Survival Weapons: How to Make, Purchase, or Scavenge Your Self-Defense When SHTF

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The best self-defense is to avoid encounters however when that’s not possible, you don’t want to be caught without a weapon.

Having the means to defend yourself and your family is essential for survival.

This article covers the various survival weapons you can use for self-defense in a disaster scenario, including those you can:

Survival Weapons You Can Buy
Survival Weapons You Can Make
Survival Weapons You Can Scavenge

Why Should I Think About Survival Weapons?

Sometimes all it takes is showing your opponent you are armed to deter them from attacking, but in case you are forced into combat you’ll want to be armed with a weapon you’re comfortable with and skilled at using.

survival weapons

When considering the options below, choose those that are best suited to your particular situation and that you will have time to practice with to develop your skill level.

Survival Weapons You Can Buy

There are plenty of suitable and highly effective survival weapons that can be purchased. Not only will this save you the hassle of fabricating your own, but also you’ll have the time necessary to practice and become proficient with its use. Our top choices for store-bought survival weapons are slingshots, tomahawks, knives, billy clubs, and firearms.

Knives

Although knives are among the most basic of survival weapons, they require a great deal of skill to wield effectively. Few people have the time to invest in becoming proficient with using a knife, and therefore it serves better as a backup weapon than as a primary. Our fixed blade knife of choice is the Ka-Bar Becker 22.

For a more compact option, opt for a folding knife with that has an open-assist feature, providing quick, one-handed operation and carries a high intimidation factor such as the Kershaw Tanto.

For more info, read our guide guide to choosing the best fixed blade knife.

Slingshots

Slingshots are a great choice for a survival weapon as they are inexpensive and ammo can easily be scavenged. We recommend The Scout Hunting Slingshot as the best all-around slingshot which can also be an effective hunting tool. For more details, read our guide to choosing the best slingshot for survival.

Tomahawks

The benefit of a tomahawk is that it functions as both a tool and a weapon, giving you a two-for-one option that will help keep your packing to a minimum. Besides its obvious use as a bludgeoning weapon, a tomahawk can prove quite useful in scavenging as it can help to open containers and other places where food might be kept. It also functions well as a search and rescue tool. The CRKT Kangee Tomahawk is our tomahawk of choice. Check out our guide to choosing the best tomahawk.

Pepper Sprays and Stun Devices

Pepper spray or a stun device are very effective weapons that can stop an attacker in their tracks. These options are especially useful for those that don’t have the brute force to use other types of weapons effectively since they can used from a distance and don’t require a substantial amount of strength to inflict damage.

Pepper Spray – Compact and easy to carry. Can be used from several feet away.
Bear spray – Similar to pepper spray but designed for long-range (30-foot range) use.
Stun Gun – A handheld device that delivers a powerful electric shock when touching an assailant. A good quality stun gun will drop large attackers without a problem.

Handheld Tactical Weapons

These weapons are very effective in the hands of someone with adequate strength, agility, and skill.

Kubaton – A discreet weapon that stores easily on a keychain, a kubaton adds spikes to your punch and aimed at an attacker’s eyes, can cause serious damage.
Tactical Pen – It’s a dual function pen that is built to also be used as a weapon. Discreet yet effective.

Firearms

Firearms, America’s weapon of choice – and for good reason!

In most states, firearms are relatively easy to purchase legally and are extremely effective at both intimidating and harming would-be attackers.

Firearms are also desirable if you or members of your bug out crew don’t have the strength to wield a brute-force weapon – it is skill, not size, that counts with firearms.

However, just like any other survival weapon, a firearm requires practice to gain accuracy (especially under tense situations when adrenaline is pumping) and ammo must be hoarded or scavenged. Firearms also require periodic maintenance to ensure they stay in working order.

survival weapons

Survival Weapons You Can Make

There are myriad items at your disposal that can instantly become a weapon if need be – most of which are easy to make and relatively inexpensive. Recent civil uprisings in the Ukraine provide a great case study in how deadly homemade weapons can truly be.

To see how sticks, bats and sledgehammers were able to topple a Presidency, take a look through these pictures at Wired.

The three types of DIY weapons we’ll be discussing in this article are:

Bludgeoning weapons
Edged Weapons
Projectile Weapons

Each can be deadly in their own right, so make sure to choose the type of weapon that you feel most comfortable with.

Bludgeoning Survival Weapons

To effectively wield a bludgeoning weapon, you must be in close contact with your attacker and have a significant amount of upper body strength – delivering a disabling blow requires a tremendous amount of force. If this sounds like the type of weapon you’d do well with, we recommend using a club, war hammer, tomahawk, or flail.

Club

While a club is one of the easiest survival weapons to make, it is no less deadly than any other and can inflict serious injury on an attacker. You can create an effective club by modifying a baseball bat, garden tool handle, or any length of wood, metal or piping. You can increase the destructive power of your blows by adding nails or metal scraps to the end of the club or by building a weighted club with a stone embedded in the end. For ideas on how to build an effective club, check out some examples at The JB Bardot Archives.

War Hammer

A war hammer can be easily assembled using inexpensive plumbing materials and works well for breaching doors and cars, as well as for combat. To create a war hammer, use a length of pipe with a t-splitter on the end and fit it with reducer couplings and plugs – no welding required. For a detailed explanation, see this YouTube video on assembling your own war hammer.

Tomahawk

A tomahawk can be used both for chopping and throwing. You can easily make one by splitting a piece of wood and inserting either a rock or piece of metal and tying it together with leather cord or braided plant fibers. You can make your tomahawk even more deadly by sharpening the end of the handle so that it can double as a spear or pry tool. For a more advanced tomahawk, see this YouTube video which explains how to make a tomahawk from lawnmower blades (this requires welding).

Flail

A flail is easily crafted by fastening a chain with a spiked ball to the end of a stick or bar. You can also make a dive flail, which has a spiked ball at both ends.

Edged Survival Weapons

There are a multitude of materials that can be used to craft an effective – and deadly – blade, including bone, stone, glass and scrap metal. Blades are an efficient tool for slicing or puncturing your attacker but are notoriously difficult to master. Before relying on a blade in a life-or-death situation, make sure you try it out and can effectively wield it in the heat of the moment.

