Evacuation Backpack

If you have to leave your home in an emergency, you may not have time to pack up your supplies before getting out. If there is an earthquake or fire you may have to run out with the clothes on your back. Having a backpack stocked with supplies and within easy reach will ensure you don't end up on the street with nothing but your PJ's.

Now is the time to decide how serious of a portable emergency kit you would like to put together. When you start talking about carrying food and water, you pack can get pretty heavy. If you're only planning a taking a few, light items then just about any backpack will do. If you're like me however and would like a serious evacuation kit, you're going to need a good quality backpack that you can wear comfortably for an extended period of time. My emergency backpack fully loaded, with 40oz of water weighs in at around 22lbs.

Choosing a Quality Pack
The bag I own is an REI Lookout 40 (pictured above). I can load this back up with a lot of supplies but it's still very comfortable for me to carry. Notice the hip belt in the photo above. It's not just a thin strap like you'll find on a cheap school backpack. It's a padded strap/belt that you tighten down onto the top of your hips. When properly secured, a pack like this will put the majority of the weight onto your hips, therefore your legs will be carrying the weight, not your shoulders.

This particular pack has fully adjustable straps, a spot for an internal hydration pouch, straps to tie on a sleeping bag or mat to the bottom, and a rain fly that zips out of the bottom.

Don't Be Flashy
If your area is forced into an extended evacuation where supplies are scarce you don't want a bag that makes you stand out. It could be several days before aid gets to your area and there will be lots of people who weren't prepared. Tired, hungry, thirsty people. If you stand out as someone who looks like they have supplies such as food and water, people are going to want your stuff. Hopefully they would only be asking, if it's bad though, they may try to take it. And while it would be nice if you could help out your neighbors, if they didn't prepare then they will have to wait for aid like everyone else.

I own a really nice multi-day camping backpack that would hold my emergency supplies (and then some) better than one of these "smaller" backpacks, but carrying that would really make me stick out in the crowd. Since this is an urban environment I also have to consider that it would make me less maneuverable if there were a lot of people around.

Tip: Hide your water. Most packs have water bottle holders on the outside, the Lookout pack has two (one on each side). If you look like you have a lot of water, someone is going to want some. Keep most of your water inside your pack if you can. Make room by putting your gloves or other items in the water bottle holders if possible. At most, only have one water bottle on the outside.

Backpack Contents
This is a general list to help give you an idea of items you may want so you can size your bag accordingly. You may not want all of these items or you may want more. These are all items I carry in my emergency pack, and my pack is pretty full. I'll get more into the specific items in later postings, including links to the products I own.

Tip: Separate your gear and clothes into ziplock bags. It makes it easier to find what you're looking for and faster to repack your bag.

Clothing
- 1 Pair of camping / packable pants
- 1 T-shrit
- 1 Pair of thermals (top and bottom)
- 1 Windbreaker - water proof with hood
- 1 Pair of underwear
- 1 Pair of smart wool socks
- 1 Pair of warm gloves
- 1 Pair of work gloves
- Sunglasses
- Hat

Food / Water
- 2 3600 Calorie Emergency Ration Packs
- 2 twenty ounce bottles of water
- 100 ounce water bladder (empty)
- 27 ounce stainless steal water bottle (empty)
- Water purification tablets

Lights
- Single AA flashlight
- Single AA headlamp
- Hi-powered tactical light, 18650 battery
- 1 Crank powered AM/FM/NOAA Radio with light

Batteries
- 8 AA rechargeable batteries
- 4 18650 batteries (specialty batteries for tac light)
- AA Battery solar charger

First Aid
- Basic First Aid Kit
- Quick Clot
- Multi-Vitamins
- Medicine for upset stomach
- Electrolyte packs

Shelter / Warmth
- Emergency Bivvey
- 4 emergency blankets
- 4 Hand warmers
- Lighter
- Waterproof Matches
- Fire Steel
- Emergency Tinder

Other Gear
- 100' 550 paracord rope
- 1 small fold out knife
- 1 medium fold out knife
- Deck of cards
- Ziplock bags
- $100 Cash (small bills)

Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Soap sheets
- Pack Towel
- Extra Contacts
- Extra eye glasses
- Sunscreen

Flashlights & Lighting

In the event of an area wide disaster such as an earthquake it could be weeks before power is fully restored. Some people who lived through hurricane Katrina went 4 to 6 weeks without electricity and a major earthquake can do just as much damage.

