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You have five minutes to evacuate your home…what do you pack? It’s easy to panic and throw everything in sight into your military bag. But, unfortunately, this often leads to forgetting your survival essentials. With a little preparation and practice, you can be ready well before any wildfire or natural disaster. Keep reading to learn how to prepare for a wildfire evacuation and what to pack in an evacuation bag.

Before You Start

Fire agencies and departments recommend not waiting for evacuation orders – and so do we. If it’s possible, get out early to avoid the inevitable traffic jams that happen after evac notifications. Make sure your evacuation bag is packed in advance to ensure you're ready to go. 

Only have a 5-minute notice? Knowing what to pack in an emergency evacuation bag helps prevent overpacking while ensuring you’ve packed your necessary military survival gear.

5-Minute Evacuation List

First Aid & Sanitation Supplies

Whether it’s your storm shelter supplies, winter emergency

Do you know how to build a secure shelter? Could you light a fire or find a safe water source in the wilderness? Whether you regularly venture into the outdoors for remote camping trips or you’re simply an avid adventurer, it’s essential to equip yourself with basic wilderness survival skills. Besides ensuring your safety and enjoyment, these skills prepare you for any challenge that comes your way. Get ready for outdoor excursions, emergency situations, and every situation in between with these survival tips. 

1. Prioritize Finding or Building a Shelter

Building a shelter is a crucial wilderness survival skill for anyone who finds themselves in an emergency situation. The wilderness often exposes you to hypothermic conditions, making it difficult to maintain body temperature. This makes shelter your number one priority for survival. Your makeshift shelter will provide protection from wind, rain, and other tough weather conditions. It also creates a barrier from predators!

• Location Matters

Storms can be unpredictable, making it crucial to prepare for any scenario you could encounter. We all know that having a storm shelter is a great first step to ensure safety. But preparedness isn’t just about having a storm shelter – it’s about having a well-stocked storm shelter. Storm shelter supplies keep you safe and secure, even when outdoor conditions are less than ideal. Stock up on these essentials to be ready for anything.

First Aid Supplies

From camping equipment to emergency bags, a first aid kit is always critical. They provide the necessary supplies to treat minor injuries during the storm. You can store these items in your storm shelter or keep them in your military bag for quick, on-the-go access. Your emergency first aid kit should include basic items like:

• Bandages
• Pain relievers
• Antibiotic ointment
• Antiseptic wipes
• Gauze and wraps
• Gloves
• Tweezers
• Any prescriptions you or your family needs

Food & Water

Non-perishable food and water are must-have storm shelter supplies,

Military boots are specifically designed to offer the wearer optimal performance and protection in tough situations. That means providing unbeatable durability, protection, and comfort you can count on, whether you’re on a tactical operation or hiking through challenging terrain. But there’s one caveat to gaining this superior protection: they must be the right military boots. A poor fit or the wrong design for your needs can compromise comfort, or even worse, your performance. What are the best military boots for you? Use our guide to learn how military boots should fit and how to find your perfect pair.

Boot Material

The choice of material will make a huge impact on the overall fit and durability of your military-style boots. You should focus on their purpose – hiking, duty, outdoor work, etc. – to ensure they’ll withstand your environment and climate conditions. Keep in mind that not all materials are made for all-weather terrain. So, what are the best military boot materials?

Leather

Between frigid temperatures, severe winds, and freezing rain and snow, venturing into cold weather is not without risks. It can leave you vulnerable to injuries or even hypothermia if you’re not properly prepared. That’s why you must arm yourself with the right survival gear and knowledge. Don’t know where to get started? Follow these cold weather survival tips to survive – and thrive – in the harsh elements.

Wear the Right Clothing

Our number one tip for how to survive cold weather: wear loose-fitting clothing to insulate your body heat. Clothing that’s too restricts blood flow, making you feel colder. Looser clothing, however, keeps you warm by creating a layer that minimizes heat loss. But not just any loose clothing will work. Extreme cold weather clothing is your first layer of protection against freezing temperatures. They’re constructed using insulating fabrics like wool and fleece and often come with moisture-wicking capabilities to maintain your body heat.

Layer, Layer, Layer!

