Few would argue that a Bug Out Bag (BOB) is a must for every prepper. Having a bag that you can pick up and live off of for three days makes you more prepared than the majority of the world, but what happens when you’re at work and disaster strikes? You don’t want to bug out necessarily; you want to get home. Even if you keep your BOB in your car or truck, it’s used for a completely different situation and needs, and your car isn’t near you at work. For most people, getting home is a priority in an emergency, which is why a solid Get Home Bag (GHB) is a good idea.
What is a Get Home Bag?
A Get Home Bag is similar to the idea of an Every Day Carry (EDC) but takes the notion a step farther. Most of us spend our days working at jobs. That job might be in an office, a factory, or a construction site. Whatever the job is, the idea is that you’re some distance from home in possibly different terrain and most likely an urban environment. The Get Home Bag is what you’ll use if disaster strikes and you need to, well, get home.
Not only should a GHB have the supplies you need to get from work to home, but it should have some basic tools to help you escape where you are in case of disaster. Let’s say you work in an office building and there’s an earthquake. It’s a good idea to have a pry bar, headlanp, and even a dust mask; three things a common BOB wouldn’t have.
A Get Home Bag for work should ideally live at work. It’s not easy carrying a backpack full of supplies to and from work every day, and you’re bound to get a few weird looks from your coworkers. The bag should ideally be a bag that’s similar to a Bug Out Bag in construction, but above that it should be easy to store in your office and as non-military looking as possible. Remember, OpSec is important, especially in an office where rumors run rampant.
So What Goes in my GHB?
Below is an outline of the basic supplies and tools that should go into a good Get Home Bag. The exact contents should change depending on your distance from home and your specific terrain, work, etc.
1 Liter of Water – This should ideally be in a metal container, so you can use it to cook or boil water in.
Energy Bars – You’re not looking to survive for days on end, so MREs will take up too much space and weight. Grab the highest calorie energy bars you can find. A good number to keep is 5-7 bars.
Hiking Boots or Walking Shoes – Most of us don’t wear shoes that are great for hiking or walking when we’re at work. Keep a pair that you can use in your bag. Hiking boots are best, but in a pinch good trail running shoes will work.
Change of Clothes – This should change based on the season, and should include pants, two shirts (under and over shirt), socks, and a hat.
Leather Gloves – Gloves seem to be a commonly overlooked survival tool. There are some times that gloves are an absolute necessity, and if you’re planning to escape a collapsed building they’re as important as food or water.
Money – Cold hard cash. Keep between $50 and $100, more if you can. Make sure the money is in small denominations, and that you spread it throughout your GHB. Never keep all your survival money in one place.
Headlamp – A good flashlight is a necessity in survival situations, and if you’re escaping a building a hands-free one is even better. Make sure it has a good battery and is water resistant.
Dust Mask – A dust mask like the N95 variety will keep particulate out of your lungs. If there’s a building collapse or earthquake, very bad things could be in the air and you really don’t want to breathe them in. Trust me, you’ll be glad you packed this one.
Paper Map and Compass – We’ve talked about learning how to use a paper map and compass already, but here you should go a step farther. Plan out a few routes from where you’re keeping the bag to your home, making notes of landmarks along the way. This way, you’ll be able to hit the ground running without having to orient yourself.
Paracord – You should have at least 100 ft of paracord in any survival bag There are hundreds of uses and it adds next to no additional weight and takes up barely any space.
Multi-Tool – A good multi-tool should be part of your Every Day Carry, but if it isn’t, make sure you have one in your GHB.
Personal Defense – This one is tricky. Since we’re talking about leaving this bag in an office or other worksite, you need to make sure you’re not breaking any rules or endangering your coworkers. If possible, you should have a survival knife, mace, and ideally a small gun with ammo. Most likely the only safe option for an office is the mace, but even then, make sure you’re not getting yourself fired while trying to be prepared, and that any weapons are locked up.
Emergency Radio – a small hand-crank radio that gets the emergency band is a must have. If an emergency struck, you need to know what’s going on and where it’s happening. Some will even charge a device via USB.
Signal Items – This one is pretty simple. A signal mirror and whistle to use in case you’re trapped in a building.
Fire Starter – A good, basic fire starter is all you need here. Ideally you should have this with your EDC too, right? Think flint and steel as well as a lighter.
First Aid Kit – Just your typical travel first-aid kit. One built for a car or for hiking will work great.
Emergency Blanket – A simple, cheap Mylar blanket is tiny, light, and can really keep you warm in an emergency. If you’re a runner, just save the one they give you after a marathon!
Rain Poncho – This one is pretty self-explanatory. A poncho will keep you dry when walking and can double as a shelter. Keeping dry means keeping warm, which means not getting sick in an emergency.
Lightweight Tarp – This is used as a ground cover when sleeping or as part of a shelter if you need one.
Personal Hygiene Items – This is toothbrush, soap, small towel, a bandana, and toilet paper. These all speak for themselves, and trust me, you’ll be glad you packed them.
Paper and Pencil – Taking notes on what’s going on can be a real help. Whether it’s taking note of where you’ve been, how long you’ve been walking, or just to record your experience for your sanity; paper and pencil are a good thing. Best of all, you can leave notes for people, which can save someone’s life or get them in touch with you.
Wrap-Up
A Bug Out Bag is meant to give you general survival when you run from a bad situation, where as a Get Home Bag has a very specific purpose: to get you home. Home doesn’t mean that you’re 100% planning to bug-in when you get there, though. Home is where your family is (if you live with family) and it’s where your base of operations is. If possible you always want to get home in the event of an emergency and a good Get Home Bag can help you do just that.
Big thanks to Creek Stewart, author of Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit for the idea and material for this post.