had a grab bag at hand for years and wouldn't ever think of being without one.

 

Since the severe flooding last year, a lot of the councils have come on board advising people get get a go bag ready in case of evacuations.

Hull City Council
http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/portal/page?_pageid=221,585828&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Liverpool City Council
http://liverpool.gov.uk/crime-prevention-and-emergencies/emergency-planning/

Knowsley
http://www.knowsley.gov.uk/your-council/preparing-for-emergencies.aspx

Harlow
http://www.harlow.gov.uk/emergency

Nottingham City Council
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KpayiGvpMo

Buckinghamshire CC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDRjNtxDRWs

North Yorkshire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjTgNqvSh7Y

 

Thanks for this. I am seriously trying to encourage my family in the UK to get a little prepared but it's an uphill battle. These links might help since they are local(ish) to them.

 

You never know what you will have to deal with.

Forest or house fire, flood, earthquake, etc.

I feel a BOB is ESSENTIAL.

 

In the UK I would say the only real problems we could have is an electric blackout, getting snowed in or in low area, floods.

 

How about thinking of a few of these:

Unexploded WW2 bomb - yep they still crop up.
Building collapse - it could be a neighbours or a planned tower block demolition.
Gas Explosion - it could bring down the property, or close the road your in and deny you access to your property.
Seige - There are plenty of these that go one, where the local people have to evacuate. It is usually domestics gone wrong.
Death of a relative in council owned properties - this happened to my cousin, his mother died and he was told to move out due to the bedroom tax.
Dean holes - yep I know of a lady who was only in her house 4 months before an 80ft dean hole appeared in her garden, and she, with 6 of her neighbours, had to evacuate and were out for at least a year.
Electric stoppage
Gas stoppage
Explosion or big fire - like the tyre dump that went up, fireworks factory etc.
Mains water contimination
Flash floods - yep they do happen to people who live on hills.
Illness epidemic - yep measles was prevelent last year.
Cleaning accidents - just last week a whole block of flats were evacuated when someone tried to clear a blocked drain and mixed chemicals. It killed one man and left a lot of others temporarily homeless while it was cleared.
Flea/cockroach infestation - you would be forced to move out why it was sorted out.
Tornadoes - yep we get them here, infact we get more then the USA, they just don't touch down but when they do they cause damage.
Hurricanes - yep we get the tail end of those.
Earthquakes - yep we get low level ones too.
Domestic dispute - the other half may chuck you out.
Someone buried in the garden - yep this happened too quite recently, the guy had buried a few women in the garden and then sold the house.
Forced eviction - inheritance tax (40 % of the estate), mortgage problems and Landlord stuff.
Disability or illness - you can no longer use the property because of access, stairs etc.
Bad neighbours

The list is endless.

 

Thanks for the list. I grew up in the UK but because I wasn't "aware" back then I didn't think about these things and so hard to explain to my family why they need a BOB and a few supplies.

 

Well, I have lived through a few on your list but fortunately never had to grab and go but it has come near a few times.
All my relevant papers, passports, insurance doc, are in one file box with a handle, ready to go. A prepacked bag plus 'spare' medication for my wife is downstairs in the hall. With longer to prepare we would of course pack the car but for an immediate leave NOW! situation we have essentials.
Must add spare dog lead, food and bowl to the bag!!!
We have a car kit that is in sealed containers , some packed around the spare wheel, some in under seat cubbys. This has first aid, spare clothing, blankets, fire starters and fuel, tarps, tools, rope, as well as food and water. We added a camp kettle and pots/mess kit along with plastic and metal mugs, plates etc.
For me it is just common sense and being practical, like carrying a tow rope, shackles and jump leads, making sure your spare tyre is inflated, the jack works and is greased. I have not had to change a tyre on my car for years but who knows,

 

You're lucky you have a spare wheel to change most cars seem to have tyre seal instead now. Car manufactures have ditched them because of emissions, because the car is lighter without one its emissions will be less.............Yeah right

Just a thought if you have an underslung spare wheel carrier be sure the threaded rod that lowers the carrier down to access the spare is greased and working its an often overlooked piece of maintanence that can cause headaches, often on the coldest darkest nights of the year.:thumb:

 

I got rid of my BOB a couple years ago.

