[preps] Pop Quiz - BUGOUT!

[Holly]

I think about this often, my list keeps changing.

Come play this game with me.

You have 20 minutes to pack up your vehicles and abandon your home, never to return again. What do you take.

I know that lots of us have bug out bags - of course these will go with us. The parameters of this question is 20 minutes and the car doors lock and pull away, if you are not in the car, you vanish with the house.

What do you pack and can you really pack your vehicle in 20 minutes - I will give you this - your vehicles are fully gased up. You can't buy what you have forgotten, you simply will do without it. One additional parameter - you are not going to a fully stocked bug-out place. What you packed - is now what all your worldly goods consist of.

Don't forget your toothbrush, pet food or books.

Holly

(Title edited - Dennis)

 

[Holly]

I was afraid I would be someone who would be like a deer caught in the headlights. I figured if I made a list of what to take and where it should be located I could move through the list without emotions causing delay when minutes might be all I have.

I actually thought most of you had already done this and had your list hanging on the hall closet door, ready to grab.

Holly

 

[A.T.Hagan]

It would help a lot if we knew *why* we were fleeing as this would dictate where we were fleeing to and what we might take with us. Some things I might take in one situation while others I wouldn't bother with.

But among the things I would take would be:

Clothing - especially rugged outdoor clothing and all foot-gear. The baby clothing stash.

Food - especially the ready to eat stuff. The emergency infant formula. Also the grain mills. We probably could carry all of the family food storage but it would take longer than twenty minutes to pack it all in such a way as to get anything else in. One camping style Dutch oven, one cast iron pan, the stainless steel coffee percolator, cooking utensils, plates and flatwear, cups. Other cooking gear would depend on how much time we had left when more important stuff had been packed.

Tools - especially stuff like axes, hoes, and so on.

The family medical supplies and the most important medical books.

Water and water purification equipment.

Extra fuel.

The family seed stash.

Important papers and photographs including our back up magnetic media.

Radios, photovoltaic battery charging equipment, some of the twelve volt equipment.

Firearms, at least one long arm per person and a handgun each and at least 100 rounds of ammunition for everything.

Tent and sleeping bags.

A fast selection of my daughter's toys.


The remaining time and space we had left when all this had been crammed in would dictate what else we might carry.


The unabridged dictionary, the <i>King James Bible</i> and the <i>Book of Common Prayer</i>.

The DunHagan cookbook and the <i>Joy of Cooking</i>, old and new editions.

As many of the Heinlein, Tolkien, Kipling, Twain and Pournelle books as I could quickly locate in the remaining time.

.....Alan.

 

[tennessean]

old friends in the Oakland firestorm

This couple had left their scanner on as there had been a fire the day before that supposedly was put out. Having the scanner on, they had about 25 minutes. They grabbed their cats, photos, and musical instruments. All else perished.

Many people in the Oakland firestorm only figured it out when the smoke detectors in their HOUSE went off, and looked outside to see their house on fire.

The Oakland firestorm gives us ONE important lesson. There were some 14 folks that perished on a narrow road when the lead vehicle stalled out. If they ALL had gathered at the stalled vehicle and pushed it off road, down hill, they would have made it out.

I was living in San Mateo at the time. Pieces of paper ash landed in my yard. Go look at a Bay Area map to grasp the significance of this factoid.

If the wind direction had not changed around 4 PM the fire would have gone all the way to the bay.

 

[Holly]

Alan, the reason I didn't put why you would be fleeing is I didn't want to get into - I won't need to leave because I am not in a fall out pattern, or I have lots of land I can evade the Chinese army coming down my block or I'm sheltering in place I'm so far out nobody is going to bother me.

The point was, what you take with you is all you are going to have, nothing will be left for you to go back for.

Thank you for responding - I had not thought of the gardening tools and the seed stash I have.

Holly

 

[MaxTheKnife]

Holly. I'm not going anywhere. Me and my family will survive... or perish.... in place. There is nowhere to go from here. All that we have is here. And here we will remain. Come hell or high water. Have you considered this in your prep thinking? Some people can't or won't leave their homes. I'm among them. Nothing will make me leave here. Nothing.

