Getting out during Martial Law

**AirborneEagles** · 08-11-2010, 01:48 AM

Usually its something nobody thinks will happen, but it does and will if there is a large enough catastrophe. A large earthquake, a another large hurricane like the one that hit the Louisiana a few years ago, riots, an outbreak of sorts (Ukraine during the outbreak), even getting out in an area that has a civil war or revolution.

Or for what is to come perhaps if things don't change in Government.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqdCh...embedded#at=44

Backing it up is this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5qxP...layer_embedded

So some things to consider. Family, food, water and shelter.

First, have a plan for the family to meet at some place that is safe. (Kids also should have a plan and a back up plan with the parents.) For instance, make it to the 5th street water way and hide in the culvert and wait for us. We will come and get you when we are all gathered and it will most likely be at night so hang tight. That kind of thing.

Getting out. It isn't going to be easy, but it can be done if you stay away from most main roads or any road if possible. Use routes that provide good cover, there will most likely be helio's flying around looking for people. Or other soldiers depending on what is going on. Going across open fields is not a good idea, today soldiers are equipped with night vision goggles. Helps to have a cheap night vision of your own in your pack.

Food, water and other items of use. Add these to your pack.

Upon the other threads, it is good to look at those for which may be handy for just about every type of bugging out. For camping for fun or bugging out to just get away from the city and the mess for safety.

If you find a vacant military vehicle, leave it alone. You want to stay off the roads and you will want to be on foot. Don't use your vehicle to try and escape, it is fruitless. Soldiers, road blocks, and helicopters all are against the odds of getting out in a vehicle. So stay on foot, you can hide easier and move easier across land, creeks, and through forests.

Finding an area that is not going to be looked at for wandering people is hard to do, so you may want to find some hard cover (downed trees with lots of other trees around), a nice rock pile to make a makeshift shelter in, a deep gorge with lots of brush and cover, etc. The heavier the brush or trees the better. Upon finding a nice spot that is pretty well hidden, dig in. Even actually dig into the soft ground and make a small dugout for a shelter even helps. Since infrared can detect body heat from above, you want to be under ground or under some heavy trees to hide your body heat.

If after a while it settles down and there seems to be no soldiers scouting out the area or if you don't hear gun fire, still stay there. You can wander out at night to have a look around towards the civilized areas to see if there are any fires, trucks or vehicles moving around (military), looking for flashes of gunfire, or if it is all dark and silent.

For the most part, you want to stay there until you are absolutely sure and it may take weeks or months so you have to know how to live off the land. (Researching those edible plants and things on this forum helps greatly.)

Water sources are also important. If you camp out near a stream, you always have water. If you are in the middle of a forest, start scouting for streams or natural springs. Camping closer to a water source sure helps save you a lot of leg work. There are ideas for water filters on the Internet as well, but a quick one if you are just out there with hardly anything is to dig a hole about a foot away from the water (creek, pond, lake) and dig it about 10 inches down. When it fills up with water from the bottom, then the ground has acted like a natural filter and you can drink the water in the hole. Making sure the water seeped up from the bottom of the hole, not from over the top since you want the water to be filtered. Easy way to get clean water.

Another thing, never leave the group for too long. It is always the case when one person leaves something happens to the group that nobody expects. They get found by troops, someone want out for a nature walk and got lost, what ever it was by the time you got back they were all a mess. So a few days of training must be at hand for all the members of the group (if there is a group) and then you can leave without coming back to a mess.
The case may be where you end up hiding for 2 or 3 days and can't get back to camp right away, so they must all know how to survive without you. If it is just you, then its no big deal, you can get back to your camp when you feel like it.

So bug out bags are important for every family. If you can afford two or more bug out bags, have one in the car and one in the house. That way you can leave from the office, get the bug out bag out of the car and head out. At home you can grab the one at home and give the other to another family member from the car or give it to a friend. Then bug out and head for the hills, plains or desert. Get out fast and do it quietly if possible, or take your time sneaking around till you can get out.

There are some awesome examples on this forum what to put in a bug out bag. But the less you carry the faster you can move, so don't fill up an entire military bag full of stuff and expect to move around easy, keep it simple.

Depend on the land for all other things. The Indians did it, so can you.

If you want to survive, you have to prepare for it.
And this is a good reason to know as much as you can so you can survive off the land during any kind of situation that happens.

