You Need to Know When It’s Time to Bug Out

(Last Updated On: January 23, 2023)

Those who are prepared for survival situations know that a bug out may come. A bug out is exactly how it sounds. It means it’s time to get out of dodge. Bugging out may mean you’ll have to get where you’re going by walking.

Flooding after TS Fay, a short-lived  2020 tropical storm that formed off of the coast of North Carolina, and then made landfall over New Jersey, causing minor coastal flooding and inland freshwater flooding.
Flooding after TS Fay, a short-lived 2020 tropical storm that formed off of the coast of North Carolina, and then made landfall over New Jersey, causing minor coastal flooding and inland freshwater flooding.

You Must Be Prepared When You Pack!

If this is the case, then you need to make sure that you have sturdy shoes or boots – and the means to have food and shelter if it’s going to be a long trek. Being prepared for this scenario means having a bug out bag where you can get to it when the time comes for you to go.

Augason Farms 5-20100 72-Hour 4-Person Emergency Food Storage Kit 72-Hour 4-Person Emergency Food Supply created with convenience and nutrition in mind. Within this kit are individually packed soups and entrees that contain nutritious ingredients such as rice, dehydrated vegetables, and delicious dry soup mix flavoring. Along with these delicious emergency food items is Morning Moo’s Low Fat Milk Alternative, a tasty powdered milk drink. All meals are easy to prepare—just add the indicated amount of water and simmer a few minutes.

Bugging out by vehicle means that you’re leaving in a vehicle that’s already prepared ahead of time for a bug out. Your vehicle is gassed up and ready to go within seconds.

It’s time to bug out when the place you’re at is no longer safe – or could be compromised – and survival may become an issue. This means you need to be prepared to bug out in the event of a weather emergency, a terrorist attack, a flash mob or a riot.

Hurricane marching along over the Caribbean towards Florida.

Considering Bugging Out By Horse?

Bugging out riding a horse is okay if you choose a horse to move from one location to another. For example, you may ride from your town to another where loved ones are. But living alone horseback is pretty much a fantasy. Too many issues with just any types of horses, but if you have a choice of horse to pick and this is your only option, get a good solid grade horse with good feet and a lot of heart.

Colonel Potter riding his horse out ahead of a bug out to move their MASH headquarters. Real MASH units during the Korean War had to be able to break down and move out in just six hours.
Colonel Potter riding his horse out ahead of a bug out to move their MASH headquarters. Real MASH units during the Korean War had to be able to break down and move out in just six hours.

The best choice of bug-out rides would be the Appaloosa. Chief Joseph proved this by leading the US Cavalry on one of the finest bugouts ever! The Cavalry hated the Appaloosa so much, that when they did catch up to them, they shot all they could!

Horses can pack a fifth of their weight; mules closer to a fourth of their weight; burros will surprise the hell out of you what they can carry. A lot of early fur trappers sure did like to lead there burros, but any of the old accounts will still show the mount of choice to be a horse.

Trailering Equine First Aid Medical Kit – Large. For Your Living Quarters Trailer: Here is the kit for you serious haulers, with the big rigs. Put this Large Equine Trailering First Aid Medical Kit in the tack room of your big gooseneck or semi trailer and leave it there. This product is made for you travelers who go the serious miles. We’ve added more human items to this kit for you folks who spend as much time away from home as do your horses. This bag design is our best tailored, most ingenious, and most efficient. It has a large center compartment, accessible through a large flap which folds down, revealing six clear vinyl, zippered pockets to help organize the many products in this great kit. The large compartment inside has a movable center divider and features many elastic loops. Two end compartments flank the center section, and an outside pocket on the back completes this versatile mobile kit. This kit will be your best insurance for traveling safely with your equine partners. Make it part of your horse trailering rig. Rated To Service: 4 to 10 Horses.

When I used to have my horse, my first choice would be to stay put in a disturbance or disaster. My second choice would be to trailer my horse to a remote location and move out from there. My third choice would be to move out on horseback and try to make it with the horse to a good get-away spot.

When You Need To Leave Fast

You also need to leave fast if there’s a contaminate set loose in your area – such as a train derailment and the train was carrying some nasty hazardous materials that escaped into the air. City-wide black outs are a criminal’s favorite time to come out and wreak havoc. Your possessions aren’t worth losing your life over – so leave.

If there’s been a city-wide breakdown of communication resources, like if the 911 system crashes, get out. These systems are all computer run – and when the computer crashes, you’re on your own. When a city goes down, law and order goes out the window and chaos ensues.

If some nasty weather is headed your direction and it’s not looking good, get out before the government officials tell you to get out. Why? Because there will always be thousands who wait until the last possible minute to leave – and you may end up trapped in your vehicle sitting still on an interstate while a harrowing storm bears down on you.

Build Your Own Tiny Home
Build Your Own Tiny Home

Plan Your Evacuation Route

Plan ahead of time to take an alternate evacuation route, since the main roads will be overrun by people trying to leave. Print out your escape routes and have them where you can get to them easily.

Know where you’re going. Don’t just hop into your vehicle and take off. Plan ahead for every possible emergency. Have your kit or bag ready to take with you when you go. Inside the bag, you should have water, food, first aid, a way to take care of shelter – like a sleeping bag or poncho, flashlights and personal safety tools like Mace or weapons.

Radio, Fire Starter and Clothes – Get Your Basics.

Make sure you pack a battery-operated or hand crank radio so that you can listen for emergency broadcasts. Have a way to start a fire and make sure you have a change of clothes.

Some of your most used tools in your bug-out bag.
Some of your most used tools in your bug-out bag.

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