You and I both know this to be true…
The vast majority of citizens have ZERO plan for how they’ll respond to a disaster if they were ever forced to evacuate their home to a safer location in a disaster or other crisis.
Even those who do have a “bugout plan” for themselves and their family, have most likely never tested their plan to see if it will actually “work”.
Well, moving to a new state (Florida), I took advantage of a recent trip to an out-of-state firearms course to test my own bugout plan and look for some improvements.
Hoo-boy, did I find some doozies!
So this week, I wanted to share with you what parts of my plan WORKED – and what DIDN’T work as expected – so YOU can learn from my own test results.
I Just Tested My Family’s “Bugout Plan” And Here’s What Worked (And What Failed)…
Here’s What You’ll Discover In This Week’s Episode:
- Should you listen to local authorities when they tell you when – and HOW – to evacuate a disaster zone?
- My “Oh sh*t!” moment on the first leg of my bugout journey that could have caused a highway “showdown” with other evacuees! (Plus, I’ll share what I learned on my return trip that works WAY better!)
- “Helicopter gear” for your bugout vehicle? (This would have saved me a butt-load of frustration when trying to navigate by map!)
- Gas stations are virtual “war zones” during a crisis! Discover how I traveled almost a thousand miles in my “gas hog” bugout vehicle… and never stopped at a single one!
- The biggest change I’m making to the interior of my vehicle to allow me to pack more gear and provide faster, easier access whenever I need it!
- And much, MUCH more!
Need multiple smaller safes. The big safe is difficult to deal with unless you can build a whole safe room with shelving and holders for all your stuff.
I built a safe storage room once. My wife promptly took it over as her extra closet.
Haha
Where I live, there is only one way in and one way out: the main road. There have been dirt roads that go to the river in three areas that are only passable in summer if they are even open. The bridge on one of them is impassable by auto. I mostly stay. I have been through blackouts and evacs. The main issue is forest fires. The other issue is PG&E turning off the electric since the company was found at fault for the Paradise, CA fire that destroyed the town and killed people. I wish we could go back to the days when California was a really good place to live. With HairGel, et al, it has become a lib nightmare!
This might be your best podcast ever. I never thought of testing my evacuation plan, but I certainly will when I have a day to kill. Also, a paper state map like they used to sell at gas stations can be had from AAA. I went down to Orlando to meet some friend heading up from Miami. I knew traffic would be horrible because it was the Sunday after Thanksgiving and tons of college students would be headed north out of southern Florida to get back to UCF, UF, FSU. Sure enough, accidents forced the Miami folks to be stuck on the Turnpike for hours as there are so few exits on the Turnpike between Palm Beach County and Orlando. When I headed back north, I decided to take the back roads and had a much better drive than if I had taken the Turnpike and I-75. Sorry you had to spend time with that Jason Hansen who loves to disparage Democrats and big cities, but is still so paranoid living in a small town (with a higher than average crime rate). I’m NPA and recognize there are good and bad people in both major parties.
Jeff, really helpful and in testing information. Are there plans to offer more gear rolls for sale for the X-Bob? Thanks.
I have two thoughts that you might consider.
1: For vehicle borne gear and loads. Put the stuff in a small trailer that’s very lockable and compatible for the other vehicle in your convoy so that you can switch. No loss/abandonment of gear that way from either vehicle leaving more passenger room and maybe a protected place to sleep. For security at rest/Hotel stops I use the trailer safety chains (which are welded to the trailer frame) and padlock them to the vehicles tow hitch chain holes.
2: Knowing your location even in White Outs, Fog, Dust Storms, Smoke from Fires and just plain night. Watch the Mile Markers on the roads and know which direction they go up or down from the State Line or Coast. This way you can tell where you are and distances to destinations. Most off ramps have a number designation and that is a mile marker.
What has helped me tremendously is going to google maps and printing out my destination using all the features available. This way I can map my destination using alternative routes. I keep these pages on a clipboard while traveling to my destination, and in case of an emergency I have this all pre-printed and ready to go, with all the locations marked as well as points to meet in case we are separated. I am in Florida as well and the google maps are pretty good and regularly updated. I find they work far better than buying a map. I always keep a couple cases of energy bars in my vehicle, as well as a couple gallons of water and water purifier, and extra plastic grocery bags stuffed here and there to keep things from shifting and to use for garbage etc. Also, I always have a good blanket and pillow in my car and have used these many times. And the most recent are some high quality LED flashlights, flares and a small Slime 12V Digital Tire Inflator that runs through my cigarette lighter. I have used this numerous times. It’s a lifesaver.
Many comments on carrying firearms. We cannot do that here in Canada
Jeff, I travel with a small drone, if I’m in stopped traffic I can send it up to scout alternative routes and to see what the problem may be.
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I learned the need for testing. Doing is a different thing; I am alone, of a retirement age, can do camping but not tecchy. Need a community of people of differing skills. Not sure how to find that.
In the early stages of developing a route I have found that AAA roadservice offers free day and weekend road trip maps for members to their driving destinations. these maps are organized I’m a flip ticket style format,like a wire bound notebookwith the wire at the top.Allowing for instant changes from bottom to top along a driven route. Also has exits and if necessary what is available at them. With a few chosen of these,they could offer alternate routes from one city to the next via some less traveled scenic routes and are usually up to date,with slight modifications very useful.Also have taken regular notebook style mapbooks apart and used clear plastic sleeves to create my own travel flip ticket routes.One of the best sources I have found for your state is the Orlando map and globe store.Sometimes lunch at local truck stops offer great insight to development of routes from drivers who have navigated the state for years,storm after storm. A general rule in your state is a slight adjustment. East or West,because like you have said,all roads lead North.
Have an emergency CB radio…Not the best, but it can help.
Going around others, they will not only pull out to block you, but there are some that will shoot.
AAA will get you a map flipchart for the route you choose. I’m sure you can order multiple maps. I have made my own flipcharts when I didn’t agree with their route selection. I also like topo maps and have several.
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how about going to a municipal airport to evacuate and escape?
pl match