[The following applies to most
events that may require evacuation, it is what works for me.]
No matter
where you live, someday because of a disaster, (generally a Mother-Nature
event) you may be forced to make the decision to stay or leave your home. Do
you have a solid plan for that? If not make one now while you don’t need it! Mother-Nature
Disasters or City, State, Country, and Global unrest put us all at risk as any
one of these events can put us in grave danger over-night if not prepared for
them.
“Bugging-Out”
Maybe due
to escalating area violence and you fear for your life daily, or the lack of
available food, water, electricity making for an overall unlivable living
conditions. You have no family security (police protection) other than yourself
providing it. The air may be unfit to breathe or there’s nuke fallout, or civil
unrest where the local street gangs have gone on a continuous rampage in your
home area killing and burning everything.
The truth about a “Bug-Out”
When you
decide you must evacuate if an item doesn’t fit in your “BOV” (Bug Out Vehicles),
be it a car or truck or even an RV, you will have no choice but to leave many
important items behind such as most all your Prepper food and gear for Mother Nature
to reclaim or the Sub-Humans to steal, destroy or set on fire for fun! When
people say they will “Bug-Out” I believe they simply don’t understand the
entire gravity and complications of that decision. They simply have no idea
what it really means.
“Stay-In-Place”
#1 Reason
to Stay-in-Place If Possible, is because of all your “Prepper and Personal Possessions”
you’ve accumulated over the years is at your primary home. So if you decide to
bug out then you’ll have no option but to leave all of it behind! Just be aware you will have to be able to defend
your property and family with whatever force is required.
What’s My Plan for Bugging-Out
Living
here in Florida
Evacuation Location
- If the hurricane is a glancing
Cat-3 or less, I book a motel room two days in advance of the storm arrival and three days after the storm. All roads in the area can be covered with fallen trees etc making a return to home difficult if not impossible for days. I pick a strong motel building and at least on the second floor because of possible flooding of 1-2 feet. Why evacuate to a place just to get wet, plan ahead for the worst.
- The location of this motel is
about 20 miles from the coastline.
- If the hurricane is a direct
eye-wall hit of a Cat-3, Cat-4 or Cat-5, I still use a motel, but 100
miles from the coastline.
- NEVER go to a public shelter,
I guarantee it will be the worst days of your life having to be confined for
days with unprepared sub-humans.
What to Expect when at your
“Bug-Out” location
- It is a common practice for
the city to disconnect electric, sewer and water. Most of the time in the motel will be without power or water. It will be dark and frustrating when
surrounded by non-Preppers.
- Since most TV is by satellite,
and most of us know that even a simple thunderstorm will cause a loss of
that signal. Only a portable battery powered radio will be the best and
probably the only communication with the outside area weather, news or
entertainment stations.
- Possibly Wi-Fi will be
available but don’t count on it.
- Also, cell phone signals may
be out if the towers are damaged.
How long will you have to stay
bugged out?
- 2-5 days for a typical
hurricane, but much longer if your event is severe.
What Essentials to Bring With?
- All prescriptions, eye
glasses/contacts and small first aid kit.
- “All” your important house
documents and insurance docs.
- Rechargeable batteries and
charges.
- 400-watt inverter to power
chargers (12 volts to 110 volts). With prudent use of your vehicles
battery and starting and running it occasionally you will have plenty of
power for recharging small batteries and cell phones.
Food to bring with
- You must bring all the food
you will need while evacuated as stores will not be open and if they are
the shelves will be picked clean.
- Can meats, soups, snack foods,
anything you can heat and eat on a camp stove.
- Bread for sandwiches, snacks.
- Coffee
- Dog/cat food
- A cooler filled with ice,
should last 4 maybe 5 days
Miscellaneous Items
- Cash, no electric means no
charge cards will work!
- Fill your vehicles gas tank
and keep it full. If you leave at the last moment you will be trapped in
traffic.
- All your camping gear, you
need to cook and a lantern for lighting.
- Poncho’s, Umbrella
- Books to read.
- Multiple changes of clothes
and if needed cold weather suitable clothes.
- Toiletries.
Worst Case Major Disaster Plan, “Home
Destroyed”
- After days or weeks you
finally are allowed to return home, and what you find is your home has
been severely damaged by a storm surge or fire burnt it to the ground!!!
- Forget calling a
carpenter/builder to rebuild as they will be overloaded. It could take a
year or more to rebuild because of all the damage to all the other homes.
- Expect a brutal and long fight
with your insurance company. Hire an attorney immediately.
- Try and find an apartment locally
and live there while you sort through all the issues.
- For myself probably end up relocating
to an area that will avoid future hurricane disasters such as Northeast
Georgia, Southwest Missouri area, or Northeast Texas where my son lives. We have no family here in the south, so no reason to stay.
- Starting over at my age, will
be difficult but no choice.
- Most of all, prepare yourself
to face the reality of losing everything you own and must now start
over with nothing, not even a photo from the walls.