 

[Onebyone]

my child
pictures of my children
Tools
seeds
Miracle grow 5 lbs.
important papers
Bible
my two big dictionaries, and a few of my others
some of my christian books
prep food I have on hand (if I have any)
prep and survival books and printed material
Blankets, quilts, sheets, opps meant sleeping bag
rolls of plastic
maps
batteries
solar charger
flashlights
crank radio
money if I have any
jewelry if I have any
all clothing that we wear, all seasons, hats gloves
all shoes that we wear
water
first aid supplies and essential oils
wash cloths & towels
toiletries, bushes, tooth brushes
clothing detergent and bleach
camera if I have a working one
glasses, cups, plates, silver, and cutlery
garbage bags
zip lock bags
foil
lotion
pens, pencils, paper
watering can
bucket
2 liter coke bottles
tent stays in trunk as well as BOB
Any TP I have on hand
Plumbing pipes, fitings and glue

 

[Tristan]

Alan,

If you can gather all those things in 20 minutes and get them stashed in the family bug out vehicle, I salute you!

I have a couple prepared boxes and such, set aside in case we had to make a mad-dash out the door. It would likely take all 20 minutes to grab the two rough-neck bins, spare gas can, BOB's, propellent-burning tools and feed for them, and the family. In fact, I wonder if I could get all that done in 20 minutes, and it's more than half prepared as it is.

And just think, the family spends about 1/3 of each day away from our domicile; if I had to gather them up too, there's no way it could be done in 20 minutes even if it was do it or die...
even forgetting about supplies and such.

Thanks for the reminder, Holly. I've been meaning to re-org the boxes and etc. just for the purpose of making it easer to gather and pack the BO vehicle.

- Tristan

 

[jed turtle]

in 20 minutes i could possibly move the food/clothing/tools/essentials from the house to the root cellar.

if the rest of the family were around, then we might get their clothes, and the solar collectors also into safe storage. aside from that, just a bob each into the cars and boogie, to return later. (yeah, i know you said no return. but i would...)

even if the place ended up 40 feet deep, i'd return some how to recover at least the tools and clothes.

but in the real world, i'm not going anywhere. this is jed's last stand. come and get me. or don't. but this is where the Lord has me put and probably for good reason, so be very certain that you need to take me out before you try it...

 

[suzy]

Were not going anywhere. This is it! If the house goes down, I guess we will too.

If it were a short term evac, we might consider. Propably we won't.

We already have a folder with insurance information, copies of birth certificates, proof of ownership for property and cars.

So, we'd grab this folder, some money, a bag of food, the animals and their food, a couple changes of clothes, scanner, small tv, laptop with wireless card, and be out the door.

suzy

 

[MinnesotaSmith]

Max...

You are already in a rural location, 50+ miles from a big city, I hope? Otherwise, you should work on your location now, before TSHTF.

 

[Tessa Blue]

Unless no one else was told of the supposed catastrophe/disaster (sorry, Daisy and dimensiondancer!) I might as well just stay home, grab a beer or two and be a part of the imploding. (I'll drink fast.) Dallas freeways become parking lots in the best of times - I couldn't imagine trying to bug out if the general populace was informed!

Yes, yes, moving before TSHTF is optimal, but jobs are scarce, and I've gotten accustomed to eating. Eating is good...

Tessa Blue

 

[piggyandpeewee]

My multimillion dollar collection of...

battery operated appliances which probably will be worth diddly
squat in a nuclear situation due to the fact that I've never been able to find a suitable size/quality reinforced steel box that will
hold my batteries. (Any ideas?)

The one thing I forget evry time we've moved is ice cream from the freezer and beer from the fridge...

Seriously I must have many things to read!!

 

[yellowsprings]

I already have a list printed out with several copies for each family member. It includes BOB for everyone (including the dog) and if time allows, food, water and supplies. Most non food supplies are already in tubs in the pantry.

The only way I would leave is if there was a fire or I was forced out by mandatory evacuation. We are in a rural area and probably would stay in place with lookouts on all four sides of the porch waiting for the city slickers looking for a free ride.


I don't even think I would assist the neighbors with food and supplies as they all have had the same opportunity to prep as we have.

