How to prepare for an emergency with a BUGOUT BAG

South East Queensland has just come out the other side of a predicted Cyclone, which thankfully ended up being a Tropical low/ Ex-cyclone.

In the lead up to this weather system, the entire South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales coastal regions were on high alert for an impending weather disaster. I was told and have seen photos of how Supermarket shelves were empty and there was heightened panic from unprepared people hoarding food or toilet paper! Fortunately I did not need to experience this, as we felt well prepared ahead of this looming weather front. On the back of this I wanted to share with you what I have done to be prepared well in advance of these unpredictable emergencies, so you too can be prepared and avoid the pre-shopping madness like we did. I will start by saying that outdoor survival training and skills is a keen interest of mine, but I do not consider myself an expert in the matter. Please research your own survival experts to find what works best for you, and let this be an introduction to getting you started.

Firstly, and simply, we have an additional upright freezer for long-term storage of meats and vegetables. In the event of a weather disaster that takes out the energy grid, those foods would likely stay frozen for up to 48-72 hours before beginning to thaw out if the door remains closed. This gives up to 3 days of perishable food storage, which can then be brought out to be cooked or eaten if you do not have a generator. We have a camping generator that does not require electrical connection to the house by an electrician, and only requires the fuel to run it and it has 2 power outlets that will run both our Fridge and freezer.

If you want to invest in a Generator you must first check the wattage that your appliances run on and match that to the power of the generator. It is also important to know that it is UNSAFE to run a petrol generator inside a house or in a poorly ventilated area – I did hear reports of a couple being transported to hospital from running theirs indoors which resulted in carbon monoxide poisoning. So please always run it outside, with cables coming inside to power your appliances.

You will also need a back-up fuel supply for your generator and your vehicle. Make sure you store these somewhere safe and away from children.

We also have a garden growing edible foods and herbs as a back-up food source. I did run around prior to the expected arrival of Cyclone Alfred, harvesting foods or herbs that I did not think would make it through the winds and rain. Outside of that we have a storage of non-perishable foods in our cupboards.

Next; a clean water supply is critical! In the event of a power outage, simple things like your toilet not flushing can create its own emergency. We filled out bathtub with water that could have been collected in a bucket to force flush our toilet if there were problems (you could also use water from a pool). Secondly, this water can also be used as a fresh water source to drink from if you choose not to use it for the toilet.

We had enough water in storage in both our water Tanks and bottled/stored water for each of our family members and animals which would have lasted us many weeks. I have read that you should accommodate 10L minimum per person for water supplies lasting around 3-5 days. We also own emergency water filtration straws so we can essentially drink from a polluted water source and have that water filtered in the case of a terrible emergency. I hope we never have to use them, but we have them for everyone in the household. I like the Sawyer emergency drinking straws which you can find them on Amazon here

I have had an emergency Bug-Out Bag for many years, which includes multiple fire sources, including gas fire starter/lighters – but these will not work if they get wet, so I also have Vaseline-dipped cotton balls (Petroleum Jelly based) and a flint fire starter. If I can start a fire, I can boil water to clean it, cook a meal, and provide light and warmth for my family.

 MA Bug-out bag is something that remains packed at all times, in storage, but in an easy to reach location so you can grab it, ready to go in the event of little warning. My bug-out bag also contains a battery operated handheld radio, which has a wind-up power source if I run out of batteries similar to this one on amazon here

In addition to this radio (which would allow us to hear emergency reports), we also have walkie talkies so if we get separated from one another we can communicate with each other, or in the instance of Cyclone Alfred, we would have been able to communicate with our neighbours who also have walkie talkies - we discussed with them before the storm arrived which channel we would be on.

Other bug-out essentials are

·        Gaffer tape, which can tape windows shut and come in handy for a variety of short-term fixes on the run. I remember when I was hiking Machu Picchu with my sister, and a hiker’s sole of his boot fell off on day 1 of the hike! My sister whipped out her gaffer tape, taping the sole of his shoe back on so he could continue on his way.

·        Emergency foil blankets – in case of shock or weather where you need to keep warm.

·        Tarp’s for basic shelter or repair jobs.

·        Mini cooking stove, cutlery, cup, and plate. I have a pocket stove, which is lightweight and easy to carry. If remaining in your home, like we did, your bulky camp stove will be fine to store in the laundry, but remember to use your gas canisters outdoors in good ventilation to avoid ventilation or subsequent emergency issues.

·        Sanitary products – if you are still menstruating. This is the only thing I needed from the store in the lead-up to Cyclone Alfred: a fresh supply of sanitary products as I was due to get my bleed when the storm arrived and I didn’t want to run out nor use period undies, which would have required washing in a situation of likely power-outages.

·        A notepad and pen with zip lock bags. You may find that you need to leave a note at one of the locations where you have sought shelter. You also want this note to remain dry so a rescue team can find it, which is where the zip-lock bags come in handy.

·        A first-aid kit with basic essentials, or if you are like me, you’ll add some herbal powders, tinctures, and some Paracetamol to quickly stamp out a headache if required. When in an emergency situation I would have no hesitation reaching for paracetamol to help me continue working over a herbal alternative, which may take longer to kick in.

·        This may seem basic, but spare underwear, socks, and clothing are also necessary, especially if you were to get wet in the event of a flood. You will need a dry outfit to avoid becoming unwell in your wet clothes, which may also carry floodwater pollutants on them.

·        We also had spare soap for showering and for washing our dishes. In survival situations, you need good hygiene, so spare dishwashing soap and sponges or cloth are also good to have on standby.

·        Spare batteries to fit your lamps, torches, and radios

·        Twine or rope for securing your shelter or belongings

·        I also have in my bag emergency sleeping bags that pack down to a ridiculously small size (optional) which can be found on Amazon here. These can also be used as a survival shelter if you do not want to carry a bulky tarpaulin.

·        Raincoats or ponchos in adult and children sizes do come in handy in the event where where you need to leave your home quickly and do not have time to search for last season’s winter jacket or raincoat.

·        Rubber gloves and sanitary wipes for cleaning surfaces easily.

·        Toilet paper – although this is more of a luxury item and not a necessity.

·        Solar panels for recharging your phone – (handy even if you do have a generator), then you do not need to use your valuable fuel in the generator to charge your phone – you can take advantage of the sun!

These are just some of the items we have in our emergency kits, which means that in the lead up to weather emergencies (if we are fore-warned like we were for Alfred), I could use the days before the cyclone to prepare my garden, secure loose items and not have to worry about fighting for toilet paper in grocery stores! I was quite proud of the fact we did not need to go to the store AT ALL before the storm arrived, but I must confess, since the storm was delayed and it stalled off the coast, we did go to our local to get some more bananas and bread, but that certainly wasn’t necessary and I really wouldn’t have fought someone for it!

I am lucky in that my husband is an amazing sourdough baker, so we also had an ample supply of frozen homemade sourdough in the freezer, which would have thawed out in the event of a power outage or a break in the supply chain.

I hope this list helps you feel more prepared for the next event. Always remember to check in on your elderly neighbours to see if they need a hand, and similarly, they are also more likely to come to check on you to see if you need a hand with anything, too. Community, above all else, is what gets people through any type of disaster, so build your community and have your safe people to call on should you need assistance.

I would love to hear your feedback on if you found this article to be helpful. Similarly, I would love to hear what items you feel are essential that I may have missed here - please share them so others can learn too!