Anywhere between 30 to 38 percent of your life is spent while at work. This means that there is a strong possibility that disaster will strike while you're at the office. Here are several things you can do to make sure you can make your way to safety if disaster strikes while you're at work. (h/t to ModernSurvivalBlog.com)
Be prepared, even in the office
The one thing that you can do that will significantly increase your chances of making it out of your office alive and with a plan is to have a survival kit in your vehicle. If you walk or take public transportation going to work, consider bringing a larger bag that can hold all of the items you need.
The specific survival kit you require during this situation is known as a get home bag. This should have enough food and supplies to last you for a few hours, a day or more, depending on how far your work is from your home.
What makes the get home bag different from a bug-out bag is the weight. The focus of the get home bag is to provide you with supplies you need to survive while you're making your way to your house. (Related: You must act fast when SHTF: What to do in the first hour.)
At a minimum, your get home bag must have the following items:
- Emergency food
- Water or a water filter
- A clean and dry set of clothes
- Spare cash
- Survival knife
- First aid kit
If making your way home during a disaster is going to last well into the evening, pack more food and water, and bring a firestarter for warmth. If you believe the journey will be dangerous due to the presence of animals or other people, pack a self-defense item of your choice – such as a small firearm like a pistol or revolver. If the weather may hinder your speed, pack a poncho. Consider your personal situation and add items to your get-home bag accordingly.
Make your way home
The best way to get home during a disaster is to get in your vehicle and drive home. However, that probably won't be as simple as it sounds. You can get mired in traffic and, depending on the SHTF scenario, you might find yourself in harm's way.
Learn the major thoroughfares of your home as well as the "back roads" that you can take in case those highways get clogged up.
If taking a car is not feasible, consider investing in a bicycle. If you drive a large car, you can probably keep a mounting bike in the back. Alternatively, you can put a small folding bike in the trunk.
Making your way home on a bike during a disaster can be beneficial. Bikes can move through most rough or uneven terrain and it can weave in and out of traffic.
If neither bicycles nor cars are viable methods of transportation, your only option will be to walk home. If you live in an urban area where your home is less than five miles from your office, walking should not be a problem. However, if your home is far away, be prepared for a long trek that might even last overnight. Make sure to pack a pair of hiking shoes for the journey.
Remember that your primary objective is to make your way home as quickly as possible. From you can decide whether you want to bug-in and wait for things to settle down or to bug-out to a safer location. With these tips, that task should be more manageable.
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