Scenario: You are a downtown office worker in a large city that could be the target of a major terrorist attack. You work in a "secure", guarded, office building and commute via mass transit. Your employer does not allow weapons on the premises. Any survival equipment must be packed down small and be as unobtrusive as possible because you don't want to be seen as a kook.

What's in your desk?
What's in your briefcase?
What's in your neck wallet?

I'm interested in a survival kit, but I don't think that fish hooks and signal mirrors are warranted in Manhattan or D.C.

In my murse (Man Purse) a Maxpedition Jumbo Versipak, I have a fishing kit (65lb test Spyder Wire),
compass, flashlight, whistle, fire steel, Swiss Army knife, LeatherMan multi tool, titanium fork and spoon,
titanium SnoPeak solo cook kit, 1 liter Nalgene bottle, water purification tablets, several OB brand
tampoons, a small first-aid kit, a small spool of snare wire, a can of mace, and a small chainwhip
(looks like a chain for locking up a bicycle)

I'm thinking --

* Comfortable running shoes
* Athletic socks
* gas mask
* 2 bottles of water
* whistle
* duct tape
* flashlight
* rain gear and gloves
* non-weapon multitool type thing

I keep a nice pack in my car. If I'm stuck in my office building and can't get to my car, I've got some resources but not everything I'd like. To play along with this scenario, in my briefcase, I've got the following:

leatherman wave (small sharpening stone)
some snack foods
small amount of meds (excederin, tylenol, antacid, etc)
hand sanitizer (fire accelerant if needed)
travel pack of tissues (tinder)
purification tablets
emergency poncho

Enough to get by on a very limited basis, but not enough to sustain myself for more than 24-48 hours.

I've been thinking a lot about this since I went back to work in a downtown area.
My current set up is a belly bag with:
.357 Snubby revolver
2 Speed strips
2 Speed loaders
23 loose JHP rounds
4" folding knife
2 dark cvolored bandanas
"Ziplock" first aid kit for small injuries.

All year I make it a point to wear canvas type khaki pants in earth tones.
Comfortable leather shoes.
Summer wear is a polo shirt with a denim jacket in earth tones that match the pants.
Winter adds a leather coat and wool sweater.
I keep a neutral earth tone baseball cap in the car.

My short term plan is to add a car kit with
mil-spec poncho with liner
ankle-high steel toe boots
2x pair cotton calf-hight tube socks
2x pair wool calf-high socks
leather work gloves
boonie hat
Bigger First Aid kit
Ground cloth/tarp
100' para cord in various lengths.
2x 1 liter water bottles
Fire kit
Compass
Water filter

Your ideas are right, but I recommend having some water and food in your car and your briefcase.

I do not recommend steel toe boots for survival. When it is cold, the steel in the boot can promote frostbite. When it is hot and sunny the steel can heat up and promote blisters. I would use a quality pair of hunting or hiking boots and recommend a couple pair of extra socks. Clean socks will keep your feet warmer in the winter and sweaty socks can cause foot problems when it is warm.

I travel a lot for work and normally keep my BOB in the van. I also normally have a pistol with me as well. MY BOB is a large Surplus rucksack that does have a little extra room for me to scrounge if I need to. In my Bob I have food for 3 days, 1 1/2 gallons of water, water filtration and purification. Canteen cups for cooking and boiling water and utensils. A full change of clothes sealed to be waterproof. 3 extra pair of socks. 1 pair of shoes. Compass, maps and GPS. 2 Flashlights. 2 Knives. 3 different means to start fires. 50 rounds of ammo for each pistol I own. Emergency tent. 2 emergency blankets. 500' paracord. 2 sets of batteries for each flashlight/electronic device. Solar battery charger with 1 set of batteries for each flashlight/electronic device. There are also items for making snares, fishing and gathering food.

In my van I usually travel with a small cooler with water and other drinks/food that i can supplement my BOB with. I also have items and supplies in my van that would be useful as well and could take with me if I needed to leave the van.

In this case my BOB is set up more for getting me home to my family if something happens. I set it up differently as the seasons change so I can have the right weight of clothing and other necessities to match the season and avoid carrying gear that I do not need.

dclaarjr: "I do not recommend steel toe boots for survival."

Couldn't agree more. I obvioulsy failed to be clear on the design strategy of my kit.

I live 26 miles from my primary residence where I have a generous supply of stuff.
My kit is designed to be as small as possible so that I can cross 26 miles of very ugly urban jungle on foot.

The steel toe boots are part of the weapon package and the ones least likely to be confiscated by any benevolent protectors of the ruling class I might encounter in my journey.

My primary kit is intended to be VERY concelable, to avoid detection by authorities, and to make me look like poor pickings for anyone out looting. A BOB on my back would attract a lot of attention, so in a foot exodus, I would have to travel only at night to avoid attention.

Water bottles ride along in my car all of the time, so I don't consider them special preps.
Food is not a real consideration for the 12-72 hours I figure it will take me to cross 26 miles.

My post was trying to focus on specific gear I tote around that will allow me to get home. The "briefcase" scenario as presented in the initial post asked for minimal kit that would not alert the boss.

For those in the various "People's Republiks of Amerika" like NY, and CA, I would suggest obtaining a percussion revolver. You can buy one cash and carry in free States. They are still effective after 170 years, and a lot better than nothing in a pinch.
Dave Tutt was killed at a distance of 75 yards in Spingfield Mo. by William Butler Hickock who was using a .36 cal Colt '51 Navy revolver.

I am a network engineer nad have several small tool kits, Water and food at my desk. My truck is 30 ft outside door with BOB in it.

I don't have an office. I work out of my truck.

Man, I bet Uncle Joe gets to drive a real truck and not some sissified cross-over like us cubicle slave. In a truck you can carry everything.

Here is the stuff I've managed to keep in my desk drawer:
Flashlight
Portable Radio
Hand sanitizer
hand lotion
chapstick
Ibuprofen
Visine eye drops
multi-antibiotic ointment
band aids
sanitary wipes
paper towels

I figure I can sweep this stuff into my laptop bag in a jiffy and go.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2555439/an_office_workers_guide_to_making_a.html?cat=3

Work already has bottled water, first aid, defibrillators, and vending machine food.