I am sorry that I can't afford a paid subscription, but I do appreciate your writings very much. I just want to say that the 10 things to consider are quite accurate. Whether to bug out or bug in is a very serious question I believe many people have already considered. I started planning during Obama's first term and made a comprehensive list of everything necessary for both contingencies.
If bugging out is necessary, #1, you need to scout your route and make sure you know every alternative there possibly could be. Paper maps will probably be required. People relying on google maps may be screwed. Getting around road blocks might mean going through fences, so you need the right vehicle and tools for that. Knowing where you're going is very important, but have at least one backup destination. #2, Timing is critical, if you need to leave, you need to be first, so that means being prepared to go at the drop of a hat. Wait to long and you're stuck in a traffic jam. Everything I need is packed in totes ready to load. #3, Keep your gas tank full, stopping for gas could mean you are stuck. Have extra gas if possible, a jeep with gas cans is ideal. #4, If you aren't armed, you better get that way fast. Some people that are armed may try to take what you have. Not everyone you come across will be nice.
I can't list everything I think will be needed if such an event were to occur, but think of it as taking everything you need to go camping for a month or two in the middle of nowhere, if you can get there. I have two way radios and a solar panel to charge them, as well as rechargeable lights. Don't forget your life straw. I could go on and on with this, but try to think of everything you need and have it ready to go.
Bugging in is, in my opinion, is a scary thought. Defending your home against marauders could get very ugly. Keeping what you have could require you to be well armed and constant surveillance. Imagine all you windows being broken out for one, very likely to happen. Walls are not the best protection from guns if bad people are determined to get in. Making your ground level home defensible against that is probably impossible and not practical. If you have a basement, there are some defensive steps that can be taken.
I'm far from an expert in either scenario, but I have tried to think these things through. I hope it doesn't ever get to the point where any of this is necessary, but there is nothing wrong with being prepared. There are a couple of good movies that have been made about this subject, might watch them again. "The Road" and maybe "The Book of Eli" come to mind.
I am sorry that I can't afford a paid subscription, but I do appreciate your writings very much. I just want to say that the 10 things to consider are quite accurate. Whether to bug out or bug in is a very serious question I believe many people have already considered. I started planning during Obama's first term and made a comprehensive list of everything necessary for both contingencies.
If bugging out is necessary, #1, you need to scout your route and make sure you know every alternative there possibly could be. Paper maps will probably be required. People relying on google maps may be screwed. Getting around road blocks might mean going through fences, so you need the right vehicle and tools for that. Knowing where you're going is very important, but have at least one backup destination. #2, Timing is critical, if you need to leave, you need to be first, so that means being prepared to go at the drop of a hat. Wait to long and you're stuck in a traffic jam. Everything I need is packed in totes ready to load. #3, Keep your gas tank full, stopping for gas could mean you are stuck. Have extra gas if possible, a jeep with gas cans is ideal. #4, If you aren't armed, you better get that way fast. Some people that are armed may try to take what you have. Not everyone you come across will be nice.
I can't list everything I think will be needed if such an event were to occur, but think of it as taking everything you need to go camping for a month or two in the middle of nowhere, if you can get there. I have two way radios and a solar panel to charge them, as well as rechargeable lights. Don't forget your life straw. I could go on and on with this, but try to think of everything you need and have it ready to go.
Bugging in is, in my opinion, is a scary thought. Defending your home against marauders could get very ugly. Keeping what you have could require you to be well armed and constant surveillance. Imagine all you windows being broken out for one, very likely to happen. Walls are not the best protection from guns if bad people are determined to get in. Making your ground level home defensible against that is probably impossible and not practical. If you have a basement, there are some defensive steps that can be taken.
I'm far from an expert in either scenario, but I have tried to think these things through. I hope it doesn't ever get to the point where any of this is necessary, but there is nothing wrong with being prepared. There are a couple of good movies that have been made about this subject, might watch them again. "The Road" and maybe "The Book of Eli" come to mind.
Let us pray,
It is definitely a hard call because which way you go very much depends on the situation — and the situation may be hard to foresee and very fluid.