 

Do you miss him at all? Keep in contact or was it a clean break?

 

I don't have one yet, but have been meaning to put a couple together. One in home and a couple smaller sets in each vehicle.

 

This is my take on the evac bag, its not the BOB most people think of but I consider it practical: http://blackthornsurbansurvival.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/evacuation-bag.html

 

Ta Norse, my spare is a full sized one that is stored internally. As I had to take early retirement my annual milage is now very low so mpg is not a big deal and I can load the car up with useful and esential stuff, stored out of sight. A sort of mobile BOB.

 

Not many on that list really require a bob and most are highly unlikely.

I was also thinking along the lines of natural problems as well. If not I would chuck in pandemic and random break down in society/riots/food or petrol shortage.

 

I used to have a 72hr grab bag but it's more a one-two night wildcamp bag now or I'm using the ruck if working away from home which has become more common of late. Some stuff I'd want like my best head torch, extras for fire kit, spare food, clothes, battery's, big knife, maps etc is scattered around some what's at home probably should put them in a separate bag so if I do need to grab both and run I can sort my BOB when able.

I remember what happened to my aunt many years ago when in perth the river Tay broke its banks she was forcibly removed from her house by police before it got to deep and taken to a school where they housed those evacuated. This was before mobile phones we could not reach her by land line, my mum went to that school found her and brought her to ours. My aunt told us of the utter chaos at the school not enough beds, blankets, information and such, they had tea but my aunts a coffe drinker and was her biggest grip.

Things can happen even if only at a personal level. Even thou my mum and aunt are gamekeepers daughters tough as nails and do prep in there own way you can still get caught out. A grab bag would have made her overnight stay much easier

 

I used to have a 72hr grab bag but it's more a one-two night wildcamp bag now or I'm using the ruck if working away from home which has become more common of late. Some stuff I'd want like my best head torch, extras for fire kit, spare food, clothes, battery's, big knife, maps etc is scattered around some what's at home probably should put them in a separate bag so if I do need to grab both and run I can sort my BOB when able.

I remember what happened to my aunt many years ago when in perth the river Tay broke its banks she was forcibly removed from her house by police before it got to deep and taken to a school where they housed those evacuated. This was before mobile phones we could not reach her by land line, my mum went to that school found her and brought her to ours. My aunt told us of the utter chaos at the school not enough beds, blankets, information and such, they had tea but my aunts a coffe drinker and was her biggest grip.


Far better to have it and not need it than t'other way round. Appens every day in our house

Things can happen even if only at a personal level. Even thou my mum and aunt are gamekeepers daughters tough as nails and do prep in there own way you can still get caught out. A grab bag would have made her overnight stay much easier

Far better to need it and ave it than tother way round.

 

I just think better safe than sorry. How much hassle is it putting one together compared to needing one & not having it? It's easy to get complacent in the UK, we don't typically get the extreme weather other countries can, but that doesn't mean things won't crop up - a few years ago when we had snow I remember a colleague ending up in a strangers house, she was trying to get home but the roads were bad, and she couldn't walk as she was in heels and hadn't put a coat or anything in the car! As a woman on my own I really don't ever want to be in that position, the people in the house she went to looked after her but it could have ended really badly.

 

Another reason for a BOB - a WW2 bomb found in Bermondsey caused local evacuations including two schools:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/unexploded-world-war-ii-bomb-found-south-london-n328611


PS A video showing the bomb:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ05AosIBAI

 

Last night a load of people were evacuated when the high winds took the rooves off a street of houses. Yet another reason to have a Bob ready, in that situation it would have been a 5 minute warning I feel.

Here's the Mirror's reporting timeline for the high winds and damage etc around the country:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/uk-weather-recap-updates-70mph-5431435

The Express says we're on Tornado alert:

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/567185/Tornado-alert-as-Britain-hit-by-strong-winds

We do have more Tornadoes then the USA, but they rarely touch down or get very high in strength.

