I once thought having a BOB was being a prepper. That was the first thing I did years ago when I started watching prepper programs. And believe it or not I had one day that I had to grab it and "almost " go. That "almost" experience taught me a lot about what I need and want for my BOB.
At 1 am I heard someone pounding on the door in my apt and I grabbed my gun and opened the door. It was my neighbor telling me if I didnt move my car it was going to be flooded. This was during hurricane harvey in houston. SO I walked downstairs to my car and at the bottom of the stairs the water was at knee level and rising. I ran back up to grab what I could "BOB" and went to the truck and luckily drove it out of the flood on to higher ground. So my BOB is in the truck and it is on high ground. I run back up stairs to grab what I could since the water was still rising and I wasnt sure how much longer I could access my home. I grabbed my guns, golf clubs(yes I said golf clubs), some clothes and loaded up my truck. Granted I am walking through waist deep water at this point to bring stuff to my truck. Im thinking once it gets to my armpits I am going to live in my truck. So I sat on the porch and watched the water level and luckily it stayed at waist deep water and no higher.
After this experience It really made me think what I would have needed if I could have only grabbed that bag and left. A fire could have the same effect. One thing to grab and that is it!!!
So now I keep : 10 mountain house freeze dried meals, socks underwear 2 or 3 different type of shirts, shorts and pants. Enough to have a change of clothes in different environments, a towel and toiletries. water purifiers, stainless water jug, money, a few tools, several heavy duty garbage bags, a few flashlights with batteries, spare glasses and contacts, small first aid pouch, rope, fishing line and hooks, Kabar knife, razor blades, rain poncho, lighters and a spork. I am missing a few things to mention but you get the idea.
In my opinion the BOB is for a grab and go situation. If the house is on fire and you have 5 minutes then everything you need to survive is in that bag. Clothes, food water shelter. That is what I now prepare my BOB for.
At 1 am I heard someone pounding on the door in my apt and I grabbed my gun and opened the door. It was my neighbor telling me if I didnt move my car it was going to be flooded. This was during hurricane harvey in houston. SO I walked downstairs to my car and at the bottom of the stairs the water was at knee level and rising. I ran back up to grab what I could "BOB" and went to the truck and luckily drove it out of the flood on to higher ground. So my BOB is in the truck and it is on high ground. I run back up stairs to grab what I could since the water was still rising and I wasnt sure how much longer I could access my home. I grabbed my guns, golf clubs(yes I said golf clubs), some clothes and loaded up my truck. Granted I am walking through waist deep water at this point to bring stuff to my truck. Im thinking once it gets to my armpits I am going to live in my truck. So I sat on the porch and watched the water level and luckily it stayed at waist deep water and no higher.
After this experience It really made me think what I would have needed if I could have only grabbed that bag and left. A fire could have the same effect. One thing to grab and that is it!!!
So now I keep : 10 mountain house freeze dried meals, socks underwear 2 or 3 different type of shirts, shorts and pants. Enough to have a change of clothes in different environments, a towel and toiletries. water purifiers, stainless water jug, money, a few tools, several heavy duty garbage bags, a few flashlights with batteries, spare glasses and contacts, small first aid pouch, rope, fishing line and hooks, Kabar knife, razor blades, rain poncho, lighters and a spork. I am missing a few things to mention but you get the idea.
In my opinion the BOB is for a grab and go situation. If the house is on fire and you have 5 minutes then everything you need to survive is in that bag. Clothes, food water shelter. That is what I now prepare my BOB for.