In past articles such as “Bugging Out or Battening Down?” , I have suggested that, in the vast majority of scenarios, staying home and battening down is a far better idea. However, there are scenarios like fire, flood, extended blackout in an urban environment and multiple others, where bugging out might be a must. Today I want to give a quick refresher on building a bug out plan, even if you don’t have a Bug Out Location (BOL). I’ll then give some thoughts on executing your plan.
Making a Bug Out Plan (BOP)
If you have a Bug Out Location (BOL), I suggest you document multiple ways to get there. If you don’t have a BOL, you still have options. One option is to have an agreement with a friend or relative that, if needed, you would head there. You could go one step further and ask to store some food and gear there so you have more than what you were able to BO with.
Another option is to pick small towns, one north, one south, one east and one west of your home. We picked towns that are 30-60 miles away, had a population of around 5,000 and, if possible, a small hotel. You don’t have to stay at the hotel but it can serve as a rally point. Another reason for the hotel is that if you and your family don’t bug out together but agree on which direction to take, if someone is delayed they can call the hotel and ask to leave a message for your family member who is on their way and will be checking in.
The reason I like this idea is that you have a plan to execute and won’t have to try and figure out where to go if things start going sideways. I like the idea of four directions because you don’t know what direction things might be melting down. For instance, many Minnesotans might think about heading ”up north” because there are many lakes, woods and plentiful wildlife. There is a nuclear power plant along one “up north” route for us and a state penitentiary along another. In a worst case scenario such as an EMP, there is no way I want to go near the nuclear plant, and I’d like to keep my distance from the prison as well. It might be easier to just go east instead.
Documentation Package
Here is an idea that I got from Jack Spirko of The Survival Podcast; make a travel folder and stick one in each vehicle. Inside this folder you should have three destinations with three routes to each destination. Label them destination 1, 2, 3 and route A, B, C. If you and your family are separated, you can call them and tell them to head to destination 2, following route 3 and eliminate any confusion.
I also think that you should include information like local towing companies and your insurance agent’s phone number. This is information that you will want quickly and may not have someone to call to give it to you.
When Should You Bug Out?
There isn’t a cut and dry answer. The best answer I can give is that you should BO when being on the road heading to a BOL or being at the BOL is safer than being at home. If you BO too early you can just call it a mini vacation. If you BO too late you might find yourself in gridlock.
Bugging Out on Foot
As I have stated, I think that, in the vast majority of situations, battening down at home is a better solution. If I have to BO, chances are that I’ll be able to do so in my vehicle. But what if the worst-case scenario happens and there is an EMP that makes all vehicles with a computer inoperable?
I’ve seen many articles and forum posts that say you need to make sure you can hoof it carrying your BOB. Ideally everyone would be injury free and in shape enough to do this, but are there options for those of us who just aren’t going to be able to carry a full BOB?
I have a few ideas that might work. One, as you may have guessed, is the shopping cart. Just taking one would be stealing. If we’re talking EMP, there is a chance the store manager might be willing to sell one, if the store is even open. I have seen bicycles modified to attach and pull shopping carts. It could simply be pushed, or attached to a person via ropes and towed behind as they walk.
Another option, if you already own one, would be a game cart. They have a very high weight limit and are ruggedly built to withstand bringing heavy game over rough terrain. Yet another option is securing gear to a bicycle and walking along side. Still another would be a wagon, though you’re pretty limited on space. An option in snow would be a sled.
Traveling Safely
When people on various forums talk about bugging out, I always get the impression they mean to do so through the wilderness. If you spend a lot of time hiking in the wilderness, this is a solid option for you. If you don’t, you might want to give it a second thought. Walking through rough, uneven, and often slippery terrain, dodging branches, might not be the best solution unless it can’t be avoided.
Most people will choose to travel during the day. For this reason, you may instead choose to travel at night. This is probably a very good idea if you live in the south, as it will be much cooler at night.
Some nontraditional routes may include following; power lines, railroad tracks, and rivers. Use caution with railroad tracks, as some tracks go over bridges that are not made for human traffic. Use similar caution when following rivers, as they can lead through treacherous wilderness areas, unsuitable for travel.
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