BoB's If you had to go, right *now*...

Tristan

Tristan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Have had this nagging thought:

If I had to go, right now, how long would it take me to be gone?
What would I take?
What would you hate to have to leave behind?

I've got the recommended stuff packed up, of course, and even with that head-start I wonder if I'd be able to pull off shorter than an hour preparation to get gone.

Something is niggling my subconscious, something's not quite right; and I need to figure out what that is. I'm beginning to wonder if it's something that can't be 'loaded up'... something non-material.

I've gotten out of the way of Hurricanes and suchlike in the past, in mere hours; but I took hours because the threat was a known timeframe away. The biggest concern in that situation was getting up the road before the mass of humanity clogged every highway and byway. During one strategic relocation, I took a bit too long boarding up the property, and almost ran into the problem of traffic jams and no fuel on the route. The Gasbuddy app enabled us to find the last gas station with fuel within a multi-mile radius; and they closed within 5 minutes of our fill-up... The traffic was horrendous, and a usual 8 hour drive took 16...

I know some folks are not planning on going anywhere, and of course that's all right and totally cool too. Fantastic, in fact! But at the present time it's still a requirement for us.

It feels like we're on the cusp of something big... and I'm not ready. ETA: and 'ready' may not even be possible.

Got some work to do.
 
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dawgofwar10

dawgofwar10

Veteran Member
Good question and think about it everyday, with my beautiful wife of 38 years she needs my constant attention to her daily needs. And myself with real bad knees, we are not going anywhere! Tough decision to make, but I got the beans and bullets to go a day or three. I am at the Mercy of the Almighty at this point in my life, if I can slow down the Mongrel crowd for a few days for your escape please think of me…
 
R

raven

TB Fanatic
Know where you are going.
If the sun goes Nova, where you gonna go.
If the magnetic poles flip, where you gonna go cause your GPS won't work.
If an asteroid hits the Federal Reserve, where you gonna go and how you gonna pay?
If a tornado blows your house away, where, how, money

Maps. Learning the maps, driving the maps to find the things you will need before hand - like a WalMart, gas station, motel, grocery on the way.
Always have a full tank, an empty credit card, a serviced vehicle - oil, tires, wipers, lights, radiator, windshield cleaner, gas can - and some cash . . . because you will always forget something . . . always
 
J

John Deere Girl

Veteran Member
Tristan said:
Have had this nagging thought:

If I had to go, right now, how long would it take me to be gone?
What would I take?
What would you hate to have to leave behind?

I've got the recommended stuff packed up, of course, and even with that head-start I wonder if I'd be able to pull off shorter than an hour preparation to get gone.

Something is niggling my subconscious, something's not quite right; and I need to figure out what that is. I'm beginning to wonder if it's something that can't be 'loaded up'... something non-material.

I've gotten out of the way of Hurricanes and suchlike in the past, in mere hours; but I took hours because the threat was a known timeframe away. The biggest concern in that situation was getting up the road before the mass of humanity clogged every highway and byway. During one strategic relocation, I took a bit too long boarding up the property, and almost ran into the problem of traffic jams and no fuel on the route. The Gasbuddy app enabled us to find the last gas station with fuel within a multi-mile radius; and they closed within 5 minutes of our fill-up... The traffic was horrendous, and a usual 8 hour drive took 16...

I know some folks are not planning on going anywhere, and of course that's all right and totally cool too. Fantastic, in fact! But at the present time it's still a requirement for us.

It feels like we're on the cusp of something big... and I'm not ready.

Got some work to do.
Click to expand...
The best advice I can offer is pray about it, and ask the Lord for direction and wisdom concerning this.
 
Tundra Gypsy

Tundra Gypsy

Veteran Member
I have no place to go; this is my bugout shelter. I have no place to hide. If you leave how long do you think you could last with what you have on you? You'd only have so much food and water and a small amount of gas. You'd be in the same boat as millions of others. This is always a good question and makes one think of many scenarios.
 
Tristan

Tristan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
dawgofwar10 said:
Good question and think about it everyday, with my beautiful wife of 38 years she needs my constant attention to her daily needs. And myself with real bad knees, we are not going anywhere! Tough decision to make, but I got the beans and bullets to go a day or three. I am at the Mercy of the Almighty at this point in my life, if I can slow down the Mongrel crowd for a few days for your escape please think of me…
Click to expand...

Trust me, I do.

Think of you, all.

