blackout-bug-out

Its Time To BUG OUT But Where Will You Go?

blackout-bug-out

Think about this… you live either in the city or in the densely populated metroplex of suburbia immediately surrounding the city. One afternoon while you are at work, the power goes out.

You don’t think much of it at first, but after an hour or so, you discover that the power outage is not just localized to your vicinity, but instead it appears that the entire city is ‘dark’, and you’re hearing that it might be very widespread…

What do you do?


 
The boss tells everyone to go home, there’s nothing more that can be done that day — see you tomorrow — go home.

You head out and into a mass of snarled traffic, as the traffic lights are out and EVERYONE is heading home because of the blackout. You finally make it home in 2 hours – a drive that normally takes you just 30 minutes – and you discover that your spouse had just made it home moments earlier.

You start to talk about what has happened.

You remember that you have a portable battery powered AM/FM Shortwave Radio in your preps. You turn it on and notice that you cannot find any FM stations at all, but you do find several AM stations which are broadcasting emergency news and information, and they say they’re running on generator backup power.

They are reporting that the power outage is apparently VERY wide spread and is affecting regions well beyond your region. No one seems to know how bad, or why…

It seems that (based on emergency radio reports) a significant portion of the country is under a blackout. Reports are sketchy.

What do you do? Would you BUG OUT?

 
Here are a few thoughts:

If I discovered that the blackout was very widespread, this would indicate that the cause and chain reaction is very significant – potentially long lasting, leading to the possibility that the grid may be down for much more than a fairly short period of time. If the cause is suspected to be one which is potentially more catastrophic than otherwise, and if I lived in a densely populated region which could become dangerous — I would likely activate my bug-out plan.

Reason being: Any widespread blackout as hypothesized in this scenario will likely take a long time to get back online – and that is assuming that there has been relatively little damage to the infrastructure. Worse yet (possibly much worse), if it turns out that this widespread blackout is the result of an attack (EMP, major X-flare, or otherwise,) and/or a serious event which has damaged key EHV transformers on the grid, it means that our world is about to change in a very big way…

I would (under those suspected circumstances) definitely leave the area if I lived in or near the city. I would leave because IF the event turned out to be long lasting, I could become trapped in a rapidly deteriorating socially chaotic and very dangerous environment as desperate people begin to do desperate things when their food, water, gas, and supplies run out.

I have an advantage though because I know that most people will be initially paralyzed with indecision. Their normalcy bias will keep them waiting for the lights to come back on. This will be the golden opportunity time to get out. Before the SHTF. The ‘safe’ window of opportunity will be short lived however.

 
So here is the question, “It’s time to bug out, but where will you go?”

I ask the question with the hope that you will ask yourself that question (BEFORE the disaster). Asking yourself that question AFTER the disaster may prove to be too late to make a wise decision.

Communication systems will mostly be down and offline. If you haven’t planned for it ahead of time, you really may not have much of a clue what to do, where to go, or if you even should go.

Well, here are a few ideas…

First of all, be sure to always have a quantity of cash on hand, so that during an emergency and the time immediately following a disaster when others may be scrambling to procure items which they need (ATM’s offline and/or electronic transactions are not functioning), you will have the cash to pay for last minute items or services. Consider the scenario I just described… If you are en-route on a bug-out away from the city, and you need to stay at a motel — paying with cash will ensure that you get a room, assuming there’s room. Almost everyone uses electronic currency today – so if that system crashes (even temporarily), those with cash will have a better chance of procuring last minute items or services (for awhile).

The key to the bug-out will be to get to a location that is far enough away from the densely populated city region or metropolis such that you stand a better chance of avoiding the resulting chaos (if there is to be chaos) – better safe than sorry – you can always return back home if it’s a false alarm. Have you planned on where you would go? How you would feed yourself? If you’re considering relatives who live out in the country – will they be okay with you showing up at their door?

If you have relatives or friends that live in a potentially safer area away from densely populated regions, you may bring it up in conversation sometime and question whether they would be willing to have you show up at their door should such a circumstance or evacuation come to pass. The point is to think about an evacuation and where you would go.