The most common type of blade is a fixed-blade knife, which can be made with materials from around your home such as saw blades. M40 has a whole article on fabricating a homemade fixed-blade knife for under $1, which you can read here. If you need to arm yourself on the fly, Hedgehog Leatherworks has a great video on choosing the best stones to craft into tools, or survival weapons as the case may be.

Another viable option is to create a spear or ‘rabbit stick’ by sharpening a shaft that is at least five feet long and attaching a sharp point to the end made from either metal, stone or glass.

Projectile Survival Weapons

With projectiles, you can inflict damage while keeping a distance between you and your attacker, making them the ideal weapon when stealth is your objective. However, to cause serious damage you must be highly accurate, which requires a fair amount of practice. The following are some of our favorite projectile survival weapons:

Crossbow and arrows (learn to make an arrowhead out of a spoon in this video)
Longbow – These can be made from PVC pipe or wood from your local hardware store, as you can see here.
Bamboo sling bow – start with a hollow piece of bamboo or PVC tubing long enough to grip with one hand and add two half-inch eyelet screws to hold several strong rubber bands in place; arrows can be fashioned from sharpened sticks with no feathers necessary
Bola – an easy-to-make weapon, a bola is thrown at your enemy and will immobilize them by wrapping itself around them
Sling – inexpensive and easy to make, you can construct a sling from common household items such as the tongue of an old boot. To build a sling, simply attach a strip of leather to two lengths of string or twine; this will allow you to launch small stones about the size of golf balls and can be mastered rather quickly.
Throwing stars and spikes

Want even more info on projectile survival weapons? CLICK HERE NOW to check out our in depth article!

Click on the image above to learn all about the BEST ranged survival weapons right now!

Survival Weapons You Can Scavenge

If disaster strikes and you don’t have survival weapons with you, there are weapons that can be scavenged after the fact. If you find yourself scavenging in a hostile situation, be sure to thoroughly scout the area beforehand and have a group of people with you that can provide enough hands to carry back what you need.

In an urban survival situation, the following can be useful sources of weapons and ammo:

Automotive repair garages and gas stations
Cars and bicycles
Office buildings, schools, apartment complexes – generally, anywhere with a maintenance department
Abandoned homes
Construction sites

You will typically be scavenging for survival weapons, ammo or both. The following sections discuss what items can be scavenged to serve as survival weapons or ammo.

Survival Weapon Scavenging Tips

When scavenging for survival weapons, try and locate the following:

Anything you can use as a club, e.g. street sign posts, rebar, PVC pipe, log
Tools, e.g. ice picks, sledgehammers, crowbars
Defensive armor, e.g. street signs, car door panels, hubcaps, sports equipment
Lashings, e.g. inner bark of trees braided for strength, sinew, rawhide
Other useful items such as chains, bicycle gears (can be fastened to the end of a stick), and free weights (can be used to construct a flail)

Scavenging Ammo

When scavenging for ammo, try and locate the following:

Bolts or rocks to be used with a slingshot
Arrows for bows/crossbows – glass and scrap metal make excellent arrow points when there is no time to chip stone
Ammo for firearms – use caution with found bullets as they may be loaded with enhanced explosives
Rocks, bricks, and chunks of sidewalks or buildings that can be used for throwing or for a slingshot

Wrapping Up

Investing the time and effort to either buy or make survival weapons that will best serve you is an essential part of the prepping process. Whichever weapon (or weapons) you choose, make sure you can practice with them and they are well-suited to your survival needs.

As an example, a longbow can serve as a great weapon for defending your home perimeter, but probably won’t be useful as part of your get-home-bag. As important as arming yourself is developing the skills to properly wield your weapon in combat, so always take time to practice.

In addition to practicing with your primary survival weapon, make time to develop your abilities in scavenging for ammo and weapons. There may come a time where your primary survival weapon become unavailable and the ability to build weapons from scratch will be a desired one indeed.

It is also worth considering learning and practicing some form of unarmed self-defense.

Your Thoughts?

Do you have a survival weapon that you plan on using? Do you have an idea for one that would be easy to make or scavenge? Let us know in the Comments Section below, thanks!

How To Effectively Prepare Your Family For Power Grid Failure

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Imagine yourself and your family, forced from your home in the dead of winter, with nothing more than the few supplies you were able to carry amongst yourselves. Then imagine being shuttered into a community center with thousands of other families, displaced from their homes as well, relying on what few supplies the government could provide.

If you live a comfortable middle-class lifestyle in a first world country, this situation sounds preposterous, doesn’t it? It is not. Families, just like yours, faced this exact plight on December 20, 2013, when a massive ice storm hit parts of central Canada and the U.S., crippling many cities and leaving tens of thousands without power for days, sometimes weeks. Those who were prepared for such an event, having items such as blankets and medications to bring with them, fared much better than their ill-prepared counterparts.

In today’s modern society, we’ve come to rely almost implicitly on having a dependable source of power. When power fails, it causes utter and complete chaos for those not fortunate enough to have had the foresight to prepare.

What Is Power Grid Failure and Why Should I Care?

Of all the threats your disaster plan should consider, power grid failure is one of the more realistic and among the most likely to occur. When a power grid fails, a substantial geographic area can be without power for hours, days, or sometimes even weeks.

In addition to the 2013 ice storm that decimated power sources to many areas of central Canada and the U.S., there have been several other power grid failures in the last decade that brought panic and chaos to areas all over the world:

In 2007, Indonesia suffered major grid failure due to a drop in demand that affected nearly 100 million people for over 7 hours
India faces ongoing grid issues due to sporadic increases in demand
In 2003, the Northeast Blackout at Con Edison left 55 million people in Canada and the U.S. without power; in some cases, this lasted for more than 2 days
In 2005, Louisiana and surrounding areas dealt with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that left 2.6 million people without power; some for extended periods of time due to the extensive flooding that structurally damaged buildings and blocked access to power sources

What Causes Power Grid Failure?

The two most common causes of power grid failure are system failure and equipment failure, but other events can also wreak havoc.

System Failure

The power grid system may fail due to a disruption of equilibrium in power supplied and power drawn, triggering the line to trip and cutting off the supply of power. System failure was the culprit in Indonesia’s outage as well as in the frequent outages suffered by India.

A system failure can occur at the supply-end during extreme weather changes, such as a heat wave that causes an increase in the power drawn from the system to power cooling devices, or at the supplier-end if an error occurs in regulating the power input.

