Bug Out Plan-Family of 4-How do you spend $1,000?

pheasantplucker · #1 01/25/11, 06:32 AM

Just curious as to how you would spend $1,000 if you were going to use it to procure stuff in the event of a catastrophe. I know everyone's opinion will differ. I know $1,000 wouldn't go far, but as a start, kinda curious as to what you would purchase...Keeping in mind, folks could procure a lot of things they already have laying around, such as candles, flashlights, batteries, etc. Try to "ball park" your costs, and share your ideas. Thanks, Pheasantplucker

Gary in ohio · #2 01/25/11, 06:45 AM

You looking for a BUG OUT plan as in your title or a Stay in place as you indicate in your text?

Regardless of which way you go, Water, food and shelter are you key items.

Need more info on what your trying to do and how long your catastrophe will last.
You looking for a 3day, week, forever disaster?

mekasmom · #3 01/25/11, 08:21 AM

If you mean something you would need in case of evacuation, then think camping equipment....
tent
sleeping bags
first aid kit to carry
food, camping equipment, backpacks for camping, etc

For at home preparedness then think food, water (free), medical supplies and first aid, warmth(stove, wood,etc), cooking equipment in the event of power outage, etc. And for home, think of safety products, smoke detectors, CO warning detectors, fire extinguishers, things like that. Then other products like tp, paperplates, shampoos, laundry products, sanitary products.

A thousand dollars isn't a lot to spend, but I would spend it on things for home first then worry about camping supplies in case we had to evacuate.

Our Little Farm · #4 01/25/11, 08:29 AM

For bug out, I would also go for some good camping equipment. Stuff you and your family can enjoy for camping trips NOW.

Personally I focus more on bugging in, and would make sure my family would be comfortable should the grid go down totally and other scenarios like that.

Wolf mom · #5 01/25/11, 09:22 AM

I live where I'd "bug in" except in the case of fire. About 7 years ago, my area was evacuated for over a week.

My first concern is animals. Cages for chickens, electric fence corral for horses, dog contanment. Food & water (as much as you think, then add more)for them all. I'd pick a spot with stream or lake nearby if possible. I've already made arrangements to go to a friends that's more rural than I am a couple hours drive away.

Then camping equipment - everyone has to figure out what they need individually. Myself, I'm pretty much of a minimalist - plus the back seat of my 4 door truck turns into a bed.
First aid supplies - animals first. Most can do double duty.
Books & more books. My one indulgence. Good time to learn to knit those socks I've been wanting to do. If children, games, cards.
Guns & ammo.
Gasoline & more full gas cans. Think lines of cars evacuating at the same time.
Food. I can live on beans; but with children, they sometimes can be pickey so to keep peace in a stressful situation....cookies :happy0035:
I think I'd get one of those wind up emergency radios.
Clothes? Pack what you think you'd need - then put half back.

Ya gotta ball park how long think you'd be gone to figure out supplies.
The best thing is to do a dry run for as long as feasable. Then you'll know how to adapt your list for you & your family.

Visit the Survival and Emergency Prepardness Forum on HT first........

jwal10 · #6 01/25/11, 09:24 AM

Everyone has there own ideas and how they will be prepared. I will hunker down here, best option in my opinion. Figure it out and make plans from there. I set up for the long haul right here. If I have to leave, only way would be on foot and running so it has to be light and I am ready for that. Live off the land and that don't cost much. I am ready for a year of hunker down time, after that it will be business as usual or survival of the fitest. Worse than that I don't want to be around anyway. Money don't mean nuthin'....James

HomeOnTheFarm · #7 01/25/11, 10:34 AM

Not sure what gender/ages we're talking about here, but I'd go with camping gear if you're focusing on a bug out situation.

0 to 20 degree sleeping bag (I'd go for closer to 0...just in case you're displaced during the winter) ~$75 via Amazon [$300]

External frame backpack ~$80 via Amazon [$320]

Good boots ~$50 [$200]

Water purification -- We'll go with the Sport Berkey in this instance, just in case you get split up, need to save on time, whatever -- ~$26 via Amazon [$104]

Field guides for edible plants, mushrooms, medicinal plants ~$30 (only need one copy, so not going to figure x4 on this one)

That puts us at $954.

Assuming you already have coats/thermals/gloves/hats, matches/lighters/flint starter, small pot for cooking/utensils/plates, figure out where you're heading and the route traveled to determine your need for a camp stove (if there's plenty of firewood on your route & to your destination, you could conceivably skip on that).

We did this exercise in a college class once, but with more defined parameters. A fun mental exercise!

#8 01/25/11, 10:55 AM

Water. Have backups for your backups. Must be able to handle whatever water you can find and be able to process enough of it for the whole family for drinking and cooking for months. This means at least two quality filters and extra filter units.

Heat. You've got to have some way to stay warm in the winter if grid power and fuel deliveries fail. Again, backup for your backups.

Communications. Quality multiband radios and plenty of batteries rotated or recharged regularly.

