To most people, the term “bugging out” means getting out of the area in their vehicle so that they can get to their prearranged meet up site.
But bugging out isn’t something that is the same every single crisis situation. If a SHTF moment happens, you might have no choice but to get out – but you’ll have to do it on foot.
Sometimes you might be able to stay in the same area and be able to get back home once the crisis is over. Bugging out doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to have to spend months out in the woods in a survival situation.
There are disasters when it’s a just a short term
upheaval. However, the key to success for short term survival that’s temporary and local in the outdoors is to plan ahead. Since you won’t know the difference until it actually happens, you plan for the worst so that you’re prepared regardless.
You’ll have the gear and supplies that you need to survive temporarily in any location because you have already planned for a long term stay. A temporary bug out could mean you have to go for a few days and stay in a tent at a location you’ve already scouted ahead of time.
In this case, you plan to have enough supplies for at least 72 hours for everyone in your group. In a temporary situation you can travel lighter, but only do that if you know for sure that you’ll be able to come back home soon.
A temporary bug out means you have to be prepared by having your “bug out” bag, good hiking boots, knowledge of the way out and the ability to get yourself to an area out of the chaos so that you can survive.
Your long term plan can easily be adapted into a short term one. You’ll still need the same stuff to start with – and you’ll still follow the same protocol – but just less of it.
When you are prepared, you’re in control rather than whoever is in charge of the situation – if there is anyone to take charge at all. If a truly awful SHTF situation has happened and you have to bug out and you know it’s going to be long term, you follow your plan.
Grab your bag and get out of there. Take your vehicle if possible – but if that’s not an option, then rely on your immediate bug out plan and your maps to get you to the location that you’ve scouted in advance and head out on foot.
In a long term SHTF situation, you may not be able to ever come back. Head to the location that you’ve prepared for homesteading.
For some people, this is a site to camp in. For others, it’s a bug out cabin or other structure such as a container home that’s well hidden and able to protect you during the event. Wherever it is, this is the place where you begin to set up your life again.