Be sure that you have enough fuel for your vehicle to get wherever you plan to go. Always keep your gas tank nearly topped off. Never go below half a tank – get in the habit of keeping it full. Consider keeping extra fuel stored safely in proper gas cans at home, so that you could bring it with you should you ever need to hit the road. Keep at least a 72-hour kit in your vehicle – enough food and water for 3-days.

Have several hotel/motel choices picked out, away from the city, and have maps (and know how to get there without GPS). It will be very important to know routes that avoid major freeways as they may become clogged. Know the back-roads to your destination. Have cash to pay for your stay. If the disaster scenario is repairable and relatively short lived, you can simply return home later. If the disaster turns into a nightmare scenario SHTF, you will be safer than you otherwise would have been, as the social chaos back home will be unfolding in a very bad way as people become hungry and desperate.

The objective within this article is not about listing the things and preparations that you may need (this site is filled with suggestions in other articles), but to encourage YOU to think about it. Do you have what you need? If you had to, where would you go? Would you go? What are the criteria for bugging out?

Know the roads and routes to bug out.

 
There are lots and lots of ducks to get in a row while considering this subject of bugging out, and there are also many circumstances and scenarios whereby it will be better to stay put. This is VERY largely to do with YOU, where you live, your local environment, your preps, your neighbors, your population density, the expectation of disaster recovery, the level of SHTF, etc. – it will be a judgement call based on many things.

I’m curious to hear your thoughts on the notion of bugging out, your criteria for bugging out (how bad does it have to be?), and if you had to bug-out where would go – what would be your contingency plans, etc. What are the things that you would factor in order to make a decision whether to stay or go?

42 Comments

  1. I think you have summed it up well. Many points a lot of us should pay much more attention and thought to.

    All I would add is, to have a plan in place to secure your home, so it is not an easy target, once you’ve left.

    -plywood on windows?
    -shut off water main?
    -etc

  2. Where ya gonna go?

    How are you going to get there if the traffic signals are out, traffic is a mess of snarled cars and trucks?

    Might be better to stay put for a few days and see what happens.

    Make a plan.

    1. City people stay out of our rural areas especially dumbocrap voters.

    2. The point was to get out before these things occur…before the sheeple learned this is NOT about 3 hours of no hot water!!!

  3. Since all family seems to live in cities we will just hunker down where we live. We live in a rural setting but just outside a city. So our best bet is to lock down and defend. We do have some family that plan to come to our house as their bug out location. More people mean better security. I just wish we were farther out in the country. Since we will be staying put, we keep a “Get Home” bag in the trunk of the car.

    As far as how wide spread the power outages go, I figure that as long as we are getting some info, that could be seen as a good sign. It’s when nobody knows what is going on and are reporting that there is no information available that I would begin to worry. That might indicate a major event and the government doesn’t want people to panic so they would likely shut down any information trying to be reported. It’s at that point that we will likely institute our lock down plans.

  4. Since we are 180 & 240 miles from the 2 largest cities (200,000 Pop.) & 70 miles from 20,000 city I think we will be relatively safe here. In an agricultural area it is only natural to have supplies on hand and neighbours will be able to supply other things we need so we always keep things to pay them with.

    Ken, awhile ago you had a map with circles around cities showing safe areas in the USA. I promptly got out maps of 2 provinces & made circles around all the close cities & was relieved that we were in a pretty safe zone. While anything could happen it was a relief to see in picture form where problems could be coming from. It also let me feel fairly safe in telling family that they should get home if at all possible. Hopefully more people will start thinking about these things. Maybe Ukraine will be a wake up call for people.

    1. Yes, I remember making that map – it took a-while putting it together, but it was a good exercise in discovering the concentrated zones of population and perimeters of possible (negative) influence – indicating where it will likely be more dangerous during a SHTF collapse when people become desperate.

      Safer Survival Distance From USA City Hordes

      There’s a link within the article for the full size map, showing greater detail.