And perhaps where you are is precisely where you're supposed to be...
 
dawgofwar10

dawgofwar10

Veteran Member
Just thinking, throwing a spitball or four… How bout a a TB2K Compound with no kool aide built in the middle of nothing of importance???? Think about it we could combine all of SS checks before they cut us off. We could start a coalition to ban coalitions, and have a a dog and cat friendly environment.
 
Meemur

Meemur

Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
John Deere Girl read my mind.

I've spent a lot of time in prayer and believe that I'm where I'm supposed to be.
That said, if there were a train derailment (tracks are a ways away) and a toxic cloud
was headed my way, or something else huge and totally unexpected happened that made the
water or air unsafe, then I would leave.

I'm no longer prepared to pack and leave within 17 minutes (I used to have totes packed).
I could yank my grab-'n'-go bag onto a shoulder and stuff the cat into her carrier and be on
the road in about 7 minutes, but at this point, I would need at least 90 minutes to gather, load,
and shut down the house.

So, realistically, I'm planning on staying here. On the other hand, if I had to go, how much time
do I have? I would grab whatever I could within the time frame.

I'm not totally disorganized. I have the camping gear and tornado preps in one spot. Those would be among the first things loaded. Anyway . . . good luck to anyone who has to bug out!
 
kyrsyan

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
For me, it depends on why. If we just had to go NOW, I can grab son and have us on the road within 15. Most of that involved in getting him dressed and grabbing 4 bags. And I'd likely be heading to a friend's place or to family.

Anything else depends on what the situation is.

But there is a reason I want a small, towable, hard sided camper. Beyond that it would make visiting family and friends much easier. That could be packed in such a way that we could be out in 15 and have a lot more with us.
 
Tristan

Tristan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
dawgofwar10 said:
Just thinking, throwing a spitball or four… How bout a a TB2K Compound with no kool aide built in the middle of nothing of importance???? Think about it we could combine all of SS checks before they cut us off. We could start a coalition to ban coalitions, and have a a dog and cat friendly environment.
Click to expand...

Not enough 'like' emoji's to cover the bases... :lol:

We'd likely need a couple hundred acres.

Anyone else game?

;)
:whistle:
 
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JF&P

JF&P

Deceased
I live at my bug out location with a spare bedroom half full of freeze dried foods a fresh water creek that flows through the property and a wood stove in the middle of a forest I no longer drive and DOORDASH delivers everything I need with Amazon filling in extra stuff
 
Tristan

Tristan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
JF&P said:
I live at my bug out location with a spare bedroom half full of freeze dried foods a fresh water creek that flows through the property and a wood stove in the middle of a forest I no longer drive and DOORDASH delivers everything I need with Amazon filling in extra stuff
Click to expand...

You are blessed!
 
babysteps

babysteps

Veteran Member
Having experienced a level 2 fire evac (be set to go at a moment's notice) 2.5 years ago, I can say comfortably - 5 min with everyone's go bags, dogs, and important papers.

With 15 min we could add the cats and the next level of important belongings.

With an hour we could have all important belongings and all animals including cows, sheep, and chickens. It took us just over an hour for everything last time and that was without hubby's help and without ANYTHING pre-packed. Believe me, we learned a LOT.

We also have a couple of options for places to go.
 
oops

oops

Veteran Member
Used to laugh that I was 20+ miles from the nearest traffic light n 5 from the nearest stop sign...then the gas company showed up...now every freakin turn off for 10 miles has a stop sign that pretty much gets ignored by the locals...but oh well...know most vehicles by sound includin who the driver is...as chuck n his bride n suz has learned...nothin much goes on without the locals havin a pretty good idea what's what n who's involved... so why would I leave...besides the hills protect their own..as chuck can vouch...n I feel for the ijit that doesn't understand that n gets a demonstration on how they do...
 
H

hd5574

Veteran Member
I did find a cool fire and water resistant zipper case on Amazon.com ....for impotant documents.... will most likely get another one for family pics and keepsakes. ..we have been at the bug out location for over 20 years..we have not had to bug out from here yet...but never say never..have a pickup with top and a small travel trailer and are getting ready to fix up our 95 ford 150...with hitch and a motorcycle trailer....there are places we could go
 
Tristan

Tristan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
What things, stuff, memories, tools, supplies, whatever - would you really, really hate to leave behind?
 
