Bugging out is always going to be plan B for most preppers because it’s more dangerous, but that doesn’t mean it’s easier In fact, you should put even more energy and commitment into it, precisely because there’re a lot more dangers out there. You just cannot afford to screw it up.
In what follows, I’m going to give you some ideas you may or may not have thought of. Bugging out has many aspects and it’s likely that you didn’t consider or didn’t focus on some of them. Let’s talk about the most important ones.
Have more than one bug out location.
Many people think that a bug out location (BOL for short) has to have a house or a cabin on the property and that it’s a place that can keep you safe for months, even years. However, there’s no way of telling you’ll be able to get to it according to plan. There’s also no guarantee that you can stay there indefinitely.
What you can do is have several BOLs, and mark them on your maps. Any place that can keep you safe for at least a few hours can be a bug out location. An old abandoned building, a secluded place in the woods your aunt’s house. No matter what happens to your home or even to your primary bug out location, you should always have other places to go.
Ideally, you’ll want four bug out locations, one in each cardinal point. This way, you’ll always have a place to catch your breath regardless of the bug out route you use to get out.
Get to know your town or city.
The bigger the town you live in, the harder it will be to get out in a disaster. But know the streets well, and it will be easy for you to find alternatives routes when the main arteries are jammed. Riots, checkpoints, collapsed bridges, downed trees, all of these can happen and will force you and everyone else to make detours.
Remember that, if a disaster is powerful enough to force you to evacuate, it can also destroy buildings and roads. Of course, an even better solution is to move out to the suburbs, because it’ll be quicker for you to evacuate, as well as more space to start a stockpile and grow your own food.
Know when to bug in and when to bug out.
When things are happening, the quicker you make the decision, the better. You should also consider that you’ll initially bug in and only flee if things go from bad to worse. Ideally, you should have two lists of disasters, one for each scenario.
For example, you may want to bug in in case of power outages, martial law and heavy snow. On the other hand, you may have no choice but to leave in case of war, a total economic collapse or a nuclear meltdown. It all depends on how much you can stockpile and on how well you and defend your home.
Improve your driving skills.
If you’re not that good of a driver, imagine how you’ll do it under pressure. People running around, screaming, the natural disaster on your tail, drive through narrow streets and being on alert for other cars with drivers just as panicked as you… all of these require distributive attention and for you to keep remain calm.
Best to improve your driving today, while there’s still time. You’ll also want to get to know your vehicle, as well as what to do if and when they break: the radiator, the battery, the fuel system, the ignition system and so on.
Don’t ignore mental preparation.
It’s hard to imagine how you’ll react to a disaster unless you’ve already experienced one. Some will start crying, others will freeze, others will panic. Unless you want to join the army, the least you can do is train your mind for these situations using powerful visualization techniques.
Imagine yourself in various circumstances and see yourself successfully react to them and get away unharmed. The more complex the scenarios, the better. Sounds, smells, images – these will all help create the virtual reality and trick your brain into thinking it’s actually happening.
Another thing you can do is watch YouTube videos with disasters and see yourself in the middle of the action.
Speaking of which, have you considered the fact that the SHTF might occur in winter? Many people think of bugging out will happen on a warm, sunny day and… it’s not their fault. Survival shows often picture the Apocalypse this way and most fall for it. But if it happens when it’s 20F outside, will you be ready?
Don’t forget your pet.
The biggest problem you’re going to face with your dog and its reaction to the disaster. If it starts running around, good luck catching him.
One thing you will need is an extra leash, although Paracord will work as an alternative. You also need to add some food, extra water and even a foldable cage in your car’s trunk.
Practice carrying a backpack.
Here’s what you can do and this, by the way, will help you save money on gas. The next time you do your groceries, instead of taking the car, go on foot and take an empty backpack. Put all your purchases inside and walk back home with it on your back to see how well you do with a heavy load on your back.
This way you’ll see exactly how long you can walk with a fully loaded backpack on your back.
Speaking of which, your current bug out bag might be too heavy.
Even trained soldiers have trouble carrying heavy loads. You’d be surprised the kind of things preppers put in their BOB “because you never know”.
Two that I myself removed from mine while back were a copy of the SAS survival guide and some pajamas.
Final Word
Hopefully, this article got you to re-think your bug out bag and all your bug out plans. Look at everything with a critical eye because you surely have holes in it that need to be fixed. A good way of uncovering them is to always ask yourself two questions:
#1. What if this happens?
…and:
#2. What if this doesn’t happen?