 

He grabbed his family and their passports and lost everything else. Good to see the community has rallied around them and they won't go short of food or clothing.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-new...dge-fire-i-grabbed-the-children-everything-we-own-is-gone-in-fire-31112976.html

 

So this year alone there has been:

1. Tornado bad weather warnings.
2. Evacuation in central London due to electrical fire which took 3 days to put out.
3. 800 wild grass fires in Wales for the month of April alone.

Did someone say there was no reason to pack a bag ready to go!

 

4. Earthquake 4.2 around Hastings.
5. Unexploded WW2 bomb in Wembley:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u.../uk/home-news/world-war-ii-bomb-discovered-by-builders-in-wembley-10267910.html

 

My recommendations would include a complete bug out bag ,
Thee list of things is endless, but as a fire drill ,grab every one and stand out side and think of the things are are going to be important for a much longer duration if the house is completely lost.
Shelter, no one can guarantee the weather being accommodating, nor help from neighbors.That is presumptuous.
sleeping bags , not just blankets . If you are evacuating to a school gym you want your own bedding.
Older folks may need a sleeping pad as well.
Clothing appropriate for severe weather and appropriate shoes/boots too hats glove/mittens.
Food , canned foods are already cooked and can be eaten cold . Beans ,stews and other canned food. Breakfast bars and the like can store a while and should be rotated regularly which is good, so your visiting the bags from time to time . as the kids grow their clothing should change in the bags as well. Jump suits are a good idea and have their names sewn in them in the event you get separated even providing other pertain ant ID so rescuers can properly put families together especially if for some reason one is unable to communicate them selves . Older person suffering Alzheimer's or toddler not able to communicate.
Pictures of family members are good to include. Group portrait. Copies of insurance and other financial records should be included.
Some means of protection for your family.
Water and filters
camera
a means of cooking and heating
Torch /flash light solar /hand crank, charger, both, several, rechargeable,incandescent and LED. Two way radios, and public broadcast receivers as well.
Food and water for the pets, and if possible carriers for them as well, so they can remain safe from other's pets, being thrown in the mix as well/w/ Family ID and Pictures as well.
Remember that if there are those helping you, but don't know you all, having every one in your group easily identified together, confusion is reduced to a minimum.
I prefer paper copies in laminated sheets so bad weather does not spoil them .
Lastly a map compass and a plan.
Where can dad/mom/kids find you if things happen while he's not there and communications are lost for some reason ?
Food for thought.

 

Another reason to carry an EDC with you, commuters were stuck on trains up to 5 hours when there were power problems in Londons network yesterday:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...acuated-after-power-outage-hits-southern-rail-and-gatwick-express-10215772.html

 

A couple of years ago I bought my mom and sister water bottles, small flash-lights and small (legal) knives for Christmas, to carry with them...for exactly this scenario since they both use the train system to get to work.

 

I never understood anyone that feels a go bag is not a good idea. What's wrong with having something you can grab and go for those "just in case" moments that happen all the time.

 

6. Water main burst. Commuters were in knee high water coming home, then the station was closed. There have been burst mains across London before that flood basement flats etc.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-33193774

 

7. Another burst water main, this time in Kennington in London.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpfubWjJ-oc


An old friend of mine some years ago, went on holiday and came back to a flooded basement flat. It had damage right up to the roof, thus she just had what she had taken on holiday with her left.

 

8. Bomb scare evacuation in Exeter, Devon.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jun/29/exeter-school-homes-evacuated-suspicious-packages


Oh and that's without this heat wave, which will no doubt cause lots of problems. The railway is already on a go slow on the trains because the rails may warp because of the extreme heat. Like they don't have trains in India - duh!

 

The trains in India are already going slow.

 

9. People had to evacuate their homes when a mentally ill patient went on a rampage brandishing a gun, and suspected explosives.

http://www.itv.com/news/london/2015-07-05/hundreds-evacuated-from-homes-after-serious-incident/