W

Wildwood

Veteran Member
It would all depend on why I was leaving. I know I posted about this years ago...anyway, long before I found this forum but I was already thinking along the lines of prepping, I had a dream. It was the most realistic and profound dream I've ever had and I'm guessing around 2001.

We had an old motorhome we'd bought to take to a local bluegrass festival we took our kids to a few times a year and stayed for a few weeks at a time. Anyway, in my dream TS had HTF. People had invaded this country, not just soldiers but also ordinary people and they were sick with some kind of virus and starving. Of course they hit the ports and big cities first. There were so many, they consumed everything in their path and they were mostly afoot. It took days or weeks for them to make it this far and we stayed here until they were starting to get on our property. There is a big creek that splits our property and it's the border of our backyard. We own the property on the other side too.

They were coming in droves and so sick, they could hardly walk. The water was up in the creek, moving fast and it was running backwards. They would try to cross and were so weak, the creek would just wash them away but some made it to the banks on our side. They were starting to stumble out of the water when we finally gave up and left in that old motorhome loaded with all the food, guns and ammo, meds, pets and bedding we owned along with pictures, important papers, some tools and musical instruments...that's what we picked. During that time. we weren't gardening and didn't have chickens. I cried because I knew I'd never see my home again. We took a left and went up into the mountains. My parents were alive then, living next door and they were with us along with my sister and her family.

The people invading were dark skinned and they were all wearing a green shirt, kind of a dark kelly green. I couldn't tell if they came from the south or the east but they were relentless. I saw several drown in the creek but that didn't stop the others from trying to cross.
 
W

WalknTrot

Veteran Member
It's all situational - depending on the hazard and time-line of recovery. But always best to be already living in a distant, out of the way place. You know - where the herd wishes they could "bug out" to. :lol:

There's not much that would pry me away from here. Wildfire or toxic spill for a few days/weeks - yes. But I really have no worries about rebuilding after such an event as it would be highly localized and access to banking, insurance, ID, etc. would be a minor PIA, but there's worse things. If the place was wiped off the map by tornado or the above hazards, I still own the land and whatever's left - so ya drag a camper trailer onto the place and start over.

Spur of the moment, grab wallet, phone, keys, important papers file, some food and water, dog stuff, dog, maybe old family photos if there's time. There's a lot of gear packed in the truck 24/7 anyway. Rudimentary but adequate camping gear, warm clothes, tools, maps etc. Funny, but the older I get, the less I care about "stuff". It's people first, then pets, basic paperwork, then just deal with it.

If the Chinese Red Army decides to roll over N MN, I plan to stay put and make their visit as miserable as possible. And I can think of a lot of ways. :vik:
 
A

anna43

Veteran Member
momma_soapmaker said:
Unless something drastic happens, we're where we're going to be. We live in our bug out.
Click to expand...

I agree that I live in my bug out location.

If it was a train wreck or semi accident, where I needed to evacuate to avoid chemicals, I would go since it would be a short-term situation. There would not be much time to gather anything so I would probably get my purse, meds and hit the road. I'm only a couple blocks from the train tracks although evacuation time might depend on (1) where the accident occurred and (2) which way the wind was blowing. I live a mile from a state highway and half block from a very busy county highway. The semi traffic on the county road is largely farm so lots of chemicals. A big explosion nearby and I'd likely be gone so no need for decisions! Ditto railroad explosion at closest point.

If the situation was anything but short-term, I'm not sure I'd go anywhere. Being a refugee has no appeal for me. I'd rather take the risk by staying in my home where my preps are. In a fight or flight situation, I think I'd fight. I'm old so consider there are worse things than dying.
 
S

seraphima

Veteran Member
Several times we have had tsunami warnings and had to evacuate. My takeaways;
  1. Have a list, and several copies
  2. Place bags to hold essentials like meds nearby
  3. Pack a couple of 5 gal containers with gamma lids to go
  4. Preposition some essentials in your vehicle
  5. have a meet-up place designated
  6. Have a list, use the list, when your adrenalin kicks in you may lose the list so have several copies
  7. practice
 
Tristan

Tristan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
helen said:
Tristan, packing basic go bags into a vehicle is never a wasted effort, but I do not believe anyone will be going anywhere.
Click to expand...

Any chance you can expound on your point?

There's lots of potential reason to 'go' somewhere - fire, flood, tornado (had a recent close call on that one...), etc. Are you thinking of a particular scenario?
 
