I consider myself pretty well prepared but I did learn something from our recent fire evacuation.
1) I had my full-size frame backpack and other gear at the house set for survival (food, water, first aid - including amputation kit, suture kits and much more). Two small white gas pack stoves, tent, emergency crank radio with USB output to charge cell phones etc - the list is long and contained in one bin but mostly all in my backpack.
2) During the standby evacuation I changed it all around. No longer "survivalist" mode more of a property mode. Our portable fire safe with our documents (insurances, vehicle titles, safe deposit key, birth certificates etc) along with clothes and a few other personal belongings like our 400 year old Quan Yin statue!!!
3) We had a bug-out plan set. Liz in her Volvo with the critters, me in my truck with stuff and in case we were separated a meeting place across town. During the drive out we were directed onto a road that eventually was on fire and we were stuck in traffic - it was hairy. To make matters worse my truck was vapor locking due to the 100+ degree heat. I've been chasing this issue for a while but it's really rare when it happens, conditions need to be just right. If I can keep it going it's fine but once I stop it stalled. Of course it would start again but cars were speeding in front of me and stopping. I will say that there was panic all around me when the fricking road was on fire and we're stuck in it.
I could not reach Liz somewhere ahead - because cell phone coverage was down. I knew she was worried and would pull out of the traffic and wait for me - once she saw me coming she would get back in traffic so I could not tell her keep going don't stop! Worse case I had the DT400 Yamaha in the back and I'd bug out on that and leave the truck...
One thing I did not have in my backpack was my portable CB radios and my Scanner, I have a big Cobra CB in my truck but no way to contact Liz on it. This has been rectified...
