Thanks for the posts. I sometimes think I over did it with my wifes bag but then I think I didn't. I guess the BOB will be MUCH bigger once I put it together. Probably seeing how much she would need for 24 hours is quite the eye opener. You don't think you'll need much but in the end you do.
Well, keep in mind that a lot of it will depend upon your circumstances.
For example, where we live, the climate is pretty forgiving for most of the year. Plus, both my wife and myself can wear clothing that's mostly appropriate for walking back home. Even in winter, the clothing we wear would be acceptable for a 15 mile walk.
So, let's look at what
we would need (used as examples and an exercise):
Food: Not as important over 24 hours. If push came to shove, both of us could easily go a day without eating anything. Some people may not (hypoglycemics, for example). In our case, we have about 2000 calories of food in our GHB's in the form of a single MRE and a couple of Millenium Bars (@ 400 cals each). Neither of these require any form of preparation.
Water: We have actually walked from my wife's work back home specifically to check the routes and what she may face getting back or what I may face coming to her. In the worst case, she may not have access to water once she leaves work. I'm lucky in that my wife is a survivalist/prepper, as well. She carries a 5.11 Rush Moab 6 as a purse. She has an internal bladder in that, which would be filled as soon as she leaves, and ways to carry two more 1 liter bottles. If she has to supplement from other sources, there are numerous places (businesses, etc.) that have external water spigots from which she can draw water on the way. There are also two, year-round natural water sources that can be a resupply, if necessary. She has two water purification straws for these.
Clothing: As indicated earlier, she can wear clothing that's appropriate for a relocation. In her case, she can generally wear stuff like 5.11 pants, good shoes, etc. With her GHB, we still include a full Clothing Bag which sits in the trunk. This includes one full set of clothes (5.11 pants, belt, good socks, broken-in boots, underwear, t-shirt, long-sleeve shirt, pair of leather gloves, large neckerchief, spare glasses, and hat). This is for those situations where she may have to wear more formal clothes, such as when she has a meeting or a social engagement. If she doesn't need to change, she can just go as she is.
First Aid/Personal Maintenance: It's a relatively short walk, less than 15 miles, but she also has a small Trauma Kit and a minimized first aid kit that has items such as moleskin, various pain killers, bandages, etc.
Communications: We're Hams, so she always has her small tri-band handheld with her. This doesn't make us reliant upon cell or landline phone systems. If she can drive, she can plug the handheld into the car system for extended power and larger antenna. But we've always been able to get comms on our handhelds between home and work. She also has an AA-battery adapter and half a dozen AA Lithium batteries in her purse. Additionally, she has an AA-battery recharger in her purse for her cell phone if the cell towers are still active. Our comms plan has her using her phone as the primary for voice, text, email and even fax, if necessary, since I don't have the ham radios on all the time and don't normally carry my handheld with me when I'm out of the vehicle. Our plans have her calling or sending a text/email/fax if the cellular system is down and then moving to the amateur radio after that.
Defense: She has her CCW, so she always has a handgun with her. Usually, she carries a KelTec single-stack 9mm on her person at all times. There are spare mags in her purse. If things are expected to be bad, she has her full-sized .45 in her purse, as well. She also has three large OC projecting canisters and a small 2 oz rapid dispersion OC canister, a folding knife (Spyderco Delica) in her pocket, and a collapsible baton in her purse. She's a competent reality-based shooter and martial artist, so she does know how to use all of these.
General : She also keeps other items in her "purse" or on her person as EDC such as a Leatherman Wave, at least two flashlights (An LED MiniMag and Streamlight LED),
As I stated earlier, we like to walk and/or ride our bikes a lot, so we've covered the routes from her work to home several times. We've already marked out several Link Up Points (LUPs) along the way. She has a waterproofed map set of the area in her purse as well as a Silva Compass, in case her primary route is compromised.
Since we also camp a lot, she's okay with off-road travel and how to seek shelter, if necessary, along the way.
It's important that you be familiar with the ground that needs to be covered. More gear doesn't necessarily equal better chances at survival. In all honesty, that same distance could be covered in a pair of sneakers with a bottle, or two, of water. Everything else is just a contingency.
Just some more thoughts. Hope they get the brain juices flowing.
The Professor
