I think this is a valid point, I have often thought at what point do I "bug out" So far we have encountered long term power outages in our area, but with the thought in mind, all things will eventually be back to normal. I have been compiling a SHTF box in the garage to maintain our homestead thinking it will go into the back of the truck with everything else I can haul if I do have to bug out. We have batteries, hand held CBs and the usual items mentioned in the box. But I am of the same thought, being in the country and knowing your neighbors, I am going to stick it out at home unless their there is a war of sorts on American soil.The wife and I have taken a different approach. Our plan is to stay put if at all possible.
If not then we will bug out with our travel trailer. It is loaded with every thing just like the house. If we had to leave now all we would have to do is put the dogs in it and go.
Now we do have get home bags. We have one in the car and the truck. They are shoulder bags, like range bags. They have space blankets, first aid, food, knives, extra mags for c.c.w., G.P.S. lights, tp, water purification system, shovel, four MREs, food bars. home made energy bars and a bunch of other stuff that we add as we need it. Meds and such.
Now I do have a hunting pack that if we are taking a trip it goes with us in the trailer. Then we have a back packs for just that. They stay in the tailer till we use them.
Now to be quite honest with you I am not capable of back packing like I was in the past. If we are talking about going thirty miles on foot that I could do. If we are talking about more than 100 I will never make it nor would my wife be able to. So really if you can't drive to it then I am in trouble. Just part of getting old and being honest with your self.
As I said at the top of the page we plan to stay here. We have enough land to live off of it. We know the people around us and we are far enough away from the city that we should be safe.
Now if we are talking war on American soil there will be no safe place.
The wife and I have taken a different approach. Our plan is to stay put if at all possible.
If not then we will bug out with our travel trailer. It is loaded with every thing just like the house. If we had to leave now all we would have to do is put the dogs in it and go.
Now we do have get home bags. We have one in the car and the truck. They are shoulder bags, like range bags. They have space blankets, first aid, food, knives, extra mags for c.c.w., G.P.S. lights, tp, water purification system, shovel, four MREs, food bars. home made energy bars and a bunch of other stuff that we add as we need it. Meds and such.
Now I do have a hunting pack that if we are taking a trip it goes with us in the trailer. Then we have a back packs for just that. They stay in the tailer till we use them.
Now to be quite honest with you I am not capable of back packing like I was in the past. If we are talking about going thirty miles on foot that I could do. If we are talking about more than 100 I will never make it nor would my wife be able to. So really if you can't drive to it then I am in trouble. Just part of getting old and being honest with your self.
As I said at the top of the page we plan to stay here. We have enough land to live off of it. We know the people around us and we are far enough away from the city that we should be safe.
Now if we are talking war on American soil there will be no safe place.
I think the best options would be 1. stay at home as long as possible. 2. drive to somewhere you plan to go in your car (with all food/BOB equipment), if you have to "keep driving" to avoid any kind of disaster situation, and eventually run out of gas (after 300 miles or so depending how large your tank is) then you would only take the BOB with you (or live out of the car temporarily while you use up the food you've stored and taken with you)
Hey, guys! This is my first post, so bear with me. Glad to find you guys.
This morning there was an explosion on the south side of Indy and many people were forced to evacuate their homes quickly. To the community's credit, a shelter was set up and supplies were rushed in asap, but it occurred to me that this type of event is exactly why we create a BOB in the first place.
Just imagine getting a knock on the door in the middle of the night with someone telling you to GET OUT NOW!! Explosions may not happen every day, but it could happen for any number of reasons. Most people had to rush out with only the clothes on their backs. Wonder how many took their BOBs? Probably not many...
I keep a BOB in my vehicle. With Winter upon us I was curious if some of you more experienced preppers have advice on keeping my water in my bag from freezing? Thanks in advance for any and all ideas.
I can only speak from personal experience where I live, but I leave my car outside all winter (only cover it up when there's expected to be a big snowfall or freezing rain) and I keep bottled water in the back of the car year round. While occasionally ice forms inside the bottles, it hasn't split them and I've never had them freeze solid. With water stashed in a pack, there is additional insulation to maintain their temperature.
While you don't want to drink cold water in a survival situation (if you can help it), I'd suggest that you keep your personal-use water container under your outer clothing to warm it and not worry too much about the rest of your water supply freezing.
That needs to be based upon if you're starting to sweat or not. Last thing you want to be doing is wearing cloths soaked with sweat in the cold. If you start to sweat while out in the cold performing what ever activity, you need to regulate your core temp by either shedding some cloths or the intake of cold water.
Mykel Hawk ate snow on the Alaska episode of Man, Woman, Wild in order to regulate his body temp to keep from sweating. I don't know that I would do it that way because of the increase in caloric needs that would cause, but that's just me.