What should you take with you if you need to get out of dodge?

Photo courtesy of theprepperjournal.com

Get out of dodge is an expression from western movies that referred to heroes telling villains to “get the hell out of dodge.” Dodge City was a popular town for westerns in Kansas. Today the expression means to take off from your home as quickly as possible. It’s mainly used when speaking about emergency situations when you need to leave quickly before a disaster strikes. 

If there is a raging wildfire or a flood coming your way, you need to get yourself and your family out of danger’s way. But you can’t just drive away leaving your home and all your prized possessions behind. There are many things you should bring with you and ideally could bring with you, but there’s only so much time and space in your vehicle. Here is a list of what you should have (most of which is available at www.prepandsave.com):

1.      Passports, Birth Certificates, Social Security Cards

These things are all vital to your identity. They are necessary for getting a job, for applying for some loans, and for international travel. You can reapply for them, but it takes a long time to get new ones and can be fairly expensive. Having your passport, birth certificate, and social security card in a binder ready to go in case of an emergency is extremely helpful so you’re not scampering around trying to find them and wasting valuable time. 

Make sure to have all your important documents protected but
easily accessible.
Photo courtesy of  us-passport-service-guide.com

2.      Insurance Information & Other Personal Information Paperwork

These should also be in the same binder, ready to go at a moment’s notice. This includes your auto insurance info, your health insurance card, and other personal information, such as passwords and things that you’re very likely to forget between uses. Keep the binder in a safe so it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. If you forget usernames and passwords, you may be out of luck when it comes to insurance claims.

3.      Water

This seems obvious, but you’ll need to bring water along to drink. Maybe you’re just heading to a relative’s house an hour away from your home, in which case you’ll be fine. But it might be a situation where you have to survive in the wild for a few weeks. What will you drink then? You should bring some bottled water to drink, and have a filter to drink water you find in the wild. Check out this great water package- http://www.prepandsave.com/water-storage-and-filtration/waterbrick-83/30-day-water-storage-package.html

4.      Food

This goes along the same lines as water. In some emergencies, restaurants and grocery stores will stay open, so you can get food there. In other situations though, they’ll be closed, and you’ll need to find food on your own. You should stock up and bring dried and canned foods, freeze dried foods, and weapons/traps to catch food out in the wild. Get a month's worth of food for $200 ($6.67 a day) at- http://www.prepandsave.com/survival-food/food-packages/30-day-food-storage-emergency-all-in-one-pail.html

5.      Jumper Cables & Auto Equipment

Jumper cables are a must have in your car.
Photo courtesy of  awesomejelly.com

If you drive all night and need to pull over to rest, but have to leave the car on to stay warm, your battery could very easily die. You should have jumper cables with you to restart your battery and your car. You should also have a spare tire, and other auto equipment to keep your vehicle running smoothly along the way. Get this great auto emergency kit- http://www.prepandsave.com/emergency-gear/car-emergencies/roadside-emergency-kit-29-piece.html

6.      Get Out Of Dodge (GOOD) Bag

Ideally, you should have a backpack that has all the things you will need to survive in the wild. This includes: a sleeping bag, a tent, blankets, ways to start a fire, a compass, paracord, a knife, a small cooking set, utensils and eating containers, duct tape, and playing cards among other things. You can customize your GOOD bag in whichever ways you choose, just make sure it hits these three components: 1. You are able to walk several miles with it on your back. 2. It has fire starters. 3. It has items to keep you warm and dry. Check out this GOOD Bag- http://www.prepandsave.com/emergency-gear/pre-packaged-kits/bug-out-bags/complete-home-bug-out-bag.html

7.      Tools

Get a small tool kit that doesn’t weigh a ton. Make sure you have the basics: including a hammer, flathead screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, nails, screws, wire strippers, scissors, and a pair of needle nose pliers.

8.      First Aid Supplies

You should have a small first aid kit with you to handle small cuts, scrapes, and sprains. In an emergency, hospitals might be shut down and you will be the only source of medical attention available. I recommend this heavy duty first aid kit- http://www.prepandsave.com/emergency-gear/pre-packaged-kits/bug-out-bags/nurses-response-bag.html

9.      Toilet Paper

You can never have too much toilet paper.
Photo courtesy of  The Blaze

As much as you can bring with you. This should be self-explanatory.

10.  Laptop/iPad/Other Technology

Laptops and iPads are valuable and can keep you entertained and informed while you’re away from home.

11.  Pet Supplies (Optional)

If you have a dog or cat, of course bring them with you. However, don’t forget to bring their food and a couple toys to keep them entertained.