I have always been one to have my mind on prepping. The way things are going in this world today, I have really been stepping it up. I have been focusing on emergency preparedness lately with things like storms, earthquakes, fires, and such but the more I listen to the news I am more concerned about manmade disasters!

The first thing you should do is fortify your castle and be prepared to hunker down in the event it is too hazardous to go anywhere. If you are not sure where to begin, I am glad to help you. Just click this link and I will help you with Your Survival Plan. This is a paid subscription where I will guide you through the steps to build your emergency kit in a way it becomes a habit and does not break the bank.

In the event, a disaster comes our way like the folks in Ukraine, you may find yourself in a position where you have to live like a refugee. Leaving everything and surviving with what you grabbed to carry with you. That is what we are going to go through in this article.

What You Really Need To Survive

You hear a lot in the preppers’ world about disaster kits, emergency kits, or whatever you want to call them. The mentality behind all this is to be able to survive for the initial 72 hours. They even have really nice ones premade so you can purchase them and they are ready. As an Amazon associate, I have provided links for you to check them out. I could make a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. so click the links, take a look, and see if this is something that would help you Be Ready Before You Have To Be!

These kits are swell and I do recommend them but they are not a substitute for stocking up at home on all of the necessary supplies. Both of these are a prerequisite to what we are talking about today though. I am talking about a terrible situation that most people don’t even think about because of the awesome country we live in that comes with a well-established government that provides unparalleled national security and a thriving economy with convenient stores on every corner.

There is some truth to this but I also say this with a bit of skepticism with the way things are going in the world right now. The possibility of us ending up in a bad way is obviously closer than we like to admit for several reasons that I will not elaborate on.

This makes me want to share with you what I know about being prepared for the worst. I am going to share with you what I have in my go bag and break it down to help you understand why and what you would use this stuff for. I will start with the breakdown of what you really need to survive.  Then identify how to get this ready and provide a free guide where you can get yours lined up too.

I am calling what we are talking about a go bag. You may here is called an INCH bag (I’m Never Coming Home), Bug Out bag, or many other names. These are bags you have set up to grab at a moment’s notice and have the tools to keep you alive for an extended period of time, not just 72 hours.

For someone to survive, it really doesn’t take all of the things you might have in your home. Almost all of this stuff is for comfort, sentimental property, or simply keeping up with the Jones’. In the simplest form, all you really need to survive is shelter, food, and water. There are other facets to these items depending on your area. Like shelter, this may include heat if you are up north and it is cold. We make allowances for these and will discuss in a bit.

You will notice the list that I provide has 10 sections. They may not be in order of priority but are each important in their own way. A lot of the priority is arguable so I leave it up to you to determine what that is. I do know from being out in the wilderness and having nothing but what I carry if you don’t have one thing it can make life a whole lot harder, even risky.

Go Bag Breakdown

As mentioned above, these bags go by many names. The thought process for all is the same, keeping you alive. It may not be completely comfortable but ask a refugee fleeing to Poland right now if they would like to have had one of these ready before they left their home.

Here is the list for you to consider as you are preparing your go bag. 

1. The Bag
2. Security
3. Medical
4. Shelter
5. Water
6. Food
7. Fire
8. Light
9. Communication
10. Accessories

I am going to talk about each a bit here but if you want an extensive guide with links for almost all of the stuff in my bag click the link. All you have to do is enter your email and get the guide. You will have to check your email to verify you are not a robot but then you will get it immediately for free.

Well, here we go! (pun intended)

1. The Bag – I put this one first even though it will not have much to do with keeping you alive it is what will pack all of the items you have that do. A few things about the bag. Most people look for a military style bag. These are good, some are even designed for this specific reason. I prefer one that is a bit larger, is intended for extended wilderness travel, and doesn’t make me look as if I were a soldier. The one I have has lots of room. And I have things for comfort that I have not listed like a sleeping bag and a tent to name a few.

You can improvise and use duffel bags, whatever but seriously think about this. Look at footage with refugees carrying what they own and look at mine. I will be able to endure more because I am prepared.

2. Security – This topic is of utmost importance when in a survival situation. If you are forced to survive with what you have the odds are so many other people are too. Some may be willing to take what you have because they have not prepared. This can also be a tool for providing food if you need to hunt. I recommend at least a side arm or rifle but if you are dead set against these, at a minimum you need a good knife for security and as a tool.