Living in the city, most people forget just how dark it is when the power goes out to an area. No street lights, no house lights, no traffic lights, and if it's foggy or overcast, no moon light. You will literally have trouble walking down the sidewalk without tripping and the light from your cell phone will not be enough!

LED Lights
Most newer lights come with LED bulbs. LEDs last longer than regular bulbs, are brighter, use less power, and will rarely burn out. Any light you buy should be an LED. I still see some lights sold in the store that aren't LED, don't buy them, not worth it.

Lumen
The total "amount" of visible light emitted by a source. Basically the brightness of a light.

Not all light manufacturer measure lumens in quite the same way. The better ones measure to ANSI standards while others will measure in ways that make their lights seem brighter (on paper) than they really are.

Flashlights
Lights range in price from $1 to hundreds depending on quality and brand name. 99% of people don't need super expensive lighting but you do need at least one good quality, reliable light that will work when you need it. Your first light should be shock (drop) resistant and water resistant.

I recommend a modern, LED, AA powered light, with multiple settings (high, medium, low) as your primary light. AA batteries are cheap and easy to come by and a modern LED light will be able to run for many hours on a few AA batteries. If you're in your home you don't need a super bright light to get around. The light I keep in my everyday backpack is the Fenix LD10. It runs off a single AA battery, has 4 levels of brightness, and can run for a solid 90 minutes on high at 100 lumen. It's low setting is only 3 lumen but it's enough to get around a dark house and it will last for 70 hours. It's current price is about $50 which may seem expensive, but it's well worth knowing it will work when I need it.

Backup Lights
You will also need a backup flashlight. Nothing is ever guaranteed to work 100% of the time and the same goes for even good quality lights. Even if your primary light is working great, eventually you'll have to change it's batteries and will help if you can see what you're doing.

Key Chain Lights
Cheap and surprisingly bright, these little lights are enough to get you around the house or even help you navigate a dark sidewalk. Indoors their light reflects off the wall and give just enough light to see around room. Outside, you won't be able to see more than a few feet in front of you, but you can at least navigate a sidewalk.

Headlamps
Headlamps are incredibly useful and keep both hands free while you're moving around. Headlamps make a great backup light but many people, myself included, find them to make great primary lights with your flashlight as a backup.

Lanterns
Lanterns create nice diffused area light and are useful around the house if the power goes out. If you have to evacuate however, you probably won't need one. I have a few small lanterns for the house but I don't keep any in my evacuation bag.

Batteries
My main flashlight and my headlamp both use a single AA battery. AA's are very common and easy to find at almost any store. I absolutely recommend rechargeable AA's though. Not only can you use them over and over, saving you money in the long run, but modern rechargeable will be brighter and last longer in hi power LED lights than disposable alkaline batteries. Rechargeables also won't leak like disposables can.

For $18 you can pick up 4 Eneloop AA batteries and a charger. Each additional 4 batteries will cost you around $10. Don't waste your time or money with other brands of rechargeable batteries, these are THE batteries to get. Every now and then Costco will have them in stock for an even better price than Amazon.

Solar Charging
Not for everyone, but if want to be able to keep you batteries going for an extended period, there's are many options for solar battery chargers. I have a Powerfilm AA charger. I've only used it a few times but so far it works well.

Variety of Lights and Batteries
It's ideal to have most of your lights and gear running off the same size battery. It simplifies what kind of batteries you have to buy and what you have to carry. It's a good idea however, to diversify just a little in case something comes up and you can't get the size you're looking for.

My two primary lights (my flashlight and my headlamp) for example run off of AA batteries. I have one small backup light that runs off a singe AAA battery and another light that can run off of CR123 batteries.

Pak-lites / 9 Volt Lights
Handy to use in place of candles, these small lights simply snap onto the top of a 9 volt battery. If you place one of these in a room, it will be enough light to navigate around and it will last for a very long time. Lots of different models available online but I couldn't recommend one over the other since I made my own and haven't tried any particular model.

