“Bug-Out” or “Stay-In-Place” Decision

[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 with the annual hurricane seasons, I’ve had to evacuate numerous times, usually with just 1-2 days notice. I have developed and improved my plan every time I’ve evacuated.

Evacuation Location

1. 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.
2. The location of this motel is about 20 miles from the coastline.
3. 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.
4. 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Possibly Wi-Fi will be available but don’t count on it.
4. Also, cell phone signals may be out if the towers are damaged.

How long will you have to stay bugged out?

1. 2-5 days for a typical hurricane, but much longer if your event is severe.

What Essentials to Bring With?

1. All prescriptions, eye glasses/contacts and small first aid kit.
2. “All” your important house documents and insurance docs.
3. Rechargeable batteries and charges.
4. 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

1. 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.
2. Can meats, soups, snack foods, anything you can heat and eat on a camp stove.
3. Bread for sandwiches, snacks.
4. Coffee
5. Dog/cat food
6. A cooler filled with ice, should last 4 maybe 5 days

Miscellaneous Items

1. Cash, no electric means no charge cards will work!
2. Fill your vehicles gas tank and keep it full. If you leave at the last moment you will be trapped in traffic.
3. All your camping gear, you need to cook and a lantern for lighting.
4. Poncho’s, Umbrella
5. Books to read.
6. Multiple changes of clothes and if needed cold weather suitable clothes.
7. Toiletries.
8. Battery powered radio with weather band and hand held 2-way radios

Worst Case Major Disaster Plan, “Home Destroyed”

1. 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!!!
2. 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.
3. Expect a brutal and long fight with your insurance company. Hire an attorney immediately.
4. Try and find an apartment locally and live there while you sort through all the issues.
5. 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.
6. Starting over at my age, will be difficult but no choice.
7. 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.