Equipment Failure

An equipment failure can occur at the station, transmission line, or transformer level. Any number of factors can be the cause of an equipment failure, such as an error in the digital processing system or physical damage due to an accident, construction, or weather.

Both the 2003 Northeast Blackout and power outages during Hurricane Katrina were caused by equipment failures.

Other Causes

Power grid failure can also be the result of malicious or criminal behavior, such as cyber terrorist or infrastructure attacks against a nation or a nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEMP) designed to disable electronic equipment. In the wake of 9/11, many feared the Northeast Blackout in 2003 was in fact a terrorist attack.

Power grids can also fail due to large-scale electromagnetic storms, an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), or a reversal in the Earth’s magnetic field – which can cause temporary disruptions or permanent damage to electronic devices. Click HERE Now to see our article on preparing for an EMP.

While events such as these have the potential to completely shut down power systems for an indefinite amount of time, the likelihood of their occurrence – and the extent of ensuing damage – has been hotly debated.

What Can I Expect During a Power Grid Failure?

The immediate aftermath of a power grid failure is the loss of power, which means modern day methods of communications, sanitation, lighting, cooking, refrigeration / preparation, and transportation will all be unavailable.

Within the first few days of a power outage, the disruption in supply of fuel for transportation will lead to shortages in other supplies such as food and medication. Many who wait several days before stockpiling will be greeted with empty and pillaged Supermarket shelves. Don’t rely on any emergency services – medical facilities, emergency responders, and public officials will more than likely be overwhelmed and unavailable.

If the outage continues for a week or more, civil unrest will begin to grow as food and other resources become scarce. People will no longer be able to run generators or vehicles as fuel supplies run out, and many will experience a disruption in their finances or incomes.

In the event a power outage stretches out into the long-term, such as several weeks or perhaps indefinitely, alternate means of power will need to be found along with long-term solutions to meet everyday needs.

What Will I Need to Prepare My Family?

The best thing you can have during a power grid failure is a positive attitude. Make sure to do whatever you can to encourage hopefulness and keep spirits high.

In addition to the right attitude, I recommend doing the following to properly prepare yourself and your family:

Create a storage space that can be easily accessed in the dark
Stockpile at least two-weeks worth of supplies
Design a plan for preparing food, sanitation, living / sleeping quarters, entertainment (especially for children), and rationing for fuel and power sources
Store jugs of water in the fridge now to be used during an outage to keep food from spoiling; however, once the water melts, it should be used for cleaning or flushing, not drinking
Store a flashlight or lantern by every bed

There are ten integral categories that should be part of every well thought out power grid failure disaster plan:

Drinking Water
Food
Lighting
Heating
Communication
Sanitation
First Aid
Protection
Additional Items
Backup Power Systems

The following is a detailed discussion of the key knowledge and items to have as part of your disaster plan to ensure all the above categories are accounted for.

Drinking Water

For drinking water, the general rule is that you should have 1-2 gallons per day available for each member of your household. A two-week supply of water for a family of four would mean having 56-112 gallons on hand. If you have pets, consider their needs as well; a rule of thumb is 1 ounce of water per pound of pet per day, so a 20 lbs dog would need 20 ounces a day.

You can further ensure access to clean drinking water by having a water filtration method available such as the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter or water purification packets. This will allow you to draw on water from unclean sources.

Food

When stockpiling food for your family, you’ll want to plan for three meals per day, plus some snack foods for each member of your household. Don’t forget pets – include a two-week supply of food for them as well.

Choose food items that require little to no heating and that your family is familiar with. Consider that cooking requires substantially more fuel than heating; therefore, canned foods that need only be heated are favorable to dried foods that will require boiling. Oversize cans are great if you feel your family can consume all the contents in one sitting, otherwise the leftovers will spoil in the absence of refrigeration.

A convenient option for long-term food storage is to store some MREs (Meals Ready-to-Eat) which are designed for the military use but are a popular choice for stockpiling.

You can check out our Food Storage Guide here to help you decide what the best way is for YOUR family to keep your food supply.

Other key considerations when planning your food stockpile are as follows:

Gas supply lines may also be affected by an outage so ensure you have an alternative means for cooking and boiling water, e.g. a camp stove, fire pit, or gas or charcoal grill
For any of the above, be sure to have a two-week supply of fuel on hand such as firewood, propane, or charcoal
Be sure to store at least two manual can openers with your food supply

Lighting

In a power outage, electrical lighting sources will be unavailable so be sure to have a stash of lighting sources that can run independently of electricity, e.g. flashlights, candles and headlamps, as well as the means to power or light those items such as batteries, matches and lighters.

We recommend getting a couple of Vizeri LED flashlights and/or GRDE LED Headlamps.

You should also have a lantern that is bright enough to light an entire room. Whether you choose one powered by batteries, propane, or a hand crank depends on your own personal preference.

To conserve as much power as possible, consider storing a solar battery charger set (like this solar charger here) along with multiple batteries of different sizes to accommodate all of your emergency gear. Solar garden lights and glow sticks can also be used to light up hallways and other frequently traveled areas without draining your battery power.

Heating

In the case of a power outage in cold climates, conserving and maintaining heat will be key to survival. Should you find yourself in this situation, gather everyone in your household into one room and lay a towel along the bottom of the door to seal it. Do the same for any windows to limit the possibility of drafts. By lighting several candles and relying on residual and body heat, you can expect to keep the temperature comfortable for at least 48 hours. After that, you will need an alternative source of heat until the power is restored.

A fireplace or wood stove can serve as an excellent alternative source for heating. Should you have access to either, ensure your stockpiles include plenty of fuel to keep your fireplace or stove burning. If this is how you will be warming your family, building an upside-down fire is a good way to have a long burning, self feeding fire. Learn how to make an upside-down fire here.

Another option is a portable propane space heater; however, this carries the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning without proper ventilation. No matter what heating source you choose, ensure you have a fire extinguisher available and ready should you need it.

An option for overnight heating that doesn’t involve the risk of flames or noxious fumes is to heat rocks on a fire then transfer them to a Dutch oven or other heat-safe cookware. The heat emitted from the rocks should be enough to provide heat throughout the night without compromising your safety.