  5. I’M VERY CONFUSSED ON HOW TO DECIDE WHEN TO BUG OUT, AND WHERE TO GO EVEN MORE, MY CITY ONLY HAS THREE WAYS OUT AND ALL OF THEM COME TO THE SAME “y” INTERSECTION, FOR ME MAY BE IT WOULD BE TO STAY PUT? HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU YOUR OPINION

  6. There are very few reasons that I would consider bugging out:
    – About to be overrun by zombies
    – Really big fire coming this way

    Shelter *is* a fundamental requirement for survival. Leaving a dark, perhaps cold, house to go somewhere with no shelter that is just as cold and probably darker doesn’t seem like an Einstein moment to me. Of course Einstein *did* bail out of Germany in the 30s.

    I, for one, am *far* better prepared for adversity at home than I would be out in the sticks.

    1. You might find this interesting… In the last local wildfire, it was people in the sticks who were trying to bug out and a couple of them, backed up on dirt roads, got cooked in their cars. Some have decided not to evacuate next time. A firestorm will roar through in a mere 15 minutes, and they can hole up in an inner room, then come out with a mask and hose to save the home they would have abandoned. Not for the faint of heart!

  7. Staying put , have networking with neighbors and family that lives close by , that will be coming here when SHTF , live rurally , 15miles from Hattiesburg,Ms., population approximately 85,000 , 15 miles from Laurel,Ms.,pop.app. 20,000 , our place is way off the road on higher ground than surrounding area , have an underground spring that comes from underground and is then named Little Rocky Creek , good fresh water source , strain it and boil it and it is very good and full of minerals , also have a pond on property . Land for growing vegetables , have chickens , ducks , am planning to add goats to be used for milk givers . As for the networking , we have plans for our self defense for our area , most of our weapons are the same type and caliber , there are some with other type weapons besides our main type but members that have them do have a good supply of feed for them ! We pretty much do drills and things together to keep the edge ,so when needed we will be ready for what comes , practice , practice , practice ,till it is second nature . Be prepared and ready . Keep your powder dry .

  8. You are dead on correct in saying get out early. The earlier you leave the populated areas, the easier it will be to get out. Using side streets will even make it easier. If its a really bad situation and will last a long time, you will not be allowed out. I have it on good authority that the military will surround large cities to prevent people from leaving and preying on the countryside.

  9. One very big mistake that some people make when they hear the word “bugout” is they assume that it means to head to the woods, or to leave their home with the idea that they will survive “anywhere” without a solid destination in mind. Some people think it means to just take-off, as though it was a spur of the moment thought.

    There’s hardly anyone who could actually survive for long in a primitive way, out in the woods or wilderness without a solid plan, shelter, skills and ability to live that way. So don’t think about it that way (the woods, the wilderness). That’s the wrong way unless you are highly trained for it.

    To bugout without a well thought out plan, a solid destination, and support and supplies to live your life at your bugout destination — would be foolish, unless you are surely going to die where you are now (depends on what has happened or what is about to happen).

    This is why it is so important to think about bugging out BEFORE you ever have to think about it for real.

    The premise of the post is that the person is living in the city or on the edge (most people in the United States live in these areas), and the grid is down.

    After a few days to a week in the city regions, there will be a breakdown of civility. After a few weeks it will become very bleak. A month? Complete and total SHTF. People are dying in large numbers. For ANYONE who chose to stay in the city or near the city, they will be in grave danger, and I don’t care if you have a year of food and preps and have a stock of bullets, beans, and band-aids, you will be overrun. Period. Looters and gangs will have formed looking for food and supplies. Unless you have an army, you will be overrun. Your choice.

    A situation where you would need to bugout seems rare and unlikely. Maybe. But it could happen. Don’t stick your head in the sand. Make a plan.

    If you live in the city, or in the perimeter of heavy population, you need to figure out WHERE you would go and HOW you would survive there. Become a prepper.

    If you do not live in the city or in the perimeter of heavy population, then most of you will probably be better off staying home with your preps, blending in and adapting, and laying low with your defenses up. Only you can decide. Become a prepper (if you aren’t already).

    1. Could not agree more. Just about every weekend my sons and I backwoods camp (hike in several miles and make camp with only what you can carry). Its time together (they`re 28 and 29) and the practice you get with different skills is priceless. Setting snares, hunting squirrels or just fishing for a nice meal surprisingly is not skill sets of the average citizen.

      We live in a heavily populated metroplex and always have bug out bags at the ready with A, B and C destinations with topo maps and exact routes to get there so all of us will know approximately where the others are and how to signal/find them. I cannot stress enough the importance of that last point.

