Bugging Out!

         It is part of a shtf scenario, even if you are planing on hunkering down in a fortified position, you may eventually have to bug out. Since this is an important topic to me, I felt it warranted its own post.

         Now, after reading several blogs, and watching several video blogs, I have seen that when it comes to bugging out, there are a few different trains of thought, and I have named them as follows:

Nomad Style- When you plan on constantly moving never staying in one place to long.
Pioneer Style- When you plan on bringing everything you need to start a new life and settle in somewhere new.
Retreat Style- Where you have a location pre selected and prepared prior to the disaster situation that is awaiting your arrival.


General Advice.  Before I go over some suggestions and ideas for each of these styles in depth I am going to touch basis on a few areas that would apply to all of the above. The first, mode of transportation. Now there are really three options for this, vehicle, human powered, or on foot.
        If you choose to go with a vehicle you will want to consider several things, such as is it EMP proof, does it have off road capabilities, how much maintenance does it require, and how far can you get on your fuel supply. The best EMP proof vehicles are the ones that does not rely on or possess a computer, which means an older vehicle, usually something from the 50's to the late 70's will fall into this category. Many people think of big trucks or SUV's, however some of the cars can be just as good. For example, a classic Volkswagen Beetle or Bus is perfect, and inexpensive, as well as good for someone with minimal mechanical experience, as the engine has better access than other vehicles of the same time frame. A down side is that unless it has been  modified, they are usually not off road capable.

            Human powered are usually bikes, however I will also include some boats. The pro's of this form of travel, you don't need fuel to power your vehicle, and they are quiet not attracting audio attention. The con's, can not travel as fast, offers less protection, and if you are not eating regularly you can burn a lot of calories and not regain them.

         Traveling on foot, although the slowest method of travel, you are often able to travel paths away from roads and those with vehicles. So this method offers a lot more freedom of moment, yet you can not carry as much in this fashion, and you will burn a lot of calories that you may not be able to replenish they way you should.

    

Nomad Style-

          This is a very common style for people that do not have a lot of preps stored. These are people that either didn't prepare and are forced to move from resource to resource, or they are the survivalists that plan to live off of their wilderness survival skills. Non preppers are forced to move to new resources, or to try to obtain them from those who had the wisdom to prepare. They are not left with many options, and have not trained themselves in any useful survival skills. However if a prepper chooses this style of survival they are usually a solo prepper, or at most a couple, who has trained and familiarized themselves with survival techniques.

Pioneer Style-

           This style of bug-out prepping is very common, as it is for those who either did not get a chance to obtain or simply does not have a property that they have set up prior. These are preppers that intend to bring most of what they would need to start new somewhere else, or at least until the disaster passes. 

            My wife and I are currently in this boat as we do not yet have a property to escape to, so we would want to gather what we can and a sufficient means to transport all of our gear, should we be forced to leave our home.

            However, just because you may not own a property to escape too, that does not mean that you should not have an idea of where you should try to escape to. Where ever it is, it will need to provide you water, food, and shelter. My wife and I have a location set up that we intend to bug-out to, should it come to that.

Retreat Style-

            These are the fortunate individuals that were able to prep a secondary location with supplies, and security prior to a the shtf. These are those with cabins, or properties to park a trailer on.

             My wife and I are looking at properties for this ourselves, and have been really looking into building our retreat in wither cob or earth bags. Both methods cut the cost dramatically, and provide numerous other benefits that traditional modern structures do not. 

             Regardless, this tecnique is, in my opinion, ideal, because what better place for you to escape to but a place pre prepped for you, and in an environment you are familiar with?

            Stay prepared and stay alive!