The Fallacy Of Bugging Out

[Copper Catcher]

General, Practical Preparations, Sustainable Living - Apr 18,2012.
Source: http://survivalacres.com/blog/the-falla ... #more-2324

Many websites, blogs and forums have covered the topic of bugging out in excruciating detail, all under the assumption that this will be a necessary escape plan for many of us when the proverbial [shucks] hits the fan.

This notion is predicated upon the belief that escape and evasion, necessary for your immediate survival will be a (likely) event that you must plan and prepare for now.

However, nothing could be further from the real and actual truth.

This cherished myth is a deceptive and dangerous notion that has little place in reality.

I’ve long held a stance against this notion because in nearly all cases and all situations, this is a very bad idea with oftentimes fatal consequences.

Bugging out is embracing the refugee lifestyle – a very bad idea.

Refugees throughout history have fared very badly, suffered extreme hardship and deprivation, with many not surviving the experience. There is a far better alternative to this.

The rejection of the “bug out” mythology flies in the face of the so-called ‘expert advice’ and theory being proposed by many websites and authors, who are also very active in selling products and gear specifically oriented around this concept. You could say quite rightly, that there is indeed a agenda at work here, but it is not one in your best interests.

Hold onto your pockets and read on.

Bugging out entails leaving everything you are, and everything you own, and everything you use, day in and day out, and everything you cannot carry or transport with you, behind. Not only behind, but inaccessible, unusable and abandoned. Potentially forever.

How much of our lives, and the things within our lives, do we truly want to abandon? You will also leaving behind all rules of normalcy, the concept of “plenty” and abundance (which also means replacements and repair), all laws, rules, behavior and expectations that we have come to expect from each other and within our society, both good and bad.

Let’s make a list of these things to put this reality into perspective:

You will be leaving behind your job (income), perhaps your family (wife, kids), your home (shelter), your friends (support network), your contacts (other people you know), your bank accounts (money), your credit (ruined), your retirement (pension), your property and everything you own (everything you cannot carry with you), your vehicles (except perhaps one, at least until the gas tank is empty), your future (prospects, employment, credibility, integrity). Don’t forget things also left behind, such as electricity, running water, Internet access, news and information, communications, telephone and even cell service, a warm, dry bed and other ‘essentials’, some more then others.

You will also leave behind all expectations of normalcy, decency, morality and expectations, i.e., a “normal life”, forever – more on that below.

If you were dependent upon a job, it will be gone. You will have either been fired or laid off with a ruined reference for any future employment. You would not be able to pay your rent or your mortgage, your utility bills or any of your monthly obligations. If they’ve lapsed far enough, then you would be facing bankruptcy and / or forfeiture of your (remaining) assets, or at the very least, their liquidation (if you still have them) in order to survive a few more weeks.

It’s possible your kids or your wife could be gone, having abandoned you for abandoning them or sucked up into the system by the welfare state or child protective services. Your marriage could be in ruins, your family and friends could disown you, but in any case, what would be left of your relationships could potentially be in complete tatters.

Worthwhile? You decide.

Your connections to society and civilization would also be destroyed, or certainly damaged, perhaps beyond repair. In effect, you’d be “cashing out” completely and perhaps forever, of the life you’ve lived and starting over.

Worthwhile? You decide.

But you’d be alive! (supposedly).

In effect, bugging out will mean you will be totally abandoning your present life in exchange for huddling under a tree in the woods, trying to avoid hypothermia and starvation, wondering where you next meal will come from, and how long you can hold out in your new ‘reality’.

And whatever it was that you chose to run away from — will still be there.

This is perhaps the most overlooked point of all.

How long could you hold out?

Not long.

The reasons are many, but they are sound.

The need to bug out is an exceedingly tiny reality — a future event that will probably never happen. But it is not a zero possibility (nothing is, not even an alien invasion).

Yet this topic still receives a ridiculous amount of attention despite its extremely low probability, which makes no sense at all. The reason is because escapism is thought to be a ‘solution’ versus contributing to the problem. It’s not, as the points above demonstrate.

Running — from whatever the problem is, usually ensures that you are taking your problems with you. Only if your life is in immediate danger does running offer a better opportunity then staying put and dealing with the problem. Running does not make problems go away, it will very often make them much worse.