      Make sure you have a water purifier and the knowledge to find water, just because there’s supposed to be a creek doesn’t mean it always has water.

      I don’t post here much but love the site, great site Ken.

      1. Thanks, Tim. Also your suggestion of “A, B, C” destinations is very good advice. One’s initial “go-to” destination might be in a direction that proves a “no-go”, depending on what has happened – so alternate destinations (with alternate routes) is good recommended practice.

    2. Your bug out spot in the woods may also have been reccyed by many other preppers also. If you have found a spot where there is a good clean water supply and plenty of fuel (read wood) others will have done so also.

      You may arrive at your chosen bolt hole to find it’s already populated. Be prepared to do some diplomacy with others of a like mind to yourself.

      It’ll be the desperates from the city who will be the problems – not other preppers.

  10. I live in hurricane country so am familiar with the concept of a prolonged power outage (Katrina). The trick to surviving it is simple: GET OUT BEFORE IT GETS YOU! Fortunately hurricanes have lead time, that is, you know they’re coming in advance and you can outrun them if you don’t wait too long. Figure that, in a hurricane scenario, you’re going to lose power anyway so get out before the power goes out. The main reason is this: when the power goes out, gas stations cannot pump the gas out of their storage tanks. If you wait too long you might run out of gas and can’t get more for both your car/truck and generator. In the case of a sudden grid-down scenario, where you have no warning, keeping your bugout equipment ready to go and your gas tank topped off is the way to go.

    1. You are right on the money regarding the gasoline (or diesel) for your vehicle. It is VERY important to stay topped-off as best you can, and to have jugs of fuel safely stored (use STABIL or PRI-G additive for long term fuel storage – PRI-D for diesel).

  11. Great Article, and excellent responses. I just finished reading where the CEO of Generac Systems stated openly that our Power Grid is that of a 3rd Rate Nation – wow! I also recognize his firm sells generators, but I believe he was making a statement of fact and not looking for shock value.

    We just have to make our plans, something is going to happen. Thankfully I am in a rural area.

  12. I left Long Island New York years ago because it would be a death trap to try to evacuate from. I now live in a rural area and don’t plan on bugging out because I am getting older and life in the woods doesn’t appeal to me anymore. That being said, I still keep a bug out bag and vehicles ready in case of a natural disaster or train derailment (with chemicals). Otherwise, if it is a national/societal breakdown I am staying put with all my supplies and fellow defenders!

  13. Realize that having TOO MUCH is also counter productive. Just have enough to travel lite. All of your heavy items should be at the BOL.

    1. Bicycles are good – especially the mountain type.
      They can carry a large load.

  14. E Whatever YOUR best option is, PREPARE FOR IT NOW. Water and good walking shoes, some trailmix and a walking stick in the trunk. An old jacket, a pocket sized am radio and some new, unopened batteries. A knife. A hat. A typical student type of backpack so you don’t make yourself a target. DO IT NOW. Tomorow may be too late.

  15. I really need to concentrate on a get home bag put together for both of my vehicles because I work three days a week from a traditional office setting that is 18 miles one way. I generally walk 2 miles a day weather permitting. I know I can do that 18. Might be tough because of some minor physical issues but I’ll work through it. I always carry a knife and my CC weapon as well.

    I live in a semi rural area in a trailer park so I’m hoping to hide in place when the hordes go after the upper middle class neighborhoods 4 or so miles from me. Eventually, I’m sure the looters would start showing up here but hopefully they’ll be thinned out quite a bit by then.

    I do have a good friend who owns a small farm that I plan on approaching soon and having the ‘ talk ‘ about coming there as well as setting up a cache of food and water hidden in one of his barns. Pretty sure he’ll be fine with that plan. His place is only a couple of miles down the road.

    Guess I’d better get on target here!

    Snake Plisken

  16. I just started prepping a few months ago and here are my thoughts:

    My plan was/is to bug out as soon as the SHTF- short of a biological, chemical, or fallout event. Even at that, it’s nothing more than a temporary shelter in the storm. This is because I live in a shoe box (no basement); in a park, in the burbs, all while being completely surrounded by both the overly needy and overly greedy. I’ve long held the belief that It’s better to be far away from Dodge than to try and get the hell out of it in a hurry.

