If a large-scale disaster were to occur, deciding whether you should bug in or out can mean the difference between life and death. Depending on your location and personal situation, there are plenty of factors to consider when making your survival plan. Here are a few prepping tips to help you decide whether staying or leaving is the best course of action when SHTF. (h/t to AYearWithoutTheGroceryStore.com)
Take into consideration your family's needs and personal opinions
One of the main reasons why you should bug out is if your safety and security are compromised in your own home. If you cannot protect your family in the safety of your own home, then you might want to consider establishing a bug-out location (BOL) and planning how to get there in case SHTF. At the same time, you should consider your family's personal needs and opinions. Do you have any children? Are there any adults with chronic health conditions or disabilities? For any of these family members, it may be difficult for them to move around for an extended period of time. They might not even agree with your plans of bugging out, even if it is the safest course of action. Take the time to discuss your options with your family. For some people, bugging out is simply not feasible. (Related: Prepping myth exposed: Why bugging out might be a terrible idea.)
List down the possible consequences of either bugging in or out
Ask yourself what you stand to lose by either staying or leaving. If you have small children, would bugging out cause them unnecessary distress? What potential threats would you face when you either bug in or out? Is there an outbreak of an infectious disease in your area? Is there an oncoming storm? Are there riots out on the streets? Think about how safe you and your family would be indoors versus outdoors. Or if you have a BOL, how safe would it be? Is it heavily fortified? Write down all the possible scenarios and consequences you can think of. Weigh them against each other and, after taking the time to carefully think it over, make your most logical decision based on that.
Do your own research and stay updated on current events
You can learn a lot about your surroundings by keeping up to date on current affairs. Listen to your local radio stations and subscribe to any official emergency alerts on your phone. Pay close attention to how your neighbors are reacting to the threat. Are they stocking up on food, medicine, and other emergency supplies? Are they evacuating their homes in a rush of panic? Talk to other people and find out what they plan on doing. If many people end up having the same idea of bugging out as you do, you might find yourself caught in an unmoving gridlock as everyone tries to leave the city at the same time.
Make an inventory of your resources at home
One of the primary obstacles of bugging in is running out of resources without having any way to replenish them. Take stock of what resources you have at home, so that you can anticipate how long it could sustain you and your family. You need to stock up on non-perishable food, medicine, and other supplies. You should also acquire a source of clean drinking water. Additionally, you need an alternative source of electricity in case the power goes out. This is especially crucial during cold weather when you need to rely on your heating system for warmth.
Improve your chances of survival by finding out when is the best time to bug out.
Sources include:
AYearWithoutTheGroceryStore.com
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