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Annual Tasks
Nov. 13th, 2018 04:59 pmYesterday was a holiday, and the start of a stretch of rainy, cold, dreary days when I'm not planning to go anywhere. I got groceries Sunday, so I'm set to just stay inside.
As part of this, I'm refurbishing the emergency gear I keep in my car. Given the news from California, I have quite a bit of motivation. While wildfires are much less likely here - especially in this weather - there are many other things which could require immediate evacuation. The less time I spend packing the more time I have to get out safely.
I keep a tool kit, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and blanket in the car, all handily packaged. I also have a medical kit, a bag with emergency clothing, a bag of extra food (with cooking equipment) and a Get Home Bag. Now, that last is primarily intended to used at or near my vehicle. Walking out is the last thing you want to do, because your car or truck is far easier to find than you are, as well as providing shelter. Walking out may literally be the last thing you do if you leave your vehicle. Stay with the car or truck unless you have a _really good_ reason to try and walk out.
One piece of advice I offer folks assembling their own emergency kit is to go heavy on food. The Get Home Bag contains far more than the 1200 - 3000 kCalories for three days which most sources recommend, and the food kit even more. If you're active making a camp, fighting extreme cold or fetching water you definitely need more, and rescue could take more than three days in cases of fire of blizzard. If you're hiking out you might need 3000 kCalories _per meal_!
Here's a spreadsheet I created for emergency kits:
http://www.dcr.net/~stickmak/JOHT/BugoutandGetHome.xls
As part of this, I'm refurbishing the emergency gear I keep in my car. Given the news from California, I have quite a bit of motivation. While wildfires are much less likely here - especially in this weather - there are many other things which could require immediate evacuation. The less time I spend packing the more time I have to get out safely.
I keep a tool kit, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and blanket in the car, all handily packaged. I also have a medical kit, a bag with emergency clothing, a bag of extra food (with cooking equipment) and a Get Home Bag. Now, that last is primarily intended to used at or near my vehicle. Walking out is the last thing you want to do, because your car or truck is far easier to find than you are, as well as providing shelter. Walking out may literally be the last thing you do if you leave your vehicle. Stay with the car or truck unless you have a _really good_ reason to try and walk out.
One piece of advice I offer folks assembling their own emergency kit is to go heavy on food. The Get Home Bag contains far more than the 1200 - 3000 kCalories for three days which most sources recommend, and the food kit even more. If you're active making a camp, fighting extreme cold or fetching water you definitely need more, and rescue could take more than three days in cases of fire of blizzard. If you're hiking out you might need 3000 kCalories _per meal_!
Here's a spreadsheet I created for emergency kits:
http://www.dcr.net/~stickmak/JOHT/BugoutandGetHome.xls
