. As the saying goes, duct tape is like The Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it binds the universe together. With duct tape and two bandanas, the world is your oyster.
- Mosquito netting. Good for bugs, filtration, camo (make sure to get an earth-tone color).
- Gloves leather or synthetic working gloves with Thinsulite lining.
- Light shoes (in this case, moccasins with rubberized soles). Wet feet suck. You can wear these while your boots are drying.
- Medium ALICE pack with frame.
- Knit watch cap (preferably with knit face mask)
- Poncho Good also as a quick tent/shelter. Don’t pack a rain coat. You want something that can easily cover the pack on your back.
- 100 feet of paracord. Make sure you get the kind with either a five or seven strand interior. The strands can be separated and used for hundreds of things. (One time, while part of a group of pretty savvy survival types, I was asked to name the one thing I would have with me if dropped in the middle of nowhere. My answer was rope. Think about it.)
- Spare ALICE pouch for things that should be close at hand.
- Two canteens and ALICE attach-covers. Don’t forget to fill (and change often) these with water the moment you have your kit done. It won’t do you a bit of good to run out of the burning house with empty canteens.
- Plastic snap together grommets. Excellent and easy ways to re-enforce a tarp, fabric, or blanket. Not as strong as metal grommets to be sure, but a lot easier to install in troubled times.
- Food. Since food is usually one of the bulkiest items in a backpack, we purchased a 3600 calorie ration bar with a five-year shelf life. Supposedly this is a three day supply. Perhaps not, but it’s better than nothing and only weighs two pounds. You’ll still be alive after three days but probably pretty hungry. (This ain’t Lembas, folks.)
- Toilet paper. (Hey, I’ve got three females in the family.)
- Dental floss. This has many uses and is very tough.
- Cash. This will also include some coinage. Might still be working phone booths somewhere.
- First aid kit. The best compact first-aid kit I could find was $14 from the Red Cross. I upgraded it with Tylenol, Imodium, and Benadryl. A more extensive kit will travel with me.
- Space blanket bag. This is like your standard space blanket, but formed into a bag suitable as a bivvy sack for outside your sleeping bag (a big multiplier for heat retention as long as you recognize its limitations).
- Bar soap. Good for washing everything as well as finding water leaks in pipes, unsticking zippers, and lubricating saw blades and screws.
- Two space blankets. Good for signaling, ground clothes, heat retention, etc. These can be duct-taped together for a tent, grommeted, used as a sun-shade, game-wrap, or (of course) a blanket.
- Sewing kit.
- Flashlight. This is an LED flood and single-point light with a strong rare-earth magnet and a hanging hook. (Spare batteries are not shown but we have them packed.)
- Four ratchet type tarp holders. These make great clamps and tie-downs.
- Clothing. One shirt, pants, two pairs of underwear, three pair of socks. The outerwear is in dark earth-tones or camo.
- Matches, match cases, and a Bic lighter.
- Florescent plastic survey tape. Each family member gets a different color.
- Comb
- Sun-block SPF 50 & Insect replent
- Sharpie, two pens and pad of paper.
- A Leatherman-style tool: pliers, knife, awl, etc. with case.
- Toothbrush and toothpaste. Sure you can make it three days without brushing. But why? I can tell you that a good tooth brushing will make you feel better no matter how bad a night you’ve had. (Not shown: small mirror, compass, AM/FM radio, long johns, water treatment pills and hexamine fire starters.) So there you are.
But before you recommend a small solar panel, communication devices, alternate food types, etc., remember three things. (1) Your situation is probably quite different than ours; (2) This does not cover any self-protection requirements (we have other systems for that); and (3)Remember: weight and 72 hours.
Here are some links and info to help you decide what is best for you to pack in your Go Bag.
Bug Out Bag List – 15 Essentials You Need To Pack! Click Here
5-Day Survival Backpack… Click Here
Here is another list…
50 Items You Forgot To Put In Your Bug Out Bag
Do a search for “bug out bag list” and you’ll find hundreds of different checklists all over the Internet. So which one is right? The truth is, there’s no perfect list of items you should put in your bug out bag. It all depends on you, who will be with you, where you live, what types of survival items you prefer, and so forth.
However, there are some basic items that should be in almost every bug out bag (check out the article, What Goes In A Bug Out Bag for some suggestions). But once you have all the basics covered, you’ll need to make sure there aren’t any items you forgot. That’s where this post comes in.
You probably won’t be able to fit all of these items in your bug out bag, but this post is not meant to be a checklist. This post is to remind you of any items you would have put in your bag but forgot, and it’s to give you some ideas you might not have considered. The list is in alphabetical order.
- Antibiotics – These could save your life. To fight 90% of infections, be sure to pack some cephalexin, ciprofloxacin, and metronidazole.
- Baby Wipes – A very easy and convenient way to keep clean.
- Backpack Rain Cover – Keep your bug out bag and its contents dry even if it’s pouring down rain.
- Bandanas – You wouldn’t think so, but bandanas have dozens of uses.
- Benadryl – If you’re outdoors and on foot, allergies could become a major problem.
- Can Opener – If you have any canned food in your bag, then for God’s sake don’t forget to bring a can opener.
- Celox Blood Clotting Powder – This stuff is great. It will stop small, penetrating wounds from bleeding.
- Chap Stick – Use it to moisten chapped skin, stop small cuts from bleeding, prevent blisters, start fires, and much more.
- Clothesline and Pins – Even if you take a lot of clothes with you, you’ll still have to wash and dry them at some point.
- Collapsible Bowl – A sturdy bowl that takes up very little space.
- Compact Survival Fishing Kit – If you pass any lakes or rivers, try to catch some fish so you don’t go through your packed food as quickly.