Running is also thought of as being romantic, adventurous and even ‘brave’ in some circles. Taking on the world all by yourself while you’re on the run is a common theme in movies and books, but has nothing to do with real life.

Running means you’re in full-blown survival mode and all bets are off, including all notions of morality, right and wrong, doing the “right thing” and what you can even reasonably expect to happen. Anything can happen if you run, and often does, because you are replacing all of your security for a whole series of things unknown (and insecure).

Did you know that if you abandon the system, then the system will also abandon you?

Nobody much talks about this point, but it is true. You will find yourself outside of society, unhelped and unhelpable, unknown, disconnected and even hated for being what you have now become. With no address, connections, no references, no family or friends, nothing with which to help connect you back into society, society will turn its back upon you in fear, and you will be outside of all normal channels of help and assistance, effectively cut off.

This is a huge issue, but nobody ever mentions it.

To The Woods

Bugging out is usually assumed to mean “to the woods” where survivors, patriots, militia, end-timers and others will be making “their last stand” (apparently together, whether they like it or not) while roasting hotdogs and marshmallows.

Instead, it will be the last man standing over a pile of rotted and half-eaten corpses, since the food and supplies and the notions of ‘living off the land’ will have died out with the last slaughtered deer to be found. And every ‘survivor’ will have been hoping all along that nobody has turned them in for poaching.

Campsites, caves and hidey-holes will have become armed, dirty and infested encampments of hungry and desperate men (the surviving women would have long since been forced into prostitution and slavery), all fighting over the remaining scraps to be found (and newcomers showing up) necessary for their survival. Informants, traitors, thieves, murderers, rapists and thugs will quickly become the defining characteristic, with the strongest ruling (or eating) the weak.

Those who arrive “first” will potentially be better prepared to prey upon the late-comers or the weak, so if you are still planning on trying this, get your seat at the table early.

Think not? This is exactly what happens during civil wars and internal conflicts when a country turns against itself. The war in Bosnia saw tens of thousands of murders, rapes and thefts as the people turned on each other.

It was a fight for survival, for food, for weapons, for money, for women.

It has happened all over the world, and it will happen again. Whenever there is not enough to go around, and whenever there is strife, secrecy and conflict, those involved will resort to whatever methods of survival that they have to in order that they might live another day by whatever means possible.

It will be no picnic, no romantic “retreat into the woods” where faith, truth, righteousness or rebellion will flourish and grow. Instead, it will be a bloodbath where the young, old and the weak succumb the quickest.

I suggest you bring lots of Tabasco sauce, as it does make the meat taste better.

Bugging out also means you are leaving the norms of society behind. These are the rules, laws, restrictions and expectations that you have come to expect (and largely appreciate) that govern human behavior. Would-be dictators and gang leaders will spring forth from unlikely sources. Since there is nothing to hinder them, then they will allow themselves to be unhindered. Unrestrained, you will find the true nature of what your “friends” can really be.

You’ll soon regret not locking up the mad caps among you and taking away their weapons.

If food or medical supplies are in short supply, then expect gang on gang, tribe on tribe warfare to begin.

Expect slavery, torture, imprisonment and rape.

Also expect the nearby communities (cities, towns, villages) to become their prey, as theft, robbery and murder to go hand in hand with their (daily) need for food and other things like fuel and medical supplies.

Inversely, you could also expect smart and prepared communities to expel, exterminate and hunt down these refugees if things get way out of hand, exacerbating an already bad situation. Forget for a moment the military or law enforcement going after these woodland refugees (a topic unto itself), the locals themselves will not be the helping hand that you may have naively come to expect, especially if you or your gang have already trod upon their welcome mat.

They’re trying to survive too, and live normal, unfettered lives as best they can. They don’t need nor appreciate you coming along and messing things up. Camping out in their back yard or nearby forests will often pit you against them in violent and lethal ways. And they will be far more adept then you are outlasting you because they will have the infrastructure and support network to do so.

Survivalism is only rarely about ‘surviving in the woods’. Rather, survivalism is about living, and staying alive, and how you might do that while experiencing as few hardships as you can. Bugging out to the woods to survive your end-time fantasies is going to be a quick path to death for the majority of people that try this route. There is a better alternative to this.

Staying Alive

Bugging out is never quite what everyone seems to think it is, where living off the land and finding adequate nutrition and staying healthy is grossly overlooked. Many people claim that they can “do it”, yet return year after year from hunting season empty handed.

