Emergency situations present themselves in many different forms. Some give ample warning, like hurricanes and others strike with little or no warning, like a flash flood or earthquake. All we can do is prepare the best we can by having the mindset, skills, and gear to prevail but there is one situation that making the right call can mean the difference between life and death. Do you bug in or do you bug out?
So, do you Bug In or Bug Out? It really depends on a number of factors but the quick answer, if you are safe from immediate threats it is always best to shelter in place but if the threat you face is unpredictable and may leave you with little or no time to leave, you may choose to move to a secondary location.
Reality Check
There are many “preppers” that live in a fantasy world where they grab their bug out bag and their guns and head for the hills, where they will live off the land until it’s okay to return to their home. For a very select few, with the right mindset, skills, and gear, and who live in the right location and have experienced living off the land for extended periods of time, would make this even remotely possible.
For the rest of us, even those of us with the necessary skills may also have young children, disabled, and elderly family members to think about. Living off the land with an infant or someone in a wheelchair will quickly change your mind.
Reasons to Bug In
As I eluded to earlier, if at all possible shelter in place. Why? Even if you don’t have any other preparations, your home offers a lot of things that you may not find on your way to or at, your bug out destination, if you have one.
SECURITY: Protection from the weather, insects, animals, and much more. These protections are not afforded to you when on the move unless you are in a vehicle and there is no guaranty that your vehicle will get you to your destination.
The security that your home will provide will also make it possible to sleep more securely and with a much better level of comfort. Don’t laugh about comfort until you have slept on the cold ground night after night.
SUPPLIES: Also your home has more water than you can carry and more food than you can carry. In general, you will have more of everything, first aid supplies, clothing, batteries, you name it, you can’t carry it all.
COMMUNITY: This may vary depending on where you live, but I bet you know who your neighbors are. You may not speak to them very often, maybe just a wave and a smile now and then, but when things are looking grim most people want to come together and help each other out. Community gives you strength in numbers. Together you are stronger than alone. You should start this now before you need help.
THE GRASS IS GREENER: Another reason to bug in, do you know that your bug out location is better off than your current location? Don’t fall for the old adage; the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Just because it looks bad in your neighborhood don’t give up everything you have in your home to find out that your bug out location is inaccessible or even completely gone. Then what do you do?
Reasons to Bug Out
Now just because I’m a big proponent of bugging in does not mean that I think you shouldn’t ever bug out. There are a number of reasons why you would and should leave the security of your home and community.
IMMINENT THREATS: If there is an imminent threat to your home or dwelling. A couple of examples of imminent threats include floods and wildfires, these events often times allow for some warning if you stay informed. In these situations putting as much distance between you and the threat as quickly as possible is your primary goal.
LOOTING: Looting can happen for many different reasons, the aftermath of storms, social and political unrest. Depending on your location, looting may become a major problem. It may happen very quickly without much warning. So unless you have a robust security plan you may what to bug out.
YOUR HOME BECOMES UNINHABITABLE: If your home has been damaged to the extent that would make it uninhabitable of just unsafe due to structural damage then it’s time to go.
OFFICIAL EVACUATION ORDERS: There are many reasons why local and state officials may want you to leave your home. In recent history the California wildfires or in most cases of major hurricanes
Do you live near or downwind of a chemical plant, railways, oil or natural gas pump stations? If an incident occurs at one of these facilities near your home you can bet local officials will most likely order an evacuation.
Or maybe it’s as simple as your house is on fire or maybe your neighbor’s house is on fire.
Bugging In Do’s
If you decide to bug in there are some things you should consider if you what to increase your chance for success.
HAVE A PLAN: It may not be as critical as a bug out plan but having a bug in
KEEP SITUATIONAL AWARENESS: Although this should be part of your bug in
SECURE YOUR UTILITIES: Whether or not you are preparing for a major emergency, it’s important to know how to shut off your water, gas and electrical main’s. Depending on the situation you may need to shut off one or more.
One thing many people don’t think about is the sewer. Some sewer systems use pumping stations (actually called a lift station) to move waste from a central collection location to treatment facilities. In the event of a long-term power outage, those systems will no longer perform their job and soon you could have a sewer backup. Something to think about right now while things are good. You can install a sewer backup valve before you need it.
CHECK YOUR CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR: For starters, if you don’t have one, get one now. It’s important to have one now but in an emergency or grid down situation, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is real. In a power outage, we use candles, oil lamps, and lanterns for lighting, plus we use propane, kerosene and wood stoves for heating and cooking, all of which are sources of carbon monoxide.
