How to Build a Bug-Out-Bag
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When You Need to Just Bug-Out
When looking at a survivalist's bug-out-bag, it reminded me of a camping bag we used to pack for boy scouts. The only real difference is a boy scout would not pack a 9mm or a rifle. They may not pack food that would have a shelf life of two years either.
What I am going to do is build a bug-out-bag list separated by intensity. You may be limited by amount of space or the amount of money you have to invest in it. I will start with an extremely simple, bare bones emergency kit for you and your family.
Second, I will talk about packing your clothes and food. You will need enough to feed and clothe yourself and your family for three days. You will also need to think about what to cook your food on if it needs to be cooked.
Finally I will discuss living on the land and what you will need to survive three days or more in the wilderness.
What I am going to do is build a bug-out-bag list separated by intensity. You may be limited by amount of space or the amount of money you have to invest in it. I will start with an extremely simple, bare bones emergency kit for you and your family.
Second, I will talk about packing your clothes and food. You will need enough to feed and clothe yourself and your family for three days. You will also need to think about what to cook your food on if it needs to be cooked.
Finally I will discuss living on the land and what you will need to survive three days or more in the wilderness.
Why Do You Need a Bug-Out-Bag?
Here are a few scenarios to Consider
People ask me, "Why should I have a Bug-Out-Bag?" I thought I would write a few scenarios that would call for a bug-out-bag. This will help you to understand why I think it is essential to have one ready to go.
- Stranded in Your Car
- A Lot of things can get you stranded in your car; Things like a flat tire or a broken timing belt. What happens if your car overheats in the middle of a heat wave or worse a blizzard? You can make that time a bit more tolerable with a bug-out-bag.
- If Your House Burns Down
- This Happens to People Everyday. A Bug-Out-Bag will Make it Easier to Survive.
- Hurricanes Make Me Bug Out
- What happens if a hurricane hits your area unexpectedly? This might be a time you need to get your family out of town and fast.
Need a Bug-Out-Bag?
Be creative with what you pack your Bug out supplies in.
You will need some kind of bag if you are going to build a bug out bag. It can really be made out of anything that is easy to pick up and take with you. I have seen people use waterproof hardshell boxes to hold their bug out supplies. Ammo Boxes are great for small setups. You probably would not be able to get clothes in them. Storage containers or ice chests will hold everything and can be air and water tight, but they are kind of awkward to carry around in an emergency.
Traditionally most people use some sort of backpack, preferably something that is made for camping. The more pockets you have to shove things in the better. This will cut down on the amount of digging you will have to do when you need something out of the bag. The following are examples of some of the bags you can purchase for your Bug out bag.
Traditionally most people use some sort of backpack, preferably something that is made for camping. The more pockets you have to shove things in the better. This will cut down on the amount of digging you will have to do when you need something out of the bag. The following are examples of some of the bags you can purchase for your Bug out bag.
Are You Ready?
How Prepared Are You?
I am wondering how many people out there have thought about putting an emergency bag together to keep in their hall closet or even in their car just in case they needed to get out of town in a hurry. Maybe you can help me figure out the statistics.
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Bare Bones Emergency Kit
Just a Few Things You Should Always Have
There are a few things you will need to survive:
1. Emergency Medical Kit - Includes, but is not limited to: bandages of several sizes, alcohol towelettes, iodine, needle and medical thread, several types of pain pills, gauze, antibiotic cream, etc. You never know what you are going to have to deal with in an emergency. Make sure you have a way to deal with minor cuts, scrapes and bruises. Someone in your group may need the help.
2. Knife - A knife is a tool that has unlimited uses. It is something that can help you find food, build a shelter, start a fire, defend your family as well as many other things. Make sure you have a good knife with you at all times, even if it is just a pocket knife.
3. Compass - You may need to know which direction you are going. A compass is always good to give you a solid direction even if you don't know where to go.
4. Hook and Fishing Line or Para-cord - There is almost always a place to fish in an emergency situation. You will be able to fish no matter what. Para-cord is a great tool for everything from fishing to tying down a shelter. You Should always carry Para-cord with you.
