Emergencies exist in many forms. From simple short term power outages, to home fires that can displace you from your place of residence for a few days or forever. Weather takes its toll in many different styles. I have been on roads that have been closed in the middle of a trip due to ice and snow, and my three day pack made the seventeen hour dead-stop in freezing weather bearable. Because of planning and training, I had food, water, blankets and a car candle as well as entertainment. As a nine year old, my family was completely snowed in once, and lucky for us Dad had just filled the heating fuel tank and the pantry was stocked. In the 90’s, VERY heavy rains flooded my neighborhood and we were without any power for four days. The next block over the dark lasted for almost twice as long! I had food, lights and security.
Survival isn’t always about a rifle, a pack and evading a group of zombies! Sometimes it’s as simple as a hot beverage and a roll of toilet paper!
In the case of a true, solid map changing emergency, it’s often good to have plans to evacuate your primary residence if need be and if there are no other options. For my family and I, we really don’t have many options due mainly to extended family in the area among other ‘issues’. I have wondered how realistic a “bug out” is for me and my family, and what our options may be, so, here we go…
If I am anything, I am resourceful. Transplant me into the suburbs, the inner city, doesn’t matter, I’ll make it with whatever I can. Don’t get me wrong, I’d prefer to be way, way out as long as I have resources. The problem is that there is a REASON there are no houses out in the middle of the desert: it’s very difficult to live out there.
In most cases, places where there are no people are places that people don’t want to be, usually. Essentially what I am saying is that you must find a happy medium. There is typically an optimum place to be. That place is not in the most remote, desolate place in the country. It probably isn’t the most lush, green valley either because that’s probably where everyone will try to go.
Many people when confronted with someone that intends to ‘bug in’ within the suburbs simply say, “Dude, You’re dead!.” They’ll simply dismiss the idea and walk away. There are definable disadvantages to a suburban bug in when compared to a more rural, cached safe-house.
Let’s first examine why the suburbs are there. They are there because there is a city nearby. The city is noisy and crowded and often stinky and crime ridden, however, the city has JOBS! The suburbs are there because the city has jobs but is often a less than optimal place to live. However, WTSHTF, the cities are not what they were. Literally, they are no longer cities, they can become “#ies”. They will become nothing but miles of human garbage and filth. Massive sewage backups when the processing machinery and lift pumps stall, and no one to police the piles of garbage that will grow….and that includes the two-legged variety.
So now, after the emergency event the reason for the creation of the ‘burbs is gone. But now, many of the people will be gone too. It could be also true that your neighbors left and you’ll have new neighbors (squatters) and I’m betting they won’t be interested in helping you trim your hedge, or secure your perimeter.
The biggest problem with the suburbs is that you will be a target for looting. One way this can be fixed by trashing your own place. Board up the windows and spray paint the crapola out of it. Make it look like the last place you’d want to either loot or squat in. Break out your association’s manual (assuming you have a home owners association or group). Take it step by step. Whatever they say not to do, that’s probably what you want to do. All joking aside, a nice looking place amongst a bunch of trashed out places will be encircled and attacked repeatedly until they (the looters) get everything they want. Make it look uninviting and uninhabitable. If there are FEMA “X”’s painted on other doors, paint one on yours. Cheap WalMart rattle cans should be in your stores anyway.
I see one of the main difference between a remote bug out and a suburban bug in is that you’ll have to live inside almost the whole time. Outside the human wolves will be looking for anything they can devour. I think the thing I would do is make sure I had a basement but make it look like I didn’t. No windows, no outside access and then once TSHTF, modify the inside so there appeared to be no access. Retreat to there and just stay there until it’s over. Essentially, find a crack in the rock and stay there until the danger passes.
In my opinion, suburban bug in as a temporary measure only. It is doable if you have a basement or a bunker you can hide in. Maybe even above ground will work if the house is brick and you can securely board up the windows and the doors are heavy enough to secure. Once things start coming back, you’d probably be OK. If you store enough food and energy to get you through the emergency you can then come out of hiding and start working with whomever or whatever gets things under control. However, in a TEOTWAWKI (The End Of The World As We Know It) situation, I do not see a suburban bug in as doable. Eventually you will run out of water, power and food. Even if you have 10 years worth, someone with bigger guns and more ammo will eventually find you and take it. Once the wolves see the light and smell the food cooking, you may be screwed. The same dangers exist in the wilderness. Ever sit by a nice cozy campfire and have someone walk up on you? Your night vision has been compromised, and if someone has encircled your camp, outside the light of the fire, you may never see them! Stay Sharp!
www.whenshtf.com...
[edit on 8-9-2010 by rajaten]