    I can’t even begin to think of any specific place to bug out to, except to bug in with other family members. But it’s not from a lack of trying to formulate a plan, as I have put a lot of thought here.

    I do not believe that running to my brother’s farm is a long term solution- might as well put a big neon sign up that says free food and supplies here.

    I know for a fact that my family isn’t capable of roughing it in the woods for more than a few hours without me. They don’t share the same interest in prepping and survival that I do, and they would much rather be indoors.

    I also know that we can’t count on uncle Sam to save us. I had FEMA training post Katrina, due to the nature of my then employment. If/when they become overwhelmed, it’s every person for themselves. There will be raping, killing, looting, dying, starving, disease, and that’s no joke.

    It’s really sad to say, but I feel that most of “my” plan (my plan because essentially it will become that) would have to be created on the fly. There are simply a lot of options not available to me because of where I live, the lack of resources because of a lack of support, and because of what each family member individually deems as crucial to our future.

    And I’m putting this out there because I’m willing to bet that there’s a lot of other people out there that feel trapped as well. We kind of feel stuck with what we have or don’t have- not from a lack of trying or knowledge or equipment, but because of all the other things that weigh us down. Input and comments would be appreciated.

    1. You’re right, Cyan. There are a lot of us who know that there is no way we will be able to survive many situations. For whatever reason (family, money, health issues), we can’t leave home for a better place, we can’t stockpile all we want, or we can’t survive without medical care that won’t be available. We don’t know for sure just what will happen in the future. We can only do our best to prepare for whatever may possibly come. That’s not to say we should be complacent and just say, “Well, we can’t do _______, so I won’t worry about that aspect.” We need to keep searching for ways to improve whatever our plans are. A way may eventually be found. The trapped feeling is common, but you can’t let it control you. For me, I put my trust in Christ, so I know what will happen when I die. That defeats the hopeless feeling! At the same time, I prepare all I can to stay here on Earth with my family a little longer.

      Even if you have the “perfect” place to be, whether your main home or a bug-out place, that may not work. It could be hit by an earthquake, a fire, or even a meteor! Who knows? You just can’t rely on all of your stuff. It’s like all of the people who are relying on their money to get them through their lives. It may be gone tomorrow. We just don’t know, but we prepare as well as we can.

      It’s nice to hear that so many people here have a good place to stay or to go to, and a good network of family/friends to rely on. Not all of us have that. Of course, I must say that it’s hard to develop a network of like-minded people when you don’t want to give away the fact that you’re a prepper!

      1. Like I said, I’m new to the scene and my inexperience has shown itself a few times- especially in gear purchases. lol But what I am beginning to learn for myself is that there is a lot of speculation and opinion wrapped up with a handful of cold, hard facts. In other words; what one person does in their situation may work flawlessly, but another person using the same strategy might fail miserably.

        And on your last comment; I agree wholeheartedly. A community network would be a pretty awesome thing to be part of. But around here, it’s best to keep your business to yourself- keep the shed door closed and do not tell anyone that you have anything out of the ordinary.

        In realizing this (a very long time ago), I decided to open the conversation in my work place a few weeks ago. We have a small crew of 6 technicians and a few office personnel. I thought maybe a few people would have an interest. To my disappointment however, their reactions ranged from prepping is a waste of time & money, to being made out as some kind of whack job. And you know what? I’m fine with that. The conversation was actually very entertaining, but went far enough for me to hear what I needed to hear. I’m just not connecting with the right people, I think.

        1. There are numerous prepper groups to be found online and probably fairly close to your location. Even if you have to travel some distance it would benefit you to contact them and attend a weekend meeting/drill or however they conduct themselves just to see if thats for you.

        2. Thanks Tim. I think I’m going to take a better look at those options, very soon.

    2. Why not bug now? We are bugged. Work on it and get to that place now. Something happens we are there and only have to make a few adjustments.

