One major mistake people make when preparing for emergencies is assuming they need to decide beforehand whether to stay home or leave. This decision shouldn’t be made until the actual emergency happens. Staying home, known as bugging in, means sheltering in place. Leaving home is called bugging out.
People often say, “I’m planning to bug out, so I don’t need to store water at home.” This mindset is risky because it leads to neglecting crucial preparations like storing water. A key rule for preppers is to accept that you can’t predict the exact circumstances of an emergency.
Understanding Bugging In vs. Bugging Out
When facing an emergency, you have two primary options: bugging in or bugging out. Each choice involves different strategies and preparations.
Bugging In
Bugging in means staying put in your home or a safe indoor location during a crisis. This option is often preferred because it allows you to use the resources and supplies you have stored at home. Here are some key points to consider when bugging in:
- Safety: Your home provides shelter from the elements, security against intruders, and a familiar environment.
- Supplies: You can stockpile food, water, medical supplies, and other essentials. Ensure you have enough to last at least two weeks.
- Utilities: Prepare for potential utility outages by having backup power sources, such as generators, solar panels, or battery packs.
- Communication: Keep a battery-powered or hand-crank radio to receive emergency broadcasts and updates.
- Sanitation: Stock up on hygiene and sanitation supplies, including soap, disinfectants, and portable toilets if necessary.
- Defense: Strengthen your home’s security by reinforcing doors and windows and having self-defense tools available.
Bugging in allows you to maintain a level of normalcy and comfort while waiting for the emergency to pass or for assistance to arrive. However, it requires thorough preparation and a commitment to staying informed and vigilant.
Bugging Out
Bugging out involves leaving your home and heading to a predetermined safe location, known as a bug-out location (BOL). This option is necessary when staying home becomes unsafe or untenable. Here are important aspects of bugging out:
- Bug-Out Bag (BOB): A BOB is a portable kit containing essential items you’ll need to survive for at least 72 hours. It should include food, water, clothing, shelter, first aid supplies, and tools.
- Route Planning: Have multiple evacuation routes planned and know the safest and quickest ways to reach your BOL. Consider traffic, road conditions, and potential hazards.
- Transportation: Ensure your vehicle is in good condition, has a full tank of gas, and is equipped with emergency supplies like spare tires, maps, and a car emergency kit.
- Communication: Carry a means of communication, such as a two-way radio or a fully charged mobile phone with backup batteries or a solar charger.
- Flexibility: Be prepared to adapt to changing conditions and have contingency plans in case your primary BOL is compromised or unreachable.
- Fitness and Skills: Bugging out may require physical exertion and survival skills, such as building a shelter, finding food and water, and providing first aid.
Bugging out is a more dynamic and unpredictable option. It requires readiness to leave quickly and the ability to survive in an unfamiliar environment. Your bug-out plan should be flexible and well-rehearsed to ensure you can act swiftly and effectively.
When to Choose Bugging In
Choosing to bug in is often the best option in the following scenarios:
- Severe Weather: Hurricanes, blizzards, and storms often make travel dangerous. If your home is secure, staying put is safer.
- Pandemics: Staying home reduces your risk of exposure to contagious diseases.
- Civil Unrest: Riots or widespread violence can make the streets unsafe. Your home offers better protection.
- Infrastructure Failure: During power outages or water supply issues, your stockpiled supplies can sustain you until services are restored.
When to Choose Bugging Out
Bugging out becomes necessary under these conditions:
- Natural Disasters: Events like wildfires, earthquakes, or floods may render your home uninhabitable.
- Targeted Threats: If you are personally threatened, such as in a domestic violence situation, leaving home is crucial for your safety.
- Evacuation Orders: Comply with government orders to evacuate, especially if they indicate an imminent threat.
- Resource Depletion: If your supplies run out and you cannot replenish them locally, it’s time to move to a safer location with available resources.
Expert Tips for Staying Home
Here are some tips from survival experts to help you stay safe while bugging in:
- Stock up on essentials: Ensure you have at least two weeks’ worth of food, water, and medical supplies.
- Secure your home: Reinforce doors and windows to protect against intruders and severe weather.
- Plan for power outages: Have backup power sources like generators, solar chargers, and batteries.
- Stay informed: Keep a battery-powered or hand-crank radio to receive emergency updates.
- Maintain hygiene: Stock up on sanitation supplies to keep your living space clean.
Even for Major Disasters?
Even in extreme scenarios like alien invasions or nuclear attacks, staying home might still be safer. For example, during a highly contagious pandemic in a dense city, locking yourself in your apartment could be safer than trying to escape, risking contact with others, and facing unknown dangers on the road.
However, you might need to leave if the disease spreads through shared air ducts, or if you learn about the pandemic early, have a safe place to go, and can reach it before chaos ensues.
Some preppers have designated bug-out locations stocked with supplies. This can be helpful, but it also adds the risk of traveling during a crisis. The route to your bug-out location might not be safe, leaving you stranded.
Ultimately, staying home should be your default plan unless you have a compelling reason to leave. Being prepared for both scenarios ensures you’re ready for whatever comes your way.
Additional Resources
For more information on emergency preparedness, check out these resources:
- Ready.gov: The official website of the Department of Homeland Security, providing comprehensive guides on preparing for various emergencies.
- American Red Cross: Offers tips and resources for emergency preparedness.
- FEMA: The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website, with resources on disaster response and recovery.
- CDC’s Prep Your Health: Health-related emergency preparedness tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
By understanding the importance of staying home and preparing adequately, you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe during emergencies.
Remember, being prepared means being ready to stay or go, depending on the situation. Stay informed, stay safe, and make your home your fortress.
