Bayou Bug-Out Bag: An Emergency Package for Louisiana Wetlands

Invariably, after I learn articles on bug-out baggage and overlanding, the luggage and situations revolve round a setting within the Western states and/or an arid, mountainous setting. Truthfully, I really feel not noted. I reside within the Deep South simply exterior New Orleans, and we face a very totally different drawback — quite than a scarcity of water, it’s an excessive amount of water. I’ve ridden out a half-dozen landfalls in my time right here, together with Hurricane Katrina. My expertise after Katrina prompted me to place collectively a go-bag designed round my must shelter in place, self-rescue, and/or extricate from the world. This bayou bug-out bag doesn’t cowl meals, water, or private hygiene objects — it covers the “heavy tools” finish of issues, which is what I lacked on my first go-around.

In regards to the Bag

I have to admit I take pleasure in a little bit of unfair privilege concerning bag choice — my employment because the director of medical applications for Blue Drive Gear permits me entry to a number of the finest load carriage gear accessible. Our product growth store not too long ago started engaged on a bag for a navy entity to hold heavy breaching and rescue tools. I used to be fortunate sufficient to get my palms on one of many prototypes. It has stowable backpack straps, a shoulder strap, and bolstered carry handles, in addition to a completely opening high cowl and facet slit pockets for smaller objects. I additionally recognize the standard of development, a attribute we’ve put a whole lot of effort into. It’s gentle for its dimension but sturdy sufficient to hold the wanted tools. Whilst you received’t discover this bag on the Blue Drive Gear web site, it’s accessible for particular orders by mil/LE items (e-mail navy@blueforcegear.com for more information).

Instruments & Restoration Gear

I’ve turn into extremely reliant on rechargeable battery tech, and on the coronary heart of my system is a 1,000-amp battery pack. It has USB ports to recharge my cellphone, can bounce begin a automobile, and has a built-in air compressor. A small zipper bag of cords permits me to cost virtually any gadget. As soon as my truck is operating, the built-in energy inverter can cost my bigger instruments.

The following largest merchandise within the equipment is a battery-powered Reciprocating Noticed (what many individuals name a Sawzall). This software has changed a series noticed as my go-to software, primarily as a result of potential to rapidly swap out blade sorts. I carry wooden, carbon metal, carbide, and bimetal slicing blades. Within the days after Katrina, I used to be climbing onto the second-story roofs of homes from a flat boat (the water was excessive sufficient I may simply step onto the roof) to be able to minimize individuals out of their attics. Whether or not it’s downed limbs, fences, locks, cables, or different obstructions blocking my egress, I’ve but to run throughout a slicing chore I used to be unable to carry out. This identical software, paired with a facet angle grinder and diamond blade, is utilized by the U.S. Air Drive PJs for many of their rescue breaching duties. I as soon as noticed them take away a hatch from a Bradley in below 2 minutes by slicing the hinges.

Regardless of my love for rechargeable instruments, I’d be remiss if I didn’t account for the very actual risk of shedding that functionality. For that situation, I’ve a Gerber Downrange Tomahawk Breaching Software that features as an ax, hammer, and prybar. Paired with the Gerber Doubledown folding machete, I’m prepared for slicing if issues go guide. In case my automobile will get caught in mud — a standard prevalence in Louisiana — my equipment accommodates a folded Glock Entrenching Software. That and a ten,000-pound-capacity snatch strap have but to fail me in eradicating a litany of autos from our Gumbo Mud.

Mom Nature doesn’t preserve banker’s hours, and we people are creatures of the sunshine, so my equipment contains each a flashlight and headlamp from the Streamlight ProTac 2.0 line. Every places out a staggering 2,000 lumens in Excessive mode and may run as much as 25 hours on Low. Each lights recharge from a USB-C wire that I can plug proper into my energy station.

To maintain all the things operating, together with my rifle and handgun, I preserve a smattering of hand instruments and a Repair It Sticks “The Works” software equipment. I can’t say sufficient good issues about this compact equipment. It was primarily designed for firearms-related duties, however with 24 totally different bits and a wide range of different instruments, it’s a multipurpose merchandise. I additionally carry a roll of 100mph tape for these instances that I can’t flip it with a software or beat it with my breaching ax.

Did I point out that we’ve an abundance of water down right here? Unquestionably, the costliest merchandise in my equipment (and presumably a very powerful) is my Mustang Survival RATIS inflatable PFD (Private Flotation Gadget). Previous to having this gadget, I struggled with having a water security part in my equipment. A normal flotation vest was too cumbersome to hold round, but I typically discovered myself working in or round water with out discover. I grew up within the water and know that familiarity breeds contempt, and contempt can get you killed. The RATIS weighs a whopping one (sure, one) pound and is so small in its saved form that you could work with it on all day lengthy. When deployed, both routinely when submerged or manually by pulling the inflation deal with, it gives 40 kilos of buoyancy. The RATIS will be hooked up to a plate provider or, as in my case, can perform as a stand-alone PFD by way of the included “BRO” harness system. This can be a must-have merchandise for me.

Medical Tools

Talking of security, let’s speak medical — a topic near my coronary heart. One should perceive the distinction between a primary support equipment and a trauma equipment. They need to be two separate issues; I plan to handle that topic intimately in a future article. This bag was designed across the heavy tools instruments idea and, correspondingly, I solely carry a trauma equipment in it, particularly the BFG Medium Trauma Package NOW! It gives me sufficient gear to deal with one to 2 vital casualties within the speedy aftermath of a traumatic incident. It’s not an working room in a bag, however it’ll save a life within the quick time period. Discover the tourniquet hooked up to the lid of the TKN! and keep in mind that your tourniquet (higher but, tourniquets plural) at all times belongs exterior of your trauma equipment. You shouldn’t be digging by way of a medical equipment to entry that gadget.

Rounding out my go-bag are a couple of different objects. There’s a Seldon WaterStick for emergency water purification. In a nod to “snivel gear,” I additionally carry a light-weight packable rain jacket, a Kifaru floor material/shelter half, and a SOL two-person Emergency Bivvy (you by no means know whenever you would possibly must snuggle up). Lastly, there’s a hand-crank radio for Nationwide Climate Service reviews and emergency USB charging.

Closing Ideas

As I mentioned to start with, this go-bag isn’t common, and your wants could differ. Nonetheless, this one has served me properly for some time. When you reside in a coastal space or wherever topic to a pure catastrophe, I hope this helps information your considering towards what you would possibly must have available ought to the worst occur.

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Blue Drive Gear: Rescue Tools Bag

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Written by Brad Gilpin