    3. Cyan, I know what you mean. I am a mom of three young daughters, and my husband is not concerned with prepping, nor will he even discuss possible survival scenarios with me. I have expressed my feelings of carrying this heavy burden of wanting to protect our family all on my shoulders. I have only my limited internet research, and the few survival/prepping shows that I have viewed to try to gain any type of insight. I own no firearms, nor have any experience in using one. On a limited food budget, I have saved only enough food to last a couple of months at best, and not nearly enough water. Bugging in seems the only feasible option with our small children, yet with no means of protection, I don’t see this as a solution. It is difficult when you face the realities of the limits life places, whether financial limitations, or simply the lack of support from loved ones, on any possible plans. I will just have to continue to do my research, save what I’m able, keep gently trying to convince my husband of the impending necessity of all of this, and, ultimately, place my trust in God. I see no other short term solutions. Best of luck to all who have posted…

  17. I am 30 miles from million+ city. Five miles from major interstate. 60 miles from high perched hidey hole.

    No children. Just me, wife, and dog. Work from home.

    Because nobody knows exactly what event or circumstance will set off the need to decide whether to bug out or in, and everybody has different needs, wants, and capabilities; no plan for coping with any aftermath will be perfect. So some of us plan ahead and prepare for contingencies. Some of us practice our plans.

    I prefer to stay in our home and tough it out in any scenario, but have plan for pre-staging bug out if those million+ cannot be contained in the big city.

    EVERY time the power goes out, I start the plan in motion. I wait 15 minutes and then get the Honda generators fired up and connect to refrigerator, freezer, etc. (I keep five 5 gallon metal jerry cans of gas at all times, and rotate through my 4×4 truck, generators, yard tools, etc. throughout the year). I turn on the AM/FM shortwave radio, or television, and/or use my smartphone to monitor information regarding the source of power outage.

    Many times the power outage is very localized as the result of a storm, or an accident, etc., and the power comes back on within a couple hours. Many times 10 minutes AFTER I start the Hondas. lol.

    A few times in the years past, the power stayed OFF for 7 days or more. In these instances there were weather alerts forecasting/warning of severe weather, and I was able to have generators in place before power went out.

    Once the generators are going, I start my 4×4 pickup, turn on it’s radio for more news monitoring, and let it warm up.

    Then I start to position bug out materials packed in 18 gallon roughneck totes. Materials that I am NOT going to want to leave behind in any bug out. Beans, bullets, band-aids, bullion, etc.

    Even if the power returns, I finish pre-staging the bug out totes. The ONLY time these totes have made it to pickup bed was when I was initially configuring loading of totes and bug out supplies, 2 humans and one 70 pound dog.

    If the power is STILL out, I grab any empty 7 gallon water jugs and/or gas cans, and load them into warmed up truck. I double check all generators/appliances, and check on my wife and dog, while monitoring news sources. I break out the Coleman stoves, lanterns, etc., and prepare for life without our 1970 Sears avocado green stove.

    When that is done, I go to nearest gas station that is working(200 yards from home, or 10 miles away; you never know who has power or gas during week long power outages) and fill up. Even if local gas station is in-op, I will get information from folks that are there trying to figure things out, too.

    Once I am all gassed up, I head to an artesian spring well 10 miles from home, and fill up spare water jugs (I rotate through 20 of these throughout the year, on a daily basis, much more frequently than gas cans). I have municipal water and sewer services in my small town, but use well water for all my gardening needs. Lugging around 56 pound water jugs, and 40 pound gas cans year round is good exercise.

    All gassed up, and watered up, I drive around looking at what’s open, what towns have power, etc., and gather information while making my way back home.

    Most of the times, the power has returned by the time I return home. If it is, I resort pre-staged totes, and check on my rotating schedule for using and restocking my preps. I let the Hondas run until they are empty, then get everything ready for the next time.

    Those few times when power was out for days, we eat from our food preps and make lists to resupply when life gets back to normal.

    Rinse and repeat. EVERY time! Every power outage is different. All treated as if the power will NEVER come back.

    What some would consider false alarms, I consider as practice for the day when those totes and supplies are loaded into the truck and we head out to hidey hole in the hills in hopes of returning to salvage our home, and the non-essentials we left behind.

    Thanks, Ken. I have learned plenty from you and other posters on this website.

