When it comes to determining if you should bug out or not, you have to figure out a few things first.
The most important thing is to figure out what exactly would make your home not safe anymore.
You should also consider how far away your bug-out location is from your home and if there are any obstacles in between the two locations.
Also, what kind of emergency situation are you preparing for? Are you preparing for more than one?
What Makes Our Homes Unsafe In A Survival Situation or SHTF
It’s true, windows are an easy way of getting into a home. So do you have the ability to board up your windows in case of a hurricane or civil unrest? These are just two ways to figure out if you need to bug out.
Windows And Doors
If you live in a home where the doors are not secure, then that would be another reason why it might be smart for you to consider leaving town. Doors are easy targets for people who want to get into your home. You should always make sure that your doors are locked at all times, even when you are at home. But more than them just being locked, they have to be strong enough doors to not be easily kicked in. Having strong doors is a simple but good investment for your home’s security.
Windows can also be an entry point for intruders, so do not leave them open unless necessary. If possible, install bars on any windows that overlook the front lawn or street so that no one can climb through them. You could buy hurricane shutters if you don’t want to have bars on your windows. It is easy for an intruder to break into your house while you’re sleeping at night or away from home. This can easily happen in a survival situation or in general during the daytime hours when no one is around who could stop them. It really is one of the easiest ways for an unwanted guest, to get inside without permission first.
One other simple aspect when determining if your home will be a good idea to stay put in, comes down to safety. If you live in a bad area then chances are, things will only get worse when SHTF. So if you can, have a home in a community that is relatively safe.
A Fall Back Spot In Your Home
So, you’re probably thinking: “What the heck is a fallback spot?”
It’s something you have in your home that you can fall back on in an emergency, or when things go wrong. I would have one room or place in the house that is designated where everyone comes together. This room should have supplies and the needed items to survive a bad situation.
It’s not just one thing, it’s multiple things, and I’ll explain why.
First of all, what happens if your home is invaded? If there’s no way out and you don’t want to die like a rat trapped in a cage, then what are you going to do? The answer is simple: You need a firearm. Do you have one? And if so, how many rounds do you have? Do all the members of your family know how to shoot? If not, teach them! It can make a bad situation into a safer one.
Second of all: What happens if someone gets separated from their family members during an emergency situation? Things do not end well. This is why they should go to a designated place in the house where everyone will come together, outside of the house. Before, bugging out.
And lastly: What happens if people aren’t prepared for a bug-out scenario?
The Storm Is Heading Your Way
No matter what kind of storm you’re facing, the same question always pops up: should I stay or should I go?
If the storm is heading your way either an actual storm, civil unrest and the like you have to way the risk. If you have a secure enough home to ride out what will come, then stay. You don’t want to run away from your home and risk losing everything that matters most to you.
Do you have what your family will need for an extended period of time? If you doubt the security of your home/family to withstand what is coming then you should get out.
I would get out before you no longer have the chance. Once evacuation times are gone and you can not get out anymore, you no longer have the option to get to safety.
If I was in this position I would have my bug-out bag ready to go or gather the supplies at my home together. They would last me for at least 3 days. Possibly more depending on how long it takes for order to be restored or how bad it gets.
Should You Bug Out In A Densely Populated Area?
If you’re living in a densely populated area, then there are two truths to consider before you bug out: one, your chances of being around more dangerous people are higher; and two, your chances of running into the wrong people or being in unfamiliar surroundings are also higher. Urban areas pose a great risk because of all the vulnerabilities that are present around so many other people. The windows, buildings, houses, and a host of things could prevent you from seeing a possible threat. Urban areas are a challenging environment for emergency survival.
The minute you go outside, your risk is greater than it would be if you stayed inside. That’s not to say if you have prepared and can stay inside for a few weeks then it might not be a better option to stay inside.
It will depend on what the emergency is and if you have enough supplies to wait it out. It is not a bad idea to stay inside in a densely populated area. It will come down to whether or not you’re prepared with the supplies and mindset necessary for surviving in that situation.
Water Purification
You should have enough stored to get you to your location but also an ability to purify water. There are many devices that can make undrinkable water, drinkable. The sawyer squeeze is one of many water purification devices you can buy.
If You Bug Out In A City
If you bug out in a city, you’re going to be surrounded by lots of people.
And not just any people, people who are trying to get out of the city.
The Risks Are High
In a city, you are not going to be the only person who wants to Bug-Out. There will likely be hundreds of thousands or millions of people trying to do the same thing.
This means more people and hysteria. The chances of getting injured or attacked go up. There will most likely be a breakdown in transportation. Not, to say transportation will not be working. It just will be more congested and their will be extreme traffic. These things can leave you vulnerable and exposed.
