A bug-out-bag is a set of supplies you keep nearby so you have the tools to survive in an emergency. Their main job is to get you from where you are, back to home if you're caught out in the world -- or to get you from your home to a safe place if you need to evacuate.

Here's the thing about bug-out-bags. You probably won't need to grab yours and light out into a postapocalyptic wasteland with your family. But if yours is ready for that, you'll be golden if your car gets two flats at the same time, or if a weather emergency forces your neighborhood to evacuate.

Josh Burmeister is a former Navy SERE trainer, and has spent the latter half of his career teaching civilians and industrial clients about preparing for emergencies. In this extra-long conversation, he discusses why my bag is different from yours, and both of ours are different from his, then provides suggestions and priorities for building our perfect individual bags for each family member.