Posted on 01/19/2013 3:23:13 PM PST by blam
Bugging Out vs. Hunkering Down
M.D. Creekmore
January 19th, 2013
The Survivalist Blog
This article has been contributed by M.D. Creekmore of The Survivalist Blog.
The very idea of leaving the security of your home to “bug out” to the woods has never sat well with me – In nearly every instance it’s better to hunker down or “bug in” than to bug out. I mean, why leave the safety and familiar surroundings of your home, for the open and unforgiving wilderness.
For many people this is their first line of preparation against disaster, unfortunately, most will end up joining the multitude of other refugees freezing in a cave and eventually end up dead or wards of whatever government is still functioning.
I live in a fairly safe area and have prepared to survive at home and can conceive of only a few scenarios that would force me to leave. Even then, I would go to an out-of-state relatives house with whom, I have a pre-arranged agreement, where if need be he can come to my place or I to his after a disaster.
I know what you’re thinking “what about an end of the world as we know it” type event, well if such an event were to take place, there would be no 100% safe place for most of us, and really do you think you would be better of making a go of it in the open wilderness as opposed to hunkering down at home.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we should never bug out to the wilderness; we should indeed keep all our options open, what I am saying is that there are better ways to survive most disasters than heading into the bush.
You need to weigh the risks of bugging out vs. hunkering down and make your final decision based on logic and type of threat. That’s the way decisions should be made, unfortunately many people when making plans for survival side with emotion (that emotion being to run and hide) instead of the more tried and true form of decision-making known as logic.
Relying on emotion instead of logic can make for some interesting adventures; however without sound planning beforehand those adventures are likely to be sort lived. For example, I recently asked a fellow in his late 30’s what he would do if disaster struck his area.
He thought for a moment and said he would gather his family and all the food, guns and ammunition he could find and head for the mountains that lay some seventy-five miles to the north of his home.
Depending on the type of disaster, his “plan” might work short term for a lone survivor or a small group of individuals in good physical condition with proper gear and mind-set. But he is a new father and his wife is one of those that think missing an appointment at the nail-salon is the end of the world as she knows it.
Making matters worse he has no outdoor survival training or skills other than watching reruns of Less Stroud’s “Survivorman” and camping at a national park campground with all the utilities and hookups. Why he thinks he can survive off the wilderness while dragging his family along, I don’t know. He isn’t thinking logically.
His decision was based on emotion and as a result if he ever has to put his plan to the test in the real world his family will likely suffer or die because of his decision and “Red Dawn” thinking. Unfortunately, this batman in the boondocks mentality is and will continue to be the chosen survival plan for many who haven’t thought it through.
When making survival plans for your family you have to honestly weigh the risks of your decision based on logic. In almost every disaster scenario, it is better to stay put (bugging in) or head to a pre-arranged safe place at an out-of-town relatives or friends house than it is to head to the woods to eat twigs and pine bark.
For most people an evacuation bag is a better choice than a bug out bag. An evacuation bag should contain the gear necessary to get you from point A to point B, whereas a bug out bag (in most cases) is geared more toward wilderness survival. I have both, but admittedly my bug out bag is an option of last resort.
Knowing when to go is much more important than the contents of your survival pack or even where you will go. You don’t want to jump and run before you need too, but you don’t want to wait too long or you may never reach your destination.
If you wait for the authorities to give the order to evacuate it may already be too late. The roads leading to safety could be blocked and impassable by motor vehicle and walking to your destination may be impossible or too dangerous to attempt.
On the other hand if you jump and run in response to every potential disaster you’ll soon deplete your resources and the patience of your family, school and employers.For example, say you live in an area prone to tornadoes like Texas and you evacuate to Arkansas every time the clouds turn dark or the wind shakes the leaves. You would literally stay on the road. But waiting until the twister is at your door will put you at an unnecessary risk.
There are no easy answers; all you can do is weigh the dangers of bugging out vs. hunkering down depending on the situation and logic. You have to consider the nature of the threat and ask yourself which gives the best chance of survival with regards to the type of disaster you are facing.
Then, there are times when evacuation is a no brainer, say you live on the Florida coast and a category 5 hurricane has been predicted to hit that coast within twenty-four hours, in that case you would be stupid not to go now, even if you have no prearranged bug out location…
On the other hand let’s say there is snow storm heading your way and you have food, water, heat and a way to cook even if the power goes out for an extended amount of time then you are probably better off to hunker down where you are.
In my opinion the bugging out vs. hunkering down debate is moot because it all comes down to the type of threat, your personal situation and preparedness level – in the end you’ll have to make that decision based on that knowledge and common sense.
You were talking about scavenging supplies in the city after TEOTWAWKI and I was merely point out the dangers of actually being in the city, i.e., gangs of thugs.
I figure in a societal collapse, the main highways will be barricaded by armed gangs. Getting through those will be impossible unless you have an armed gang of your own and some excellent tactics to flank and destroy them. Wouldn't count on that happening, honestly.
