What Are The Pros And Cons Of Bugging Out?

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triza

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May I know about the pros and cons of bugging out? or is there a thread here that talks about it? thank you so much!
 
May I know about the pros and cons of bugging out? or is there a thread here that talks about it? thank you so much!
This is no easy topic to tackle. Bugging out or staying put is often a personal choice driven by circumstance. For me my choice to bug out will probably be predicated on how much damage is done to the house by an earthquake.

Here are what I feel are a few of the pros and cons of bugging out;

Pros:
  1. you won't be a sitting duck for looters
  2. ability to move away from people
  3. getting out of a hazardous area
  4. link up with like minded people at prearranged areas.
Cons:
  1. out in the elements
  2. possibly alone
  3. could be difficult getting around
  4. difficulty gathering food
  5. risk of injury
I am sure other members may have more to add.
 
Another con would be the fact you would possibly have a hard time carrying all that you need.

If I remember correctly, you are dealing with floods and tsunamis. With that, about all you can do is head for high ground. If you have a place set up to go to, you could possibly have some of your things stored there that you will need; camp stove, sleeping bags, extra clothing and shoes, food, etc.
 
thank you very much for the tips, old_anorak! :) I wish to raise awareness here about how to be more prepared when floods/tsunamis/earthquakes occur because it's a problem that happens again and again. My country is always hard hit by floods and the damage is always so severe. As a developing country, I guess having enough resources to actually prep is already a challenge for many people, but I'm sure there are still inexpensive ways to be prepared for calamities. People just need to be made aware of what they can do instead of relying on the government and on relief goods when those things happen.
 
thank you very much for the tips, old_anorak! :) I wish to raise awareness here about how to be more prepared when floods/tsunamis/earthquakes occur because it's a problem that happens again and again. My country is always hard hit by floods and the damage is always so severe. As a developing country, I guess having enough resources to actually prep is already a challenge for many people, but I'm sure there are still inexpensive ways to be prepared for calamities. People just need to be made aware of what they can do instead of relying on the government and on relief goods when those things happen.
That's great that you have the drive and desire to help others get prepared!
There are many threads on here about preparing on a tight budget.
 
That's great that you have the drive and desire to help others get prepared!
There are many threads on here about preparing on a tight budget.
I know! i'm learning so many practical tips looking through the forums. Prepping could actually save you a lot of money in the long run. It's a win-win situation whether or not anything happens. Thanks Clyde :)
 
I know! i'm learning so many practical tips looking through the forums. Prepping could actually save you a lot of money in the long run. It's a win-win situation whether or not anything happens. Thanks Clyde :)
Do you have any stores out your way where things only cost 1.00?
If so those are a treasure trove of useful items. Especially for first aid kits.
 
We do actually! Thanks for the tip! I'll go check them out soon. :)

May I ask why you have decided to bug out if ever what you are prepping for happens?
 
If one chooses to bug out for reason other then natural disasters (economy collapses, martial law, civil disorder etc...) you will become a target due to the equipment you carry, in the beginning it will be one on one then in groups, highwayman on every well traveled road and path, you may have your family with you (wife kids etc..) your response and speed is weaken by this fact. If you can stay home (fortified structure Vs open field) stay home, I may be well adapted to fighting in the jungle and forested areas but my wife is not, I need to move fast and hard with no rest, when my mind is on her safety and well-being I am compromised in my ability to defend and strike.

I have seen the worst of humanity in Africa and South America when social structure ends, if things get that bad here, ain't no differences, we see it in the big cities now though on a much smaller scale, bug out should be the very last resort.

If you have to bug out, plan your routs that keeps you off well traveled areas and move by night, darkness is your friend, use it but use it wisely, always plan that the enemy are just as capable as you with better resources, use the terrain never take the high or low ground (wit, alert, stealth, blending in, terrain advantage) trust no one unaffiliated with your party.

-wayne
 
I definitely have to agree with what maverick said. A pro that i have yet to see for bugging in is that the amount of preps is obviously much greater. I feel that bugging in should be the first thought, then move to bugging out if you feel you should. The time you spend thinking about bugging in could just be a split second, but some thought to it definitely wouldnt hurt anyone. Spending a minute to think, "Should I ride it out, or head for the hills?" may be the difference between life and death. Another thing that may not be real important, but could be, is the psychological effect. I feel that perhaps staying in my own home might bring a sense of normality to such a situation, and going crazy is something i would like to avoid. Bugging out will probably be even more stressful and strenuous than most of us think, I mean, you might be living day to day on food and water, and safety is always a concern, all on top of the fact that you have to rough it out in the wilderness. I believe this would probably bring a lot of us to the brink of insanity if it continued long enough. Just my 2 cents. Im sorry if I depicted bugging out as something other than what you have in mind, as i know many have very extensive bug out preps. Im speaking based on my own thoughts of how survival will be if you had to go packing.
 