When the beer runs out, they head home. Or when the food is bland or gone, they’re beating tracks as fast as they can to the nearest restaurant.

These ‘survivalists’ and ‘outdoorsman’ will not survive their voluntary refugee status by bugging out, but they will (if they show up, far from home) be a serious problem for the locals.

You will burn up a tremendous amount of calories (as much as 3 – 4 times as normal) while trying to live off the land.

Finding and building shelter, hunting and gathering for food and water, providing heat, establishing security and working and waking / walking for long hours at a time, will cause you to expend far more calories then you will be taking in. Even if you are very well supplied, you won’t be for long (you cannot carry enough). Foraging for food will very rarely provide enough calories versus what you are expending while looking. You will quickly go into a calorie deficit, burning off fats and muscles as your body adapts to your new environment and demands.

I’ve seen lot of ill-informed discussion of ‘nomadic lifestyle’ whereas the individual or group is roaming about, living off the land. This notion is pure b.s., as it is calorie-deficient, ill-advised for security reasons and will increase the risk of injury and health issues. You will need to preserve calories — not expend them (if you can).

Calorie deficiency cannot last very long (mere days in most cases) before your health diminishes and your strength drops. You risk hypothermia, vitamin deficiencies and a higher risk of contracting illness and injury due to your weakened condition. Unless your nutritional needs are met and you are able to also stay warm and dry, avoiding hypothermia (core temperature drop) and frostbite / exposure, then it is just a matter of time before you become incapacitated, unable to effectively help yourself.

There are countless examples of ‘modern day survivalists’ who have found this out, believing that they too could live off the land and survive, but lacking the skills and experience to do so.

Additionaly, our forests are not the cornucopia of food waiting to be plucked many seem to think, they’re vastly depleted monocultures of trees, lacking sufficient edible foods and wildlife. Some of these people wound up dead, others were found or rescued. All of them learned that foraging for sufficient nutrition and calories is why we have modern farms — it is the most efficient way of meeting our nutritional needs. Even growing your own food at home in a controlled environment (garden) with a plentiful supply of soils, seeds, water, tools and time is extremely difficult, if not nearly impossible for most of us (really) to meet all your daily nutritional needs, all while leading a far less demanding lifestyle then living off in the woods in survival mode. I’ve long been advocating sustainable living and raising your own food, but here in the woods where I live, I cannot even grow half of the food I need to stay alive and healthy, let alone expect to hunt it down. Nor can I grow enough to feed my family, compounding the nutritional needs required.

Bugging out is in nearly all cases, a very bad idea, fraught with danger and pitfalls, destined for failure and doom for those that believe that this will be “their answer” to whatever they’re running away from. It would only be necessary in the most extreme circumstances (extremely rare) and for very extremely short periods of time and for extremely few (skilled) people. This rules out almost everyone else. You would need to return to civilization far sooner then many seem to be planning for.

If you did run off into the woods, you’d soon be back (as many Y2K refugees found out).

Wouldn’t it then be a better solution to avoid this unnecessary step altogether if you could?

Ultimately, this then is the far better solution — bugging in, back to safety, food, heat, clothing, medical attention and survival. If you truly think that you foresee a need to bug out — then revise your plans to bug in to a new location within civilization where you can find (or work for) food, clothing, shelter, safety and security (including an income) where your survival is a far more sure thing. This is the only long-term answer there really is. You will also be in a much better situation to deal with whatever the problem was in the first place that caused you to leave.

I do not have a bug out bag anymore, since it no longer makes any sense to me to have one. I do have cash, toys, tools, vehicles and other things of interest at my disposal. Disappearing off into the woods is a dead end and it will not work for the vast majority of people that would try this. You would have to come out sooner then you think (if you survive) and return to life within civilization somewhere. You’re not going to live off the land indefinitely, and not even as long as you may think, so it makes far more sense in your ‘escape plan’ to prepare for living someplace else instead.

The entire concept of bugging out truly needs to be redefined to fit within the parameters of reality and how this would really work for the vast majority of people. Leaving for reasons of safety, security, natural disasters or some other valid reason is perfectly acceptable — but where you go and how you will plan on surviving while you are there seems to be where this theory falls flat on its face against reality.

Having the means to leave, but having some place to go, where you can find safety, food, shelter and sustainability is key to a true “bug out” plan.