For those who do not know; Carbon Monoxide is an invisible, tasteless, odorless gas that deprives your lunges of oxygen. There are 7 basic symptoms for Carbon Monoxide poisoning. If you do not move to fresh air it can lead to loss of consciousness and/or death.
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning
- Dull headache
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Blurred vision
- Nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
STAY HYDRATED: Even if you have water stored away, try to collect and maintain a clean water supply. Make sure that you are drinking enough water, DO NOT ration drinking water. Mild dehydration can cause headaches, dizziness and fatigue but severe dehydration can cause kidney problems , heat stroke and seizures.
If you have to bug out, you only have what you can take with you. Water is heavy and if you end up bugging out on foot you won’t be able to carry all that you need, you don’t want to start out behind the eight
EAT PERISHABLES FIRST: In the event of a power outage, food in a closed refrigerator should stay good for about 4 hours and a freezer for 24 to 48 hours depending on its fill volume.
If you are staying informed and know that the power outage is wide spread and possibly long term, then don’t let those calories go to waste. How you handle this will be part of your bug in plan.
Bugging In Don’ts
DO NOT RAID YOUR BUG OUT KIT: You may be tempted at some point to take items from your bug out kit. Whether it’s in daily life or in a bug in situation, NEVER steal gear from your kit or bags.
This rule applies at all times, unless of course you are actually bugging out. You don’t want to be in the middle of your bug out and find out a critical piece of gear is missing.
DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL: Although you may want to drinking alcohol, it has a few negative effects that will be counterproductive to taking care of yourself and your family. For starters alcohol can and will cause dehydration, something you really want to avoid.
Another reason that is more obvious, cognitive impairment. If you drink in excess you will lose your situational awareness plus you will be unable to make sound decisions, decisions that may have life and death consequences. Don’t risk it.
DON’T FORGET ABOUT HYGIENE: If things are bad enough to bug in then it’s not the best time to get sick. It may be more difficult to maintain your hygiene if running water is not available, but steps can be taken to prevent disease and illness from ocering or spreading.
Bugging Out Do’s
MAKE A DETAILED PLAN: Before you even think about putting together a bug out kit, you need to make a bug out plan. In fact, you really need 3 or 4 plans. As an old military saying goes; No plan survives first contact with the enemy.
It always seems that whatever plan you make you better have a backup plan and a backup to your backup. When you’re in a high-stress environment you don’t want to be forced to come up with an alternate plan on the fly. Making a few adjustments to the plan is fine but if Murphy gets involved he may have his own plan.
HAVE A BUG OUT KIT: A bug out kit is just your bug out bags, plus other items that will assist you in your bug out plan. It can be as simple or as elaborate as you feel necessary to get you to your bug out destination.
HAVE EXPERIENCE: Make sure that the day you find yourself bugging out, isn’t your first day following your bug out plan, driving that route or hiking that far with all that gear.
You need to have experience with at least parts of your bug out plan, under “normal” conditions. You need to be able to perform tasks similar to you bug out under ideal conditions because if you are unable to perform them under normal conditions you will not be able to do them under extreme physical and mental stress in less than ideal conditions.
Bugging Out Don’ts
DON’T GET TUNNEL VISION: What I mean by this, is don’t focus so intensely on reaching your planned bug out location that you move too quickly and find yourself in a worse situation, but conversely, you don’t what to move so slowly and cautiously that it hinders your progress. You do need to move with purpose but keep good situational awareness. Having a good bug out plan will help with this.
DON’T LOOK MILITARY: Even if you are, don’t wear military fatigues, tactical gear or brandish military style long guns. In most circumstances you will be bugging out while there is still Rule of Law and if you are rolling around like military unit it will draw a lot of unwanted attention.
Even if the situation is different and there is a breakdown in the rule of law you may still want to keep a low profile. There may be a time and place to be a hard target but you better be sure the situation calls for it because you will be waving a giant Look at Me flag.
Making the Call
How do you make the call to bug in or bug out? It’s a call no one can make but you. Your situation, location, preparations, and skill-sets are unique to you. Everyone must educate themselves, keep up on current events and trust their gut.
One of the most important things to do is to educate yourself and your family or support group with a wide variety of basic skill-sets like survival, first aid, self-defense, and communications just to list a few.