For those of you who have a family, what do you do to prepare ‘Bug out bag/s’ for them?

Now I’ve seen plenty of personal BOB builds on this sight but what do you do if you need to provide for a small family of 4?

Do you build 4 BOBs? – This could be costly, hard to maintain and hard to manage if you were to tote them in and out of the car.
Build a larger BOB?

What would you take or eliminate to keep from getting over burdened. One tent? Two? Tarps?

What is a bare minimum BOB that could provide for a small family if the kids were too small to manage helping out, or even demanded extra attention themselves.

I currently have 2 Bug-Out-Boxes (totes, actually) that I keep ready to go. The first one has a 3-day supply of food, a coffee-can stove, lighters, $500 in small bills and change, candles, an altoids emergency kit, an emergency hand-crank radio/cell-phone charger, a magnetic-induction flashlight, kitchen shears with built-in bottle opener and screwdriver, space blanket, juice boxes, and some small games. The second one has more food, some clothes, more candles... the second box is grabbed "if there's time". I really need to transfer these items into backpacks, because at the moment they are only practical if we are evacuating by vehicle. I just ordered a backpack for our first-aid items (I actually bought a backpack intended for scrapbookers, it has tons of pockets and elastic loops - perfect for first-aid supplies) which will be kept with our BOBs.

Honestly, I don't know WHAT we would do if we had to evacuate without a vehicle... we'd be loaded down like Bedouins. At ages 4 and 7, the kids wouldn't be a lot of help, although they could carry their clothes and blankets in their backpacks. I hope we never need to test my preparedness skills.

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Waste not, want not, use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without.

I recommend that every member of the family have a BOB. What is in it depends on what they can carry. As a child gets older and matures, then items get added that would help them survive if they were separated from the rest of us.

We never know what is going to happen and the family may have to meet at a Rally point to survive. That is why everyone needs their own BOB or they may not have a chance to make it.

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Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

NRA Certified Instructor for Basic Handgun and Personal protection in the Home.
V.F.W. Life Member
NRA Member
U.S. Army Veteran

I am kind of new to preping, I've always been one at heart, but just started getting supplies a few months ago. I have a first aid kit. The place I bought it from called it a bug out bag (cheaperthandirt.com) but with a shoulder strap it works great for first aid. I do plan on getting back packs for myself, the wife and my 7 year old daughter (all most 8). I also have two 2 quart canteens with carring pouches and shoulder straps, I will get a third for my daughter soon. All that said, I think a back pack for each person is a good idea.