    1. Why do you live 200 yards from anything? Our nearest neighbor is 1 mile and gas station is 2+ miles as the crow flies(to close for my comfort). No need to be near anything that draws rodents.

  18. be prepared for all possibilities and don’t be afraid of dying or killing . everyone I have approached about survival/shtf/disaster/etc.has said they would just take from others . they are now on the first to die list.f’ing parasite scum. be prepared to kill your friends/family/neighbors. I know that sounds drastic and harsh but they will get that way themselves when they are hungry/cold/scared/and desperate. get your mind right ahead of time because your adversaries may be closer than you think. have a nice day

  19. I have 3 ways of bugging out two by road and one by water. my bug out location is roughly 15 miles from a medium sized city. my location has a pond and a creek. plenty of wood for heat and has a small community around it.

  20. I live in an area where being prepared is supposed to be a part of life; Be sure you have your beans, band-aids, bullets and bullion for a year. This weekend I was at one of the larger gun stores in the area and entertained myself by listening to the gun neophytes talking about their plans to protect themselves and survive with the guns they intend to buy, mostly .22 or .45. About the same thing, right?

    I’m former military, trained to lead, protect,kill, escape, evade, survive, recover and thrive. I can build most anything I need. I’ve spent most of my life in the wilderness.

    I just had an unexpected life changing experience that changed my bug out plans. I re-learned again that even the best laid plans with A, B, and C contingencies can be derailed quickly.

    Plan. Test. Evaluate. Re-plan.

    Many of us who are prepared and confident with our abilities may not survive when SHTF, but there’ll be a lot more of us than those who don’t prepare and anticipate it. The government will survive. Reduce. Reform. Revolt. God help us all.

  21. First of all, I have been preparing for MANY years now for the inevitable. Me and my wife had been talking about a year ago about getting some sort of safe haven that can protect us against many different catastrophes that could occur. We started looking at underground bunkers because one of our other as people call them ”prepper” friends had just bought a bunker from a really reputable company that they recommended to us. So we started browsing the internet and doing a LOT of research on different bunker companies, as well as research on the pro’s and con’s of having an underground bunker and we came to realize that there are WAY more pro’s than there are con’s. During our research and with the help of our friends advice we decided to go ahead and purchase a bunker. We went with a company called Rising S Company due to the fact they have the best, durable structures on the market according to all the research we did on many different bunker companies out there. We just recently had our bunker installed and the funny thing is, just like me and my wife were talking about just the other night.. it has ALREADY came in handy. We had a bad tornado come through Nebraska where we live and were able to get to our bunker in time and my family and I were safe. I know there are many more reasons to get shelter and have a ”bug out” location but I am so thankful I made this purchase and have somewhere to keep my wife and kids safe when SHTF. I strongly recommend to you all to have a place to keep your loved ones safe that is off the map, just like you would be if you are underground. This particular company does EVERYTHING within their company. They manufacture, fabricate, deliver, and install for their clients confidentiality purposes so NO ONE else besides you and your family will know where you are located. Just thought I would share and maybe be able to help someone else and their family just by speaking out one day when SHTF.

  22. I guess bunkers are probably the ultimate defensive position, but I don’t think they are for me. If you are convinced that nuclear war will occur, maybe it’s the ticket. Yes, I know there are a few other threats that could happen, but hopefully you’ll have to re-enter the real world at some point and make it work. So here are some specific thoughts I’ve had as to the pros and cons.
    1. They can be costly, depending on how cramped you want to be and how many bells and whistles it will have. 2. Installation can be an issue. Does it go in the back yard or do you spend more money to buy property in the outback. 3. If you have plans to survive with some domestic animals, you have to come out regularly to take care of them and see that they aren’t taken. 4. They aren’t perfect, think Troy. I’ve seen pictures of pipes sticking out of the ground. 5. I’m in with the idea of moving to the country and getting one, but then there’s the wife! or husband.
    So if you have the money, location, can out last methuselah in a cave, and it won’t lead to a divorce, it could work!
    I really hope we can avoid nuclear war, and …… But things could go south, and so I’m trying to convince my wife to keep our home on the river in Montana surrounded by hundreds of acres of forrest that is gated year around. She has three sisters in Denver. My fate is sealed.

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