Cities
If you live in an apartment building or high-rise building, your chances of getting out safely are less likely. If you have planned for bugging out ahead of time, then your chances are far greater. It all comes down to having emergency preparedness in mind.
The vast majority of people will not be ready. If you are in an apartment and it will come down to you a few things. If you have the knowledge to get out meaning a good plan. The second is having the supplies you will need to get out. The last and most important is do you have the mental fortitude, to handle if things do not go according to plan? (which is why you should always have a plan b).
Breakdown In Social Order
A reality that could easily occur is the breakdown in society and cause civil unrest. You have to think about what would you do if this happened where you lived. Do you have the ability to defend your home and most importantly your family?
If you do not then, that’s a good reason to bug out.
Even if you have the firepower to protect yourself when there are hundreds if not thousands of people. Your safety is still at great risk, as keeping track of so many people is extremely hard let alone impossible.
When a crisis occurs, it would be very difficult for those who are mentally ill or disabled from getting help from others around them. Elderly family members indeed require different things which you have to take into consideration. You don’t want to find yourself needing to bug out, and not being able to evacuate with older family members.
The best that we can all do is put our best food forward when it comes to preparing ourselves. There are many things outside of our control such as civil unrest. So have a plan and the items as well as knowledge to get to safety.
Food Shortages
In most SHTF or survival situations, food plays a major role in survival. Stores will not be open and the ones that are will be out of food. Things can become dangerous when emergencies occur and people are fighting over food.
The best way to avoid this is to already have food stored up ahead of time.
Not Storing Enough Food Is Another Reason To Bug Out
If you want to prepare for an emergency situation where you need to store food for a long period of time then consider buying dehydrated foods. This is because they last longer than canned foods. If you do decide to buy canned foods there are ways to have them last longer. The major way is to store them in cool, dark places so that they don’t go bad as quickly. You should also avoid them being exposed to heat or light.
You can also buy freeze-dried fruits and vegetables which taste just like fresh produce. You want to store things that have long shelf lives, and if you do not then bugging out may be your best choice. Dehydrated food is something you should make sure to have. You need to have the energy to get you through an emergency survival situation.
Mother Nature Is Unpredictable
Mother Nature is a fickle beast. When you’re in her presence, it’s best to be on your guard at all times.
Throughout history, she’s been known to wreak havoc on those who haven’t prepared for her whims.
Mother Nature is unpredictable, and she can change on a drop of a dime. This has been since time immemorial, and it’s true in every corner of the world.
When natural disasters occur, many times it’s best to get out of the way and bug out. It’s not just because you might get caught in the storm yourself. The aftermath is often much worse than what you witnessed during the initial event itself. This is the case for many emergency survival that has happened in the past.
We Are At Mother Natures Mercy
Think of the past decade alone and you will find so many lives taken around the globe. Some examples of these can be seen in the countless flooded cities and towns. It could be earthquakes. Or sandstorms which can lead to blinding people.
She doesn’t care about human lives and as such, we need to realize that in many emergency situations it is better to bug out. In the face of mother nature, who will do what she wants when she wants to.
Man-Made Disasters Bugging Out
The possible man-made disaster scenarios are endless. One that strikes fear in most people is nuclear war. If you live in a big city and do not have a fallout or bunker. It is a good idea to get as far away as possible. The reality is that by the time you find out, you will not have enough time to bug out.
One of the best thing for you to do is to bug out with your family and friends.
The hope is that you are far enough away from the effects of radiation and all the damage that occurs.
The vast majority of the time, your safest bet will be getting underground for at least the first two weeks when radiation will be at its highest!
If the nuclear war did not damage the planet to the point of no return such as one city being destroyed then you can get help. If society or government as we know it no longer exists then you will need to bug out further.
Only if your current location becomes unsuitable. Your bug-out location should be in the wild. An area where there are no roads leading to it. One that has natural barriers like mountains, rivers, or lakes. You should also be careful about the terrain of your location as well. An ideal location would be terrain that can give you an advantage so that you can defend it from intruders. Regardless of if they are carrying modern weapons on them like guns, cannons etc.
The best place to bug out in this situation is far away from human civilization. Ideally, a bunker stocked with supplies to ride out the storm.
Chances Are You Live Around Other People
The longer you wait the harder it is to get out and get to your bug-out location. The sooner the better. The faster you decide the better.
One of the most important things you can do when considering bugging out is to look around your home, neighborhood, or wherever you are at that moment. It is key to consider the people who live around you. Chances are there are other people who live nearby and they may be in a rush to leave as well.
You Need To Act Fast
This means that if you want to be one step ahead of them, then you need to make the decision NOW!