We can't bug out...don't have anywhere to go. We own no land in the woods or anything useful like that. We'll be digging in for the long haul and doing our best. Also networking with other local preppers for ways to help one another if needed.
 
Take a look at Haiti (make Haiti a case study) this is a good example what can follow here, in America we ain't immune from such violence, Watts Riots in 65 and the rodney king riots in 92 and amplify that across America not to mention the lawless from Andrew in 92 and Katrina in 05

Haiti earthquake: law and order on a knife edge
http://tinyurl.com/ybhjawk

Haiti earthquake: criminal gangs return to rule slums after escaping from prison
http://tinyurl.com/yddhghy

Haiti relief efforts stifled by chaos
http://tinyurl.com/cz233wy
 
I for one have gave this lots of thought myself and like others have a list of pros and cons. I have made arrangements to bug out to an undisclosed location w/family and friends that are hand picked for what they bring to the table. But w/that said the plan is to ride the storm out for a cpl of weeks i.e. bugged in and see where its going. Id hate to bug out only to find out Ive missed the battle and my boss is looking for me back at work so I can keep paying my mortgage and for my SUV. If things don't nmlize then Bug out w/those ive already spoken of.

This is my list in my head the way I see it, I have not read this anywhere but this is how I would perceive things to be:

PROs for bugging IN:
Safest Place and Easiest to Defend
Most Normal Life for the wife, kiddos and the dogs
Most food Preps avail
With Neighbors to watch your back it'd be easist to maintain law and order (strength in no.s)
Likelyhood of going to back work and a seeing a normal America is at its best

CONs for Bugging IN:
Could be hardest to defend-I know this contradicts above but when the city starts to boil over to the burbs it may get tough
W/Food preps in house, could be a place for looters and therefore there may be lots of bodies laying around in the yard for I will defend till the death
Neighbors could easily turn on you when folks run out of food and patience

PROs for Bugging OUT:
Lots of space at bug out location and No one around to half to deal w/unless they come looking for trouble
The world as we know it could keep on fighting and it wouldn't bother me abit
With pre dertemined highly trusted people we would have our own community

CONs for Bugging OUT:
Getting to Bug out location while the world is in Chaos
Having enough ammo to protect us while bugging out
Having enough food to eat on the journey there
Lots of space to half to defend
Limited food supply until gardens grow and food can be put up-working on this 1

Im sure there are more Pros and Cons but this is just what comes to mind.
BfreeAMERICA
 
Pro - you don't die when chaos erupts
Con - you are thrust into chaos due to unfamiliar setting.

This is why having a BOL (bug out location) is good. It is always good to have a backup. I think for some their cottage will serve as a BOL, or a mobile/rv, van etc.. serves as their backup, or family or friends etc..

Fact is sometimes it is more dangerous to stay than it is to leave.

I think for many people they really don't understand what the effects of disaster are, and what would happen if it was bigger or more widespread than past disasters.

It is pretty locked down but there are a few "massive" problems that can develope, they are remote, but possible, and more likely with each passing year.

There are only a few scenarios that I have any concern over - WWIII, pandemic, massive solar ejection, and massive volcanic eruption. I don't think they are very likely, like 5-10 years is sort of my easy prep time, but becoming sustainable is something I like.

This year I'll be scouting some more bug out potentials in around a 150km distance, out hiking. There are a bunch of potentials. In reality though in event of any of these situations except plague if the government survives getting in touch, as long as they arn't turning on people to fend for themselves, bugging in with the government will likely improve survival chance. IMO WWIII is the most dangerous scenario after plague. It will be essential to bug out in event of plague if there is no cure, to remove contact potential until a cure is found.

It helps to be prepared, its not about life so much as it is about lifestyle you have to make it part of your lifestyle.

2030-2050 new dangers exist, but I think technology should be sufficiently advanced by that point if we get there to deal with it.

Its like 1 in 500,000 chance of anything going wrong my odds are even more remote. It may be a different story in 5 or 10 years though, and IT WILL be a different story in 20.
 

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