In terms of gear, you will want to have blankets and low-temperature rated sleeping bags stored in an easily accessible location, so as to ensure quick retrieval even in the dark. You will also want to ensure each member of your household has enough clothing to cover them from head to toe, and enough layers so that they can add or remove clothing to regulate their temperature.

Communication

Having a hand crank radio (I recommend the Eton FRX2 Hand Crank Radio – see it here) can be invaluable in a power outage. In addition to providing important communications from the outside world, it can also be used to charge other electronic devices, such as cell phones. Keep in mind that cell phones and landlines cannot be depended on to work during power outages. It is always best to have backup methods of communication ready.

bug in plan — The Eton FRX2 is a great emergency radio that also has a flashlight and USB charging capabilities

Sanitation

Having proper sanitation protocols in place can not only help with hygiene, but also boost morale.

Here are some helpful hints for ensuring you and your family can cope with sanitation issues during a prolonged power outage:

Store plenty of disposable tableware to cut down on washing needs
Stock plenty of antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer, as these can be used without water
Immediately after the power goes out, fill your bathtub and, if you have one, your washing machine with water to use for flushing and washing; if you don’t have a bathtub, fill as many buckets as you can from the shower or sink
Find out ahead of time whether or not your toilet will flush without power – this can prevent sewage backup in your home
If manually flushing your toilet by pouring water into the tank is not an option, make sure to add heavy duty contractor bags and kitty litter to your stockpile – these can be used to craft a toilet by lining a bucket with the contractor bags and adding kitty litter
- You can also purchase a toilet seat to attach to the top of the bucket (like this one here), which can be especially helpful with children who may be apprehensive about using it
- When the bag is full, or before it becomes too heavy to lift, tie it off and store it outside
Keep a supply of baby wipes on hand to use in place of bathing, this will help conserve water
In the case of a long-term outage, you will need a means of doing laundry; consider purchasing a hand-operated mobile washer with two buckets – one for washing and one for rinsing
- Don’t wait until you are down to your last set of clean clothes before doing laundry – remember, there are no dryers and air drying can sometimes take all night

First Aid

In the case of a power outage, you will most likely be bugging-in and therefore have access to your household first aid supplies. However, it is still prudent to have a separate store of essential items such as bandages, antibiotic ointments, tools, any over-the-counter medications your family uses, and antidiarrheal medication to help your family cope with the change in sanitary and dietary conditions.

Check out our guide for building your own First Aid Kit HERE, along with a FREE Checklist!

It is also important to remember that emergencies services will most likely be overloaded and response times could be slow or the services unavailable completely. Include a copy of The American Red Cross First Aid & Safety Handbook to help you independently deal with medical emergencies.

Protection

As a power outage drags on, people will become increasingly desperate and the need to protect yourself and your family from those who aren’t so well prepared may arise. While firearms are always a popular choice, there are other options as well. Consider reinforcing the entranceways to your home and stocking weapons such as pepper spray.

Additional Items

Any additional items you pack need to be based on your family’s particular needs. Every household is unique, so make sure to pack items because they are essential to your family, not because your neighbor is storing them or you read it was a good idea on a blog.

Typical items to include would be:

Prescription medications
Toiletries
Pet care
Diapers
Feminine hygiene products
And anything else you wouldn’t want to be without for two weeks or more.

If you have children, ensuring entertainment options are available is critical. Make sure to have items such as games, books, cards and crafts readily available. Adding some special, non-perishable treats to your food storage can also serve as a morale booster.

Backup Power Systems

Depending on your budget and location, having a backup power system for your home can be an excellent way to prepare for power grid failure.

A generator will keep the lights on until power is restored

The most popular choice as a backup power source for emergencies are gas-powered generators. The DuroMax XP4400E is an excellent choice for a gas-powered generator for your home. If you choose to get a generator, make sure it’s installed correctly and that you test it out to ensure you’re familiar with how it works.

Solar panels are a great option for homes with adequate sun exposure and can be used year-round to save on energy bills; however, they are expensive to purchase and install. Off-grid solar panel systems will continue to produce energy in the event of power grid failure. However, a solar panel system that is connected to the grid will also go down in the event of a blackout, therefore installing a backup battery for your grid-connected solar panels could be an option.

You may also want to consider the following, less expensive alternatives:

A bicycle generator can be used to power small devices and appliances; some kits even include 12V battery charging attachments for creating stored power.
A solar battery charger can provide power indefinitely for cell phones and battery-operated devices.
A portable gas-fueled generator, such as the WEN 56200i, that is less powerful but can still come in handy for charging cell phones or running a small space heater.

Conclusion

As our reliance on electrical devices and appliances grows, the need to have a solid plan prepared in case of power grid failure becomes ever more pressing. As the ice storm of 2013 demonstrated, going without power for even several days can have devastating effects.

While power grid failure may be one of the more likely disaster scenarios, it is by no means any less calamitous than other scenarios. Use the advice and tips provided in this article to ensure you and your family will stand a fighting chance should you be faced with having to survive without power for a prolonged period of time.

Above all else, remember to maintain a positive attitude and that chance favors the well-prepared!

Your Thoughts?

What do you do to prepare your family for a power grid failure? What do you see as the biggest challenge to getting prepared? Let us know in the Comments Section below, thanks!

Get Home Bag List – How To Make The Best Kit For YOUR Needs

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Jackson maneuvered his way swiftly through the crowded sidewalk, running as fast as he could, his briefcase in one hand and his get home bag in the other – the two things he never left home without.

Realizing there was no way he could make his train at this point, he slowed his pace and fell in line with the window shoppers and couples out for a stroll. He was five minutes from the station and the next train wouldn’t be arriving for forty-five minutes, he might as well enjoy the walk.

Suddenly, he realized that the entire street was moving against him, and swiftly. The road looked like a parking lot and people were rapidly abandoning their vehicles to flee on foot. For the first time, he noticed the thick stench of smoke in the air – not from cigarettes, but from something burning.

Instinctively he reached out and grabbed a young man running past him.

“What the hell is going on here?”

“You don’t know?” The young man replied incredulously. “There was an explosion. The whole damn train station is up in smoke!”

The young man wriggled free of Jackson’s grasp and took off running. But Jackson didn’t follow him. He didn’t need to blindly follow the panicked crowd that was descending quickly into pandemonium and chaos. He had been planning for just such an event and he knew exactly how to get home – that’s why he always carried his get home bag.

