Step 6 – Preparing a Bug-Out-Bin
While 3 Days of water and food are top priority, there are some other emergency items that are key to survival in a disaster. The Bug-Out-Bin (BOB) essentially contains most of the non-bulky items listed on the Red Cross and FEMA websites. These are things like a first aid kit, radio and flashlights. You might already have a lot of these items. By putting them in organized containers, it allows you to grab them and run in an evacuation situation.
Some of these items may also be in your Car Bag that is discussed in Step 7. As you expand your emergency supplies, you may find that there are advantages to having duplicates in the car and in your Bug-Out-Bin. If parents are at work when a disaster strikes, then the Car Bags will help the parents while the Bug-Out-Bin helps the kids who are home. At a minimum, I recommend both the Car Bag and Bug-Out-Bin have food (3600 Calorie bars), water (in cans or pouches), a first aid kit, whistle and a flashlight. The other things can be added on later.
Lesson Learned: Bag vs Bin
Most disaster preparedness sites will refer to the Bug out Bag. I started off using a back pack, but I quickly grew out of the bag as I expanded my supplies. So then I tried using multiple bags, but I couldn’t remember what was in each bag. Trying to find an item meant pouring the bag out to sift through the contents. I realized that I needed a more organized solution, so I switched to a large plastic bin that contains smaller bins. That allowed me to organize by major groups. Here is an example of one of my bins. The left small bin has all of my medical supplies and the right bin has everything related to “warmth.” 
Organizing the Bins:
I have organized 2 large bins with the following smaller bins:
- Medical Supplies (see article on First Aid Kits)
- Warmth: Hot Pads, Sleeping Bags, Rain Ponchos
- Ice Packs (they are bulky and need protection to prevent accidental activation)
- Personal Hygiene and feminine products
- Candles, Lightsticks, Portable Oven, Fuel
- Flashlights, Batteries, Electrical
- Cooking and Cleaning
- Pens, Scissors, Tools, General Supplies
A third bin is dedicated to portable food and water.
In an evacuation situation, the 3 bins will be the first things in the car! We could survive a while on the road with those bins. And once those are in the car, I can then dedicate whatever time I have left to grabbing the things on my 15 Minute Grab List.
ACTION 1: Get a bin or bag
I use a bin, but it’s fine to use a bag. Choose whatever container works best for you. I recommend using something you already own (an old backpack, duffle bag or plastic bin). You can always change it later. Start to put things in the bin that you know you have. The most important thing is that you are putting your disaster kit supplies all in one spot, so that you can easily access them in an emergency.
ACTION 2: Print out Bug Out Bin List
Print out the Bug Out Bin List and pack the items you already own
STOP! Do NOT Panic!
You do not need to have all of these things right away! This is just your roadmap for what you want to gradually collect. The items highlighted in YELLOW are the most important. DON’T try to purchase everything right away! Focus on the most important items and then slowly work through the list.
ACTION 3: Use the Shopping List
Use the Disaster Kit Planner Shopping List to purchase the Bug Out Bin items you don’t own. The Shopping List Page shows you which items to purchase at the grocery store, general store and online.
But first figure out what you already own!!
ACTION 4: Include portable food and water
The Bug Out Bin holds a lot of your disaster kit and will be the first thing you pack in an evacuation situation. You might have a great supply of water and freeze dried food, but it probably won’t fit in your Bug Out Bins. You should make sure your BOB has portable food and water that you can easily eat on the road.
If you have purchased lots of Mountain House freeze dried food in pouches and you plan to put that in your Bug Out Bin, then be sure to purchase a portable stove that you can use to heat the water. Remember to also pack a LOT of water in your car.
Portable Water for the car and Bug Out Bin ...