Oh, I knew what you meant, but I’m pretty sure that this question of fleeing the home or staying in it, is primarily based on the problem of security and raiders in the places where most of us live.
I know that I thought that this was a discussion based on the common assumption of greater security risks of staying in place, or city versus rural, or whatever form it takes.
I want to do whatever puts the most distance between me and any "authorities" that may hamper my ability to defend myself and my family and I want to get away from the "urbanites" who, once they realize food doesn't really magically appear in a grocery store, may come looking for MY supplies.
I think the reality is, in most settings where one isn't 80 - 100 acres or more away from their neighbors, most homes are in fact, indefensible. Large patio doors/glass entryways mean it's relatively easy for anyone to brute-force enter any home.
Unless one lives in a cement bunker with one small window and one defensible door (one way in/out) I think most homes are indefensible.
“Well, if that’s the case...may as well pack it all in.”
If what’s the case, Marie? What part of the posting are you referring to?
Rthe feral gangs won’t last long. I suspect that there are more guns in the gun free cities than you think.
We have talked about this. Bugging out will only happen in the most dire of circumstances. Mostly because we don’t really have anywhere to go.
We have made our home here. This is where we will stay unless our entire town is somehow wiped off the map. Anyone attempting to dislodge us will find that to be a very, very expensive proposition.
"I wash born here, an I wash raished here, and dad gum it, I am gonna die here, an no sidewindin' bushwackin', hornswagglin' cracker croaker is gonna rouin me bishen cutter." - Gabby Johnson
I'm like Gabby in that I'm not interested in leaving.
We all die eventually. I expect I'll die here on this land I was born on.
/johnny
Lucky man, to still own the land you were born on. Wish I could say the same. Decisions were made for me, long before I was of age. Now that spot of dirt is hopelessly expensive.
I miss it terribly.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/illinois-man-2-sons-die-in-cold-rain-after-becoming-lost-on-ozarks-hiking-trail-in-missouri/2013/01/14/7b979fe2-5e69-11e2-8acb-ab5cb77e95c8_singlePage.html?tid=obinsite ~ cities can be much better than the wilderness.
One advantage to it, is that I know everyone, and every dog, and every rock and tree and fence in the area. I was running around the neighborhood as a barefoot 4 year old.
Only time it really ever hits me, though is when the tiller turns up a die-cast toy that I lost about 45 years ago. Then I get a little misty eyed.
/johnny
Problem with a machinegun is toting around all that ammo ~ it's OK if you have a regular source of supply but on a permanent basis it's just not a good idea.
However, those same guys have more than enough superior firepower in single shot and semi-automatic weapons light enough for an average adult to use.
More than enough, and they'd appreciate the company ~ when you're in a foreign country and the SFI you really need a friend who knows the lay of the land and doesn't have a foreign accent.
It depends on the motivation levels among feral gangs. My guess is they will be trying to avoid casualties. They may rush a home, but if any of them get shot, why would they not seek easier prey? You may see it in a movie, where a gang of twenty attacks the hero's family and keeps coming after ten are dead, but my guess is that won't happen. Have you ever watched a predator attack prey that fought back? I have (recently), and it's amazing how even the risk of injury will keep a larger, stronger predator at bay.
The Walter Mittys continue to talk about their plans to come to my area on the Rockies in the event of a disaster. They rehearse their plans on vacant lots around here only during the warmer times of year, have their drunken/stoned parties and fire lots of rounds in random directions. Well, one did finally try to stay a few weeks into the late fall with his motor home but headed back down to the city before freezing to death.
We had a long string of nights with lows between -20 and -36 F this winter. Some nights, wind gusts topped 100 mph (usual in winter) though not as many windy nights as usual. There’s a perpetual fire ban, as we enter our likely second year of extreme drought (drought forecast through April so far). No campfires, no recreational firing of firearms, etc. Rivers are down, and creeks are going dry. Wells will likely be going dry.
The suburbs would be safer—even during riots.
That's my experience watching wildlife. Let the butt of a pistol show and everyone remembers appointments they are late for.
/johnny
Nothing like winter to catch your attention.
I have long hair. It has to be washed once a week, minimum. When I was doing the mountain man thing, with temps below zero, heating water so I could stand outside on a pallet to wash my hair was a fairly quick exersize.
Rough life sucks. I like my convienences. I think I'll keep them.
/johnny
I diagree 100%. The government will take your stuff for re-distribution, everyone will die EQUALLY...you're silly to think otherwise, IMO.(You must be prepared to fight the re-distributers and the moochers too.)
I did hurry on washing the hair though. I do like indoor plumbing, now that I'm back in civilization.
I've got recipes for yak, if you need them, including a nice yak cheese, if you decide to milk them.
Ever consider moving south?
/johnny
Shut up. Get up; dust yourself off, take it a minute at a time. - You’re NOT dead, your son is NOT dead, your mother’s NOT dead - in fact, she may have more practical survival knowledge than you give her credit for. So may you, as well. Take this as an opportunity for a second chance to teach your son lots of important stuff.
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