BOSS1
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2008
- Messages
- 1,700
Greetings all,
In the wake of Sandy (and my thoughts and wishes go out to all those that have effected), I think back to myself about 15 years ago when I actually had to 'bug out' due to an incoming hurricane in the southeast.
This was long before 'bug out bags' were all the rage and survival rations and bunkers weren't being sold on the internet.
Synopsis: Myself and two of my fellow 'dudes' in our early 20's were living near the water along the southeast...hurricane inbound...last second it takes a turn for the worst and starts coming more our way. Gotta get out of dodge. My two buddies had low riding sports cars... I had a small 4x4 SUV. We park their cars in an open parking lot hopin nothing will land on them. We head for another buddy's apartment farther inland. Takes us a LOOONNNNNG time to get there (hours IIRC, to go just a few miles). Get to the apartment, he's bugged out. Hurricane is about to come ashore.
Choices:
A. Kick in buddy's apt. door and ride it out there.
B. Try to ride it out in vehicle.
C. Try to find someplace else.
Looking back, we probably should have gone with Plan A. But we went with Plan C. I seem to recall being on the road at the time and the guy on the radio saying if you're on the road, get off the road. If you're someplace, stay there. At this point, the particular area where we were driving was pretty much deserted (IIRC thousands++ rode out the hurricane coming ashore stuck in gridlock on the interstates). Rain was pounding and the hurricane was about 1/2 hr. out. We had not been in the area long, so we didn't know too many people. But we had looked at house we were considering renting. With the clock ticking, literally, and no place else to go, we headed that way. The house was about a mile down a dirt road. At a depression, there was about close to a foot of running water going over the dirt road. Hope the 4 wheel drive works, and don't stop. Made it through the mini-river and landed on the guys door step about 15 min. before the hurricane made land fall. Looking back at it, I am sure the family laughed at three bachelor dudes standing on his doorstep saying basically, we'll take the rental, starting like, now. Power was subsequently lost, but they had gas, so we were able to cook, etc. I think we stayed there for about 2 days before we ventured back out.
Long story short--there was no 'bug out' bag at the time. We didn't pack extra food/knives/fire starters/nav gear, etc. We got in the car and literally headed for the hills...we may have grabbed some extra clothes.
Since then, we've been through a few natural disaster scares but nothing beyond power being out for a bit, some snow/ice, trees down, etc...we've got camp cooking stoves, a wood burning fireplace, and other gear, etc. We could, and probably would, shelter in place unless it was SUPERMAJOR (the mountain's about to blow!!!). If we had too, we'd grab a enough food/clothes for a few days, etc and throw them in the SUV and go. It would be a time where the oversized 4X4 SUV would earn its keep. A few precious items would come, but not much...there probably just wouldn't be time if we were leaving under such dire circumstances. You don't realize just how fast it happens, how fast 30 minutes or an hour goes by when you're staring at disaster heading your way and you HAVE to go (which is something that gets heard over and over again).
Think about it, if you've got 30-60 minutes (or less) to pack and leave, what are you going to take? What has priority to take up that very little space in your vehicle?
So that's my real-deal 'bug out' experience. What's yours?
Stay safe,
BOSS
In the wake of Sandy (and my thoughts and wishes go out to all those that have effected), I think back to myself about 15 years ago when I actually had to 'bug out' due to an incoming hurricane in the southeast.
This was long before 'bug out bags' were all the rage and survival rations and bunkers weren't being sold on the internet.
Synopsis: Myself and two of my fellow 'dudes' in our early 20's were living near the water along the southeast...hurricane inbound...last second it takes a turn for the worst and starts coming more our way. Gotta get out of dodge. My two buddies had low riding sports cars... I had a small 4x4 SUV. We park their cars in an open parking lot hopin nothing will land on them. We head for another buddy's apartment farther inland. Takes us a LOOONNNNNG time to get there (hours IIRC, to go just a few miles). Get to the apartment, he's bugged out. Hurricane is about to come ashore.
Choices:
A. Kick in buddy's apt. door and ride it out there.
B. Try to ride it out in vehicle.
C. Try to find someplace else.
Looking back, we probably should have gone with Plan A. But we went with Plan C. I seem to recall being on the road at the time and the guy on the radio saying if you're on the road, get off the road. If you're someplace, stay there. At this point, the particular area where we were driving was pretty much deserted (IIRC thousands++ rode out the hurricane coming ashore stuck in gridlock on the interstates). Rain was pounding and the hurricane was about 1/2 hr. out. We had not been in the area long, so we didn't know too many people. But we had looked at house we were considering renting. With the clock ticking, literally, and no place else to go, we headed that way. The house was about a mile down a dirt road. At a depression, there was about close to a foot of running water going over the dirt road. Hope the 4 wheel drive works, and don't stop. Made it through the mini-river and landed on the guys door step about 15 min. before the hurricane made land fall. Looking back at it, I am sure the family laughed at three bachelor dudes standing on his doorstep saying basically, we'll take the rental, starting like, now. Power was subsequently lost, but they had gas, so we were able to cook, etc. I think we stayed there for about 2 days before we ventured back out.
Long story short--there was no 'bug out' bag at the time. We didn't pack extra food/knives/fire starters/nav gear, etc. We got in the car and literally headed for the hills...we may have grabbed some extra clothes.
Since then, we've been through a few natural disaster scares but nothing beyond power being out for a bit, some snow/ice, trees down, etc...we've got camp cooking stoves, a wood burning fireplace, and other gear, etc. We could, and probably would, shelter in place unless it was SUPERMAJOR (the mountain's about to blow!!!). If we had too, we'd grab a enough food/clothes for a few days, etc and throw them in the SUV and go. It would be a time where the oversized 4X4 SUV would earn its keep. A few precious items would come, but not much...there probably just wouldn't be time if we were leaving under such dire circumstances. You don't realize just how fast it happens, how fast 30 minutes or an hour goes by when you're staring at disaster heading your way and you HAVE to go (which is something that gets heard over and over again).
Think about it, if you've got 30-60 minutes (or less) to pack and leave, what are you going to take? What has priority to take up that very little space in your vehicle?
So that's my real-deal 'bug out' experience. What's yours?
Stay safe,
BOSS
