For most preppers, the action plan for a TEOTWAWKI scenario can be neatly categorized into basically one of two categories: Bug in or Bug out. Many people live in rural areas with sufficient security and provisions to be able to go to ground in the event of a disaster and ride out the storm. “Sufficient” security might include bunkers, shooters, stockpiles of ammunition and weapons, spare parts, etc. “Sufficient” provisions might be enough food to get the defense force and extended family of the principal through to the harvest, and enough seeds to ensure that the harvest will feed the crew indefinitely. For many rural preppers, this scenario is an attainable goal. For many urban preppers, however, this goal could never be realistically accomplished. For that reason, we have to consider the possibility of bugging out.
There are some relatively standard considerations that almost anybody with a functional brain housing group would think through prior to bugging out. Where am I going to get fuel? What type of vehicle do I need? How much food and water should I be taking with me? Where am I going? These are the basics of bugging out, and many of the conversations I see around the topic within the forums are geared towards that end. These are great considerations, and they need to be considered as a bare minimum before attempting a bug out. But, having experienced moving through combat zones for most of my adult life, I’d like to offer some other considerations that may not be so obvious.
As a caveat, these considerations are based upon several assumptions. First, we are assuming that the power grid is down. Second, we are assuming that the domestic security situation has degraded to the point that the police are no longer capable of providing safety and order (if they ever were capable to begin with). Therefore, based upon those two assumptions, we have to further assume that traveling is a very dangerous activity. People will be looking for targets of opportunity for any chance of finding food, water, or supplies.
Here are some not-so-obvious considerations for bugging out based upon those assumptions:
What are my primary and alternate routes going to look like? Yes, I said “alternate route.” While it may be expedient to travel along paved roads to arrive at your bug out location, it may not be realistic. There are several reasons why traveling along paved roads may not be the best idea you’ve ever had (remembering that we are assuming the security situation has degraded significantly):
- Paved roads are highly visible. Traveling along paved roads will draw attention, particularly in a scenario where practically all vehicular traffic has ceased because of fuel shortages and security concerns. Doing so may expose you to bands of roving thieves and other not-so-friendly types.
- Bridges and overpasses make excellent choke points. This means there is only one direction that you can travel, and it also means that you are in an extremely weak position to defend against a well-planned ambush. It’s worth saying that if I weren’t a prepper who was working towards building supplies for my family, and the apocalyptic disaster happened upon me, I would probably use this method to feed my family. A good ambush can be executed with a few well-placed individuals given the correct terrain. An overpass or a bridge is the correct terrain. It’s best just to avoid them.
- Roads may be impassable. Think about a scenario where traffic was so bad that sat in their cars for days and didn’t move. Many would eventually just leave the cars in the middle of the road and head home. Remember, we’re talking about an urban situation here. You might not even be able to fit your bug out vehicle down those roads.
- Some people are capable of making shots at 500+ meters. If you were driving down the side of a major highway, your enemies would be able to see you from far enough away that you would never hear the bullet that killed you. There is relatively little cover and concealment on highways. (Obviously it is hard to drive through cover and concealment.)
Since your primary route was probably a highway, I’d like to challenge you to come up with an alternate plan. Let’s try it on foot this time, through the woods if possible, or at a bare minimum through back streets where ambushes would be less likely. If you’re a smart cookie, as many of you are, the thought of reaching your bug out location on foot will immediately trigger several other considerations. Here’s a small list of things to think about:
- How will I navigate? Since we are assuming the power grid is down, you probably won’t have a charge on your fancy little GPS system (if the satellites are still functional). You’re going to need a good, old-fashioned map and compass to get where you’re going. Do you know how use land navigation techniques? You’d better start thinking about taking a class.
- How much food and water can you carry on your person? This might necessitate changing your overall bug out location.
- How good is the cover and concealment along your alternate route? Will it provide sufficient concealment for your needs, or do you need to augment your concealment through camouflage clothing? What type of camouflage is most effective in your environment?
- How much private property are you going to need to cross to arrive at your location? Can you detour through a publicly owned National forest or other location where you are less likely to run into the security forces of other private citizens? Remember, trespassing during a major disaster might get you shot repeatedly.
Where are my en-route safe havens? “What the heck is a safe haven?” you may be asking. Think Custer’s Last Stand. Where are you going to go when the stuff hits the fan right in the middle of your trip to the bug out location?
For obvious reasons, I recommend having as many safe havens built into your route as possible. One safe haven for every mile or two would be ideal. They need to be thoroughly discussed, known by all members of the travel party, and visibly marked on all of the maps (of which everyone should have a copy). A good safe haven will offer limited entry access, ballistic protection, cover, and concealment. Concrete buildings work great. Bathrooms within concrete buildings work even better (there is only one door in, the doors can typically be locked from the inside, and they are usually made out of concrete). In a pinch, a thick grove of trees can serve as a great safe haven as it offers the bare minimum of ballistic protection, cover, and concealment. You get the idea. Here are a few additional things to consider about safe havens:
- Public buildings such as fire stations and park buildings are less likely to be defended by gun-toting militia members. You might even run into a friendly fireman who has medical knowledge if you’re lucky, but most likely all government operations will have ceased by this point. If you choose to utilize someone else’s property for a safe haven, you need to be prepared to fight for it. This might not be the best idea, considering you might be getting chased at the time. Even Hitler couldn’t win a two front war. Think about it.
- You need a running password. In the event that your group is split up, everyone will have directions to rendezvous at the closest safe haven. The first person to arrive will secure the location and wait. If other members of the group are inbound in a hurry, they need to have some way to communicate that they are secure and not under duress. I suggest sign/countersign. It can be as simple as a number combination. For instance, let’s say our number combination was seven. I might challenge the runner with the number “Four.” The runner would reply with a verbal “Three” and, since those two numbers add up to seven, I would know that all is well and not feel compelled to shoot my friend.
- Ideally, a safe haven would not be too far off of your route. It’s best if they lie along your route so that everyone knows where they are and how to get there. The fewer the barriers between your route and your safe haven, the more quickly you can travel there when SHTF. For instance, a river between your route and your safe haven could be disastrous.
Do I need geocaches of critical supplies? Since we’re now on foot, we obviously can’t carry as much as we would like. We might need extra food, supplies, medical kits, ammunition, and more. Since we can’t reasonably carry them with us, we have no choice to but to store them along our route. I suggest planning en-route waypoints where critical resupply caches can be pre-positioned. I would bury them if at all possible, on uncontested land (like somewhere deep within a national forest). Mark them on your map, and then build the waypoints into your route. If you get there and don’t need the supplies, leave them alone. You never know when you might come back through.
Obviously, you would need to develop some way of storing your cache in such a way that your supplies would not be ruined. You have to keep it dry and serviceable despite weather and potentially having been buries for a long time. Also, you need to think of a way to mark the cache so that it’s obvious to you but won’t cause cousin Earl from the local farm to dig up your supplies out of curiosity.
As a general rule, I recommend one geo cache for each day of foot travel required to reach your bug out location. Of course, many people will label me paranoid and crazy for even suggesting the practice, but then I guess I am a bit batty.
I hope this article has helped someone think of a few extra considerations about bugging out that might save their life if TEOTWAWKI ever actually happens. As always, any prepping is better than no prepping, so take it one step at a time and do it over time as you become able. You’ll never regret being prepared.