Then there is sanitation, food, medical, and so on and so on. Those first three though could probably use up a thousand bucks by themselves.

cats · #9 01/25/11, 11:33 AM

If staying home, keep cereals and flour etc.,in plastic buckets with lids and seal with melted wax to keep bugs out.

wy_white_wolf · #10 01/25/11, 11:59 AM

Depends on why your "bugging out".

I have 2 bugout bags. 1 for enviromental reasons to bug out and 1 for political/social reasons. I would try to grab both on the way out but if I only have time/resources for 1 I grab the appropriate one for the situation.

WWW

Nomad · #11 01/25/11, 01:01 PM

The first thing I would have to do is figure out a way to get $1000.

Nomad

Wolf mom · #12 01/25/11, 02:10 PM

Forgot to add if you're bugging out rather than hunkerin' down you need some sort of container for all your "Important papers"....And cash - more than you think you'll need.

When electricity goes out around here - businesses seem to shut down as no one knows how to count change or use a pencil.

lonelyfarmgirl · #13 01/25/11, 05:33 PM

make a bag for each person, a waterproof bag

bare necessities, each person needs a water filtering sport bottle, waterproof matches, one extra set clothing, excellent pair of shoes (boots), mini-med kit, bar of soap, a weeks worth of dried food, a good knife, a blanket, or sleeping bag, a hat and poncho, long johns, a package of socks, a length of rope, gloves, field guide to edible and poison plants.

there are many more things that would be great, and you could do if you are frugal, but these will keep you alive for a bit.

**Cabin Fever** · #14 01/26/11, 09:00 AM

If I was bugging out in the case of a catastrophy in our area - let's say a forest fire - I would use the $1000 to purchase lodging at the nearest Holiday Inn that is outside of the catastrophic area.

jwal10 · #15 01/26/11, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cabin Fever

If I was bugging out in the case of a catastrophy in our area - let's say a forest fire - I would use the $1000 to purchase lodging at the nearest Holiday Inn that is outside of the catastrophic area.

Sounds like a PLAN. I live this every day. When I leave the house knowing I will be gone for a bit, I take a survival pack. Picking mushrooms on a cold wet fall day, I am ready for the worst. I have had to go look for these people that aren't prepared. They just don't think. I don't worry about the big'n that would mean I have to travel hundreds of miles quick, because you will be exposed for a long period just trying to get out of Dodge. If it did happen I would deal with it the best I could in a calm manner, not get in a tomb and drive. Let the masses take the brunt of that mess. I don't need no stinking book. I lived through 2 forest fires with the flames jumping from tree top to tree top headed right for my place, I wasn't worried. I made well thought out plans in 1968, made a few tweeks and am still here today....James

Betho · #16 01/26/11, 11:02 AM

I'd get enough gas to take both our cars out to the property and maybe try and devise some sort of way to fill the tank on-the-go (is that even safe?). Other than that I'd go with the standard... lightweight dehydrated food, water, sleeping bags, and probably a good trailer we could pull of some sort since my kids are little... just in case we had to hoof it. A big portion might need to go into figuring out a way to insulate our camper that's on the property so it would be livable in the winter.

texican · #17 01/26/11, 11:37 AM

I think everyone, especially heads of households, should have all the gear necessary to bug in or bug out, in their possession, already. Coming into money, or not having money, should have nothing to do with it. Do without something else first, to get the basics of survival. Even if a person/family never has to bug out, they should all have at least one winter quality sleeping bag, or two summer bags, each. Should have a portable camp stove, if the electricity/gas goes off. Should always have extra food on hand. Means of storing/transporting water. Should ALWAYS keep the gas tank topped off, and if knowledgeable, keep extra gas/diesel on hand for emergencies or generators.

Everyone in the family should have summer and winter clothing, easily accessible. Hard core hiking boots (try walking 20 miles in flip flops in the wilderness... it's shall we say... "fun" BTDT when a pair of $200 boots exploded on me). Wool socks. Moleskin (and know why/how to use it).

Firearm/ammunition, to keep trouble away... sometimes the mere presence of a shiny barreled piece of metal will deter two legged varmints.

Couple of hundred in cash, in billfold/purse at ALL times. ATM's don't work when the grid is down.

Btw... if you scroll down in the sub-forums, we have a Survival and Emergency Preparations sub-forum, where these questions are dealt with regularly.

Oh... helps to know where your bugging out to. Cabin Fever had a good idea... but you'd best 'know' which Holiday Inn your headed to, and get reservations early. Or, have a prearranged meet up place at relatives...

lonelyfarmgirl · #18 01/26/11, 02:46 PM

would you be so kind to explain what is moleskin and how to use it? surely you dont mean the skin from hundreds of tiny moles?

Wolf mom · #19 01/26/11, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonelyfarmgirl

would you be so kind to explain what is moleskin and how to use it? surely you dont mean the skin from hundreds of tiny moles?

Yup -all sewn together to make cushy sheets....actually it's just the really really soft bellies.

http://www.rei.com/product/121044?pr...:referralID=NA

Cabin Fever:
I wonder if Holiday Inn will take horses, donkeys, chickens, parrots, dogs...

lonelyfarmgirl · #20 01/26/11, 06:08 PM

aaahhhhhh! bandaids without the aid. got it.