Survival Preparation - To Bug Out or To Bug In?

As with many preppers I wonder if I should consider bugging out when the shit hits the fan or staying put and protecting the place I am at. This dilemma has been debated a countless many times by many a doomsday preppers.

The question really boils down to this. Is being mobile a better choice than being in a stationary position?

If you are planning to "Bug In" at your current location you have a couple of advantages that aren't as easy for the mobile prepper. You can have a larger cache of survival products and food available to you. You have familiar surroundings which is also a distinct advantage. The drawback on the other hand is that if people know or learn what you have that might make you more of a target for others who because of desperation resort to other than friendly means to get what they need.

Many preppers believe that they will be able to trade with people and that will be much better than any form of force by arms. This might be true if you have an overhwhelming amount of firepower where they know that the only recourse is trading politely, barring that the darker side of human nature will probably take over and they will use whatever means necessary to get what you have and they don't.

So if you plan on bugging in when the shit hits the fan you need to consider having the means to protect what you have. You should also consider hiding much of your stash in multiple locations outside and away from your primary location. If you do get raided and lose what you have you still have fallback supplies. Plan on having a very good security plan in place. Don't rely on the good nature of people around you. Your life could be in danger and no one will be there to bail YOU out.

If you are planning on a more mobile prepper lifestyle you need to consider the ramifications of not having as many supplies available to you in most cases. You will want to learn the skills of living off the land. You should have a couple of books at your disposal, one is a book on edible plants and the other would be on the medicinal use of plants. This will allow you to forage much more effectively saving valuable space in your bug out bag for other supplies.

Your bug out bag should contain items you will need to survive while moving from place to place. You're top concerns should be shelter and security. Having both will allow you to stay in more secure hiding places although you won't have as much in the way of creature comforts. A small tent and/or tarps that you can build them from would be ideal to have. Items that allow you to start fires will be a must as would be some sort of pot for boiling water and cooking needs. You want to be well stocked with first aid, as they say bullets, band-aids and beans.

You will also want to have a good pair of boots. Although tennis shoes are comfortable for day to day living now if you are walking a lot they will wear out, you will want a good pair of military grade water proof boots that are both comfortable and broken in. The last thing you want to have to do when you bug out is deal with blisters because your boots aren't broken in. Warm clothing might be a consideration too thought it's likely you would be able to scavenge clothes from abandoned homes.

Whether you choose to bug in or bug out, the important thing is to be prepared and stay alive.

At http://www.doomsday-preppers.com you will find a wide variety of survival products for everyone from urban survivalist to the hard core emergency prepper. We have Gas Masks, Survival food and much more available. We also have many articles on prepping as well as a very active forum that can be found at http://www.doomsday-preppers.com/forum/

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Bug Out Sins For Survivalists

Whether you plan to bug out solo or travel in masse with fellow survivalists there are specific, unwritten rules that would be best followed. These are not just random policies but ones that have been thought out very carefully and were selected to ensure your safety and those of your associates.

A good survivalist will be prepared when its time to bug out. They will practice good common sense and remain respectful and courteous to their fellow survivalists and preppers. The difference between the good and the bad survivalist is that those who show us up in a bad light generally lack the proper preparedness and are drastically short of the necessary awareness to survive any serious emergency. As such they tend to place their fellow survivalists in grave jeopardy.

When bugging out in the wild each and every sound tends to echo throughout the forest. Naturally, you bugged out to be secure and maintain a low profile as did your accompanied friends and family. As with any other survivalist activities you must keep a minimal footprint to stay safe and secure.

As every survivalist knows your temporary bug out site is now your new home and your neighbors may actually be less than a hundred feet from you. Nothing is more aggravating than to have to put up with your neighbors trash and stench. The golden rule here is clean up after yourself. You should make it a habit of collecting any generated trash that accumulates around your location and disposing of it promptly. Always keep a box of garbage bags in your bug out kit specifically for this purpose. I have written about it previously and the concept is still very much true even today, you should "Leave no Trace."

Always try to keep the noise and associated sounds to a minimum as you never know if you have unexpected company in your immediate area. In addition, a good night's sleep never hurts anyone and is essential when you are bugging out in the wild. Run your generator only when absolutely necessary. This is one of the major reasons that I am against the use of generators in bug out conditions. They create a lot of needless noise which tends to attract undesired attention. Attention is something you and your group definitely do not need.

Beware when walking around the area especially during the initial bug out stages and in the evening. Nerves will be on edge as no one really knows what to expect. Loaded weapons are likely to be readily available and an unexpected intrusion or short cuts into your neighbor's immediate area may be unsafe. Provide some privacy here for them and above all let them know in advance that you are coming into their territory. Just a simple "Hello" could save your life.

Since water will be at a premium make sure that when you make your initial bug out plans you include adequate supplies of this valuable liquid. Not only will you need to provide a sufficient supply for drinking but also for washing dishes and perhaps clothing, as well as for sanitary use. Come properly prepared with some sort of plastic dish washing basin, dish soap and enough water. Don't plan to sponge water (pun intended) from your neighbors.

Come on folks, you are now likely living in the woods and wildlife is abundant. Never, and I repeat never leave food out. Animals will stop at nothing to get to your food supply and that can be dangerous for you, your family and anyone else near the food. Raccoons will totally destroy a cooler in their efforts to obtain the food inside. Bears will demolish an automobile just to get what groceries they could smell from the car seats inside. Crows although not particularly fatal will cause havoc at your table as they go after food left behind. If you are forced to live in a tent never store your food in it with you. In reality there is actually no safe location to store your edible supplies while in the wild. Generally the best location to place your provisions is likely to be the trunk of your bug out vehicle.

Lastly, let's talk about children. Never let your children run loose around your bug out location. It isn't that your neighbors may not like kids, but rather these are strange and usual surroundings for young children. The children are totally unfamiliar with the location and chances are great that they could become lost. Even worse is the fact that there may be less than friendly people roaming the woods and loudly playing children could attract their attention.

The major point in all of this is to maintain a low profile at all times. It is better to keep all activities as silent as possible and get through the initial period in as safe and secure manner as you possibly can. Enjoy your bug out as you may, but do so safely.

Copyright @2010 Joseph Parish

www.survival-training.info

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