Pre-event Planning.....Execution.....Tactics......

1. Bugging Out is:
a. the last ditch plan!
b. allows one to only carry the minimum personal gear/equipment.
c. a small group can carry more "community equipment" (entrenching tool, small axe/hatchet, etc.)

2. Planning and Execution:
a. deciding on a destination-specific or an area.
b. mapping out the escape route to be used from home and city (or town, village, etc).
c. deciding on the "trigger(s)" that tell you when it's time to leave.
d. knowing who is going with you-strengths and weaknesses (too many or too few persons in your group has consequences).

3. Tactics:
a. evading other groups whether civilian or governmental (threat assessment).
b. daytime vs. nighttime traveling; when to do which.
c. where and how to find resupply opportunities.
d. how long to march and how long to stop and rest along the way
(march for 5 days and then stop, make a temporary basecamp, rest up for 3 days?).
e. knowing when to have a "hot camp" (with a fire) and when to have a "cold camp".
f. upon reaching a destination area-find a place to set up a semi-permanent base camp or keep moving among many semi-permanent base camps once a week?????
g. establish garden plots in the forest and hunting/gathering for sustenance????


These are some random thoughts that I have been pondering (maybe too many dreams/flashbacks of late???)

What are y'all's thoughts??????

I think Eugene had a good point in a post under Bugout backpack:

"A documentary on someone shows what I'm trying to illustrate, that the amount people are successful at living off the land like that is little enough that it becomes news/story/documentary/movie/legend worthy. One in a thousand might attempt it and then one in one thousand will be successful.
If your really planning on [that] type of bug out, have a cabin already built and stocked."

The documentary he refered to was Dick Proenneke, (Alone in the Wilderness, DVD. http://www.dickproenneke.com/) I believe.

If bugging out is even a possibility I agree with Eugene that having a community cabin "retreat" is probably your best bet for surviving long term. Also having experience with that area and how to "harvest" from it in all seasons would be ideal.

Cheers,
Nemo

I think one of the best things to prepare is simply your brain and prepare it to consider options.

For example, you refer to establishing garden plots in a forest and hunting gathering for sustenance. You may be also considering setting up a cabin someplace remote. These may both be good options. But what is you could also find a group of abandoned homes in a town? Seems to me that would provide better shelter, and you would not need to put in effort to build shelters. Also, you would have areas that were cleared, and did not need to be cleared for a garden. Also, that garden might be hidden from view by structures. I'm not saying the forest may not be a better option for you, but leaving to create your own cummunity from nothing but a few tools and the sweat of your brow may not be the better option.

I am not, for a several reason, a fan of bugging out, but your post made me think of something for those who do consider buggin'. I have seen more than one comment here re establishing a garden plot, but I do not recall EVER seeing seeds as a part of a BOB. So, without seeds, how would one start a garden? I can not really see bringing a BLT along, and trying to salvage a few seeds from the 'mater...

1. Bugging Out is:
a. the last ditch plan! Last ditch but required as demonstrated in southern Cali, New Orleans, Mississippi, and Florida. Possible pandemic, terror attacks, and large scale civil unrest make a remote location desirable IMO and experience.
b. allows one to only carry the minimum personal gear/equipment. Most equipment that we carry is really designed to allow a more comfortable survival. Most of the time a vehicle will be available at least in the beginning to carry equipment. However leaving by foot should be planned for as a possibility.
c. a small group can carry more "community equipment" (entrenching tool, small axe/hatchet, etc.) Believing that we can survive easily alone is a fallacy we get from movies, and books. It can be done but it will be so much easier with long established friends.
2. Planning and Execution:
a. deciding on a destination-specific or an area. Hopefully well established or at the very least well known to the majority of the group
b. mapping out the escape route to be used from home and city (or town, village, etc). With at least 3 routes marked and discussed with rendezvous locations (if possible)along the way.
c. deciding on the "trigger(s)" that tell you when it's time to leave. Hard to do. Easy for impending natural disasters, but not so easy when talking about pandemics, terrorists, or large-scale civil disruption.
d. knowing who is going with you-strengths and weaknesses (too many or too few persons in your group has consequences). One of the most important aspects that a lot of people over look. Lots of knowledge and training and cross training is needed for a long-term survival without any contacts with “civilization” for resupply.
3. Tactics:
a. evading other groups whether civilian or governmental (threat assessment).
b. daytime vs. nighttime traveling; when to do which.
c. where and how to find resupply opportunities. Hopefully this will be possible but plans should include contingencies if resupply is unsuccessful or impractical.
d. how long to march and how long to stop and rest along the way
(march for 5 days and then stop, make a temporary basecamp, rest up for 3 days?). Both d & e depend on the knowledge, experience, general shape and conditions of all parties involved.
e. knowing when to have a "hot camp" (with a fire) and when to have a "cold camp".
f. upon reaching a destination area-find a place to set up a semi-permanent base camp or keep moving among many semi-permanent base camps once a week????? With my personal plans it is permanent, with hunting cabins already in place. Plans also include secondary location and plans in the event primary camp is already occupied.
g. establish garden plots in the forest and hunting/gathering for sustenance???? Seeds and basic tools in place at permanent camp.