3. Medical – Whether it is for you or someone else, your chances of surviving an injury are greatly improved if you have the means to care for an injury. At a minimum, you need to be able to stop bleeding, clean a wound, and bandages of some sort. I carry an Everlit emergency kit. It is more than just band aids but not prepping for surgery.

4. Shelter – Your need for shelter can vary depending on your location. There are people who have survived the harshest conditions with not much more than a good bag and a tent. I recommend at least having a good tarp and some cordage. You will always be able to improvise a shelter to stay dry with this and a few sticks.

5. Water –  It is known, this will be the second of all things to take the largest number of people out if there is a total grid failure. You can only survive for a few days without water. This is why I have several ways to purify and collect water. There are so many options for this like Life Straws, Sawyer Mini, Water Drop gravity bag. These are great and simple to use but I always have purification tablets available and recommend if nothing else, a way to boil water. With the right skills, you can improvise a filter but will need to purify it before drinking or using it to prepare food.

6. Food –  Remember this is more than just getting through the first 72 hours. I still recommend having some prepared meals ready to eat (MRE). I carry 4 Patriots just in case I cannot fish or had no luck with traps or hunting. When building a go bag, you need to have tools for each. Not to mention a way to prepare it and eat it. See #10.

7. Fire – Ok, I am pretty close to a neanderthal! I still like to have my food cooked, my shelter warm, and a way to boil water to remove bacteria or germs. I also just like burning sticks! (side note; if you use hardwood, you can use the lye from the ash with a bit of animal fat from your kill to make soap) To make a fire, I always have multiple ways to start a fire. That way I don’t have to resort to the plow or ow method. Possible but not fun or easy.

8. Light – This one is always underestimated when packing a go bag. So many tough guys or survivalists like myself say they could do without it but let’s be real. Tell me why do we have switches throughout our homes again. It doesn’t necessarily keep you alive unless you are traveling hazardous terrain in the dark. Just an example. I am a bit of a tight ass but do have a very expensive flashlight and a few other tools like candles.

9. Communication – Who you gonna call? I know it seems a bit pointless but it is anything but that. There are a few things to think about here. One, you need to have a signal mirror of some sort. This is the simplest form of communication and could be what communicates to rescuers to your location. I also recommend an NOAA radio. preferably one that is a two way radio also so you can communicate if needed. Even just warnings and announcements picked up through emergency channels can be uplifting and provide hope or warn you of other dangers to come.

10. Accessories –  This is a big one. It can completely fill your pack and then some. This is where all of your commodities come into play. Like when I mentioned you need a way to prepare and eat food. Do you have a mess kit? Utensils for eating? Would you or can you carry a tent instead of just a tarp?

All of these items are what define your pack to your needs. I have several items in my pack that I have not mentioned in any of my training that I have discovered I just want from taking it out into the wilderness and surviving with what I have. This identifies what I use and what I am missing that I may want. This is key to making your pack suit your needs. the more you do this the easier the transition from a normal life to living out of a backpack would be.

I, along with many other people enjoy this kind of living. It is not for some. My wife, not saying she couldn’t do it, prefers the comforts of home like running water and a place to shower, easily prepare food, and a nice cozy bed. Heck, so do I but I do enjoy the time in the woods living like a neandertal.

Practice will make it easier and will make you better at it but it still does not simulate an emergency situation. with your accessories you will have to take time to research the possible disasters that could happen in your area. Plan for the issues that you might face if you were out in the world in that situation. Ingenuity is a skill that can be learned and practiced. Adding accessories to your bag that can be used for multiple tasks is the trick. You know like duct tape, plastic sheeting, or other items specifically tailored for survival. I recommend browsing through the outdoor section of the sporting goods store and look at what there is to offer. People are resilient and come up with some amazing tools to do things you need with compact and durable tools.

Get The Guide

This is some good information but until you have your go bag and have it ready you are not prepared! All you have to do is get the guide, read it through, click on the links and purchase the items at your own pace. do one at a time and check them off as you go. Get them all at once. I probably have about $1000 in my bag not including any firearms or ammo. I could grab that bag and walk away never to return to life as we know it.

Granted, I have some old school skills. IF you are interested in learning more about this check out the Prepping and Survival Skills. Go back through and look at some of the articles I have written. Lots of free information that could save your life or at least make it better if the bottom falls out.

If you have any questions or would like to comment on the article, please reach out! If you leave a comment on this page I will reply. Keep coming back, I am continuously putting more in here.

All I can say now is Be Ready Before You Have To Be!

If you would like to start prepping but don’t know where to begin, check out Your Survival Plan.