If the worst happened tomorrow and you had to evacuate your home and even the town you live in, would you be confident about your ability to survive in the wild?
Bugging out is basically surviving out in the wild and being good at it is part survival skills and part preparation so it is a good idea to start honing your survival skills now.
When you first start preparing your bug out plan, there are three main points to consider-
1. Means of escape.
2. Safe location to go.
3. Survival kit.
Your means of escape can be any mode of transport from a rusty old bike to a land rover providing it will go when you need it to and you can get immediate access to it. The most obvious choice would be your car so you should make sure you keep a spare tire, a repair kit and some extra fuel in the trunk. Your means of transport will also play a big part in deciding where your safe location is; your chosen location should be several miles away from your home so that you are away from the danger that has driven you from it but still close enough to reach without having to top up fuel so you do not have to stop and you have spare fuel should you need to relocate.
When choosing a safe location to evacuate to, bear in mind that you will need to access a fresh, clean water supply and the potential to set up a means of communication. There are different opinions on whether or not you should gather to a place where other people are likely to go to. On one hand, it is useful to have other people around to pool resources and skills but some argue that other people can be dangerous once resources start to run out. Wooded areas can be better for natural resources but can require more survival skills so your skill set and reason for evacuation will help determine where you go.
Your bug out bag should be durable yet light enough to not weigh you down too much, and contain supplies to last you for 72 hours. One of the most important things to pack is water, aim for 1 litre per person per day. Matches are a useful addition as you need a means for making fire, but always have a backup such as a flint and steel. Your bug out bag should also contain a basic first aid kit, dehydrated and non-perishable foods such as protein bars, the kind of clothing you would take on a backpacking trip, means of forming a shelter, such as a tarpaulin and a ground sheet and something that can be both a weapon and a tool like a small hatchet.
A camping trip with minimal supplies and home comforts is a great dress rehearsal for your bug out bag and strategy so you can make sure you have everything you need to survive and practise various skills like fire building and trap-setting.
Remember, if you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.
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