I know it sounds selfish but I have been working on this for five years and would hate to see it quickly dwindle down to nothing for my family if I gave it away. No one except DH and DC know that the supply even exists. Not even my parents! With my parents being the sheeple that they are, they would think that I have lost it! They only need to know about it if the time comes.

Just my two cents.

 

[night driver]

1) Piggyandpeewee: Fret not your batteries in an EMP environment they will come thru OK.



OK. 20 minutes. Today? or in about a week and a half?

Today I would assemble a bottle of 12 yr Glenfiddich, a small water glass, a larger tumbler, some soda and some stout. I would arrange 2 comfy chairs out on the lawn (whatever the scenario), with a table, the above beverages, and some ice (for the soda chasers), whatever RELIC wanted to drink (prolly the Bailleys), oh and my Glock, one clip plus 2 bullets. Apply as needed in whatever order is appropriate.



In a week and a half (why does it make a diff??? because I am in process of updating the various boxes and such that I will cite below) the answer will be quite different......


20 minutes.......GO! Hack = A+0

Acquire cats, lock in downstairs bathroom (one of the litter boxes is there).
Grab the 4 grab and go boxes in the upstairs bedroom ( 2Xbasic load outs for ALL of the weapons available in CMM, 2X medical boxes), into the middle of the van.

Grab the 2 carbines, the 49, the 12 Ga, and the handguns, putting one of the handguns ON. into the van, FRONT SEAT.

Time hack A+5 min.

Clothes trunk -front porch, tool boxes porch, tool boxes basement, Seed stash (LT Storage box and jars) basement, garden tools basement and garden. Kitchen box, porch.

LARGE Dutch Oven (attic) Skillet (X2), Griddle, Iron Sauce pans.

Time Hack A+ 10

Papers, meds, laptop, cd case, notebook.

2 shelves of books into crates.

Time hack A+16.

Mill.

Catfood and litter and cats,

ANy quickly packable and removable pantry stuff or storage buckets

Hack A+20.


The reason you don't see cook stove, basic cooking supplies, HBA stuff, and stuff is that they are already IN the van. Oh yeah the OTHER BOB so we have extended water capabilities beyond what is in the van.

FRS's are in the van (or in our purses)

sleeping bags are there too.

the clothes are packed to take to a stash site but I dunno if we'll ever get them there.....something about being shut off if the states close their borders....since the primary escape location (Site B(1) and C(1) is 2 states away. or 20 counties and 2 CITIES away. (Site B(2) with various C(2)'s)


NO I really don't want to be here in my city if certain scenarios occur......



Re-eval for 30 secs at A+ 10 to determine whether or not we go with what we got (plus cats and meds).







Thanks for asking.

Made me think about access to a LOT of stuff which is scattered around the house.


C

 

[kiki]

Holly, I hate pop quizes!!

I would pass this one though. All packed and ready to go. I would see three problems however,
1. getting my kids together.
2. hard place to evacuate from (Jersey Shore). Too many cars, not enough roads to handle them even if all lanes were going in the same direction.
3. Getting the bikes on the car. I wouldn't even take a car if the evac were a short distance.

I would hunker down if I had the choice.

Kiki

 

[A.T.Hagan]

<b>MaxTheKnife wrote:</b>

<i>Some people can't or won't leave their homes. I'm among them. Nothing will make me leave here. Nothing. </i>

Max. Don't be a fool. You're a damn sight smarter than that.

Bugging out is certainly not any part of my primary planning for DunHagan. When we bought the place I peed on the gate posts and drove my spear into the ground for God and all to see. But no fortress is totally impregnable and there are always threats that simply cannot be met - at least not by one man and his family.

In such an eventuality we have a duty to get our loved ones to such places of safety as can be found. Once they are there then we can attend to the matter of whatever it was that made us flee. Or if it is something that cannot be fought or resisted begin to make a new life for ourselves.

<b>Tristan wrote:</b>

<i>Alan,

If you can gather all those things in 20 minutes and get them stashed in the family bug out vehicle, I salute you!</i>

That would be bug out vehicle<b><u>s</u></b>. If my wife, or whoever, is at home and can drive we're going to take both.

