realistic bug-out situations?

M

mr_dove

Joined
Apr 12, 2004
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I've been thinking about the whole idea of a bug-out-bag. They are undoubtably a good idea to have but I think that the probability of being in a serious bug-out situation is slim.

It just seems that staying home would be safer in most scenarious.

The only scenarious where I can see bugging out are scenarious in which the harm/danger is localized. If the harm/danger is more widespread it would seem that there would be little improvement by leaving. This might include an attack focused on your city or serious weather problems that could breach your home (tornados or hurricanes).

bugging out may sound fun and living off the land is a blast but lets hear under what situations you would plan on bugging out and when you would plan on fortifying and staying home.

Why to we tend to focus more on bugging out than we do on fortifying our home against coming turmoil? I'm not discounting the idea, just wondering why. It would seem that many of us plan on bugging out when it may be wiser to stay home.
 
My first choice is to stay home. It's as fortified as I can make it.

The B.O.B. is simply gear that helps us to get through the unforseen. I mean, it could be something as simple as the landlord having the apt. house debuged, or a flood, fire or any number of other local possibilities.

There's lots of worse case scenarios. But, I imagine the Yellowstone super volcano would be the biggest natural threat, but that could be a million or so years into the future. Or, it could happen tomorrow. The possibilities are endless with that one.
 
I haven`t found many (if any) scenarios with reason to bug out were I live. I plan to stay home. I practically live in the wilderness anyway.
Still I`ve got a bug out bag. I use it when I`m out travelling (work). An accident can happen, and it`s great to have some equipment with you then.
But mostly I use it when out in the woods camping, training survival or stone age skills and when hunting.

Tor
 
I have two main scenarios (and they're both very not likely to happen):

1 - Nuclear power plant chain reaction (we have many of those plants in France). That'd mean serious trouble... but mostly ecological. I'd stay home and start comsuming my own stored food/water for a while... In such a case, any two-legged trouble is not really likely, and could be taken care of from home, if really needed.

2 - Extreme-right winning a serious election. They've been able to score as high as 24% not long ago, here. That'd mean real political trouble (and I'd gladly be part of it and kick their f*ck!ng nazi ass). Either small or large scale, I don't know. We probably wouldn't be too affected in remote places like here, but you never know... And if they plan to apply any kind of "final solution" (getting rid of political opposers or strangers, which I am both), real trouble would occur. In such a case, resistance would be organized from the bush/mountains, as it's the tradition around here ;)

I live far away from most big towns, and the mountains are close. I'd stay home as long as the trouble stays within 1km from here. Then I have escape routes that offer plenty of cover in two directions, so if I need to get out un-noticed before trouble reaches me, I can.

My BOB is light enough to let me hike up very fast and reach a few chosen hiding/sniping spots within a few hours or hard walking. Again, plenty of cover and no other way to follow me than on foot or by air (with no visibility through all the bush). I believe that most "all geared up" soldiers/units would never be able to follow me in my "playground".

Cheers,

David
 
I can see bugging out mainly as a natural/ecological deal.

IE big tornados, long ice storms, hurricanes... earth quakes etc. Anything that would leave you without power, and pose a threat to your home in which case you would not be safe on your own skills, where the structure becomes the weak point.

I can see trying to move faster then a chemical agent... or trying to get away from a population during a black death of sorts. Human to human contracted diseases.

The big deal, is all of the above require being able to move faster then you can on foot... so you need a source of transportation that can move you fast enough, far enough to get out of a impact radius.

I'm still working on the bag though... Havent figured out what I need to stock... :eek:
 
Personally I don't really envision leaving home. My BOB is there when I am travelling and find myself in trouble and need to get home or at least away from where the bad things are happening. Figure things like being stuck in the city after a disaster or riot. That sorta thing. Iwouldn't leave the house unless it was in iminent danger of being destroyed or overran.
 
I would guess that wildfires and floods are among the top reasons for people leaving.Me i don't live in an area with wildfires,floods,earthquakes,hurricanes.

But then there's that nuke plant a few miles away.....

We get packets from them telling us routes to take, what to bring along and so forth.
 
"Home" is a 3rd floor apartment near a large downtown. Overall, not the best spot to stay for various natural disasters or types of attacks.

So bugging out is not neccesarily a first response, but the option may be best for certain, or possibly unkown, situations. Leave the area for a bit, take a bit of a vacation camping in the mountains, and monitor things from there. Odds are it wouldn't be too bad and things can return to normal pretty soon, but if not, I'm not where the bad things are happening.
 
Moine said:
And if they plan to apply any kind of "final solution" (getting rid of political opposers or strangers, which I am both), real trouble would occur. In such a case, resistance would be organized from the bush/mountains, as it's the tradition around here ;)

I live far away from most big towns, and the mountains are close. I'd stay home as long as the trouble stays within 1km from here. Then I have escape routes that offer plenty of cover in two directions, so if I need to get out un-noticed before trouble reaches me, I can.


Cheers,

David
Click to expand...

Have you heard of the Bielskis?
http://www.militaryink.com/books/2003/july/0066210747.htm

It's an interesting true story, and one of the best examples of how bugging out into forests/mountains is a superb survival idea.
 
I think 'bugging in' is the the best idea. I do keep a BOB of sorts, but it serves more to keep me from forgetting to take things when I go camping. Should the house ever be overrun by zombies or something, the BOB will be handy then as well.
 
I have 2 BOB's

BOB #1. Travelling BOB. Any number of things can happen while visiting relatives. Extreme Weather, riots. etc.

BOB #2. Home BOB. Any number of things can happen while living at home.
Extreme weather, riots. etc.

other reasons to leave your home could be widespread infectious disease. This one my wife actually agrees with me on. If there were some type of infectious disease I would evac to the woods for a bit.
 
I can't get out of NYC on a summer Friday afternoon.
I'm not going anywhere if TSHTF.
3 mile walk home from work (as long as the bridge is standing).
My bag is set up to get back to the homestead.
Double flashlights, knives, prybar/knife steel, paracord and water.
And my 16oz hammer in my drawer at work ;)
 
NYC is almost all Island's connected by bridge's and tunnel's,we've had northeaster's, snow storm's, bombing's ,blackout's,ect. What do you have with you when you've just gone on a bunny run to one of the Airport's or the Mall's in New Jersey? ,and you can't get back home? My gear's in the car already and i have a BOB by the door in case i switch car's or ride with someone else .
 
i don't have one, but i do plan to "bug out" one of these days, but not because of a disaster- because of the rat race. will build lodge, and heard goats and sheeps. will be peaceful retirement from city life. maybe will write book about it.
 
My BOB is more of a get me home survival kit. I carry it in my car, and wear it while out hiking or riding my dirt bike in remote areas. Since I live in earth quake country, it's a real possibility I might have to abandon my vehicle and walk home if a big one hit. If I get hurt or lost while hiking or motorcycle riding, I have to be prepared to spend a night or two out alone. Simple shelter, water, knife, signaling gear, fire making material, paracord, a little food, flashlight, can of skoal, GPS, cell phone, and a small 2 meter HAM radio preprogrammed with repeaters for a bunch of different areas in the state.

It's better than nothing :)
John...
 
Two very realistic bugout situations...

Complete and utter power failure...

The shutting down of highways and transportation structure...
 
Ebbtide said:
Double flashlights, knives, prybar/knife steel, paracord and water.
Click to expand...

I guess your bag did not have to pass metal detectors, then, to enter your workplace.
 
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