Get home bag

[Arzosah]

Is there anything else people could recommend that is small/suitable to be kept in an office that I should also keep? Lugging things back and forth on train isn't really a great option for me.

Like sniper55, I was going to say a torch (spare batteries too?).

You have a long commute, 1.5 hours each way, so I'd also recommend a compass and a map and a *lot* of research. I was reassessing my bug home routes from London recently, and realised I'd got sucked in to paralleling the main route, whereas the geographically more direct route, though on smaller roads, would be much safer because it avoids huge densely packed areas that I would have been edging past.

[Juno]

This post really interested me and has given me some useful tips. I have quite a commute to work (mixture of train & walking) which takes around 1.5hrs each way. I'm limited to what I can obviously carry and take on the train, plus I need to take the stuff I actually need for work. At my office I do though have the use of a lockable drawer in which I keep First Aid supplies, a bottle of water, snacks (crisps, snack bars, tins of soup) and a spare pair of socks (as this is the UK so my feet always seem to get wet in my work shoes!).

Is there anything else people could recommend that is small/suitable to be kept in an office that I should also keep? Lugging things back and forth on train isn't really a great option for me.

The more difficult issue for me, which I have been puzzling over a while is how I would get home in the event of a massive disaster....

I'm in a similar situation - I drive into one city (Derby) and take the train to another (Birmingham), so at the office I'm 37 miles from my car and 41 miles from my house. I'm reasonably physically fit and do a lot of walking, so I'd be able to walk that in the course of two days with decent footwear, but I only have one pair of boots I'd be willing to do that kind of mileage in and I wouldn't want to leave them at work because I use them the rest of the time. I guess the answer to that is to invest in a second pair and "retire" the existing boots to my office cupboard. Or wear trainers for the commute instead of work shoes, and accept that if I really had to get myself home on my feet they wouldn't be in brilliant shape by the end of it...

On the plus side, a) I have a cupboard at work so I could keep a GHB there without it really attracting attention, and I'm a first aider so I already have a first aid kit under my desk. But I'm really only just starting along my prepping journey so although I've been thinking about this quite a lot, I haven't done anything about it yet.

One thing that preoccupies me, and I suppose this is a question for all preppers, is just how dire an eventuality do you prepare for? One thing I immediately liked about this forum is that everyone is preparing just as much for the "everyday" things going wrong as for the apocalyptic things. And in reality, the thing I'd need to prepare for at work is the trains being out of action - so perhaps my preps should be more like finding out how I'd get home by bus. It seems to me that the chances of every form of transport being out of action are so remote that I should prep for the more likely stuff first. How do people approach that?

[sniper 55]

It might be worth checking whats on your routes home too, if theres any places lightly to be a target or protest area, or somewhere that might be closed off for security for VIP's or anything. Not too much of a problem for me but if your based in London I'd keep that in mind.

[Deeps]

This post really interested me and has given me some useful tips. I have quite a commute to work (mixture of train & walking) which takes around 1.5hrs each way. I'm limited to what I can obviously carry and take on the train, plus I need to take the stuff I actually need for work. At my office I do though have the use of a lockable drawer in which I keep First Aid supplies, a bottle of water, snacks (crisps, snack bars, tins of soup) and a spare pair of socks (as this is the UK so my feet always seem to get wet in my work shoes!).

Is there anything else people could recommend that is small/suitable to be kept in an office that I should also keep? Lugging things back and forth on train isn't really a great option for me.

The more difficult issue for me, which I have been puzzling over a while is how I would get home in the event of a massive disaster....

It depends on whether its feasible that you might have to stay overnight at work if you're stuck for whatever reason, if its an option then you need to think about things that will make it more comfortable. Its not always going to be a massive disaster that will prevent you making it home, do you have any work mates that could look after a bag for you or put you up if needed ?

Depending on how big the locker is will determine what you can stow in it. As has been said, a torch (and head torch if you can, it allows you to keep both hands free) with spare batteries. A multitool and have you got puritabs in with the FAK ? they're small and handy, any meds that you need for a few days too. A lighter or two, even if you're not a tabber and a small 'housewife' is useful. Is it feasible for you to leave a jacket at work ? If so you'll always have a decent outdoor one available at all times with gloves and a hat in the pockets etc. If you can get some small plastic bags (resealable types are handy) then you can keep your stuff dry and if they're inside a carrier bag or the like prying eyes won't see the contents. The cheap packet noodles are handy to keep at work if you're stuck, they won't attract attention if you have a few packs in your drawer. A charger for phones/devices that you might take with you. I assume you use a small rucksack to carry your stuff to and from work that you would be your 'get home bag'. If its an 'incident' that you're aware of, having cash to buy stuff is always handy but you can keep that in the back of your wallet.

If your concern is having to make it home long distances then if its more than a day and a nights travel on foot you'll have to think of your basics, access to decent boots, water and shelter probably at the top of the list although you'll know best what your own priorities are, as others have said a good knowledge of where you're likely to be going helps, if its built up area's then shelter will be easier to find for example. A good recce will let you know what you think you'll need and what to work towards. Do you know people on your route home ? Well enough to drop some stuff off ?

I hope this has given you some help, its hard to be more specific without knowing your situation.

[Arzosah]

One thing that preoccupies me, and I suppose this is a question for all preppers, is just how dire an eventuality do you prepare for? One thing I immediately liked about this forum is that everyone is preparing just as much for the "everyday" things going wrong as for the apocalyptic things. And in reality, the thing I'd need to prepare for at work is the trains being out of action - so perhaps my preps should be more like finding out how I'd get home by bus. It seems to me that the chances of every form of transport being out of action are so remote that I should prep for the more likely stuff first. How do people approach that?