The plan I illustrated assumes both my wife and I are at home. It's predicated on working at a dead run. She to begin gathering up the clothes and the food stores - literally dumping them into the trunk if necessary.

I'll have backed the truck down to the workshop and will be flinging stuff into the bed as fast as I can work and when I have it in pulling up to the house and throwing whatever my wife may have left into which ever vehicle I can get the stuff into. The baby will probably be squalling when she gets tossed on top of whatever may be in her usual space but she'll be in the car and safe.

The idea here is that if you <b>know</b> twenty minutes is <b>it</b> then make the most of those minutes.

Indecision leads to lost time which in turn leads to lost resources which may prove later to have been irreplaceable and perhaps even to lost lives.

Right or wrong - <i>get moving!</i> and take action. If you take too much stuff you can jettison it later. The pioneers of the 18th and 19th centuries found themselves obligated to do that quite a lot. But at least they had it to jettison in the first place.

Once your mind clicks into gear and your feet begin to move you can snatch up and toss into a vehicle a heck of a lot of stuff if you don't stop for the niceties such as packing and most efficient use of space. If you have another set of hands and perhaps another vehicle you can grab a heck of a lot of stuff.

Flood, mud, shit, or blood - panic and you're dead.

The clock is ticking toward death - make every second count.




As a note to my list of last night in conferring with my wife it seems our important papers have scattered out again so we may have ended up leaving some important stuff behind for lack of time to search for them. That is a problem we will be addressing over the coming days.

.....Alan.

 

[Homestyle]

1. Fireproof box with lots of CASH, picture negatives and important papers.
2. Guns/ammo
3. Pat our yard dogs on the head, open the feed box and leave (will not waste resources on pets in life or death situation)
4. Tool box and sleeping bags in vehicle all the time along with flashlights, jerry can full of water, big first aid box and a lot of water purifying tablets.
5. Cell phone
6. Case of energy bars
7. Bay Gen radio

We will be gone in less than 10 min.

 

[Maiden]

I would take my tooth brush.

 

[night driver]

Homestyle,


Edited for being an insensitive ass.

C

 

[Imaginethat!]

What is backup magnetic media?

Imaginethat!

 

[kiki]

I couldn't leave my pets and I wouldn't put them down. They are my kids too.

Kiki

 

[Maiden]

kiki, I already have a bug out plan for my pets. I feel the same way as you!

 

[Tristan]

Alan wrote:

Right or wrong - get moving! and take action. If you take too much stuff you can jettison it later. The pioneers of the 18th and 19th centuries found themselves obligated to do that quite a lot. But at least they had it to jettison in the first place.


Oh, yeah, I agree with you! I was honest in saying that if you had such a good grip on that list of things, than I'm standing up and giving you a salute!

Just remembered an incident when we just moved into our current apt. - fire alarm in the middle of the night. I was in clothes, flashlight in hand, checked out if there was *immediate* danger to our apt. or the building (couldn't see any smoke or fire), had papers, kids, wife, dog, BOB and bins in truck in exactly 10 minutes... So that worked out OK. If there had been smoke or flames, it would have been less than 3 minutes and forget about the 'stuff'.

If it was a 20 minute warning, and assuming we were all here at home, we'd do pretty well getting at least the minimum necessary 'stuff' down the stairs and ready to boogy.

But, there's scenarios that play out in my head (kids at school, wife at work, etc. ) that really worry me.

Oh, yeah, we're just out side D.C., which is a great comfort as well.

I wish I had a bigger truck. I wish I had everything prepped to the Nth degree; I wish, I wish. Prep all you can of course, but at some level, however, if you're presented with "get out in 20 minutes or else!" scenario, then grab what you can and cope.

The lists are good. Helps jog my memory...

 

[Homestyle]

I am not a pet person, never claimed to be. The dogs are my DH's hunting dogs and I am sure he will take care of them. For what he paid for them I sure he will. If I am alone and have to leave, I wouldn't know what else to do for them. I could not kill the dogs point blank. There is always hope left, even for dogs. That is what I want to believe in.

 

[night driver]

My appologies ma'am.

I'll clear the post.

I also mistook you for someone else....