I prefer to have a plan and never need it rather than need a plan and place and need it. Besides it gave me and my friends a reason to buy a remote hunting cabin.

The primary plan if we have trespassers is to obtain extra gear from said trespassers. We never approach the place without a scout in advance of the main party in normal times, and will be extra careful in bad times.

I put bugging out at a higher priority than some others since I'm not in a good area. Police just came tonight and arrested one of the punks living across the street from us while his friends laughed and yelled at them telling them they were stupid and he would be back in 24 hours, they have zero respect for the police so I know they won't stay away from us when things get bad.
Second reason I can put bugging out higher is I have a family farm to go to. But trespassers worry me, once my parents are gone there won't be anyone to watch the place. So I'm going to have to make sure I'm there often and that 500 mile round trip seems to keep getting more and more expensive. I plan to build a permanent structure up on the farm, my parents house is down in a valley which nearly got flooded in the 80's. I'm looking for ways to make it more secure.

Me personally I would think about finding a job closer to the farm and moving there permanently.

As in like,,,,RIGHTAWAY!!!!

I think the critical part of how I'd reply is what do we mean by "long term"? Longer than three weeks? Three months? A year plus?

At three months, it is pretty much a relocation- you are either working for your old boss at a new site or needing a new gig, and/or are in temporary housing. At a year, it is certainly a relocation. Relocation, at least to me, is what you do after the bugging, the bug out itself is a short term thing designed to get you clear of the danger and reorganized. So to my mind, a "long term bugging out" becomes a contradiction in terms. *shrugs*

YMMV.

If there is a "hands house", rent that with the understanding that the tenant is to watch out for the main house as well. It is watched, but open if you need it. And you can charge premium for the rent, so the property taxes will be largely covered. The only trick is the screening of the tenants.

Got an old friend still in the home town that you can trust? To me, the first parameter, even before routes and water, for a bug out destination is "are you expected there?"

What should I consider if bugging out with an enclosed trailer? With a large family, I could not reasonably carry much long-term bugout gear in the bugout vehicle.

How can/should I harden the trailer to prevent break-ins?

How do I keep the trailer from being stolen in its entirety? Would locks/chains be sufficient?

Could I safely carry enough fuel in the trailer (perhaps 100gal) for a long distance bugout?

How should the trailer be disguised (or can it be disguised) to hide the fact that it contains valuable bugout/survival supplies at a time when the contents would be needed by nearly anyone I encounter? Perhaps load the back of the trailer with frivolous junk so as to obscure the real contents?

What is the possibility that some government official might retain or sieze the contents 'for the greater good'.

Am I increasing the likelyhood of breakdowns by carrying the additional weight of the trailer? Should I add to the weight of the trailer by bringing repair equipment (additional spare tires, replacement belts and hoses, etc)?

A lot of questions, but the one thing I would not do is separate the gear from the people who would need and use it. I might divide the family into two vehicles, each taking their own gear and stores, if I had to.

You don't find enterprise size IT shops in every town though. In the state its in (WV) there are basically no jobs, then the county the farm is in has a terrible school system and I have two kids.

How can/should I harden the trailer to prevent break-ins?

I have hauled trailers that carried thousands of dollars worth of tools. Depending on the trailer there are several ways to harden it against break-ins. one way is to add heavy metal stripps and plates to the inside of the trailer at locking points.

How do I keep the trailer from being stolen in its entirety? Would locks/chains be sufficient?

There are several kinds of locks for the tounge the best ones insert into the area for the ball.

Could I safely carry enough fuel in the trailer (perhaps 100gal) for a long distance bugout?

If your taier has vents cattying fuel in an emergency should be fine, but during normal times check local laws.

How should the trailer be disguised (or can it be disguised) to hide the fact that it contains valuable bugout/survival supplies at a time when the contents would be needed by nearly anyone I encounter? Perhaps load the back of the trailer with frivolous junk so as to obscure the real contents?

disquiseing it is not really an option. Instead of carrying frivolous extras cover important equipment with clothes and lesser important items

What is the possibility that some government official might retain or sieze the contents 'for the greater good'.

Not a real possibility during a local emergency but if it was a large scale emergency the possibility is there.

Am I increasing the likelyhood of breakdowns by carrying the additional weight of the trailer? Should I add to the weight of the trailer by bringing repair equipment (additional spare tires, replacement belts and hoses, etc)?

Some repaire equipment and parts is of course required but don't go over board.
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