It’s always a good idea to build a survival kit. But it’s especially so during winter. Rough storms can hit at any time, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds, and snow that leave you without power or snowed in for extended periods. Kits are the best way to deal with the unexpected. Don’t get caught off guard when a storm strikes. Learn how to make an emergency kit for your home with a few essentials.

1. First Aid Kit

From basic car emergency kits to winter emergency kits for homes, first aid is always a necessity. Rapid & emergency first aid kits allow you to provide care for minor injuries to prevent them from worsening. They’re especially helpful for times when roads are slick, or you cannot immediately reach professional assistance. You can buy a ready-to-use kit or make your own using supplies like:

• Bandages
• Tweezers
• Iodine/antiseptic wipes
• Gauze
• Shears
• Tape/adhesive
• Pain relievers
• Latex gloves

2. Light Source

Power outages are a common occurrence during seasonal storms. Make sure

Nothing beats spending time in the great outdoors – fresh air, detaching from the bustle of daily life, reconnecting with nature. But you shouldn’t just grab your pack and go. You never know what you might face, from rough weather conditions to lack of a water source. Here’s how to prepare for a camping trip to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, every time.

1. Check the Weather Conditions

Always check the weather forecast for your site. This will help guide your packing. Is cool, rainy weather on the horizon? Pack your bag with essentials like thermal clothes and poncho liners. Facing warmer conditions? Bring lightweight military shirts with features like moisture-wicking capabilities to stay comfortable. 

More than for packing purposes, checking the weather conditions is critical for camping safety. If the weather looks too bad, consider changing your camping plans – especially if you’re trekking somewhere remote.

2. Research the Area

This is one of the most crucial tips for camping

From extended power outages to rough wilderness conditions, unexpected things happen. Do you know what you would do? Or how to start a fire? While you may have some decent survival knowledge, few things provide peace of mind like a survival kit. It’s an indispensable tool, packed and ready to use in a variety of environments and situations. Be prepared for anything and learn how to build your own military survival kit with our simple tips.

1. Start with a Lightweight Bag

You’re going to need a spacious bag to fit your essentials before you even create an emergency kit. Be sure to opt for a tough yet lightweight military bag that you can comfortably carry. Tactical backpacks and MOLLE backpacks are great options because they’re built with utilitarian features like added compartments and PALS webbing for modularity.

2. Make Sure Food and Water are Covered

You can’t build a survival kit without including the basics. Drinking untreated water is never ideal. There’s a serious risk of waterborne

Blending into your environment is critical when you’re hunting or facing a military tactical situation. Enter camouflage patterns. They keep soldiers and outdoor enthusiasts disguised when—and where—it matters most. But certain situations require something more unconventional: ghillie suits. What is a ghillie suit, exactly? Let’s explore the history of ghillie suits!

About Ghillie Suits

Ghillie suits are military clothing designed to help camouflage wearers in their environment. Military ghillie suits are usually made of net or cloth garment, then covered in loose burlap straps, cloth, or synthetic thread to imitate the foliage. The ghillie suit’s design makes it virtually impossible to detect a person in their environment – even at close range.

Like camo patterns, you can find ghillie suits that suit an array of surroundings, including desert and snow ghillie suits.

Ghillie Suit History

Now that you know what a ghillie suit is, you’re probably wondering where they came from. They actually

U.S. Army soldiers have worn military berets for nearly a century. Several special operations units started wearing berets during World War II. By the 1960s and 1970s, the U.S. Department of the Army authorized commanders to allow soldiers to wear different-colored berets in an attempt to boost morale in the aftermath of the Vietnam War.

If you served in the U.S. Army, you likely understand the Army beret colors and meanings. However, so many Army beret colors exist now that it’s difficult to keep up with them all. It has left some Americans asking questions like, “What is a red beret in the Army?” and “What is a black beret?”

Learn more about the Army beret colors and their meanings below.

Black

The black beret was the first beret worn by the U.S. Army. Long before the Army began allowing soldiers to wear berets in an official capacity, the military branch’s armored and cavalry forces wore them. But it was Army Rangers who put black berets on the map by donning them in the 1970s with authorization.