5. Canned food and a can opener - It would be a good thing to have an emergency can of beans in your survival kit and a way to open it. Make sure you have both.
6. Weatherproof Matches - You can dip your matches in melted wax to weather proof them. This will make sure you can start a fire if you are without electricity or heat or a way to cook.
7. Water in a bottle (preferably glass or stainless steel) - A plastic bottle will do, but try to find a glass bottle that will close tightly as soon as you can find one. You can live for three days without water, but you don't want to test that extreme. Always make sure you have clean water to drink.
8. Flashlight - The brighter the better. They are measured in lumens. Try to find one that is 140 lumens or higher.
8.5 A Way to Start a Fire - There are many ways to start a fire, some without having any kind of flint or store bought items. You should have several ways to start a fire. You never know when you will need a source of heat.
1. Emergency Medical Kit - Includes, but is not limited to: bandages of several sizes, alcohol towelettes, iodine, needle and medical thread, several types of pain pills, gauze, antibiotic cream, etc. You never know what you are going to have to deal with in an emergency. Make sure you have a way to deal with minor cuts, scrapes and bruises. Someone in your group may need the help.
2. Knife - A knife is a tool that has unlimited uses. It is something that can help you find food, build a shelter, start a fire, defend your family as well as many other things. Make sure you have a good knife with you at all times, even if it is just a pocket knife.
3. Compass - You may need to know which direction you are going. A compass is always good to give you a solid direction even if you don't know where to go.
4. Hook and Fishing Line or Para-cord - There is almost always a place to fish in an emergency situation. You will be able to fish no matter what. Para-cord is a great tool for everything from fishing to tying down a shelter. You Should always carry Para-cord with you.
5. Canned food and a can opener - It would be a good thing to have an emergency can of beans in your survival kit and a way to open it. Make sure you have both.
6. Weatherproof Matches - You can dip your matches in melted wax to weather proof them. This will make sure you can start a fire if you are without electricity or heat or a way to cook.
7. Water in a bottle (preferably glass or stainless steel) - A plastic bottle will do, but try to find a glass bottle that will close tightly as soon as you can find one. You can live for three days without water, but you don't want to test that extreme. Always make sure you have clean water to drink.
8. Flashlight - The brighter the better. They are measured in lumens. Try to find one that is 140 lumens or higher.
8.5 A Way to Start a Fire - There are many ways to start a fire, some without having any kind of flint or store bought items. You should have several ways to start a fire. You never know when you will need a source of heat.
Emergency Medical Kit
You Never Know when You Will Need It.
I don't know how many times I have needed an emergency medical kit. O have cut myself doing work on a job, or the kids are out playing and the fall and skin their knee. It is even good when you need an aspirin for that headache that won't go away.
I think you should have a medical in you car even if you don't have a bug out bag. Being out and about, you will need something that your medical kit will provide a solution for. It is also, besides water and fire, your number one necessity when you bug out. It will make sure you can take care of yourself when you have to start hiding out or need to make that long journey away from danger.
I think you should have a medical in you car even if you don't have a bug out bag. Being out and about, you will need something that your medical kit will provide a solution for. It is also, besides water and fire, your number one necessity when you bug out. It will make sure you can take care of yourself when you have to start hiding out or need to make that long journey away from danger.
Need Some Paracord?
It has so many uses
Paracord is something that everyone should have a little bit of. You can use it to tie up your food, or to hold together a splint if someone has a broken bone. You can also take the cord apart using the thin threads in the center to sew with or even if you need to, you could stitch up an open wound. I am sure if you think about it, you could come up with many other things you could use Paracord for.
More Information About Paracord
Including Ways You Can Use It
I thought you might want to know a little more about paracord, where it came from and what you can do with it. So I build a lens specifically about paracord. Take a few minutes and go on over, take a look at what I have to say, and leave some of your ideas about using Paracord.
How to Make a Para-cord Bracelet
So You Will Always Have Some With You
You can wear about 8 feet of para-cord with you at all times by wearing this simply made bracelet. All you need is a bit of para-cord, a lighter and a pair of scissors. You just have to know how to tie a square knot and have a bit of patience. Watch this video. It tells you exactly how to make one.
