Introduction
Disasters can strike suddenly and forcefully, leaving little time to react and evacuate. In 2018 alone, over 8 million people in the United States were forced to evacuate their homes due to disasters like floods, hurricanes, and wildfires. In these high-stress bug out situations, critical errors can prove disastrous or even fatal. Proper planning and preparation can make all the difference when an emergency evacuation becomes necessary. This article will outline common mistakes people make when bugging out, and provide practical tips to avoid these errors. Being aware of these pitfalls and planning accordingly can help ensure your survival if the time comes when you need to urgently evacuate.
Packing Too Much
Overpacking bug out bags with non-essential items is a very common mistake. While it may be tempting to fill your pack with as many supplies as possible, excess weight will only slow you down. When packing for an evacuation, carefully limit yourself to the bare survival essentials like shelter, water, food, first aid, tools, navigation, and communication items.
Limiting Non-Essentials
Avoid the urge to pack extraneous clothing like extra pants or shirts, bulky sleeping bags, pillows, or other comfort items that aren't necessary for survival. Instead, focus on versatile layers and equipment that pack down small, like merino wool shirts, packable down jackets, and ultralight sleeping bags or bivys. For leisure items like books, plan to acquire those after reaching your destination. Consider caching non-essential supplies like camping chairs and cots along your route to retrieve later if time allows. Above all, evaluate each item critically and pack only what you truly require to survive.
Choosing Multi-Purpose Gear
When space is limited, prioritize gear that serves multiple functions. A bandana can be used as a washcloth, towel, bandage, signal flag and more. Carabiners and paracord are extremely versatile for shelter construction, makeshift repairs, and hanging food away from animals. Collapsible or packable versions of containers, utensils and water storage save valuable space over rigid versions. Items like pocket knives, ferro rods, and flashlights have a wide variety of potential applications during an evacuation. Carefully curate multi-use items over single-function gear.
No Bug Out Plan
Failure to have an established bug out plan is a critical error. Develop detailed evacuation plans ahead of time that outline your routes, locations, protocols and contingencies. Identify multiple alternative destinations and routes to get there. If evacuating with others, establish clear emergency communication protocols and meet up points in case you get separated. Always identify a backup meet up location as a contingency, not just a single rally point. Test your routes and gear ahead of time through practice evacuations. Refine your plans regularly as laws, routes and your needs change. Don't get caught without a plan when disaster strikes.
Unprepared Transportation
Your bug out plan must account for transportation, as your route options are limited by how you can travel. Ensure all vehicles are serviced, fueled and ready to go at a moment's notice. Have alternate methods of transport in case your primary option fails, like bicycles, boats, ATVs, horses, etc. Map out locations along your route to acquire replacement transportation if needed. Understand how different conditions may limit travel by car, bike, foot, watercraft, etc. Practice skills like changing tires, recovering stuck vehicles, paddling and navigation to be prepared for common issues. Remain flexible enough to adapt your plans to the transportation options available during an actual bug out scenario.
Outdoor Survival Skills
If evacuating by foot, be ready to navigate the terrain with skills like land navigation, foraging, building shelter, and purifying water. Bring appropriate clothing, footwear, and survival tools for the environment like navigation compasses, folding saws, emergency blankets, and water filters. Study wilderness first aid principles in case medical help is far away. Make reaching civilization a top priority.
Navigating Roadblocks
Identify multiple alternative routes around key highways and roads in case they become blocked or dangerous to travel. Consider paths through parks, fields, forests and lesser-used roads if needed. Understand protocols for safely passing through restricted areas and roadblocks that may arise, like blocked bridges or quarantine zones. Bring emergency supplies like food, water and shelter in your vehicle in case you get stranded.
No Communication or Contingency Plans
Develop reliable two-way communication methods and have backup options in case you get separated from your group. Pre-determine rally points or cache locations where you can regroup or leave messages in a bug out situation. Ensure you know how to operate any radios or satellite communication devices you are carrying. Learn techniques for safely signaling your position if search and rescue becomes necessary.
Forgetting Critical Documentation
Bugging out is difficult enough without proper documentation. Keep copies of critical documents like identification, insurance, medical records, etc. in a securely sealed bag within your pack. Ensure copies are distributed across different members of your party. Memorize key details that could help you reconstruct records if originals are lost. Back up digital copies securely online and consider a small external hard drive with encryption to store sensitive data.
No First Aid Skills or Supplies
Evacuating into austere environments means you must be ready to medically treat yourself and others. Take courses in emergency trauma care, wound treatment, and wilderness medicine. Learn key skills like controlling bleeding, immobilizing fractures, disinfecting wounds, administering IV fluids, suturing wounds, and determining dosages of common medications you may need. Pack a well-stocked trauma kit suitable for the conditions with medical supplies like tourniquets, bandages, antiseptics, splints, etc. Understand basic protocols for hygiene, sanitation and infectious disease prevention when living primitively.
Not Considering Security Threats
During a disaster bug out, compromised social order may require heightened security awareness. Research potential security threats along your planned routes and destinations, like roadblocks, gangs, riots, or looters. Avoid openly discussing your supplies, gear and plans when around strangers when possible. Have self-defense items like pepper spray and basic hand-to-hand combat skills. Travel in groups when possible, and designate roles like navigator, security lookout, etc. Remain vigilant of people and situations that seem dangerous or suspicious, and trust your instincts.
Failure to Test Gear and Supplies
The chaos of an emergency is the worst time to find out your gear does not work as expected. Use and test all equipment like stoves, water filters, bags, boots and shelters periodically to evaluate their performance. Rotate and consume foods from your supplies to prevent spoilage. Inspect all gear and supplies for damage, leaks, cracks, expiration dates, etc. Identify failure points through testing so you can repair or replace items before an emergency occurs. Conduct full practice bug outs at least 1-2 times per year using only the exact items you intend to carry to reveal any issues.
No Redundancy for Critical Items
Build in redundancy for items essential to survival like food, water, first aid, navigation, communication, etc. Carry backup options in case primary gear fails, and split critical supplies between people in your group. Have skills to improvise solutions or procure basics from the environment like finding water, making shelters, etc. Understand how to substitute or creatively adapt if certain tools, weapons or supplies fail or are lost. Develop contingencies and flexibility to prevent total dependency on any single piece of gear or skillset.
Conclusion
Bugging out in a disaster is one of the most stressful scenarios one can face. While common errors can compound the risks, being aware of potential pitfalls and planning accordingly can greatly increase your chances of survival. Pay attention to critical factors like proper planning, limiting pack weight, emergency skills, testing gear, and building in redundancies. By learning from the mistakes of others, hopefully you can avoid making the same errors should disaster strike and force you to urgently evacuate. Your life may depend on it. Be sure to check WeLovePrepping.com for more tips on bug out planning, gear, and essential survival skills.