What Is A Get Home Bag?

Jackson and his wife Rachel are serious survivalists. They have a basement packed with enough food and water to last six months, each has their own bug-out-bag, and even their eleven-year-old son Derek knows what to do in an emergency. However, neither of them had considered packing a get home bag until a random car accident left Rachel and Derek stranded on a deserted road for several hours with no supplies and no way home.

To be fully prepared in any emergency, there are three types of bags you should have ready – an every day carry kit, a get home bag, and a bug-out-bag:

The every day carry kit contains items you would use with relative frequency, sometimes on a daily basis. Your every day carry kit helps solve frequent problems that come up in everyday life, as well as likely emergency situations.
A get home bag has the sole purpose of getting you home as quickly and as safely as possible in the event your normal commute is compromised (this can be due to anything from large scale emergencies such as natural disasters or civil unrest to minor inconveniences such as road closures or a vehicle breakdown). It typically contains specific items needed for 24-48 hours of survival and is compact enough to carry with you at all times.
A bug-out-bag equips you for survival in the event you will need to survive for several days or more. It is compact enough to carry, but not kept on your person at all times. Bug-out-bags are usually stored in an easy to reach yet concealed area of your house.

Building Your Get Home Bag List

The contents of your get home bag will vary greatly depending on where you live and the type of emergencies you need to be prepared for. You’ll also need to thoroughly examine your commute and improvise ways of getting home should your car or other types of transit be unavailable. If possible, use a map to get a bird’s eye view and consider the following when making your plan:

Will you be traveling through wilderness, suburbs, or major cities
Are there any major waterways you will need to cross or devise routes around
How many hours will it take you to walk to your house (on rugged terrain, the average fit adult can walk approximately 10-18 miles per day)

For Jackson, who works at a bank in a major city about 25 miles from his home, comfortable clothes and footwear were a must for his get home bag. He also made sure to pack inhalation and eye protection, as these can help in the event of urban emergencies such as explosions or pandemics.

Organizing Your Get Home Bag Contents

Typically, you’ll want to organize your get home bag essentials into three compartments, or levels. Each level contains the items needed to survive for a certain amount of time, with those needed right away on top on those needed for longer-term survival on the bottom. Generally, a get home bag is organized as follows:

Level 1 Items (up to 3 hours from home by foot)

Your first and most accessible level should include items such as:

Item Type	Why You Need It
Folding knife	A folding knife is one of the most basic and versatile tools you can have. The CRKT M16 is lightweight, reliable and its 3" blade is legal to carry in most jurisdictions.
Bandana and / or dust mask	N95 dust mask stays in place while protecting from inhalation of harmful vapors and particles.
Boots	Boots should be waterproof, lightweight, durable, and suited for long treks over variable terrain. The Salomon Men's Quest 4D GTX Backpacking Boot also features a locking lace system for a precise fit that holds even if the laces come untied.
Map & Compass	Built to U.S. military standards, this compass is durable and water proof, with a tritium illuminated display.
Duct tape	Repair clothing or shelter, bandage injuries, prevent blisters. Roll can be flattened to save space.
Emergency signal item (mirror, flare, etc.)	Retro-reflective single-handed aimer for accurate long-distance signaling.
Fire kit / lighter	Always carry more than one means of starting a fire. A durable wind- and waterproof lighter is a compact option.
First aid kit	Basic bandages and medications for minor injuries.
Flashlight or headlamp	A hands-free option. This one features dimmer, strobe signaling, and hinge locks for stand alone use.
Multitool	Cutting wood, slicing rope, building shelter, and self defense, and many other uses.
Paracord	Assists with shelter building, first aid, climbing/descending, securing items to outside of bag, and hanging supplies out of reach of wildlife.
Protein bars	Satisfying and portable. Provides sustained energy and vital nutrients.
Rain poncho	Protection from weather and can be used as shelter.
Safety rated sunglasses	Shatterproof UV protection keeps out sun and debris.
Stainless steel water bottle	Sturdy, can be fastened to belt or bag. Non-insulated stainless bottles can be used to boil water over a fire.
Bug Spray	Biting insects can be detrimental to health and morale. Bug repellant in stick form are portable and easy to apply on the move.
Tactical pen	Integrated survival whistle, glass breaker, and magnesium fire starter.
Waterproof Notepad	Useful for jotting down coordinates, mapping landmarks, or leaving a note on the windshield of an abandonned vehicle.
Work gloves	Provides essential protection. Should be adjusted seasonally in cold climates.
Sunblock	Prolonged exposure to sun can cause many problems. Protect yourself with some sunscreen, this ine is in stick form for easy carry and application.
Self Defense Item	Carry something you are comfortable with. Pepper spray is a good option for people who do not want to carry a firearm and/or have a smaller frame.
Hat	Keep the sun out of your eyes and off your head to reduce fatigue.
Cash	I suggest carrying $500 cash in small denominations as emergency money. You never know when you may need to pay your way around an obstacle.
Change of clothes	These should be rotated seasonally. Dry clothes will keep you warm and enable you to travel further in an unfavorable climate.

Level 2 Items (up to 12 hours from home on foot)

The middle level of your pack should include items you’ll need if you’re more than a few hours from home, such as:

Item Type	Why You Need It
Emergency radio	National weather and alerts to stay informed and aid in strategic planning. Also provides emergency power for handheld devices.
Hygiene kit	Beneficial to morale and personal comfort, as well as overall health.
Water filter / purification tablets	Eliminate risk of contracting parasites or viruses when accessing local water supplies.
Extra socks	Prevent blisters/sores and keep feet dry and comfortable with a fresh change of socks. If you expect to have to walk for long distances it is worth investing in a pair or 2 of hiking socks.
Spare Batteries	These are good for barter, in addition to keeping your gadgets powered.
Extra Layer Of Clothes to Keep warm and/or dry	Layering is an essential skill for maintaining an optimal core temperature when hiking in any climate.