You could be on the road for awhile. Make sure you have water! I have 12 of the Blue Cans which gives me 18 cups of water. That gives each person 4.5 cups of water. I also keep a gallon of water by my Bug Out Bin as a reminder to grab as much water as I can.
| Product | Description/Links | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Case of 24 Blue Cans of Water (50 year shelf life) 16 in BOB 4 in each car ON A BUDGET: Buy these with friends and split the cost. | FEMA Basic Kit Item-Food & Water These cans are not cheap but they last 50 years!!! They get great reviews on taste, even when left in the heat. And each can holds 12 ounces (or 1.5 cups). I personally chose this option because I saw it as a one time investment. I then put the cans in the cars and in our Bug Out Bins. I love that I don't have to ever worry about rotating them! |
|
| Datrex Water Pouches (125 ml or 1/2 cup each) (5 year shelf life) pack 6 for each family member and 6 for each pet (e.g. 24 for family of 4) get a case of these and pack some in car backpack | FEMA Basic Kit Item-Food & Water These water pouches are another option for portable water. They are compact and have 5 year shelf life (even in warm conditions). Each pouch containes 125 ml of water (or about 1/2 cup). They pack well and are inexpensive to purchase. The biggest issue I have with the water pouches is that you can't put them down. They also only last 5 years and they have some poor reviews on taste. |
|
| Insulated Bag for 3600 Bars and Water | You will want to store the 3600 Calorie Bars and portable water in insulated bags if you plan to put them in the car. These bags will help protect its contents against high temperatures. |
High Calorie Food Bars to pack in cars and Bug Out Bin ...
3600 Calorie Food Bars provide enough food to sustain an individual for THREE DAYS! They are not thirst-provoking and they have a 5 year shelf life. As you saw from my menus, I use them as snack food in situations that don't require evacuation. So they are a key part of our survival kit. NOTE: These bars all taste differently. I purchased all three and had my family taste test them. We all preferred Datrex, but your family may prefer a different brand. It pays to try them out before you buy a supply for your BOB, car and food plan. High Calorie Food Bar options:
| Product | Description/Links | Notes |
|---|---|---|
  | Datrex 3600 Calorie Food Bar 2 for 1 Week Meal Plan 2 for Bug Out Bag 2 for car | FEMA Basic Kit Item An earthquake, bad winter storm or road accident can bring traffic to a complete standstill for HOURS! These 3600 Calorie food bars will make sure you don’t go hungry. They be stored in the car for up to 5 years. ALSO Purchase as snacks for meal plan |
| Insulated Bag for 3600 Bars and Water | You will want to store the 3600 Calorie Bars and portable water in insulated bags if you plan to put them in the car. These bags will help protect its contents against high temperatures. | |
| SOS 3600 Calorie Food Bar | Purchase as snacks for meal plan, food for car and food for Bug Out Bin. | |
| ER Emergency Ration 3600 Calorie Bar | Purchase as snacks for meal plan, food for car and food for Bug Out Bin. |
Meal Ready to Eat (MRE) used by the military ...
- Beef Brisket
- Beef Patty Jalapeno Pepper Jack
- Beef Stew
- Beef Taco
- Chicken Chunks
- Chicken Pesto & Pasta
- Chicken Tomato Feta
- Chicken with Noodles
- Chili with Beans
- Lemon Pepper Tuna
- Vegetable Crumble with Pasta in Taco Sauce
- Maple Sausage Patty
- Meatballs in Marinara Sauce
- Mexican Style Chicken Stew
- Pork Rib
- Pork Sausage with Gravy
- Ratatouille
- Southwest Beef & Black Beans
- Spaghetti with meat Sauce
- Spicy Penne Pasta
Portable stoves to heat water ...