If you are like most people, you live around other people. This means that when disaster strikes, chances are good that there will be chaos. In order to avoid this chaos and get into a position where there is less risk of injury or death. You need to be one step ahead of everyone else in making the decision to bug out.
You will also want to consider what kind of supplies you should have at your bug-out location before disaster strikes. Bugging out is not something that should be taken lightly; if done incorrectly, it can lead to injury or death.
Neighborhood Friends
You may have made friends with people in your community or neighborhood. This could be your next-door neighbor for example. It never hurts to let them know you are leaving(not divulging your bug-out location I might add). They may be leaving as well and could give you advice on what roads to avoid.
If they are not leaving you have the peace of mind that you warned them.
How Should You Bug Out?
You can’t just bug out and expect everything to be fine. There are many factors that need to be considered when you’re planning your escape. They all have to be taken into account before you start moving yourself and your loved ones out of harm’s way. I would account for things such as natural disasters in your area for example. Such as things like floods or earthquakes, which may affect where you can go.
Safety Comes First
Let’s start with safety: what is the safest way for you to get from point A to point B? What route should you take? Are there any hazards along the way? What about other people who might be fleeing their homes? Will they want to join your group, or will they try to steal your supplies or kill you?
Then there’s speed: how quickly can you make it from point A to point B? If it takes too long, then there’s a chance that someone else might get there before you do. This should not happen if you have chosen a good bug-out location. It is still possible.
It is important to realize that the other factors beyond your control will be many. There could be no roads left in some areas or they could be blocked off. These things These kinds of things happen all the time during emergencies.
Communication Devices
One of the most important things you can have in your bug-out bag is a communication device.
You are going to want to ensure that you have the ability to talk to people in your group/ family. When you bug out cell phone reception and internet access could be affected. To prevent this, having things such as walkie-talkies are a good idea.
It’s important because if you were ever separated from your group, a walkie-talki could bring you back together.
These devices allow for group communication and can be used for many different things like getting help or finding someone who is lost.
Predetermined Location To Bug Out To
When you’re planning your bug-out location, you need to think about it like a military operation. It should be predetermined and well thought out.
You should know that if things go sideways, you have a safe place to go to. Where you can focus on getting there instead of worrying about what might be happening around you or towards you.
This is important on a mental fortitude level. When there’s chaos all around you, having a destination in mind will help strengthen your mind and keep it focused on the task at hand, which is getting out alive!
Bring Medical Supplies
You should bring medical supplies such as a first aid kit. This should include all the things you think you will need such as adhesive bandages, gauze, and the like.
Bug Out With A Car
We’re moving!
We all know that when SHTF, the worst thing you can do is stay put, in many situations. You’ve got to get out of dodge and fast. But how?
I would recommend for most people bugging out to go by car. As for most, it will be the best option for them.
If you’re reading this, you probably already know that bugging out by car is the best option for most people. To recap: Cars allow us to move faster and more safely than we can walk, and they aren’t affected by the same kind of environmental conditions that can slow down a person or animal on foot.
Distances and Weather Conditions
If you’re able to walk long distances and in challenging weather conditions, then by all means go ahead and do so—but make sure you know what you’re doing! If you’re not fit enough or prepared enough, then it would be wiser to travel by car instead
This has to do with the speed at which you can travel and the safety that cars provide when moving. It also allows you to cover a greater distance in a shorter time, limiting your risk. You can move on foot but you really should make sure you are in good enough shape. You will need to know without a doubt, that you can make it out on foot. Weigh the pros and cons.
I think traveling by car is the best, but also have the knowledge to get to your bug out location by foot. Always have a plan for when things do not go accordingly.
You have to think do you have the skills to go on foot
If you do not have the skills needed to survive then a car would be a better option. Yes, there could be roads blocked off but that would be my first way of getting out of dodge.
If You Feel Unsafe And Not Ready For What’s Coming Or Happening
Be honest with yourself and realize, if you feel unsafe or not ready for the emergency, chances are getting out is a better option. So weigh the pros and cons of what decision makes the most sense.
What are some other things to consider when deciding whether or not to bug out?
Some other things you may want to consider when deciding whether or not to bug out include the current situation, your level of preparedness, the distance you would need to travel, and the weather conditions. If you don’t feel safe or prepared for the current situation, bugging out may be the best option. If you are far away from your bug-out location, travel conditions may be difficult, and you will need to make sure you are prepared for that. Always weigh the pros and cons of each option before making a decision.
There is no one answer for when the best time to bug out is. It depends on each individual situation and what would work best for you and your group. The most important thing is to have a plan and be prepared. Bugging out can be a difficult and dangerous task, but if done correctly, it could save your life.