It's a really good question ... 7/7 killed 52 people (wikipedia says 56, but that counts the suicide bombers, I think). Transport all over London ground to a halt - I asked for stories on here about people who'd been affected, when I was writing my kindle book, and a few walked 10 miles or so to get wherever public transport was still running, even if it wasn't in their direction of travel, and eventually managed to get home from there.

Or the Bishopsgate bombing in 1993 - only one person was killed, I think, though the damage was extensive - it was on a Saturday, so no huge numbers of casualties. Broken glass over half a mile or so of London.

Certainly, though, we all need to prepare in a "graduated" way - flooding often stops trains but buses and coaches can make diversions more easily and get through, for instance, yes. Leaves on the line! Whoever thought we'd have to prep for autumn leaves on the line

Any big terrorist event, though, will shut down all public transport - and as with French attacks in the last couple of years (and the Boston marathon bombers) the terrorists themselves may still be at large, they may kidnap people so they can use their transport, or kidnap them as hostages. It's very fluid.

If you get caught up in something like that, it *feels* like the end of the world, for sure, but it isn't - prepping for the most likely stuff first, as you say, is absolutely the way to go


ETA - talking of likely stuff, the weather warning that Yorkshire Andy highlighted is interesting: http://www.metcheck.com/UK/warnings.asp Huge areas of the country with a 60% chance of "thunderstorms, flash flooding, large hail, tornadoes". Good grief!

[womble]

Any big terrorist event, though, will shut down all public transport - and as with French attacks in the last couple of years (and the Boston marathon bombers) the terrorists themselves may still be at large, they may kidnap people so they can use their transport, or kidnap them as hostages. It's very fluid.

Sometimes, I think the best "Get Home" bag is the "Get me to tomorrow so I can get home once it all calms down" bag. Something to make staying the night in the office, (bus) station or, worst case, out on the street, more bearable/survivable. Some sort of prep on escape routes for when there's an emergency other than fire, picked for unobstrusiveness and/or cover. But for most of us, if there's a "Mumbai situation" or a "Not very Nice truck driver on the rampage", staying put and getting under the desk is probably a better plan than legging it out into the chaos.

[Zunzuncito]

Really helpful suggestions, I think I definately need to put more thought into it though. I commute into central Birmingham so it's very built up - luckily I do have a few friends who live in the city I could stay with overnight if all transport failed. I keep a fleece at work on the back of my chair all the time but I don't have decent shoes (i.e walking boots/trainers) as I just go in my work shoes which wouldn't be helfpul - think i'll definately try and keep a pair of better shoes under my desk at least.

If the worst came to the worst, although it would take me a long time I know I could get home walking along the canal as it runs by the side of my office and all the way back to the where I live near my house. It would be a long trek but do-able if the world imploaded. Thanks for the ideas folks - I think i'll bump this to the top of my prepping to-do list

[Jamesey1981]

As for weather warnings, where I am in the south east it's the other way, temperatures forecast to be getting close to 30 degrees with very high humidity and UV and no cloud cover, so extra water and sun protection is pretty much going to be an essential part of my kit.
If it's any consolation to those up north we're forecast to get the storms (not as heavy though) when they have finished with everyone else!

[Deeps]

Really helpful suggestions, I think I definately need to put more thought into it though. I commute into central Birmingham so it's very built up - luckily I do have a few friends who live in the city I could stay with overnight if all transport failed. I keep a fleece at work on the back of my chair all the time but I don't have decent shoes (i.e walking boots/trainers) as I just go in my work shoes which wouldn't be helfpul - think i'll definately try and keep a pair of better shoes under my desk at least.

If the worst came to the worst, although it would take me a long time I know I could get home walking along the canal as it runs by the side of my office and all the way back to the where I live near my house. It would be a long trek but do-able if the world imploaded. Thanks for the ideas folks - I think i'll bump this to the top of my prepping to-do list

Do what a lot of lassies do and have your work shoes at work and use trainers or whatever to go to and from. It looks a bit 'weird' but not unusual and most people will see someone in office clothes and trainers and assume they're in training.

You never mentioned the canal, there's an option right there and if you have a Sawyer straw in your bag, water taken care of, potentially free's up space for other things. Now if you could keep a canoe at work.......

[Yorkshire Andy]

Really helpful suggestions, I think I definately need to put more thought into it though. I commute into central Birmingham so it's very built up - luckily I do have a few friends who live in the city I could stay with overnight if all transport failed. I keep a fleece at work on the back of my chair all the time but I don't have decent shoes (i.e walking boots/trainers) as I just go in my work shoes which wouldn't be helfpul - think i'll definately try and keep a pair of better shoes under my desk at least.

If the worst came to the worst, although it would take me a long time I know I could get home walking along the canal as it runs by the side of my office and all the way back to the where I live near my house. It would be a long trek but do-able if the world imploaded. Thanks for the ideas folks - I think i'll bump this to the top of my prepping to-do list

Do what a lot of lassies do and have your work shoes at work and use trainers or whatever to go to and from. It looks a bit 'weird' but not unusual and most people will see someone in office clothes and trainers and assume they're in training.

You never mentioned the canal, there's an option right there and if you have a Sawyer straw in your bag, water taken care of, potentially free's up space for other things. Now if you could keep a canoe at work.......

Or a pair of cross trainers bit more meaty than bog standard trainers waterproof goretex ones like these for example ideal for muddy towpaths...

http://m.gooutdoors.co.uk/ellipse-gtx-womens-p297739