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Make Sure You Have Enough Water
You Need About a Gallon Per Day
They say you need 8 glasses of water everyday. That is a good starting point. My favorite rule of thumb is to take your weight. Cut it in half and make that number the number of ounces you need to drink everyday. I weigh about 220lbs. That means I need to drink about 110 ounces of water everyday.
You can survive on less water than that, but you will want to carry enough water with you to keep you alive for at least three days. By then you should have come up with another way to find and clean water. I would keep 2 20 oz bottles of water in your Bug-Out-Bag. If you have family with you, toy will need to carry several gallons of water. This is one reason it is a good idea to prepare ahead of time.
You can survive on less water than that, but you will want to carry enough water with you to keep you alive for at least three days. By then you should have come up with another way to find and clean water. I would keep 2 20 oz bottles of water in your Bug-Out-Bag. If you have family with you, toy will need to carry several gallons of water. This is one reason it is a good idea to prepare ahead of time.
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National World Water Day
is on March 22nd
Take a moment to visit my lens about National World Water Day. I think it is important to take the time to help all those people who have to hike for hours just to find water to drink. When they find that water, the water may not be clean.
We can help by supporting those who can drill wells in villages without ways to get easy water. If we can do that, will help them from catching a disease that might cost them their lives or the lives of their loved ones.
We can help by supporting those who can drill wells in villages without ways to get easy water. If we can do that, will help them from catching a disease that might cost them their lives or the lives of their loved ones.
Survival Knife
Buy One That Will Last
Knives are truly easy to come by. They are not all equal though. You can buy a knife for a buck or two and have something that will work around the house. If you are talking about a knife that will last in a survival situation, you are going to need one that has been hardened and will put up with major abuse.
In a survival situation, your knife will be used for all kinds of things. You will use it to cut clothing, skin animals to eat, to cut through vines and branches, to sterilize wounds, to shave with and many other applications you won't think of till you are in that situation.
A knife is only as useful as the sharpness of its edge. You can buy a cerated knife, one of those so called life long blades; one that does not need to be sharpened. The problem with them is they tear instead of cut. You will not have a perfect cut with that blade. The only way you will get a perfect cut is with a razor sharp edge.
In a survival situation, your knife will be used for all kinds of things. You will use it to cut clothing, skin animals to eat, to cut through vines and branches, to sterilize wounds, to shave with and many other applications you won't think of till you are in that situation.
A knife is only as useful as the sharpness of its edge. You can buy a cerated knife, one of those so called life long blades; one that does not need to be sharpened. The problem with them is they tear instead of cut. You will not have a perfect cut with that blade. The only way you will get a perfect cut is with a razor sharp edge.
Fire Fire Fire
I have a Feeling most of us don't
What would happen if you were stranded somewhere overnight and there was no way to get warmth without building a fire. Lets say your lighter was not in your pocket. I wonder, would you be able to start a fire? Could you look around you and find the tools you need to get one going or would you end up shivering to death as your overcome by hypothermia?
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Fire Starting Lessons
You May Need the Knowledge One Day
Some day you may find yourself in the situation where you need to get warm but don't have a way to start a fire. You will be glad you read this lens about alternative ways to start a fire. There are many ways you may not have heard of before. I was surprised by some of these ways. Check them out.
Interesting Ways to Start a Campfire
Ways You Didn't Know About
You may need to make a campfire one day, but not have the traditional ways to start one available. This video shows you some of the new ways we have to start a fire that you may not have thought of or even heard about before. Take a look.
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Compass
Know Which Way You Are Going
This is an important piece of equipment. If you don't know which way you are walking, then you might just find yourself walking in circles. Sure you can figure out which way is north by watching the sun or the stars, but what if you can't see them.
What if there is cloud cover or you are deep in the woods and you don't know when you will come to the next clearing in the trees. A compass is something that will help you make sure you are walking in the same direction at all times.