C

 

[kiki]

Homestyle


We know that you are not a cold hearted pet hater

Instead, we knew that you said it because there would be no other way. That is a topic that I can't even think about because it would hurt me just to think about it. I hope we all don't have to.
"There is always hope left, even for dogs." I believe in that too!

Kiki

 

[Dennis Olson]

I'd need about 45 minutes. 20 just don't do it for me, and in reality, there is NO disaster (short of a dam bursting or nukes) that wouldn't allow you at least 45 minutes to get out of Dodge.

That being said:

all weapons and ammo
med-kit (big as a 40-qt cooler)
tent, sleeping bags, stove, fuel, lanterns
porta-potty & related supplies
5-gal collapsible water jugs
flashlights & batts
radios (both over-the-air S/W and the XM, weather and CB's)
water filter
chemsuits and gas masks (& extra filters)
some gold and silver (bartering)
clothing & boots
1 ea 55 gallon water drum
1 ea 55 gallon drum of gasoline
hand pumps for each
small gas can
food
roll of plastic sheeting
duct tape
matches & lighters
photos and important papers
some pots, pans, and paper plates/plastic cups
cat & supplies

Into the 4wd and gone...

But in all reality, we could not HOPE to survive for any length of time "out there" with 300 million other people. Our best bet would be to lay VERY low at home. We have everything we need there, and have stocked it as our "last stand". I know that in some scenarios that wouldn't be possible, but if that happens, it's probably TEOTWAWKI anyway. So why not do what Chuck said above? Wine, lawn chairs, good music, and a coupla bullets...

 

[A.T.Hagan]

Hmmpphh!

C'mon people!

Y'all are supposed to be preppers!

Holly is talking BUG-OUT.

In a bug-out situation you may get two <i>minutes</i> to grab your pants, leap into the car, and be gone! Maybe not even that long.

This is why we keep bug out kits - for those emergencies where we do not have the luxury of time.

If you end up in your car with your bug out kit and whatever you could grab on your way out the door as you flee in advance of whatever it is that is causing you to run you'll still have your most efficient tool and deadliest weapon with you - namely, what's taking up space between your ears.

The fight won't be over at that point - it'll have only just begun.

If you can't grab enough in twenty entire minutes to get by with for a least a few weeks then you need to sit down and do some serious thinking about the way you're keeping your stuff.

Chuck, your answer is not acceptable. Do better.

If the situation is hopeless then make them <i><b>prove</b></i> it!

Until then keep swinging.

.....Alan.

 

[Onebyone]

This reminds me I might better check my BOB for the exp. date on my water purfication tablets. I believe they are a couple years old.

Also it takes a good bit of time to fill large or many containers of water so I keep many of mine full and sitting on the way out all the time. Guess I would leave with about 8 to 10 gallons of water.

The reason I put so much stuff in mine is she said we were not coming back so this isn't just a bug out until things settle down.

Trust me my place is small and I would just be walking around stuffing stuff in large black garbage bags. Resort it later. Also I keep large plastic lidded containers in kitchen so would just be plopping stuff in there. Tools all stay together (I'm not a man so I only have the basics.) So just grab and go.

Papers stay in two places so easy to locate. Largest problem I would have is if I take my PC. I have often thought I would take it in case I am electric situation again as I have loads stored on it that would be useful. Don't know may just take the CPU and leave the rest hoping to get remainer later from scrap.

 

[vlad]

what do you keep in your vehicle 24/7 with which to survive?

in my 4x4 pickup at all times 24/7

-3006 rifle
-200 rounds
-22 rifle
-500 rounds
-distributor
-starter
-alternator
-tools
-fuel pump
-radiator hoses
-tubeless tire repair kit
-12V air compressor

-Refrig-A-Wear two piece parka suit (it's a walkaround sleepbag).
-GI field jacket
-boots
-four pair socks
-swiss poncho
-GI light weight hooded poncho
-nylon hooded windbreaker ( I know that everyone can break wind, but this garment does it excpetionally well.)
-two pair leather palm work glvoes
-two knit caps
-Katadyn Pocket Water Filter
-knife
-hatchet
-sharpener
-compass
-magfirestarter
-12 each 6 oz cans tuna

-two conibear 220 traps
-trapsetting tool
-fishing kit
-cast net

10 ply Buckshot Maxxis 235-85R-16 mud grips
-two spare tires
-two shovels
-HiLift jack
-two set V-bar tire chains


truck has two 20 gal tanks. I fuel at 100mile intervals and always have minimum 30 gals on board.