Planning on disappearing into the woods is in all probability one of the worst ideas you could attempt. You would have to come out sooner or later, weakened, possibly sick or injured, broke, destitute and impoverished — a true self-made refugee. Basically, a dumb idea all around, one that should only be tried in the most extreme circumstances and only for the adept.

[alpacafarmer]

I think you may have missed the point of a bug out bag. It is at most a 3 day survival pack to get you to some place safe that you have set up and waiting. This would only be used when all those things you talk about leaving behind
"You will be leaving behind your job (income), perhaps your family (wife, kids), your home (shelter), your friends (support network), your contacts (other people you know), your bank accounts (money), your credit (ruined), your retirement (pension), your property and everything you own (everything you cannot carry with you), your vehicles (except perhaps one, at least until the gas tank is empty), your future (prospects, employment, credibility, integrity). Don’t forget things also left behind, such as electricity, running water, Internet access, news and information, communications, telephone and even cell service, a warm, dry bed and other ‘essentials’, some more then others."
would no longer exist. I agree bugging out would be fatal for most (90%+) and should only be considered if the fatality % of staying put is 99%+. A bug out bag is like buying insurance for your house, you don't buy it hoping your house burns down and having a bug out bag with no place bug out to is a lot like being in a burning house with no way out. A BOB is a very small part part of any plan if SHTF.

[Mossy]

"Bug out" should, indeed, be the last resort, but there are times when a bug out is the only way to survive.

Some people still commute several hours to their job; These people should certainly have a bug out kit at work. Others might be lucky enough to have many contacts and a place to live some distance away, family, perhaps. They /could/ bugout, but that would be a choice to make.

Basic rule of emergency re-location: Have a place to go, and resources there. The survival rate for refugees without a destination truly sucks.

Cresson Kearny ("Nuclear War Survival Skills") described different mind sets he observed. In India, people who should be relocating could be seen sitting around, hoping someone would rescue them. In China, he observed refugees with no resources headed off on journies that would take weeks or months to complete, to rescue themselves.

Hurricane Katrina: We saw people who should have bugged out remain behind. They had a higher death rate than those who bugged out on their own. The most successful of those who bugged out ended up places where they had resources in place, and left early. There's a lesson there.

[SilverEye]

I always thought a bug out bag was just like alpacafarmer said, just a backpack that would get you to a safehouse to wait something out. A natural or man-made disaster like a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, riot or toxic spill that makes your home temporarily uninhabitable or unsafe. A fistfull of cash and a loaded gun being the most minimalist.

[Thogey]

I don't know what this guy's definition of 'bug out' is. But if a wildfire is racing up a hill toward you house in AZ, on a 100 degree day with 2% humidity and 40 mph wind, you bet your ass I'm buggin out.

General civil unrest? I'm happy right here.

[John_doe]

where would you run? there are 6 billion people on this planet.


the best thing you could do is famaliarize yourself with your surroundings and make the best of the situation at hand. panic will cause more problems than it will fix, if there is an infastructure collapse.

[Mossy]

I had to re-read the original post because my eyes kept skipping over sections.

Sounds like the person who wrote that did not do much reading, and only of what was writting some place full of young teen age boys. (Note the bit about: "Bugging out is usually assumed to mean “to the woods” where survivors, patriots, militia, end-timers and others will be making “their last stand” (apparently together, whether they like it or not) while roasting hotdogs and marshmallows."? Pure teen age boy.)

What he is describing was called "backpack survivalism" in misc.survivalism back in the Deja-News days (before Google bought them out). Consensus was that it was a dumb way to die.

[Rosco]

The article was from another Blog an is a Wake Up for Some.
I agree with CC in that at 74 I need all the junk I load in the RV. Yes I have a go bag Its a Child's Backpack as that is about what I can Carry now. But it will be to get home if SHTF when out an about, It's a get home bag to get to RV.

If we can foresee a problem I will go to Double up with Family, Perhaps we will have GoTo East of the Hills soon.

[SilverDragon72]

Interesting reads here. I'm not into the survivalist thing, but I suppose some of it makes sense....I don't have a "bug out" bag of any kind, just access to some cash and a loaded 12 gauge. Things would have to get pretty ugly fast in order for me to want to leave!