What if there is cloud cover or you are deep in the woods and you don't know when you will come to the next clearing in the trees. A compass is something that will help you make sure you are walking in the same direction at all times.
What Else Should You Pack?
Make a Little Bit More Room in Your Bag
9. Clothes - You should have one set of clothes for each person in your family as well a 2 pairs of spare socks. You will need to change clothes in an emergency situation. They should be long pants and long sleeves. If it is cold you will be warm. If it is hot, use your knife to cut the sleeves and legs off, so you can stay cool. If you have to hike great distances, you will want to change your socks often otherwise you might get blisters and other unnamable problems with your feet.
10. Blanket - You can fold up a blanket into your pack, but they make emergency blankets that are made out of Mylar that will use your body heat to keep you warm. They take up a lot less space and are perfect for emergencies.
11. Tent - Make sure you have a tent that is big enough for your whole family. If you don't have the room in your bag, get a smaller tent and a couple of tarps you can use to build make shift shelters.
12. Camping pots and pans - You only need one pot. They make collapsible pots that will fit nicely into your pack. Anything you can cook in is perfect.
13. Machete - You may need to cut your way through the woods. This long knife will make that effort easier. It also makes a great defensive weapon.
10. Blanket - You can fold up a blanket into your pack, but they make emergency blankets that are made out of Mylar that will use your body heat to keep you warm. They take up a lot less space and are perfect for emergencies.
11. Tent - Make sure you have a tent that is big enough for your whole family. If you don't have the room in your bag, get a smaller tent and a couple of tarps you can use to build make shift shelters.
12. Camping pots and pans - You only need one pot. They make collapsible pots that will fit nicely into your pack. Anything you can cook in is perfect.
13. Machete - You may need to cut your way through the woods. This long knife will make that effort easier. It also makes a great defensive weapon.
Mylar Blanket
A Way to Keep You Warm
I have seen these awesome blankets used on some of those survival programs or on that program where they hike to the top of mount Everest. They are supposed to work really well at keeping your own body heat inside your body.
The idea is that they are made of a thin piece of plastic with a reflective metal on one side. The reflective material turns your radiating body heat around back towards itself. When this happens, you can keep yourself ward for hours. It can mean the difference between your life and your death while waiting for someone to come to rescue you. Be sure to keep these in your bug out bag. Several of them take up very little room because they are made out of very thin plastic.
The idea is that they are made of a thin piece of plastic with a reflective metal on one side. The reflective material turns your radiating body heat around back towards itself. When this happens, you can keep yourself ward for hours. It can mean the difference between your life and your death while waiting for someone to come to rescue you. Be sure to keep these in your bug out bag. Several of them take up very little room because they are made out of very thin plastic.
Tents
Better than Sleeping in the Rain.
When you need to sleep in the wilderness or someone else's backyard, you may want to have a tent with you. Not only does it let you get out of the weather, it can also give you a little privacy when you want to change clothes or if you just want to be alone.
Now I would not have a tent in your grab and go bag. I would keep the tent in the trunk of your car, that way when you need it, you will be able to find it. The reason for keeping it in your car is in case for some reason you can't het into your house or can't get back to your house. You will have it with you when you are driving. If you have to leave your house in a hurry because of a fire or somthing, the tent and you Bug-Out-Bag will be in the trunk of your car. You will be able to grab it easier.
Now I would not have a tent in your grab and go bag. I would keep the tent in the trunk of your car, that way when you need it, you will be able to find it. The reason for keeping it in your car is in case for some reason you can't het into your house or can't get back to your house. You will have it with you when you are driving. If you have to leave your house in a hurry because of a fire or somthing, the tent and you Bug-Out-Bag will be in the trunk of your car. You will be able to grab it easier.
Camping Pots and Pans
You will have to have something to cook in
To Survive, you will need something to cook in, or at the very least, to boil your water in. There are many ways to pack a pot or pan. Remember Johnny Appleseed? He used to keep his pot on his head as a hat, that way he always had something to cook with.
Remember you can always improvise. Buy that large can of Pork and Beans and then you will be able to use the can use to boil your water in.