- Dental First Aid Kit – Tooth pain can be excruciating, but a temporary filling can help relieve the pain until you can get to a dentist.
- Duct Tape – There’s a reason MacGyver liked duct tape. It has all sorts of surprising uses.
- Bug Off spray, hurricane season is also mosquito season.
- EpiPen – These are used in emergencies to treat severe allergic reactions. Ask your doctor to prescribe one.
- Faraday shield – This will protect your electronics in case of an EMP (electromagnetic pulse).
- Flash Drive – Scan all your important documents, forms of identification, pictures, books, etc. on this key chain flash drive.
- Hoyle’s Rules of Games – If you pack a deck of cards, make sure you also pack this book.
- Glow Sticks – You can use these to mark things in and around your camp so you’re not fumbling in the dark.
- Goggles – Useful if you have to swim, and they’ll also protect your eyes from sand and debris in a storm.
- Gum – I always have a pack of gum on me. And if you also have an AA battery, you can use that and the gum wrapper to start a fire.
- Instant Coffee – If you’re a caffeine addict, be sure to pack this so you can avoid caffeine headaches.
- Kindle Paperwhite 3G or tablet. Get one of these and load it with free ebooks so you can look up important information in the sunlight or in the dark. The battery lasts for weeks.
- LifeStraw – Drink water directly from the source. This awesome invention filters up to 260 gallons of water.
- Liquid Bandage – An invisible, flexible, waterproof, antiseptic bandage to prevent infections.
- N95 Masks – Filter out dust, smoke, ash, and other small particles.
- Moleskin – Protect calluses, blisters, and sore spots from painful friction.
- Pantyhose – Has all sorts of surprising uses, from building shelters to hunting animals and more.
- Paper Clips – Here are a couple dozen survival uses for paper clips.
- Pen or Pencil and Pad of Paper – I recommend this space pen which works in all weather conditions and these waterproof notebooks.
- Penny Can Stove and Denatured Alcohol – A small, lightweight stove that gets very hot and is very efficient.
- Pictures of Family and Friends – This is important in case you get separated. People you encounter might be able to help you find your family and friends again.
- Pocket Chain Saw – This takes up very little space but can cut through thick branches.
- Poncho Liner Blanket – A weather-resistant blanket that can also be used for building a shelter.
- Potassium Permanganate – Useful for starting fire, cleaning wounds, purifying water, and more.
- Power Inverter – Even if you’re bugging out on foot, maybe you’ll come across an abandoned vehicle and be able to use this. It turns a cigarette lighter into an outlet and USB charger.
- Ranger Bands – Secure belts, cables, cords, hoses, lines, straps, etc.
- Seasoning Kit – Great thing to have if you’re hunting and foraging. Also bring some cayenne pepper as it has several health benefits and can keep pests away.
- Sewing Kit – If it’s the end of the world as we know it and you’ve bugged out to a remote location far away from any stores, you’ll have to mend damaged clothes.
- Sillcock Key – Great urban survival tool. This allows you to take water from buildings with outside spigots.
- Siphon – Refuel your vehicle with gas from abandoned vehicles.
- Sling Shot – Hunt birds and small game without wasting ammo.
- Solar Charging Kit – Charge your devices and batteries whenever the sun is out. You can attach this to the outside of your bug out bag so it works even while you’re walking.
- Spare Glasses and/or Eyeglass Repair Kit – The last thing you want is to be half blind in a survival scenario.
- Stanley Wonderbar – Not just for prying open doors. This is a very versatile tool.
- Trail Marking Tape – Find your way back in case you get lost or help others find you.
- Trash Bags – There are dozens of reasons to pack trash bags.
- Trick Candles – Since these refuse to go out, they’re great for building a fire in windy conditions.
- Umbrella – Pretty self-explanatory. Being wet isn’t very fun, especially if it’s cold and you’re walking.
- Zip Ties – Yet another small item with multiple uses. Even just a few of them could be useful.
Teddy is ready to go on the adventure…
Don’t forget children have different needs than adults. Create a special go bag for them too.
Here are some ideas….
What Items should go into a kids bug out bag:
What goes into the bag really depends on your child’s age and their maturity. While the needs of each child are going to be different, there are some things you should consider when building an emergency bag for your child.
Basic Survival Items: These should be lightweight, age-appropriate items. Heavier items and gear should always be in the adult’s bags.
- Flashlight
- Emergency whistle (clipped to the outside of pack so they can easily find it if they become separated from you)
- Laminated emergency contact list with name, home address, and telephone numbers.
- Pre-paid cell phone
- Poncho
- Extra socks, pair of gloves and knit hat or bandana (depending on your climate)
- Dust mask
- Goggles
- Small pocket knife for the older kids
- Band aids & wipes
- Small bottle of hand sanitizer
Comfort Items: When building a bag for a child, comfort and mental stability are the primary purposes of the bag. Don’t overlook the importance of entertainment and comfort; during a disaster, the last thing you need is a kid who is overly stressed out and anxious.
- Stuffed animals / Teddy Bear / Unicorn
- A couple small light-weight toys
- Pack of playing cards, or travel size games
- Baseball or small Nerf football
- Harmonica
- An IPad, tablet, or small device to play games on
- Hard candy
- Bubblegum
- Sugar packets
- Trail mix
- Drink mix packets
Remember, a kid’s bug out bag is not meant to be an adult BOB. Its primary purpose is to provide comfort during a stressful situation and give your child a sense of control. With younger children, comfort items are a top priority and will help ensure their overall mental health.
Make sure you customize the bag for your child’s age, personality, and overall fitness level.
Create a Game Kit …
to help keep children occupied and their minds off of the hurricane and on having fun.
and 
Mike Petruccelli's Bus Stop 