10 Reasons Why You Do Not Want to Bug Out

The Prepper Journal ^ | 10 Jan 15 | Pat Henry

[SkyPilot]

The article is from last January, but I just ran across it and am posting it for interest.

Hurricane season is upon us, and you never know what other dangers might befall you or your family.

I think the proverbial "bugging out" is totally situational. I was in the Florida panhandle when Hurricane Ivan came in and tried to kill me. I left, thank you very much.

It is always good to follow the old Boy Scout motto and "Be Prepared."

However, this term of "Bugging Out" has gotten a little out of hand in recent years. I swear, I think some people think that surviving in a true disaster is going to be "fun" and that things are going to be like some script from a television show or movie. It won't.

Related article:

The Top 4 Reasons Why You’re Not Going to Survive Bugging Out to the Woods

The article (correctly) points out that you might not find paradise out in those "abandoned" woods. You might find roving bands of other families, surivors, and people who will be competing for the same resources as you (food, shelter, water, game, etc).

The veneer of civilization is very, very thin. In bad situations, people can get ugly - quick.

Again, it is all situation dependent. It a tsunami is headed your way - then you probably want to get out. However, in even the worst situation, the average home still has tools, water, food, matches, flashlights, clothing, shelter, knives, rope, sterno, etc.

Stay safe!

[Georgia Girl 2]

Yep. If you don’t have a retreat to bug out to don’t do it.

[SVTCobra03]

We live out in the country and all our neighbors have vegetable gardens and are heavily armed. We are bugging in.

[TADSLOS]

Ping.

[BenLurkin]

No AAA after s hits?

No fire department either.

So if an out control fire starts torching your housing tract -- you better be ready to go.

[stickandrudder]

Prepper ping

[cripplecreek]

I always say to stay secure at home if at all possible.

It also helps to have good neighbors with a prepper streak for security in numbers.

[rey]

Good piece. Realistic.

Having been an infantry Marine, I know of what he speaks. Carrying everything you need (and you can’t) on your back is a pain most of us cannot handle. Most people won’t even carry their own golfs clubs while they are allegedly exercising yet they think they will carry all they need in a pack.

Another thing about being in the field is we were resupplied often; I do not see that happening in this instance. If you are not being resupplied you spend a significant amount of time feeding, housing, and clothing yourself or stealing all you need.

Most people who talk of living after an apocalyptic event haven’t really thought things through.

[TADSLOS]

Totally situational. What if you are travelling anyway or just out shopping across town when the SHTF? Being more than just a couple of miles away from home could be life threatening. Having a mobile stash of essentials could save your life.

[SkyPilot]

Indeed. I like the term "bug in." Again, all situationally dependent, but I am not Rambo unless I have to be.

One of the commentators to the original article summed it up well with this statement:

Throughout history, refugees have not fared very well.

[ASA Vet]

It is always good to follow the old Boy Scout motto and "Be Prepared."

The new Boy Scout motto is, "Who's your Daddy?"

[golux]

Perception:



Reality:

[Kartographer]

Preppers’ PING!!

Hat-tip to TADSLOS and stickandrudder for the heads up!!

[SkyPilot]

So if an out control fire starts torching your housing tract -- you better be ready to go.

Absolutely. It all depends. A wildfire can spread faster than almost anyone can imagine. That is one situation where I would be gone.

There was a video I saw about a year ago. The Dad wanted to slowly drive out of there, and had hopes of using his garden hose to save the house! The wife and kids were SCREAMING for him to drive fast and get out. They almost died.

In a different scenario, things might be different.

I do know traffic jams, and in a disaster, there may be millions on the roads.

That could lead to a bad situation very quickly.

[Eagles6]

The best time to bug out is now. If you live in a city move to a rural area.

[TADSLOS]

True dat. LOL.

[SkyPilot]

Having been an infantry Marine, I know of what he speaks. Carrying everything you need (and you can’t) on your back is a pain most of us cannot handle. Most people won’t even carry their own golfs clubs while they are allegedly exercising yet they think they will carry all they need in a pack.

Definitely.

And if your pack (or whatever you are lugging) does not fit well or starts to rub your skin or compress your spine, the situation while being forced to travel on foot can almost be hellish.

In many human disasters, you see the roads strewn with luggage, clothes, etc.

[outofsalt]

Good stuff, SkyPilot. Kartographer is our freeprepper pinglist master and as you can see, several folks have ping’d your article to share with like minded freepers.

It’s good to have plans a-d,e,f... I would head to sea as my bugout location, unless I was fleeing a hurricane. Then I might head for the hills, unless there was a wildfire sweeping down. It’s good to think in terms of improvising.

Oh, and instead of three wee bottles of Gallo wine I’d stick to Everclear. For medicinal purposes and as a firestarter, of course.

[SkyPilot]

The best time to bug out is now. If you live in a city move to a rural area.

Agree. When the folks who can't wipe their noses find their EBT cards don't function (or even before that), I expect urban areas and cities to be complete danger zones.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

I like the term "bug in."

Yes, it's an automotive event for VW Beetles...swap meet, car show, drag racing etc.