Level 3 Items (up to 48 hours from home on foot)

The third level should contain items needed for being on foot for more than a day, including:

Item Type	Why You Need It
Fixed blade knife	Heavy duty for handling hard use, full tang with glass breaker in pommel, flat ground drop point edge for easy maintenance.
Emergency blanket / sleeping bag or Bivvy Sack	Overnight protection from cold temperatures, ultralight yet durable material, reflects 90% of body heat.
Advanced first aid kit	Wide assortment of gauze and bandages as well as a trauma pad, moleskin, cold pack, and basic instruments to handle any personal injury.
Collapsible Walking sticks (to help ease strain from knees)	Ease strain on knees for extended travel on foot. Folds to 12" and adjusts from 48" to 53" for comfort.
Additional protein / energy bars	Maintain energy with a variety of nutrition-rich bars.
Glowsticks (this will help avoid using up flashlight batteries while making camp)	Provides 12 hours of light without draining flashlight batteries, can be fastened to shelter or used to mark trail to avoid walking in circles.

What Type of Bag is Best for a Get Home Bag?

There are several types of packs you can use for your get home bag, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. Ultimately, the bag you select should be best suited for you and your particular situation.

The following are different bags that can be used as well as their advantages and drawbacks:

Backpack: A backpack is great for hands-free carrying and making space for additional items, it also makes running and climbing fairly easy. However, it is not particularly easy to access contents when on the move and is not as discreet as other options. For more info on picking a backpack, check out our guide here.
Messenger Bag: A messenger bag is a great choice for easy access while on the move, has many pockets, and doesn’t look like a survival kit (discreet). However, it is harder to run with and becomes uncomfortable over long distances, as weight isn’t distributed evenly. It is also difficult to attach outside items (such as extra clothing).
Hydration Pack: A small, minimalist backpack, a hydration pack holds water and is excellent for walking long distances, as the shoulder and waist straps provide an even weight distribution. However, there is limited storage space.
Lumbar Pack: A lumbar pack is compact and easily accessible with external straps for carrying extra clothing. However, all the weight is on your hips and there is no extra room for additional items you may have with you.

If you’re looking for a reliable bag, the following are the ones we suggest looking at:

Bag	Bag Type	Cost	Features
5.11 Rush 24 Back Pack	Backpack	$$$$	Extremely high quality construction and well thought out pocket design make this a flexible and practical bag for real-world use. Molle integration along with hydration bladder compatibility mean easy customization to suit your exact needs.
Maxpedition Falcon II	Backpack	$$$	Tough ballistic nylon construction protects gear and stands up to any conditions. Compact size keeps shape even when full making it easy to stash at work. Removable waist and chest straps distribute weight evenly.
Explorer Tactical Assault Pack	Backpack	$	Sturdy option at an economical price. Plenty of MOLLE attachment points and straps to carry extra gear. Multiple compartments ideal for easily accessing Level 1 items. Padded straps provide comfort for prolonged wear.
ALPS OutdoorZ Little Bear Hunting Lumbar Pack	Lumbar Pack	$	Compact with mulitple compartments. Removable straps offer improved weight distribution.
Mountainsmith Lumbar Backpack	Lumbar Pack	$$	Reinforced with high tenacity nylon wide. 14L capacity and extra mesh pockets on the waistband provide sufficient storage space for its compact profile. Shoulder strap pad for messenger carry or separately purchase Mountainsmith Strapettes for additional carrying options.
High Sierra Diplomat Lumbar Pack	Lumbar Pack	$	HEX_VENT mesh padded back panel wicks moisture. Multiple compartments and 2 external water bottle holders (BPA-free bottles included). Webbing and tuck-away mesh pouch for loading additional gear.
Rapid Dominance Classic Military Messenger Bag	Messenger Bag	$	Cotton canvas with polyester lining. Large 16L capacity and 2 inch wide comfort strap to handle larger loads. Subtle appearance conceals its purpose.
UTG Urban Messenger Bag	Messenger Bag	$	No top flap enables all compartments to be readily accessible while on the move. Specialized slots for holding tools. Detachable pistol holster with belt loop. Discreet for daily carry.
Maxpedition Last Resort Tactical Attache	Messenger Bag	$$$	Heavy duty water resistant nylon exterior. Removable divider lends to customizing main compartment. Multiple hook and loop pockets for smaller gear.
Camelbak HAWG 100 oz Hydration Pack	Hydration Pack	$$$	Sufficient gear storage capacity plus 3L hydration bladder. High density nylon harness with EVA foam shoulder padding. MOLLE attachments on front panel for additional gear.
CamelBak M.U.L.E. 100 oz Hydration Pack	Hydration Pack	$$$	Separated compartments for Level organization. Compact size easy to manuever thrrough crowds. Multiple hydration tubing exit points. fleece-lined pouch ideal for safely storing eyewear.
Osprey Men's Manta 36 Hydration Pack	Hydration Pack	$$$	Weather protected with integrated raincover. Over 30L capacity rivals a backpack and hipbelt provides support for heavier loads. Airspeed suspension and BioStretch harness team up for a comfortable and ventilated fit.

Storing Your Get Home Bag

The essence of a get home bag is to get you home when disaster strikes, which is why it’s imperative to keep your bag with you as much as possible. Jackson carried his get home bag to and from work with him and kept it in his office. When an unexpected explosion suddenly left him without a way home, he was ready.

Leaving your bag in the car while you are at work is unwise, especially if you park in a parking garage. In a disaster scenario, you cannot be guaranteed access to your vehicle and you need your survival supplies on hand. If you can’t keep your get home bag with you while you’re working, consider using a gym locker, P.O. box, or public locker to store it. Just ensure that wherever you pick is a location you can reach immediately should disaster strike.

But….

The exception here is if you happen to have a job where you are driving around the majority of the time to see clients for example or visit job sites. In this case, you car is obviously a smart place to keep your get home bag essentials as you will be more likely to be near it than your office when an emergency occurs.

get home bag essentials — Make sure you get your GHB right. Don’t rely on cheap, premade junk kits.

Avoiding Common Mistakes For Get Home Bag Contents

Size: Always remember – a get home bag is not the same as a bug-out-bag; they do not serve the same purpose. If the size of your get home bag rivals your bug-out-bag, you’ve over-packed. Only include those items absolutely necessary to get you home quickly. To save space and better organize your bag, you can group like items in Ziploc bags and vacuum seal clothing. By packing your bag using the three-level method described in this article, you can ensure the items you’ll need right away are easily accessible. If you’re going to include a pair of boots, these can be carried alongside your get home bag rather than inside to save space.

Supplies: Similar to your bug out bag, perform seasonal reviews on your get home bag contents to ensure you have essential items and are not carrying around extra weight. For instance, don’t get caught without sunscreen in the summer or warm layers in the winter.

