Preface

I've been exploring low cost ways to increase resilience in the AI safety community as part of my work on Alignment Continuity; grab bags are one such intervention.
Since the Russia-Ukraine war kicked off, I've had a few EAs ask me about this kind of thing and so I decided that instead of just making a bag I'd make a guide too.

Thanks to everyone that helped and offered feedback and suggestions.

Overview

Grab bags are a tool for increasing your resilience in emergencies.

Not to be confused with 'bug out bags' - they are not intended to be your sole resource for several days/weeks spent living in the woods - it helps to think of a grab bag as an emergency toolkit.

A grab bag is defined as much by where it is as by what's inside it - it's something you have with you, or nearby, most of the time; it's something you can grab with only a moment's notice.^[1]

For example, if there's a fire you should be able to reach your bag without delaying your exit from the building.

A few good places to keep a grab bag:

Your car
Your home office
By your front door

Contents and Packing

The contents are organized into several bags^[2] - a first aid kit, [yourstuffhere], hygiene kit, utility kit, food and water, and spare clothes (also yours).
The bags are packed in a specific order so everything is easily accessible and the first aid kit is the first thing you see when you open the bag.

On the outside of the bag I've added a small LED dongle for ease of access in dark environments and a USB flash drive.

Your Bag

The Bag

A rucksack or backpack is a good option, but I've chosen to build around a drybag - highly waterproof, rugged and much cheaper than a waterproof backpack.

All drybags are more-or-less created equal - this one comes with reflective patches, plenty of attachment points, and a shoulder strap.

Size

20 Litres is the sweet spot for a one person bag, if you opt for a 10L bag you're going to have to make difficult sacrifices with the contents.
If you find yourself needing 30-40L, for example if making a grab bag for 2+ people, then it might be wiser to use a backpack.

Your Bag

An off the shelf grab bag isn't especially effective. Everyone's needs and situation are different and so the contents of every bag should be tailored to the owner.
Below are some suggestions t...

Prepping