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