Depending on the size of your family and where you live, you'll have different prepping needs. Your budget is another crucial factor for your prepping redundancies and options.

After all, not everyone can afford a secure bug-out location. But if you want options before SHTF, consider setting up a bug-out hut, which is more achievable with a tight budget.

Securing your bug-out hut

If you can afford a bug-out location or a more compact bug-out hut, you still need to secure it from looters who might attempt to steal your supplies.

Choose a well-hidden location. Be creative when setting up a survival stockpile.

You can dig and build a false floor or something similar to a root cellar. This lets you hide your supplies, but with a deeper hole, you can store food in a cooler location that will help prevent spoilage due to heat.

Cover the opening to your underground root cellar and bug-out hut for camouflage and waterproofing.

Building your bug-out hut

Start your bug-out hut using a garden shed. If you don’t have a shed, you can build one in a weekend using a DIY shed plan. Another stress-free option is to buy a prefabricated shed from a local hardware store.

Sheds can be used as bug-out shelters because they're roomy enough for your stockpile, you can easily organize your supplies and they're compact.

Don't forget to set aside enough space for you and your family. If you're going for an underground bunker as your bug-in option, you can still use a shed as a surface building.

Disguising your bug-out hut

To keep out looters, don't leave lights that might expose the preps inside your hut. If you need to check your supplies, bring a lantern or flashlight with you.

Make the hut look like a run-down shed by leaving behind old buckets and rusty gardening tools. These "worthless" tools may discourage looters and burglars from rummaging around and stumbling upon your hidden stash.

Stocking up your bug-out hut

Here are tips to help you stock up on bugging out essentials:

• Rotate your food supply. Stockpiling food would be a waste of time and energy if you don't consume the items before they expire.
• Keep your stockpile organized. Use a system that works for you and keep track of what's stored in each area. Shelving units and totes will keep your preps organized, clean and dry.

Food supply list

Here's a list of items that you'll need for short-term survival scenarios:

• Canned food
• Cereal
• Crackers
• Dried fruits or fruit leather
• Granola bars
• Jams and jellies (in plastic containers, not glass)
• Oatmeal
• Peanut butter
• Powdered milk
• Water

First aid kits

Your first aid kit needs basic supplies such as:

• Band-aids
• Burn cream or ointment
• Cooling/heating blankets
• Ice packs
• Splints
• Tweezers

Radio

Invest in a hand-cranked radio and ham radio (amateur radio) for your bug-out hut.

Radios will give you access to news and weather forecasts. As a bonus, hand-crank radios or solar radios will keep running even if you lose power.

Ham radios are essential for communication when the phone lines are down.

Fuel

You'll need fuel to run small motors in your bug-out hut. Like food items, rotate your fuel supplies regularly.

Propane tanks are preferable to gasoline since the former doesn’t expire (because it’s a gas). Make sure propane tanks are full at all times.

Bug-out bags

Set up bug-out bags for your family so you're ready to leave at a moment's notice if it's not safe to stay in your hut.

A bug-out bag must contain:

• Compass
• Extra clothes (e.g., clean socks and underwear)
• Firestarting tools
• First aid kit
• Knife
• MRE’s (Ready-to-eat meals)
• Sleeping bag
• Water bottle with a built-in filter

You can include other items in your bag, but make sure you can carry it for several hours comfortably while you're on the go.

When a bug-out location isn't within your budget, consider a bug-out hut. A secure and fully stocked hut may just save your life when SHTF.

Sources include:

EDThatMatters.com

PrimalSurvivor.net