20 minutes is plenty of time for me

 

[BUBBAHOTEPT]

Six shooter and belt (45LC ammo same as rifle always thereand ready), grab deer hide wrapped dbl barl Coach gun, and Win lever plus short wave; and out the door I go-- to the spot. I then spend 18 min grab all MRE boxes, 4 5 gallon distil H2O, med kit, PM w/passport and cash, LBE and serious rifle/pistol bag ( shelter/bags clothes/hygene always packed in vehicle........Any spare time sort through for a few more refined items packed away.......................If I am stopped, I will say I am headed to a old west retreat for a vacation.......

More than time a constraint, would be room in the old Cherokee............Oh yea, forgot my good cigars and scotch; can I stop on my way out???????????

 

[night driver]

Alan, the first answer, as you say, is not acceptable.

the second answer is actually pretty close to what I have right now.


Some of the boxes and tool boxes need rearanging.


And I ASURE you RELIC would NOT aprove of the first answer.. (I would find myself left behind.....)

Unless you suggest that the second answer is not acceptable.....perhaps that is because the contents of the boxes and etc wasn't detailed.....

 

[Meemur]

It really would depend on why I was leaving and the resulting state of the area.

In most cases, I would not grab gardening equipment but computers/laptops/batteries/generator/ham gear so that I could get back to earning a living, assuming that the entire civilized world haven't been taken down. And if it weren't winter, I'd toss in my bike and maybe take time to strap the canoe onto the roof. It depends.

About the last thing I'd want to attempt is living off the land. I'd try to get as close to whatever technology that remained and make myself useful.

More likely, I would be leaving temporarily because of a chem spill from a train car. In which case, the bug out bags would be fine, and I can go from bed to collecting cat & bags, to rolling out the drive in 9 minutes with the power out (I timed it).

I will be shelter in place for most situations and much of what I carry when out is designed to get me home.

Not quite what you asked, but I honestly can only think of few situations where it would be to my advantage to leave my home.

 

[A.T.Hagan]

Chuck,

It was the first answer.

The second answer is a recognition of work still needing to be done.

Meemur,

She made it a very open-ended scenario. Perforce I had to give a very open-ended answer. I can always toss the hoe later if I do not need it, but being forced to use a digging stick is a damn poor way to put in a garden.

Man, I don't know what is causing it. This thread, that oil-depletion fiction thread, or what, but I've got a case of the weirds so bad today I'm ready to grab the wife and child and bolt for home.

And I have not the first articulable reason for wanting to do so.

I think I've had too much caffeine today.

.....Alan.

 

[night driver]

Alan you are NOT alone.

dunno why but the Weirds have been a pretty constant companion for the last 4-5 days..

 

[Meemur]

Alan, I think they've got HAARP cranked up or something.

I've been hearing absolute DOOM from moderate doomers, who generally take themselves off for a beer before they get this whinny.

I should talk . . . I just spend $30 on tuna and chicken pieces that's in those foil pouches at Krogers. They are so much lighter than the cans.

Oh, well. It'll get eaten . . .

 

[Bubba Zanetti]

This is what I go through every Sunday morning trying to get 4 kids to church on time.

I don't know why we don't learn, but suddenly its' 20 minutes 'til 0 hour.

That whole 20 minutes is taken up with finding shoes and coats. Packing fresh diaper bag and getting the kids in their seat belts.

It's worse than herding cats.

 

[Trivium Pursuit]

RC, Amen! And I have only ONE kid! Well, not counting me, that is. The Sunday morning shuffle is living proof to one and all that everything takes longer than you expect it should, which I will keep in mind when I make up my list and post it back here.

Vlad, are you saying you need to have special clothing to break wind? I must have ...natural talent...

 

[A.T.Hagan]

One bump to see if this thread has any legs left.

.....Alan.