Developing a SHTF Bug-Out Escape Plan

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For many years, Armageddon has been prophesied by the religious and non-religious alike – and of course, this occurrence would come to pass for different reasons.

Hollywood (movies and television shows) generates millions, billions, or possibly trillions of dollars every year by creating movies depicting various doomsday scenarios. Most, in my opinion, seem to be for entertainment only; others could be considered more of a warning. The sad thing is, is that we don’t seem to see the warning until it is in hindsight.

After the phased re-opening of the country in May 2020, after the 2 month lockdown resulting from the Covid-19 outbreak, we saw protests and riots throughout the United States. Whether they were peaceful or not seems to be a matter of perspective and geography.

The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the riots/protests after the national lockdown lifted, or the occurrence of a natural disaster (like a hurricane) – are all reasons that one may have as a “SHTF” scenario that would require a bug-out plan that could be quickly and easily carried out.

Personally, I have only needed to bug-out for a hurricane scenario. It looked like it would be a bad storm, knocking out the power and internet with it. Normally, I would just stay and read a book by candle or flashlight – but in this instance, I couldn’t potentially be without internet for an unknown number of days for work reasons. Therefore, my plans for bug-out primarily revolve around a hurricane scenario.

Step One: Determine the Scenario(s) Most Likely for You

The starting point of developing your plan is to determine the various scenarios that you believe are most likely to occur in which you will need to bug-out for a temporary, extended, or permanent amount of time.

The more scenarios you prepare for, the better able you can be ready to initiate your plans should it become necessary.

So far in my life, I have found that making such decisions before it is required in a potentially life or death scenario, will make it easier to stay calm and rational during such high-stress moments. While others are working on figuring out what their plans will be as a scenario unfolds, by having plans already in place and decisions made, you will only need to determine which plan to initiate and take action on. Depending on the situation, this can save you valuable time in getting to your bug-out location before general panic and fear set in.

Step Two: Determine Your Bug-Out Location

Since my experience is with hurricanes, I will use that as an example. Hurricanes have what I refer to as the “cone of uncertainty”. This is the cone of potential landfall. The expected direction and landfall location can easily change depending on an array of various factors only within the control of nature. Given this uncertainty, I usually have at least 2 or 3 locations in which I can bug-out to, depending on the direction and potential landfall location the storm appears to be going. This saves me time and expedites my decision making when time is of the essence in such a situation.

Step Three: Determine Length of Bug-Out Duration by Scenario

As noted earlier, different scenarios likely have different duration lengths of bug-out. These can be temporary (a few days), extended (a week to a month or more), or permanent. You will need to determine the likelihood of each of these duration times in your different scenarios. Based on your determined likelihood, you may require different levels and types of preparations for your bug-out plans. Not only to get to your bug-out location, but also to survive there as long as you expect to require.

The more scenarios you have prepared for, the more time you can save. Granted, there are times where you will have to make spur-of-the-moment decisions, but those decisions will be easier if you have prepared more scenarios. Those scenarios can then be altered in the moment depending on the situation at hand. Remember, you can make better decisions if you are able to decrease the level of fear and stress you are under when making those decisions.

Step Four: Get Your Preparations and Bug-Out Bags/Supplies Ready

Have your supplies ready to go at a moments notice. Of course, this is the ideal.

You don’t have to have it perfect within 24 hours. However, the more you get the preparations in place and ready to go, the more time you save in getting out of your current location and on the way to your bug-out location faster. Something is better than nothing. Do what you can with what you have available to you and slowly build up if that is all you are able to do within your physical and budgetary means.

**Bonus**

The above should get you well on your way to getting started in your preparations. Be sure to get my free report emailed to you (link at top of page) to help you in your preparation journey.

My bonus information is to be sure to have the following considered in your plans:

1. Cash on hand in the event credit cards don’t work or not available. If you have cash, be sure to have plenty of bills in $20 denominations and lower, as change may not be easily available.
2. Hard copies of important documents – health records, identifications, current bank account statements, emergency contact lists, etc.
3. If you have a safety deposit box a the bank, do you need to remove all or some of the contents?
4. Pets or guns/ammo for hunting and/or protection

(c) 2020 Disaster Survival Answers