What situations would cause you to bug out?

[Scythe13]

Fair enough SD.

When I can hear the rioting and looting, that's a sign it's definitely time to get out! If I can see them, it's probably too late. Considering where we live, we would have prior visual warning, because of our proximity to a main road.

If a mob was at our front door, it would obviously be too late. However, we do have a large garden, thus allowing us to grab what we can and run down out the bottom of the garden.

Depending on the situation, if there was a weather related situation, I don't think we'd ever bug out. Where we live is well sheltered from most things. We saw our first snowflakes today, and the micro-climate around here keeps us better than the average. We're up a hill as well, so protected from flooding!

In a power out situation, we wouldn't bother bugging out. We're hoping to get some 'suitcase' mini generators, which wouldn't go on until everyone else had bugged out and left already. They're meant to be ultra quiet, but the risk might not be worth it early on.

In a financial situation, if the government were going door to door, we'd be out as soon as the rumours started. Grab our stuff, and head to the hills. We'd be able to set up a reasonable location below the horizon from our house and thus be able to watch the house and everything going on around it.

If it was a food shortage, again, I'm not sure bugging out would be a good idea. It'd make more sense and you'd attract less attention if you stayed home. Grabbing a bag and heading out would attract undue attention, unless done at night. In that instance, we could stay home for about 2 days, but if we started to hear riots, looting, or even large amounts of commotion, it would be wise to head out then. But even in those situations, staying put does seem to make more sense for a while.

Being an arson situation, I'd assume people would start their 'fun' at the other end of the street, so we'd have some warning of when our house would be hit. This is unlikely to happen, as there are other places near by that will be hit first, thus giving us much more warning that we need to get out.

A chemical spill or something like that, would mean a very hasty leave home run, and then return when it's safe.

If it was a WW3 situation, again, I'm not sure bugging out would really be required. If the country was invaded, I'd love the idea of becoming a resistance fighter in a militia......but we all know that's a fantasy and not going to happen haha. A country invasion would be a pretty quick event, and if we're looking to be invaded, we'll probably end up being drafted as it is. So, once rumours of drafting appear, that's when we'll be bugging out.


If you leave it beyond the rumour, odds are you're going to leave a little too late.