Those who are prepared for survival situations know that a bug out may come. A bug out is exactly how it sounds. It means itís time to get out of dodge. Bugging out may mean youíll have to get where youíre going by walking.
If this is the case, then you need to make sure that you have sturdy shoes or boots – and the means to have food and shelter if itís going to be a long trek. Being prepared for this scenario means having a bug out bag where you can get to it when the time comes for you to go.
Bugging out by vehicle means that youíre leaving in a vehicle thatís already prepared ahead of time for a bug out. Your vehicle is gassed up and ready to go within seconds.
Itís time to bug out when the place youíre at is no longer safe ñ or could be compromised – and survival may become an issue. This means you need to be prepared to bug out in the event of a weather emergency, a terrorist attack, a flash mob or a riot.
You also need to leave fast if thereís a contaminate set loose in your area – such as a train derailment and the train was carrying some nasty hazardous materials that escaped into the air. City-wide black outs are a criminalís favorite time to come out and wreak havoc. Your possessions arenít worth losing your life over – so leave.
If thereís been a city-wide breakdown of communication resources, like if the 911 system crashes, get out. These systems are all computer run – and when the computer crashes, youíre on your own. When a city goes down, law and order goes out the window and chaos ensues.
If some nasty weather is headed your direction and itís not looking good, get out before the government officials tell you to get out. Why? Because there will always be thousands who wait until the last possible minute to leave – and you may end up trapped in your vehicle sitting still on an interstate while a harrowing storm bears down on you.
Plan ahead of time to take an alternate evacuation route, since the main roads will be overrun by people trying to leave. Print out your escape routes and have them where you can get to them easily.
Know where youíre going. Donít just hop into your vehicle and take off. Plan ahead for every possible emergency. Have your kit or bag ready to take with you when you go. Inside the bag, you should have water, food, first aid, a way to take care of shelter – like a sleeping bag or poncho, flashlights and personal safety tools like Mace or weapons.
Make sure you pack a battery-operated or hand crank radio so that you can listen for emergency broadcasts. Have a way to start a fire and make sure you have a change of clothes.