If you pack freeze dried food in your Bug Out Bin, then you'll need a portable stove to heat the water. Here are some options.
| Product | Description/Links | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BBQlighter | This is an important tool in your fuel plan since a lot of these options require a flame. | |
| Esbit Ultralight Folding Stove with Fuel | This is a great economic and portable option for fuel (you can easily add this to your bug out bag). One tablet of fuel boils 500 ml (2 1/4 cups) of water in 8 minutes. You can buy the fuel cubes in a 12 pack for $12 at Amazon as an Add-on item. Reviewers note that they have used charcoal and even tea light candles with this stove, so you are not limited to the fuel tablets. The Esbit fuel is NOT safe for indoor use. | |
| Sterno Folding Stove and Sterno Cooking Fuel | This stove is economical AND uses a fuel that can be used indoors. Sterno Entertainment Cooking Fuel is safe to use indoors. Each can burns up to 2 hours. It is what caterers use to keep food warm. This is a good option for apartment dwellers who may not be allowed to have a BBQ on the premises. | |
| Coleman Bottle Top Propane Stove | This stove is economical, practical and easy to store. If you are preparing meals for a family, then you will need to boil at least 4-6 cups of water with each meal. This Coleman stove can manage an 8 inch pan. I think it would be risky to put a big pot of water on it though. A 16.4 oz propane tank will give 2.5 hours of heat on high. Purchase propane tanks at a local store or on Amazon. Propane is NOT safe for indoor use. | |
| Ohuhu Portable Wood Burning Stove | The advantage of this stove is that it burns wood which you could gather outside. According to the Amazon page, it can also use charcoal or Sterno alcohol-based fuel (see notes above on Sterno fuel). | |
| Ohuhu Camp Stove Windshield | Protects the stove against wind in case you need to use it outdoors during bad weather. | |
| Iwatani Portable Butane Burner | This is a GREAT option for people who live in apartments. It uses butane and this particular burner is CSA Commercial Indoor Approved. It is rated for Commercial Indoor use because it requires proper ventilation for indoor use, so be sure to have good ventilation if you use it indoors. I own one of these and it heats things very quickly. | |
| Butane for Iwatani Stove | You'll need specific Butane canisters for the Iwatani Stove. You can sometimes find deals at asian stores. | |
| BioLite Wood Burning Campstove | This is an expensive option, BUT the wood burning camp stove can also charge your phone! So it's another option for "Power" as well. | |
| BioLite Wood Burning Campstove with Portable Grill, KettlePot and USB FlexLight | You can purchase the BioLite Kettle and Grill separately, but it is more economical to buy the entire kit if you plan to also purchase those items. | |
| Camping Cookware | If you see yourself needing to boil water in an evacuation scenario, then you'll need a pot. A more economical solution is to just throw a small pot and wooden spoon into your BOB. |
ACTION 5: Pack a good First Aid Kit
Make sure you have a good first aid kit! It will be hard to get medical help after a disaster. You may have to treat injuries yourself, so gather a good set of supplies.
Check out my web page on First Aid Kits. It provides details on kits you can buy and other items you should add to your kit. It also gives recommendations on First Aid kits for pets!
ACTION 6: Infants and Children
FEMA recommends that you pack baby food, formula, diapers, cream and wipes in your emergency kit. The only problem with this is that infants grow out of diapers fairly quickly. Their eating needs change as well (from formula, to baby food, to human food). I recommend that you keep a backup supply of formula and diapers with your BOB, but add a note on your calendar to swap it out every 3 months. That way, it won’t expire and you can swap it with your baby’s new supply.
Also make sure that your 15 Minute Grab List has “Formula, Diapers and Wipes” on it. That will be your backup in case you have allowed your BOB supply to expire. Add some small books, games, puzzles and workbooks for small children into your BOB. A disaster will be very stressful on children. You will want ways to soothe and entertain them.
ACTION 7: Don’t forget your pets!
If you have pets then you will want to check out my article on Preparing Your Pets for a Disaster. That page includes details on:
- Items that FEMA recommends
- Recommendations for Pet First Aid manuals in case you have to treat your pet
- Comparison of Human First Aid Kits to Pet First Aid Kits (are the pet ones worth it?)
ACTION 8: Battery Chargers
Your cell phone is probably at the top of your 15 Minute Grab List. You will need power to keep it charged so that you can communicate with family members. Think about investing in a high quality solar charging station. This far exceeds what the emergency radio can provide. You can purchase smaller battery chargers, but remember that your other family members will want their phones charged as well. 