Airborne

**Rick** · 08-11-2010, 07:10 AM

Actually a good post. I don't agree with the scenario and I think you missed one or two items so here's my thoughts.

We have had martial law in our country. Quite often and in recent times. We just haven't called it that. But a rose by any other name.

In 1970 there was a cyclone in Southern Illinois that reeked wide spread devastation. The affected areas were cordoned off and patrolled by police and national guard. Movement into the area was severely restricted and reserved only for first responders and utility crews. That's martial law. I'm sure all of you can identify some tornado, flood, fire or other natural disaster that has caused similar restrictions in movement enforced by police and/or military.

It would be hard to live off the land in those situations, too. A wildfire leaves very little in it's path to survive on while a tornado or flood can render what's left useless.

I don't buy into the government collapse theories but I do know from past experience that natural disasters happen all the time. Personally, I prepare for them since it's the most likely scenario to encounter and will generally render the terrain quite inhospitable and often with no food resources left behind.

**BENESSE** · 08-11-2010, 08:32 AM

Here's what I'm thinking out loud...
If I'm prepared to stay put during a disaster and there's martial law, that's a good thing isn't it? Someone's on top of things and minimizing crime and looting. I wouldn't want to be out and about anyway, unless I was desperate.
Not having lived through anything of the sort, I'm not sure if my assumption makes sense to anyone but me.

**Pal334** · 08-11-2010, 11:38 AM

THe lower part of the originating post seem to be general SOP with the addition of individual variations.
The part about martial law should not be of any concern. As Rick indicated that our experiences with partial martial law scenarios in history have been quite positive (unless a person was a mscreant and could not follow simple directions). Unless a person is scared of the mythical unmarked black helicopters

then there is nothing to fear. I for one would welcome a historical style martial law in the event of a widespread catostrophic event for general security purposes.
We are not the Ukraine so the statement "outbreak of sorts (Ukraine during the outbreak)" would carry zero weight in a "survival" type planning in the USA.
The two videos do not seem to have any bearing what so ever on the attempted discussion, they have been widely recognized as a compilation of a variety of unrelated videos.

**Rick** · 08-11-2010, 12:13 PM

I agree with you Benesse. Obviously, a lot depends on how large scale the disaster is.

**Ole WV Coot** · 08-11-2010, 04:51 PM

Rick is correct. The only time, and it wasn't called martial law was during the riots when I was working in DC. I was stopped going in, got a guard escort and stopped and checked going out. I worked natural disasters and curfews were common, also off limit areas to the public. I had a legit reason for being where I was and had no problems. To be honest I wouldn't have been in those areas if it wasn't my job.

**kyratshooter** · 08-11-2010, 07:27 PM

the first orders during ML are usually "go home and stay home". Roadblocks are set up to insure those going past are going to their home.

For some a road block is a challenge. Someone restricting their movements.

That is a bad thing if your plan for preps is looting the local Wall-mart, loading a BOB and taking off across country to wonder aimlessly until you find a farm house where you can klill the inhabitants and move in. (and that is the plan for a large number of our "friends" in the survival movement.)

Restriction of movement is not the facet of ML we should be concerned with. The political "lockdown" is the real danger. Suspension of elections and blocking change of office is the real danger area. An engineered or artificial uprising that spraks ML, suspends elections and locks power in the Status Quo creating an instant dictatorship.

Abe Lincoln did that in Maryland to prevent DC from being sorrounded by succeeded states in the first CW.

**AirborneEagles** · 08-11-2010, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by BENESSE

Here's what I'm thinking out loud...
If I'm prepared to stay put during a disaster and there's martial law, that's a good thing isn't it? Someone's on top of things and minimizing crime and looting. I wouldn't want to be out and about anyway, unless I was desperate.
Not having lived through anything of the sort, I'm not sure if my assumption makes sense to anyone but me.

Well let us look at the scenarios of staying at home. First, IF you have a home after an earthquake or large disaster you could try and stay home till your food supply runs out. Now in Katrina, the people were starving to death, thousands poured into an arena and the toilets didn't work, no electricity, and no clean water or food for weeks on end. People were dying right where they sat, no medical help, and thousands of others were looting and killing, the military and police went home to home to take away their guns and it was a mess. Now, IF you have a home that you can defend and have food in, find sources of filtering your own water and finding water when there is no electricity, then you might make it in your home. If you have no home left, but you have a bug out pack in your car the best option is to get out of town. Forest fires, well not all forests will burn and even when fires go through a large area there are still areas that did not burn. For me, I would get out as fast as I could just because once you survive the disaster itself in that moment, you still may have weeks before any food or clean water arrives and if you have that in your home, others will want it too and try to kill you for it. So why hang around waiting for another disaster when you could survive in the forest or elsewhere a lot easier. Just my take.

