When we think of survival scenarios we don’t often think of packing important documents: Drivers License, Handgun Carry Permit, Passport etc. However, I think not packing them is a bad idea, and here’s why you should pack a survival flash drive in your Bug Out Bag.
SKIP AHEAD
Consider Your Odds
First, the chances of you finding yourself in a regional survival situation, such as Katrina or Haiti, are much greater than an end of the world scenario.
So let’s assume you were in an area-wide situation, had to bug out, and all of your stuff that’s not on your back got destroyed.
Fear the Bureaucrats
So you made it out, but with all your stuff gone you might not have any of your important documents with you. While that doesn’t really seem important compared to your life, the years worth of red tape and bureaucratic paperwork that we call a government doesn’t care. In fact, at that point you are a non-person.
How do they know you are who you say you are? You have no proof of identification and a terrorist attack just destroyed your city. How do we know you aren’t the terrorist? (After all you had an escape plan prepared)
While this may sound ridiculous, given the nature of our government these days it’s really not that far fetched.
Survival Flash Drive
To prepare for a localized survival scenario in which you will eventually have to re-enter regular society make it much easier on yourself and back-up your most important documents ahead of time.
All you have to do is buy a No products found., (or a waterproof one) scan all of your important documents, and store them on your flash drive in your Bug Out Bag. Bug Out and you’ve brought your all important “life on paper” with you. You can also keep this USB in a element proof bag like a Loksak Bag.
*Don’t go buy a scanner if you don’t have one, just take the stuff to Kinkos or Office Max and have them scan it all for you.
**Warning: Modern Copy Machine and Scanners have an internal Hard Drive that keep a digital copy of everything they scan. All it takes is one malicious worker at the store to steal your identity. If at all possible find a private copy machine and scanner. (Thanks Josh)
What to put on your Flash Drive
- Driver’s License
- Handgun Carry Permit
- Passport
- Bank Account Documents
- Birth Certificate
- Social Security Card
- Insurance Information
- Marriage Certificate
- All of the above for all Children
- Important Family Pictures
- Medical information
- Emergency contact information of friends and family
- Survival and self-reliant information (guides)
Be extremely careful keeping up with your Survival Flash drive, back in the regular world that is your identity. Not only should you be careful keeping up with the flash drive, but you should also be careful where you keep it. The drive is going to have a lot of important, personal information on it so it is not something you want to leave laying anywhere.
Amazon has a million different ones. Here is a heavy duty waterproof one. or a simple one by HP
What Else?
I am looking for more ideas, What else would you put on your survival flash drive?