S

seraphima

Veteran Member
For me, if we have to go, it is to go up higher, above the likely height of a tsunami. If you were in a wildfire, for example, you would go elsewhere. The last big eruption in Hawaii a few years ago, people had to go out of the path of the lava.
 
R

raven

TB Fanatic
Let's pretend for a second. You know, make believe stuff that could never happen.
Got it? Not realistic at all.

  • First thing that happens, Iran launches ballistic missiles into US military bases in the middle east.
  • Second. Congress begins impeachment trial for a sitting President.
  • Third, almost simultaneously the CDC announces a nationwide Pandemic.
  • Fourth, Congress and the White House direct two weeks to save (that's right, SAVE) the healthcare system. Work is banned, Rent is banned, Evictions banned, money streams from the Halls of Congress like water in the Mississippi in the Spring.
  • Fifth, Riotous crowds of Antifa and Black Lives Matter take over almost every major metropolis in the US
  • Six, a Presidential election was stolen.
  • Seventh, it is mandatory to take a vaxine that certainly looks like it kills.
  • Eighth, inflation increase to 20% annually.
  • Ninth, Russia attacks.

Ummmm, . . . I am just a little curious . . . why haven't you bugged out yet?
What exactly is your criteria?
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
We live at our bug out location. The only reason I could see for us having to leave is in case of a forest fire close by or we're downwind of nuclear fallout. If either of those two things happen, I would think we would know about it in enough time to pack the SUV, hook up the trailer, and load it with essentials. Camping gear all in one place, cases of Mountain House food all in one place, cases of water right beside the Mountain House food, and grab our safe with all important papers, PM's, and cash in it, which is also together with the other items listed, and weapons for each, plus ammo. We keep bug out bags in the SUV already with changes of clothes, toiletries, extra pair of walking shoes, and medicines. Doing all that might take an hour. Anything other than that, we'd stay put.
 
ChicagoMan74

ChicagoMan74

ULTRA MAGA
Ugh...good and bad to everything right? My BOL is 16 miles upwind from a fairly large nuclear power plant. So given the situation I could be in good shape...or completely screwed and better off staying put.

One of my ongoing projects is to obtain some kind of pre-ODB1 vehicle to haul peoples and stuff.
 
Tristan

Tristan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
raven said:
Let's pretend for a second. You know, make believe stuff that could never happen.
Got it? Not realistic at all.

  • First thing that happens, Iran launches ballistic missiles into US military bases in the middle east.
  • Second. Congress begins impeachment trial for a sitting President.
  • Third, almost simultaneously the CDC announces a nationwide Pandemic.
  • Fourth, Congress and the White House direct two weeks to save (that's right, SAVE) the healthcare system. Work is banned, Rent is banned, Evictions banned, money streams from the Halls of Congress like water in the Mississippi in the Spring.
  • Fifth, Riotous crowds of Antifa and Black Lives Matter take over almost every major metropolis in the US
  • Six, a Presidential election was stolen.
  • Seventh, it is mandatory to take a vaxine that certainly looks like it kills.
  • Eighth, inflation increase to 20% annually.
  • Ninth, Russia attacks.

Ummmm, . . . I am just a little curious . . . why haven't you bugged out yet?
What exactly is your criteria?
Click to expand...


Actually, I can't see any of those things ever ...

Oh, wait...

Nevermind!
 
Toosh

Toosh

Veteran Member
Oh, we go this one covered!

I could live out of my vehicle for 2 weeks - always. I have stuffed, packed and filled every crevice and niche with useful stuff. Hubby says that my purse is a BOB - and to some degree it is. It's 4 lbs of the most useful stuff a woman should/could have. As fast as I can run down the stairs and open the garage door, I could be gone.

Additionally, we made a list of valuables to take: if we have 5 minutes warning, 1 hour warning, 4 hours warning and 24 hours warning. Then we rehearsed each. Lordy, that was such a mess! We were bumping into each other in the hall and all those trips up/down stairs with heavy stuff in our arms - no good. Very risky and exhausting. So, then we figured out a path thru the house so that we were efficient, with only 1 trip down the stairs. It took us all weekend to figure it all out but now that it is done I love it.

Printed the map and list (with large font) - a copy for each person - and it hangs inside a kitchen cabinet door. Now, we just have to review it occasionally, because things change!

Thankfully, I am from the south! We have cousins. Lots of cousins. Cousins who we mutually support. One of their houses will be the right one to bug out to - depending on the event.
 
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