What is a 72-hour emergency bug-out pack?
Many people have never heard of a 72-hour emergency bug-out pack. It is a pre-prepared kit that’s designed to give you what you need for the next three days if you must leave your home.
It’s supposed to be a self-contained kit that gets you through the next 72 hours of your journey.
In most cases, 72 hours is all you need to find government relief or get to an area that isn’t part of the evacuation location.
It’s also not unusual that in extreme cases aid can take up to three days to reach once mobilized to the worst affected areas of any disaster. This is why it pays to be prepared!
Hurricane Irma (Image: Jo Pegram-Mills)
In this article we will talk a little about the contents of a 72-hour emergency kit and it’s importance.
For those of you that may be in a hurry you can download our printer friendly bug-out pack checklist here.
Who will benefit from having an emergency kit or bug-out pack?
Many people do not want to be caught unaware or be in an emergency situation without the right tools for survival.
Everyone, regardless of where they live, can benefit from having a bug-out bag packed and ready for any situation.
This includes having one for small children and your pet, yes they count too!
Typical and Essential Contents
Creating a bug-out bag is essential so that you are prepared, but it’s also important that you have the right contents. These can include but aren’t limited to:
Water
Of course, water is one of the most important things to have in your bag. You never know when you’ll come across clean water, especially if a natural disaster happens.
To stay properly hydrated throughout the day, each person in the household needs at least one liter of water. However, keep in mind that you might be hiking or it might be extremely hot. Therefore, more is always better.
For a three-day BOB (bug-out-bag), you will need at least three liters of water for every person.
Water Filtration Systems
While having an adequate supply of water is important, you just never know how thirsty you’ll be, and you don’t want to ration water. Proper hydration is important because you don’t know what’s going to happen.
Dehydration can cause headaches, lethargy, and fatigue. You’re already upset that you have to leave and an emergency situation arose, so it’s best to have many water options available.
A water filtration system can help you turn any water source into drinkable water. You never know what contaminants are lurking in even the most pristine waters. You wouldn’t want to get an upset stomach in a disaster situation!
Read more: Gear Disciple