An evacuation backpack. A bug-out bag. A survival kit.
There is a lot of talk these days about how to pack in case you suddenly have to leave. But I can’t imagine escaping on foot when I have a car full of survival gear ready to go. What is an evacuation box?
What should you pack to survive without electricity or running water, far from civilization?
What should you keep in your car so you don’t have to think about it when time matters?
Plus a bonus: a recording of my live appearance on TVP2’s “Pytanie na Śniadanie.”
Evacuation alert – what then?
Imagine a situation where you receive information that you must evacuate immediately.
ATMs are out of cash. There is no mobile signal. The internet is down. Gas stations are so overwhelmed that you’re not even sure you’ll get fuel once you reach the pump. People become nervous and aggressive. Chaos spreads. In stores, people snatch the last products from each other’s hands — and instead of actually evacuating, you’re trying to fight for supplies, wondering what to take from home and which way west was, because Google Maps isn’t working.
Yes, it sounds like a disaster movie.
But since the government has officially recommended packing an evacuation backpack, it’s no longer just fiction. It’s worth thinking about building a kit that will allow you to survive in almost any conditions when “something” happens.
As a (l)overlander, I packed a box.
Why? Because even if I never need it for a real emergency, it makes me ready for any spontaneous off-grid trip — without last-minute shopping.
Evacuation Box – My Essential Gear
Let’s go back to that scenario. When you imagine it, you probably already see some of the things you would need. I’ve divided them into categories for clarity — feel free to copy this list and add your own items:
1. Permanently in the car
- A full tank of fuel + spare fuel in a small jerry can (so you can go farther and faster)
- Sleeping bag and pillow (you’ll almost certainly have to spend at least one night somewhere — maybe more)
- Self-inflating thermal mat, foam pad or an insulating sheet (in case you have to sleep outdoors or spend a long time in the cold)
- A first-aid kit that you’ve checked recently and know is well stocked with fresh dressings and any medication you take regularly
- Pen, pencil and paper
- Lighter (even if you don’t smoke, I guarantee you’ll want one)
- A current road map of Poland and a European road atlas (when there’s no signal, no internet and GPS is failing, you’ll still be able to estimate distance, fuel needs and choose your direction)
- Toiletry kit with basic items like a toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo, sunscreen, shower gel, comb, etc.
2. Narzędzia
If you find yourself far from civilization, the ability to start a fire will come in handy more than once — to keep warm, but also to prepare hot food and drinks.
- Multitool (several tools in one — useful for small repairs or even building a simple shelter)
- Sharp knife (for food preparation as well as small tasks)
- Zip ties (let the first one throw a stone who has never used one at the least expected moment)
- Hatchet, saw (for wood)
- Entrenching tool or folding shovel
- Fire starter (it will never let you down)
3. Communication & Safety
When there is no mobile signal, no GPS and no network coverage, you are truly in the wild — so it’s important to be able to communicate and take care of your own safety.
- Battery-powered or USB-charged walkie-talkies (you can charge them while driving or from a power station)
- Headlamp
- USB-charged camping lamp
- Compass (just make sure you know how to use it)
- Pepper spray (just in case — it’s easier to sleep when you know it’s there)
4. Power & Charging
I’ve already written about power sources in another article, so here I’m listing the ones I would definitely take with me. Of course, they won’t all fit inside the evacuation box itself, but they’re easy to pack into the car.
- Large foldable solar panels — you can lay them flat in the trunk, and in good conditions they can recharge a depleted car battery and power up your power station
- Small high-efficiency solar panel — if you don’t need to charge many devices, a compact travel panel you can attach to a backpack will be enough to charge your phone or a power bank
- Power station — lets you charge several devices at once: phones, power banks, flashlights and more; it can be recharged while driving (via the cigarette lighter socket) or with large solar panels when the weather allows
- A set of charging cables with connectors for all the devices you plan to power
5. Hygiene
No access to running water?
These are the same products I carry even on my motorcycle expeditions. They also work perfectly when you’re spending a longer time far from any chance of taking a shower — or even washing your hands.
- Waterless hand gel
- Wet wipes (I keep a запас of these in my car at all times)
- No-rinse “dry” shower — actually a cleansing foam that doesn’t need rinsing (surprisingly refreshing)
- Small gravity-fed camping shower — you can fill it with water from a river or a lake
6. First Aid Upgrades
You probably know that a standard car first-aid kit doesn’t include anything for burns — or anything that can really stop severe bleeding.
After my recent first-aid training, including emergency care for injured motorcyclists, I now always carry a tourniquetand burn gel (thanks, Marta!). If you decide to add unfamiliar medical items to your kit, make sure you know how to use them — even watching a few instructional videos can make a difference. In a real emergency, there won’t be time to learn.
- Painkillers, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrheal, anti-allergy medication, antibiotics
- A supply of any medication you take regularly
- Tourniquet
- Burn gel
- Potassium iodide (I’ve been carrying it recently — an important substance in case of radiation exposure)
- First-aid kit for dogs, with supplies tailored to pets, including anti-diarrheal meds and flexible bandages (available, for example, in hunting or outdoor stores)
7. Thermal Comfort
This may not be news to you, but in Poland alone around 600 people die every year from hypothermia. We often don’t realize how dangerously cold our bodies become — especially when we’re under stress. Warm clothing and a sleeping bag, which I mentioned earlier, are essential, but your evacuation box should also include the items below — the kind you’ll be grateful for when the cold sets in.
- Thermal underwear (leggings and a long-sleeve top)
- Hat and gloves
- Inflatable mat or a piece of insulating material
- Compact folding chair (especially useful if you have to stay in one place for a longer time — it insulates you from the ground)
- Thermos for hot tea
8. Food
Let’s remember that we’re talking about a situation where there’s no option to say “it’s fine, I’ll just grab a hot dog at the gas station and see what happens.” In an emergency, we most likely won’t be able to get food on the go. That’s why your evacuation box should contain not only emergency rations, but also the equipment needed to prepare and eat them. The items below can keep you going for several days — even up to a few weeks, depending on how much food and water you have.
- Drinking water
- Canned food (so-called “artisan” or long-life preserves)
- Protein bars, dried meat (beef jerky), and other ready-to-eat meals
- Uncooked rice, grains, pasta (easy to cook and great for boosting the calories of canned meals)
- Pet food for your dog or cat (please don’t forget them!)
- Small gas burner
- Gas cartridge
- Mini survival stove that can burn almost anything (sticks, pinecones, charcoal, etc.)
- Cutlery
- Cup, pot, plate
- Water container + water filter (so you can draw water from natural sources or supply points)
- Fire starter and/or lighter (a fire starter will never surprise you by running out of fuel)
What else would you pack in case of an evacuation?
Only you truly know what matters most to you. I would grab my dogs first — and all important documents, both in paper form and digitally on a USB drive. I’d also quickly take some warm clothes and waterproof boots. Everything else is deeply personal. But it’s worth taking a moment to think about it now — so you’re ready when it counts.
Let’s not be caught off guard — and let’s hope we never actually have to use things like an evacuation box or a bug-out bag.
Unless, of course, it’s for practice… or a spontaneous escape out of town.
Evacuation Box Presentation on live TV (Pytanie na Śniadanie show)
If you’d like to see some of this gear live, I invite you to watch my appearance on the morning show Pytanie na Śniadanieon TVP2.