Remember you can always improvise. Buy that large can of Pork and Beans and then you will be able to use the can use to boil your water in.
Three Days of Food
This is an Absolute Minimum
You will want to feed your family for three days. If you are stuck in your car or out in the wilderness, finding food in that first three days may be difficult. That is why you should have enough food to keep your family alive for three days in your bug-out-bag. The following are some ideas:
14. Ramen - The cheap blocks will do, but the cups have less preparation needed. You only have to boil the water and pour it into the cup. Then the cups are great to reuse. They are Styrofoam, so they won't disintegrate quickly.
15. Cans of beans, raviolis, and anything else that might have two year expiration dates. Make sure you have a can opener or all the cans you buy have a self opening tab.
16. MRE - Meals Ready to eat. You can buy these from most Military Supply Stores or even the Boy Scouts Store. They will last a long time and will provide sustenance to you and your family.
17. Dry Rice and Dry Beans - They take some time to cook, but will give you both something to do and will last a long time if you don't use them.
14. Ramen - The cheap blocks will do, but the cups have less preparation needed. You only have to boil the water and pour it into the cup. Then the cups are great to reuse. They are Styrofoam, so they won't disintegrate quickly.
15. Cans of beans, raviolis, and anything else that might have two year expiration dates. Make sure you have a can opener or all the cans you buy have a self opening tab.
16. MRE - Meals Ready to eat. You can buy these from most Military Supply Stores or even the Boy Scouts Store. They will last a long time and will provide sustenance to you and your family.
17. Dry Rice and Dry Beans - They take some time to cook, but will give you both something to do and will last a long time if you don't use them.
MRE - Meals Ready to Eat
Eat Like Our Military
These little packets contain everything you need to stay alive when food is not readily available. You will have a protein bar or some kind of canned meat and a pouch of water. There is usually some kind of high calorie snack.
Protection
More Than Just Fire-Arms
18. Knives are always a good deterrent without being a major weapon. They are more of a tool, but will hurt an attacker if need be.
19. Bows and crossbows - Bows are a great hunting tool. They will be great for defense. They are also very hard to shoot yourself with by accident. Crossbows are easier to accidently shoot yourself, but they are less likely than a gun.
20. Rifles are perfect for large game hunting. They will deter anyone who might mean you harm. Personally, if I own a bow, I don't want a gun. They run out of ammunition easily, and then they become glorified clubs. With a bow, I can make more arrows if I have to from the trees around me.
21. Pistols. These can be used to take down game, but they are more for fighting off people. I really don't like having these around, not with kids in the vicinity.
19. Bows and crossbows - Bows are a great hunting tool. They will be great for defense. They are also very hard to shoot yourself with by accident. Crossbows are easier to accidently shoot yourself, but they are less likely than a gun.
20. Rifles are perfect for large game hunting. They will deter anyone who might mean you harm. Personally, if I own a bow, I don't want a gun. They run out of ammunition easily, and then they become glorified clubs. With a bow, I can make more arrows if I have to from the trees around me.
21. Pistols. These can be used to take down game, but they are more for fighting off people. I really don't like having these around, not with kids in the vicinity.
Bug-Out-Bag Blog Posts
- The Doomsday Preppers Blog Carnival
- While you won't find her living in a shipping container or out partying at a nightclub with a bug-out-bag at her feet like a couple of the folks featured in the premiere episode, she declares, ?Survival Preparedness is not a one-size-fits-all.
- Latest craze: 'Zombie' bullets help local gun owners prepare for the undead
- Hornady wants to ensure its customers are prepared for the zombie apocalypse and have the Zombie Max rounds in their "bug out bag" so they can "put the dead to rest for good." "But they (customers) understand they are defensive-quality loads (bullets) ...
- Budget takes bite out of Toronto's bed bug battle
- Sam Butler's life has never been the same since her battle with bed bugs. Whenever she travels, she takes a soft duffle bag, which she never leaves on the floor, only in the hotel bathtub. Her first stop before going home is to hit the laundromat.