Location: Make sure you store your get home bag where it can be accessed quickly, keeping it near your person when at all possible.

Anticipating Threats / Scenarios: It is crucial that you plan ahead and know your surroundings and what type of terrain conditions you will be facing. An urban get home bag for example will have different essential contents that a rural one. No matter how far the distance is you need to travel, never assume you can make it before nightfall and pack accordingly.

Conclusion

As you well know, disaster can strike at any place, any time. Amid the chaos of an unexpected event, preppers like Jackson can remain calm and use their carefully packed get home bags to ensure they reach their families as quickly and safely as possible. No matter how fool-proof your bug out plan is, you can’t execute if you can’t get home – that’s why having a get home bag accessible at all times is essential.

Your Thoughts?

Do you have an item that you think it ESSENTIAL for any get home bag? Do you keep your get home kit in a bag or backpack that you want to recommend? Let us know in the Comments Section below, thanks!

Food Storage Battle: Cans vs. Buckets

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More than getting yourself safe, survival means being calamity-ready and making sure that you have stored ample amount of food and water. With a preparedness guide and proper food storage, you can have a lifetime supply of food. Looking at your food storage options is especially important if:

Looking at your food storage options is especially important if:

You are planning on bugging in or shelter in in place for any period of time
You are planning on caching food and supplies along your bug out route
You have a bug out location where you will be storing food for months or years

dry food storage — There are lots of food storage options, you don’t need to limit yourself to MRE’s. Photo by See-ming Lee via Flickr

Did you know that there are certain types of foods that can definitely last a lifetime? Knowing which foods to include in your food storage list is crucial to survival. Recently, there has been a heated debate over which between cans or food buckets are better to store. With various natural factors to consider such as moisture, sunlight, and even insect infestations, this list is geared toward helping you choose whether cans or food buckets work best for you.

Canned on Cans

Most preppers today think of canned goods as the only way to store food. Accordingly, it seems that canned foods have been an everyday necessity in every American household. Last 2011, a survey by the Canned Food Alliance revealed that 84% of Americans eat meals out of canned foods a couple of times in a month, with 34% having canned food meals thrice a week.

food storage checklist — There are both store bought and DIY options for your food preps. Photo by US Department of Agriculture via Flickr

Canned goods are safe alternatives to fresh or frozen foods while meeting the dietary needs of every consumer and avoiding preservatives. These offer a wider variety for storage purposes and are readily available since they can be purchased in any grocery store. As such, it is no wonder that most Americans living a busy day resolve to eating canned foods.

Bucket It All Up

Most prepper’s storage room is filled with a variety of foods other than canned goods. Since variety and quantity are crucial, preppers tend to go for buckets and pails as an investment for long term bulk food. Unlike canned foods, food buckets could hold rice, grains, beans, dehydrated vegetables, sugar, powdered milk, and even ready-made meals.

food storage buckets — Storing food in buckets has lots of flexibility. Photo via ClintJCL via Flickr

Since both canned goods and food buckets could give you the food you need for your survival, here’s a rundown on the pros and cons of canned foods and food buckets to keep your preparedness guide and food storage secured.

Pros and Cons Of Cans vs Buckets

Price

Canned goods are cheap and this is why most people consume these products.
Food buckets, since they come in larger sizes, are sold at a higher price. If you count the math, buckets are good for a number of servings, making it better at price. However, you may opt to make your own food bucket which costs less, as long as you take note of the proper food storage techniques and buckets allowed for long-term storage.

Shelf-life

Most of the canned goods have 3 years shelf-life. However, if exposed to water or a humid temperature, it is reduced to 2 years or less depending on the amount of rust. Rusting around the lid of the can is a sign that the canned good is not fit for eating anymore.
On the other hand, food buckets have as long as 15 years of shelf-life. It should be noted, however, for those making their own food buckets that recycling signs such as HDPE#2, LDPE#4, PP#5, or PETE#1 should be present for a bucket to be food grade.

food storage in plastic buckets — An advantage of buckets is that they can store more food in a single container. Photo by Tim Patterson via Flickr

Portability and Convenience

Canned goods give you the convenience of eating with just heating or eating it fresh from the can. Canned goods are perfect for on-the-go or carrying in your backpack since it comes in small sizes.
Food buckets have a wide variety, grains, beans, and the like. You could buy paint buckets or food storage buckets in your nearest local store and prepare these on your own. However, when it comes to portability, going for food buckets might be a nuisance since it is too heavy to bring around.

Nutrition Value

Though canned goods are often labeled as bad for the health compared to fresh produce, it’s really not that bad at all, especially when you are talking about food that lasts for a longer time. Accordingly, canned foods were processed within hours of their harvest to keep their freshness and nutritional value.

Food buckets are often dried or dehydrated. As such, it is free from preservatives and the drying or dehydration process keeps its original nutritional value.

food storage canning — Canning is a time-tested way to store excess harvest from your garden. Photo by Sharon Drummond via Flickr

Taste

Canned goods are mostly drenched in some liquid solution which overpowers the actual taste of the food.
Food buckets are able to retain the actual taste of the food, may it be sausage, rice, pasta or beans. Some food buckets available in the market today often come with recipes with all the ingredients included inside. This enables people to have a varied menu for the day.

Preparation

Canned goods do not require preparations as they are readily available in every market or grocery stores.
If you choose to make your own food buckets, then it requires time for preparation and the right storage, depending on the food to store. However, food buckets may also be bought in the market or online.

Final Thoughts On Food Storage Planning

Throughout history, people have come up with various ways of keeping and storing food as a crucial step towards being calamity-ready. Two of which, cans and food buckets have been popular today as it is able to store food at a longer length of time. Do take note that variety and balance in food storage is essential.

More than choosing between cans or food buckets, preppers should consume and replace these stored foods as well to keep them in the loop on how these are prepared and to keep their stock new. Assessing your readiness for the calamity right now will benefit you and your family, so check your preparedness guide and keep your food storage filled with cans, or buckets; it’s your choice.

Your Thoughts?

Do you have a favorite food storage method? Is there anything that someone who is new to storing food should look out for? Please let us know in the Comments Section below, thanks!