Candles
Candles in earthquake country can be dangerous and I wouldn't recommend them if power goes out in an earthquake. If power is out for other reasons then they're ok, but earthquakes can damage building gas lines. Even a small gas leak will cause a fire or explosion if it hits an open flame.

Recommendations
I'll make a few lists in different price ranges. I would get at least one mid range light if you can afford it, but the important thing is to get something. The Fenix E21 is a good starting point for a mid range, quality, water proof light but if you're on a budget, try picking up the Duracell light at Costco for $10. It's not water proof but it's a good deal for $10. The higher end lights will have more settings and will last longer on a set of batteries.

Items to Purchase
At least two lights.

Budget Lights / Backup lights
Duracell Daylight - 2 AA - $18 ($10 at Costco)
Fenix E01 * - 1 AAA - $13
Mini Keychain Lights - 5 for $5
Steamlight 61400 Headlamp - 2 AAA - $15

Mid Range Lights
Fenix E-21 - 2 AA - $35
Quark Mini AA - 1 AA - $37
Petzl TacTikka Plus Headlamp * - 3 AAA - $44

High End Lights
Fenix LD20 - 2 AA - $60
Fenix LD10 * - 1 AA - $48
Quark AA2 - 2 AA - $57
Zerbra Light H51Fw - 1 AA - $64
Zebra Light H51W Headlamp * - 1 AA - $64

Lanterns
Rayovac Sportsman 300 Lumen Lantern - 3 D - $24
Rayovac Sportsman 65 Lumen Mini Lantern * - 3 AA - $19

*Lights I Own

Vitamins

Even if you don't take vitamins on a regular basis, it's a good idea to have some available in an emergency lasting more than a few days. You probably won't be eating as well as you normally would and the foods you get may not be as healthy or fresh. You will be out of your normal routine and that can stress your body and your mind. Multi-Vitamins are cheap, don't take up much room, and can help you keep from getting sick.

Prescriptions

If you take any medications the easiest way to prepare is by not letting your prescriptions run low. If an emergency occurs it could be a week or more before you can get a refill. Take at least a one week supply of your medications and set them aside. Pretend like it doesn't exist. If it's something you really can't live without, set aside two weeks worth. Just remember to watch the expiration date and don't let it go bad.

Food - Getting Started

Taking Stock
You don't need MREs (meals ready to eat) or survival rations to prepare for an emergency. While those items do have their place, and I'll talk about them below, the first thing to do is go home and see how many days worth of non-perishable food you have that doesn't need to be cooked. If you can live for 3 or 4 days off your current food supplies without cooking then you're doing ok. My ideal is being able to go a week without cooking. Food in your fridge that doesn't have to be cooked counts, but you'll have to use it within a day. Being able to cook, especially if you have frozen food, will extend your food supply but for now assume you can't cook. Cooking will come in a later post.

Canned Food
Canned food is cheap, has lots of variety, doesn't have to be cooked, and lasts a really long time. The downside is that it's heavy and most items aren't calorie dense, meaning for their size and weight they're not as high calorie as rations. If you have to evacuate you don't want to throw a bunch of canned food in your backpack, but if get to stay in your home then canned food is an ideal way to stock up and make sure you always have something to eat when you need it.

On your next trip to the grocery store pickup 3 cans of food. I would do something like a can of beans, a can of mixed veggies, and a can of fruit. Whatever you get, make sure it's something you would eat even if there wasn't an emergency. On your next trip to the grocery store, pick up 3 more cans, adding a little variety to the mix. After three trips to the store, these cans combined with whatever food you normally have in the house will be enough to last you at least 3 days. With subsequent trips to the grocery store, increase your stockpile of canned goods to last about 5 days. As your canned goods get close to expiration, eat them and buy more.

Calories
You should plan to eat at least 1,200 calories per day. If you're short on food it's ok to ration it out but if you skimp too much you'll make yourself sick. Depending on the situation, you may need more or less calories. If you're taking shelter in your home and there is little damage you won't need as many calories as if you are forced to evacuate and be on the move.

Know your body and your habits. I have a fast metabolism and need over 2,000 calories per day to function well. I can eat less than that but it'll leave me tired and probably a bit cranky. During an emergency, a major earthquake for example, I'll probably be relatively active, out helping neighbors or looking for people who may be trapped. Knowing this, I'm planning my kit with at least 2,400 calories per day.

