Supply Categories to include in your BOB:
1. Water and Hydration (see pt 1)
2. Food and Food Preparation (see pt 2)
3. Clothing (see pt 3)
4. Shelter and Bedding (see pt 4)
5. Fire/Heat Source (see pt 5)
6. First Aid (see pt 6)
7. Hygiene (see pt 6)
8. Tools (see pt 7)
9. Lighting
10. Communications
11. Protection and Self-Defense
12. Miscellaneous Supplies
Lighting
How many times has the power gone out in your neighborhood? Most people don’t think much of it because the power is typically restored within hours. What if this weren’t the case. Imagine the entire town is out of power for days… or even weeks. You should always be prepared for this possibility, it has happened around the world more than we realize.
You should always have backup lighting and be sure to check that lighting is in working order regularly. Battery operated lanterns are a great choice for lighting your home in an emergency. Each member of the family should have their own headlamp, a small lantern or a flashlight, and glow sticks or bracelets within their emergency bags.
There are many great multi-function options with built in chargers, radios, solar panels, hand cranks and more.
On of our favorite lantern options for a bug out bag is the Streamlight Seige X Rechargeable Lantern. This fits great in a bug out bag and provides 360° of light. It is also waterproof to 1m submersion and has 4.5 hours on a full charge.
Another great compact lantern option is the Goal Zero Lighthouse Mini Lantern. This offers dimmable output and can run for over 500 hours in the lowest setting. It has a USB charging port to charge other electronics as well.
Communication
In a SHTF situation with the grid down, cell phones will not have signal. Make sure your family knows how to utilize satellite radios, or handheld radios to communicate with each other. Also having a plan in place on where to meet goes hand-in-hand with communication preparation.
HAM Radios are a great option, but they do take more knowledge and time to set up. They are much more beneficial if you take the time to learn them though. Once they are set up, you are good to go! However, if you want a simpler option, there are many great options available.
In addition to communicating within the family or community around you, you will also want to be able to receive any transmissions from emergency personnel or city authorities to keep updated on the situation. Assure your radios are always charged and ready to go. It’s also helpful to keep them stored in your BOB within a faraday bag, for extra protection.
We also have pre-made, ready-to-go Survival Kits available in our shop (under the Merchandise tab).
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven
Matthew 5:16
Holy Homestead 