[Mossy]

Wellll, that depends on where you are. Drag up your neighborhood on Google maps and see if there are any rail roads near you. If there are, then a tanker car can overturn. Quakes can hit places people don't realize. Flash floods can be a problem. Hurricanes, of course. Back on Google Maps, see if you have any fuel farms near you. BTW, many areas have "disaster coordinators" whose job it is to dig out this sort of thing. Might ask him.

And then there's evacuations the police want when they think someone is holed up with a rifle, and I strongly doubt they are going to happy at the sight of you evacuating with a shotgun under your arm. (A good reason to go with a Kel-Tec folder of some sort; you can carry it in a smaller bag or in a briefcase. www.keltecweapons.com )

Generally, "bugging in" is the better option, if you are home. If you are not home, you may need to leave where you are, or you may be prevented from returning home by something or someone, so an overnight bag is a good idea. You might be fine with a change of clothing, an old pair of walking shoes, and some toiletries sealed in a vacuum bag and tossed in the trunk of your car. You may want to take that with you in case your clothing gets messed up, or you need to crawl under your car and you have your good clothes on.

Nothing "survivalist" about this, just having a minimum of maybe useful stuff handy.

[Treetop]

it all depends on what your bugging out from really. There are some of the mentality the article mentions. I certainly agree its silly. Although if you have a piece of land to bug out to, I could see situations it was warranted.

Id certainly think it was wise to bug out if a fire came through the canyon here where I live.

[John_doe]

it all depends on what your bugging out from really. There are some of the mentality the article mentions. I certainly agree its silly. Although if you have a piece of land to bug out to, I could see situations it was warranted.

Id certainly think it was wise to bug out if a fire came through the canyon here where I live.

that is if the land you "own" is not already occupied. if there was a downfall of all civilization, do you really think people will respect personal property rights among all the chaos. I doubt it.

[Mossy]

it all depends on what your bugging out from really. There are some of the mentality the article mentions. I certainly agree its silly. Although if you have a piece of land to bug out to, I could see situations it was warranted.

Id certainly think it was wise to bug out if a fire came through the canyon here where I live.

that is if the land you "own" is not already occupied. if there was a downfall of all civilization, do you really think people will respect personal property rights among all the chaos. I doubt it.

This is true. Optional is to be there, or have someone reliable there, before squatters realize the land is vacant. Be ready to defend it.

[Treetop]

Or in my case own land AND know how to live on it that others do not want or know how to live on. there are other variables in my favor in my case on this topic, but dont want to share it all.

[knibloe]

I believe that a BOB is for getting away from an immediate threat and having enough supplies to get you to the area where your will resettle. for me that could be moving to the inside of my 90 acres so I am not right on the road, It could mean going 15 miles to my brothers house or going 60 miles to my moms house.

Katrina is probably the best example used so far for the need of a BOB. People just needed a small stash of supplies to help them weather the storm, tide them over until help arrived.

[Sheikh_yer_Bu'Tay]

There are so many variables with in a bug out scenario. I only have two reasons to bug out. Nuclear war and/or societal collapse.

Bugging out to a per-determined location that is hardened, fortified & well stocked is a good plan (IMHO).

If your only plan is to "live off the land" as a nomad "huddled under trees", that will be suicidal for about 99% who try it.

[Mossy]

Sheikh, I think you are right about the "nomad under the trees". Major cause of death will be others doing exactly the same thing, second cause of death will be crossing locals.

Knibloe, first choice, IMO, is to have supplies where you are going (and like minded relatives there who are not going to raid your emergency supplies because they are too lazy to go to the store for flashlight batteries, etc, and refuse to shelter such thieves, even if they are relatives). On your land... well, you could set up a shelter on the far border, or bury a shelter. Maybe a little backhoe work?

I don't think I could tell any of my relatives, even the trustworthy ones, where my emergency stash was. Too tender hearted to drug addict relatives.

[Nickelless]

I don't know what this guy's definition of 'bug out' is. But if a wildfire is racing up a hill toward you house in AZ, on a 100 degree day with 2% humidity and 40 mph wind, you bet your ass I'm buggin out.

General civil unrest? I'm happy right here.

What Thogey said. My proverbial bunker is being stocked with increasing amounts of provisions I use and need on a regular basis so I won't have to go anywhere else. Especially since my wife-to-be is disabled and I have a ton of friends and family here, I'm staying put. I've already decided that I'd rather die where I'm at than to fight an unknown enemy on unfamiliar territory.