- The Katzwer's Out of the Bag: It is not such a bad thing to fight for gay marriage
- And, while future battles mean more hurtful words, more stress and more feelings of inadequacy, future battles also mean that the gay-marriage bug has not run its course. The more they fight in California and the higher they take this case in the court ...
Other Items for Your Bug-Out-Bag
1. folding wood saw
2. radio
3. Water filter
4. sharpening stone
5. first aid kit
2. radio
3. Water filter
4. sharpening stone
5. first aid kit
Ammo Boxes
Waterproof and Strong
You May need something to store your bug-out-stuff in. I find ammo boxes are fantastic for this. They are built to keep ammo dry, so they will keep your dried food dry. They are not that hard to come by and you can get them relatively cheap. Look into them for your storing needs.
See Others' Bug-Out-Bags
And How They Put Their's Together
There are tons of people who believe in having a bug-out-bag ready for rough times. You never know when something difficult is going to happen. There are times when the world starts to fight against you. There are days when you might find yourself in a situation where you are hungry or cold. This group of videos will show you some of the bags other people have put together.
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What Would You Put in Your Bug-Out-Bag?
To keep you alive for 3 days or more
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Tipi
Feb 10, 2012 @ 8:56 pm | delete
- I think you have everything important listed here, I can't think of one other thing other than to say, blessed!
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Kimbesa
Jan 27, 2012 @ 11:22 pm | delete
- I'd add an extra pair of wool socks (warm and wick moisture). If you're going to bug out, keeping your feet in good condition is important too. Thanks!
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Heather426
Nov 25, 2011 @ 6:38 pm | delete
- *featured on my Best Emergency Earthquake Survival Kits.
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Lifeboost
Nov 20, 2011 @ 5:57 pm | delete
- Ooh, this is a great idea for a Christmas gift for my son. He'd absolutely love this stuff. I'm thinking a bug-out-bag with some of the essentials you've recommended here. Great lens! Blessed. :)
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RecipePublishing
Aug 26, 2011 @ 10:52 am | delete
- Nice lens
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rgasperson
Aug 26, 2011 @ 3:05 pm | delete
- Thank You
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TravelingRae
Aug 13, 2011 @ 3:14 pm | delete
- Blessed by a SquidAngel taking a stroll outside her neighbourhood on 8/13/11
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sushilkin Jun 6, 2011 @ 12:41 am | delete
- Nice to read. Thanks for sharing.
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lemonsqueezy
May 12, 2011 @ 2:26 pm | delete
- Very useful, comprehensive. and organized. Well done. Good to know!
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CruiseReady
Apr 3, 2011 @ 8:09 pm | delete
- Well, ours would be a little different than yours, because ours would be geared to hurricane evacuation, but a lot of it is the same. I really do like this lens, though!
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rgasperson
Apr 4, 2011 @ 5:34 am | delete
- I still have a lot of our Hurricane Supplies. we spent 26 years in South Florida. Went through Andrew, wilma, katrina, and several others. Fin times. Part of the reason we moves out of the state.
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tsp8ntball
Mar 28, 2011 @ 9:50 pm | delete
- Excellent information. Thank you for taking the time to write this lens.
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UKGhostwriter
Mar 24, 2011 @ 10:03 am | delete
- I'm often interested to see where my visitors come from, so I thought you might be. I saw this in Squidu forum (lens spot light)
Great lens - well done!
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sorana
Mar 21, 2011 @ 4:31 am | delete
- My laptop ... LOL ... just kidding. I would definitely put some lollies. :)
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darciefrench
Jan 4, 2011 @ 1:59 am | delete
- A copy of the Gita, some oranges, fire-makers, comfort items, more oranges -:).
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rgasperson
Jan 4, 2011 @ 9:57 am | delete
- afraid if scurvy are we?
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tembrooke
Dec 21, 2010 @ 4:58 pm | delete
- Really good lens -- and something everyone ought to consider! You never know when a natural disaster might force you to evacuate on short notice. Blessed!
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poutine
Dec 17, 2010 @ 4:26 pm | delete
- First time I read about a Bug-Out-Bag.
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