holyhomestead – Holy Homestead

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 (see pt 8)
10. Communications (see pt 8)
11. Protection and Self-Defense
12. Miscellaneous Supplies

Protection and Self-Defense

Having a gun for protection goes without say. You don’t necessarily need to keep this in your Bug Out Bag but if it is not on your body as an every day carry (EDC), it should be in an easily accessible place to grab as you go, same as your boots. If you choose not to carry under normal circumstances you may want to have a firearm in your bug out bag as well as a holster, magazines, and ammunition.

We understand laws are different in different areas/regions, but in a SHTF scenario that requires you to BUG OUT, that all goes out the window and your main priority should be survival and sustainment. Bug out situations can be a little more volatile than normal circumstances. We’re not saying to go on a rampage and be violent toward people you come across, but a gun could save your life if you encounter large game such as a bear, or someone who is truly irate and intends to do harm to you or your family. It could also be used for hunting if necessary in a long-term bug out situation.

Gel Pepper Spray is also a good option to keep in your BOB.

Pepper Spray

Non Lethal Projectiles

Miscellaneous Supplies

You may want a few extra items in your bag in case you are not able to return to home base such as identification, passports, cash, conceal carry license, vaccination records, keys, or extra glasses if you wear corrective lenses.

We keep a couple bottles of Oxygen and a Fire Extinguisher near our bags. While they are not exactly necessary, we choose to keep these on hand and have used them from time to time. They don’t take much space and are very light weight. Toilet paper is also not a necessity, but can be a nice thing to have in a bug out situation to make yourself feel more “human” which helps keep you calm and rational.

Oxygen

Fire Extinguisher

Many people think they just need to throw everything and the kitchen sink into their bag and forget about it. That is absolutely the wrong way to think! Only pack the items you need and KNOW HOW TO USE THEM to keep your bag at a manageable weight. Keep a close relationship with your BOB and make sure electronics are charged at all times and ready to go and food is rotated to keep as fresh as possible with long shelf life items. Finally, keep relevant clothing items within your bag that are weather appropriate and fit comfortably.

In the event you do have to grab your BOB and hit the road, you most likely will have at least a few minutes to gather your items and go. However, expect these minutes to be high-stress and probably a little chaotic. It would be good to periodically consider the additional items you would want to grab before you bug out. Maybe grab an extra bag to throw items from your pantry into or an extra sleeping bag that can be rolled up and attached to the outside of your bag. Your bag is never truly “complete” we just urge you to have a plan and have a bag ready to go with the basic categories covered.

We also have pre-made, ready-to-go Survival Kits available in our shop (under the Merchandise tab).

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Ephesians 6:11

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.