urban survival bags for cars and home

C

cognitivefun

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Oct 24, 2004
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What would you suggest for a bag that I keep in each car and at home.

The bag itself (something waterproof, perhaps a backpack)

Multitool

Flashlights

other stuff?

The purpose would be if we are stuck somewhere during a terrorist lockdown or curfew or civil unrest. This is more probable than a wilderness situation for us.

Criteria: whatever is put together, must be inexpensive as possible but practical. I don't like really cheap stuff when it comes to the multitool, pack or light, but there is often good stuff that is not too expensive.

Also things like recommended rations, clothing and whatever.

Thanks for your thoughts!
 
You may not feel that you need certain gear because you can't see being forced to evac into the countryside, but there are going to be circumstances that you can't see coming. My suggestion is to choose your gear to sustain you in both urban and rural situation.

I use two different bags for our vehicles. One in my PU is a Danish gas mask shoulder bag. Inside I've placed a SWaK, poncho, lined nylon jacket, 2 55gal. drum liners, emergency candle, 50' 550 paracord, gloves, hiking socks, TP, tinder, lighter, hotspark, small FAK, dropper bottle of bleach for water purification, bandana, AA maglite, SS cup, 1 gallon ziploc freezer bag, a small burlap bag with handles and high energy food. Also carried is a couple of warm blankets, water, food, chopping tool, saw, rope, a large tarp and an FRS-GMRS radio with fresh batteries. I know there are items I've forgot, but you get the idea. The wifes vehicle bag is an E. German combat ruck that's rubberized inside and more or less is waterproof. It contains much the same gear, but also includes a matching belt pouch with the smaller items stuffed into it so I/she doesn't have to remove the pack to say, grab a flashlight, make a fire, etc.

We each also carry personal gear on a day to day basis. Cell phones, leatherman tool, fire tool, LED light, etc.
 
cognitivefun said:
What would you suggest for a bag that I keep in each car and at home....The purpose would be if we are stuck somewhere during a terrorist lockdown or curfew or civil unrest...must be inexpensive as possible but practical...recommended rations, clothing and whatever.
Click to expand...
Assuming that you will be staying pretty close to the vehicle/building where the "bag" is located and there won't be a need to move it far or often, you can consider larger-than-usual containers. That allows you to expand your resource base considerably for the anticipated lockdown/curfew scenario.

I recommend the 18-20 gallon Rubbermaid type tubs with lid. I get them on sale for about $5 USD. Being semi-rigid they offer some protection to their contents from knocks & dings. The semi-transparent ones allow you to see what is in each one, if you have more than one (food/water in one, sleeping gear in another, etc).

The one I toss in the back of my car contains at various times the following items for one-person maintenance:
- sportsman space blanket or two, small travel pillow
- polarfleece jacket, scarf, watch cap, gloves, & blanket
- about four liters of water per person per day
- half dozen Power/Clif Bars or equivalent, and possibly other non-perishable snack foods like dry-roast nuts (less chance for rancidity), corn chips, crackers, Pop Tarts, licorice, or canned food like corn beef hash, spaghetti-o's, beef stew, chicken noodle soup, etc.
- first aid kit, liquid soap, washcloth, toilet paper, paper towels
- D-cell Maglite flashlight & extra batteries
- about a dozen dinner candles (light & warmth in an easily-controlled fire-form), long-snout butane BBQ lighter, BIC lighter, Firesteel, tinder
- USCG xenon flasher with clear & red lenses that uses a D-cell battery, like the flashlight. It's to use as an emergency flasher in case my car stalls. That way I don't drain the car's battery powering the emergency flasher tail-lights. And this animal is a LOT brighter than my emergency flashers. http://www.emprep.com/Strobe Lights.html
- Cold Steel Bushman or other el-cheapo fixed blade, SAK
- roll of duct tape, Ziploc bags, garbage bags

For some other food suggestions, see my posting in this recent "survival food" thread.

In the case of actual civil unrest, IMHO you will want to add a battle-rifle (.223 or .308, your choice), a dozen or so 30-round magazines for it with bandoleer/vest to carry them, a few 1,000-round cases of ammo for reloads, and the training to use it proficiently for yourself and all members of your family. Sidearms are optional, although handy on occasion.
 
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