Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Bug-out bag

firebug · 08-03-2011, 01:27 PM

After watching the devastation caused by the Tsunami in Japan earlier this year, I decided to attempt to prepare my family (5 of us now) to survive independently for a short period of time away from our home.

While some (american's especially it seems) get geared up for the end of the world or when the 'Stuff Hits the Fan' (SHTF) my kit is geared for bridging over a period when the normal comforts of civilization would be temporarily interrupted.

Governments have produced pamphlets to get you started:
Canada,
CDC Zombie Preparedness

Spoiler!

and there is no shortage of sites online that go further in depth of how to prepare.

Calgary is fortunate that we don't have many large scale natural disasters we need to worry about (like Tsunami's, earthquakes or volcano's), events like what happened to Slave Lake show that our environment is not entirely risk free.

Potential hazards locally here include:
-Severe storms (including Tornado's like in Edmonton)
-Neighbourhood fires for those of us in new subdivisions where it seems that fire spreads easily house to house
-Winter weather (blizzards, ice storms)
-Power outages
-Flooding (?)

Any of these could put you and your family in a situation where you may need to move away from your home on short notice.

Fortunately these kits do not need to be expensive and often you already own the key pieces but just need to inventory and get them close together.

Key things to include:
-Food & water (obviously)
-copies of key documents (birth certificates, SIN, Passports etc.)
-Cash (small bills preferably)
-Medications

I've set up an automatic reminder in my calendar for every 26 weeks to remind me to rotate and update the objects in my kit.

The next thing I am getting together is a 'get home kit.' Seeing as I spend most of my time in an office downtown I am gathering all the stuff I will need to hoof it back home where the balance of my supplies are (nearly a 4-hr trek according to google maps).

Do you think being prepared like this is reasonable or fearmongering?

What, if anything, have you done to prepare for these types of situations?

What key items would you include in your kit?

08-03-2011, 01:27 PM	#1
firebug Powerplay Quarterback Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Mayor of McKenzie Towne Exp:	Bug-out bag After watching the devastation caused by the Tsunami in Japan earlier this year, I decided to attempt to prepare my family (5 of us now) to survive independently for a short period of time away from our home. While some (american's especially it seems) get geared up for the end of the world or when the 'Stuff Hits the Fan' (SHTF) my kit is geared for bridging over a period when the normal comforts of civilization would be temporarily interrupted. Governments have produced pamphlets to get you started: Canada, CDC Zombie Preparedness Spoiler! and there is no shortage of sites online that go further in depth of how to prepare. Calgary is fortunate that we don't have many large scale natural disasters we need to worry about (like Tsunami's, earthquakes or volcano's), events like what happened to Slave Lake show that our environment is not entirely risk free. Potential hazards locally here include: -Severe storms (including Tornado's like in Edmonton) -Neighbourhood fires for those of us in new subdivisions where it seems that fire spreads easily house to house -Winter weather (blizzards, ice storms) -Power outages -Flooding (?) Any of these could put you and your family in a situation where you may need to move away from your home on short notice. Fortunately these kits do not need to be expensive and often you already own the key pieces but just need to inventory and get them close together. Key things to include: -Food & water (obviously) -copies of key documents (birth certificates, SIN, Passports etc.) -Cash (small bills preferably) -Medications I've set up an automatic reminder in my calendar for every 26 weeks to remind me to rotate and update the objects in my kit. The next thing I am getting together is a 'get home kit.' Seeing as I spend most of my time in an office downtown I am gathering all the stuff I will need to hoof it back home where the balance of my supplies are (nearly a 4-hr trek according to google maps). Do you think being prepared like this is reasonable or fearmongering? What, if anything, have you done to prepare for these types of situations? What key items would you include in your kit? __________________ "Teach a man to reason, and he'll think for a lifetime" ~P^2 Last edited by firebug; 08-03-2011 at 02:32 PM.