Eat Perishables First
If the power goes out, the first thing to do is eat what you have in the fridge. It will keep cool for about a day but past that your food is going to spoil. After that, work on what you can from the freezer. You can also stick things from the fridge in the freezer so since the the freezer will stay cooler longer. Try to open either as little as possible. After that, work on items off your shelves. Save your canned foods for last.

Rations
Rations are great if you need to evacuate. They're compact for the number of calories you get so you can fit a lot more calories in an emergency bag, with much less weight, compared to canned foods. If you don't have a lot of storage space in your apartment, these can also be an alternative or supplement to canned food. I keep 3 3600 calorie emergency rations in my evacuation bag but two would be pretty good for most people. The rations I get are good for 5 years and they are non-thirst provoking, meaning they are low in salt and won't make you thirsty.

The rations I use are Mainstay 3600 calorie emergency bars. They run about $8 to $10 per 3600 calorie pack but if you buy a case of 10 you can get them for a little less. If you don't need 10, split the case with friends or coworkers. Have some ziplock bags on hand so that once you open it you can keep it clean and contained. The entire bar is like a giant cookie. When you buy your rations, make sure it's still vacuum sealed, I had to exchange one that had lost it's seal.

If you're just starting out with your emergency kit and are trying to keep your costs low, don't worry about buying rations yet. That can come a little later. If you can afford it, get two.

Recommended Items to Purchase
- 3 Cans of food x 3
- Can opener (if needed)

Cost: < $5 per trip to the store

Water, Water, Water

Water is THE most important thing you need if services are disrupted. It's also one of the the most taken for granted supplies we have have. We're so used to turning on the tap and getting as much as we need that we don't think about what happens when the tap goes dry or gets contaminated and becomes undrinkable.

Even though you'd be miserable, you can survive for weeks without food. Without water on the other hand, you can go about 3 days. After 24 hours you're going to be miserable. After 48 hours you're going to be in pain. After 72 hours you're going to be in really bad shape.

To start your emergency stock pile, get some water the next time you're at the grocery store. The general rule of thumb is 1 gallon per person, per day. For under $5 you can grab 3 one gallon jugs and you're now already more ahead of the game than most people.

You should also grab a case of individual bottles. These are great for throwing into a backpack in case you have to leave the house. I also keep a case of individual bottles in my car in case I get stuck away from home.

If you live with roommates, you should talk to them and see if they'd like to pitch in on the water supply since they'll need some too. Consider getting a few 2.5 gallon jugs if you live with multiple people. They're cheap, especially if you can find them on sale.

1 Gallon Per Person, Per Day Rule
1 gallon may seem like a lot of water to drink in a day but if the tap is out, you'll need it. Your 1 gallon can be used towards lots of things such as cooking, cleaning, and brushing your teeth. In an emergency, you may also be more active than you normally are which means you'll need to consume more water to keep hydrated.

Cycle Through Your Water
Bottled water doesn't last as long as packs of "emergency water" but it's way cheaper. Despite whatever expiration date on the bottle, I like to use mine within 1 year of purchase or the flavor starts tasting bad. Write the date of purchase on your bottles with a permanent marker and after 1 year, use the water and buy a fresh stock.

Fill the Tub
If there's a really bad earthquake that does a lot of damage to the area but your home is in tact and safe, fill up the bath tub with water. Your water might be working for the moment but it might not last. You might only be able to get what's left in your hot water heater. If you don't have a tub, fill up whatever containers you might have. Even if the water is contaminated and not drinkable you can use it to flush the toilet in the event that water services are disrupted.

Recommended Items to Purchase
- Three 1 gallon jugs of water for your home
- Case of bottled water for your home
- Case of bottled water for your car

Total Cost: < $10

Preparing with Family, Roommates, or Friends

I'll be writing this blog from the perspective a single individual. If you have a family or if you live with roommates, you'll need to adjust your supplies accordingly. Some supplies can be shared but for some items, such as food and water, you'll need enough to go around.

If you have roommates I would suggest telling them you are putting together emergency supplies and ask if they would like to pitch in on shared items such a water and possibly food. Let's face it, if an emergency does come up, you're going to have a tough time telling someone you live with they can't have any of your water.