Bugging In Vs Bugging Out: How To Decide In An Emergency

Weighing Your Options

First of all, I firmly believe that bugging out should be considered your last option rather than your primary plan of action in most disaster scenarios.

For most of us, home is where we have the bulk of our supplies and hitting the trail with even a fraction of what we have stockpiled would be an arduous effort, to say the least.

Sure, we can fit all sorts of supplies in our vehicle but what if motorized travel isn’t a viable option?

Depending upon the nature of the crisis, streets could be impassable due to debris or even manned roadblocks.

That said, even though it isn’t the best option in many cases, bugging out is still an important part of your overall disaster planning.

Deciding When To Bug Out

Deciding when to bug out will largely be a judgment call, of course.

There are many factors that may come into play, and we certainly can’t plan ahead for all of them.

However, there are a few key indicators, call them red flags if you’d like, that should get you thinking that it might be time to beat feet and head for a more secure location, at least for the immediate future.

Civil unrest in the immediate area

Particularly if you live in an urban or suburban area, this is a big clue that things are headed south and you might not want to stick around.

As I’ve often said and written, frequently the biggest threat in a crisis is other people.

If you are made aware of looting and riots happening in your immediate area, you may want to load up the family truck and head out of town for a bit.

Now, a word of caution, here.

I cannot stress enough the importance of obtaining reliable information on what’s going on around you.

It is one thing if your neighbor tells you they just got back from the grocery store where he saw massive crowds stripping the shelves bare.

Another thing entirely if he tells you his sister said her best friend’s cousin was told by a random guy on the street three cities over that there were rumors of rioting happening.

This one reason why a working radio is a critical element of your survival gear. Depending upon the nature of the disaster, going online with a phone, tablet, or laptop might not be a viable option. A crank powered radio, ideally one that can tune in shortwave transmissions, might be the only way you can gather information about the world at large.

Bear in mind, though, recent history has shown that reporters quite often get as much wrong as they get things right.

Stores aren’t getting restocked

The common statistic tossed about is that the average grocery store only has enough stock on hand to last three days at normal buying volume.

That’s actually rather misleading as it depends upon the items in question. Food items will go quickly. Toiletries, maybe not so much.

Either way, if the grocery store has to shutter their doors because they’ve run out of stock on most things, people are going to get rather antsy.

We live in an age of immediate gratification. We’ve become accustomed to satisfying our wants without thinking much of it. In fact, people get very upset quickly if the store doesn’t have the item they traveled there to purchase.

“What do you mean you sold out of The Walking Dead, Season 87?!”

They’ll demand to see a manager, who is just as powerless as the store clerk, and pitch a holy fit because the store dared to sell their entire stock of the item without so much as a thought for this important-in-their-own-mind customer.

Now, imagine it isn’t a DVD set, but food. And rather than just being offended, the customer is starving… and has three kids at home who are just as hungry.

Yeah, you probably don’t want to hang around to see how that plays out.

Emergency services are overwhelmed

As we’ve seen happen time and again in major disasters, emergency services such as fire, police, and rescue can become overwhelmed.

Understand, I have the highest respect for those brave men and women who, when a crisis hits, run toward rather than away from danger. But, they are only human, and there are only so many of them to go around.

They can’t be everywhere at once, right?

Because of the limited resources, and no matter how large the department is, there are a finite number of emergency responders available at any given time, what’s called triage is going to take place.

Basically, decisions will have to be made about which emergencies are more important than others. Of course, dispatchers do that every day. A massive pileup on the highway is going to take precedence over a lost dog.

However, in the wake of a major disaster, there will most certainly be lives lost simply because of a lack of emergency personnel available.

Making The Call To Bug In Or Bug Out

The most important thing to remember is to trust your instincts.

If your gut is telling you it is time to get out of Dodge, listen to it.

Our subconscious minds often come to solid conclusions well before our active minds can muddle through all of the information. Bugging out can put you and your family in significant danger, whether from the actual crisis at hand or the people reacting to it in a less than an ideal manner. But, the danger of staying at home might be greater.

How to Prepare for Bugging In

To make sure you’re prepared for a situation that requires bugging in, read The Ultimate Guide to Bugging In: Preparing Your Home for a Disaster.

About The Author

This article was written by Jim Cobb who runs SurvivalWeekly.com.

Jim is the author of several books on preparedness and has most recently written “Urban Emergency Survival Plan: Readiness Strategies for the City and Suburbs,” which is a comprehensive look at disaster planning for urban and suburban dwellers. Find out more about this great resource here:

Why Should I Think About Survival Weapons?

Survival Weapons You Can Buy

Knives

Slingshots

Tomahawks

Pepper Sprays and Stun Devices

Handheld Tactical Weapons

Firearms

Survival Weapons You Can Make

Bludgeoning Survival Weapons

Club

War Hammer

Tomahawk

Flail

Edged Survival Weapons

Projectile Survival Weapons

Survival Weapons You Can Scavenge

Survival Weapon Scavenging Tips

Scavenging Ammo

Wrapping Up

Your Thoughts?

What Is Power Grid Failure and Why Should I Care?

What Causes Power Grid Failure?

System Failure

Equipment Failure

Other Causes

What Can I Expect During a Power Grid Failure?

What Will I Need to Prepare My Family?

Drinking Water

Food

Lighting

Heating

Communication

Sanitation

First Aid

Protection

Additional Items

Backup Power Systems

Conclusion

Further Reading

Your Thoughts?

What Is A Get Home Bag?

Building Your Get Home Bag List

Organizing Your Get Home Bag Contents

Level 1 Items (up to 3 hours from home by foot)

Level 2 Items (up to 12 hours from home on foot)

Level 3 Items (up to 48 hours from home on foot)

What Type of Bag is Best for a Get Home Bag?

Storing Your Get Home Bag

But….

Avoiding Common Mistakes For Get Home Bag Contents

Conclusion

Your Thoughts?

Canned on Cans

Bucket It All Up

Pros and Cons Of Cans vs Buckets

Price

Shelf-life

Portability and Convenience

Nutrition Value

Taste

Preparation

Final Thoughts On Food Storage Planning

Your Thoughts?

Weighing Your Options

Deciding When To Bug Out

Civil unrest in the immediate area

Stores aren’t getting restocked

Emergency services are overwhelmed

Making The Call To Bug In Or Bug Out

How to Prepare for Bugging In

About The Author