**Winnie** · 08-12-2010, 04:00 AM

Firstly I think you make perfect sense Bee, I feel the same.
Most of us here can bug in comfortably for 3months or more, and defend ourselves too(even me and I live in the UK). None of us have any intention of relying on the authorities to help us out.
The liklihood of Martial Law being imposed at the speed whith which you're considering is remote to zero. If you're taking Katrina as an example, most of the looting and lawlessness occurred before Martial Law was imposed.
Having said all that, I think we all have a bug out plan, that is a given.
What you also have to take into consideration is not everyone can or is knowledgable enough to live in primitive conditions. Then you have to remember you won't be the only survivor in the woods and it's no easier protecting yourself out there than it is at home. Just my 2 pence worth.

**klickitat** · 08-12-2010, 04:11 AM

Do not forget that those who stayed home and had the means to take care of themselves during Katrina, were at some point confronted by the military, stripped of their guns and moved out.

Get out ASAP is my moto.

**Rick** · 08-12-2010, 07:31 AM

Well, you guys are twisting the facts just a bit. I'm not sure where you got the "thousands were looting and killing". I'd like to see your source on that. I'd buy dozens. I might even accept hundreds.

While, it's certainly true that gun confiscation took place. It's a bit hard to say everyone who stayed home had their guns confiscated. For many, that occurred while they were out patrolling or shuttling supplies in boats. Some did occur in homes but not everyone had their weapons confiscated and not everyone that stayed home lost them. Still, I acknowledge that's a real concern, depending on where you live.

**BENESSE** · 08-12-2010, 08:35 AM

Ultimately, it's all relative, isn't it?
Where you are, what your skills are, how prepared you are to leave or stay, and most importantly, what you're facing.
Given any kind of choice, I will always try to maximize my advantages and being a refugee on foot in NYC is not one of them. Doesn't mean I am not preparing to do it if I had to, but it's not the first thing that comes to mind.

**Sourdough** · 08-12-2010, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by BENESSE

Here's what I'm thinking out loud...
If I'm prepared to stay put during a disaster and there's martial law, that's a good thing isn't it? Someone's on top of things and minimizing crime and looting. I wouldn't want to be out and about anyway, unless I was desperate.
Not having lived through anything of the sort, I'm not sure if my assumption makes sense to anyone but me.

I agree. I would even vote to eliminate Homeland Security, and shift all of those responsibilities to the military.

**BENESSE** · 08-12-2010, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by Sourdough

I agree. I would even vote to eliminate Homeland Security, and shift all of those responsibilities to the military.

I emphatically agree.
Homeland Sec. is a nuisance at best and a false sense of security at worst.

**kyratshooter** · 08-13-2010, 12:41 AM

The creation of DHS was necessary at the time it was instituted as part of the larger plan. It's disorganization and the intentional assignment of incompetant leaders is also part of that equasion. After 10 years of dismal failure in the disaster mode, refusal to secure the borders and the inevitable Terrorist attack (which will be blamed on right wing religious conservatives) that will come in the future, there will be a major outcry for the military to take over those functions.

To do so the Posse Comatatus law will have to be revoked, which will happen in that situation, allowing the CNC to use military forces inside the U.S. in "support" of public safty.

Everyone has known from the start that the DHS was an impossible agency to operate. The information they gather is too sensitive to be shared freely. Most of it does not need to be shared with the DHS head, much less the rank and file!

I know several FEMA workers, I do not want them having access to the files of the FBI or CIA! They do what they do so they can drive with the siren going! Give them a badge and a flashlight and they would gladly march you into a gas chamber. They were just following orders. It was their job, and you don't give up your JOB, you got to feed your family don't you?

I ramble, sorry.

I suppose if you live in a flood plain you have to worry about forced evacuation. That is why I do not live near a flood plain, or a railroad, or an interstate highway. Folks make their choices and pay their dues in worry and despiration and trying to figure out how they are going to skirt the roadblocks, dodge the patrols and avoid the looters and rioters until they get out of town where they will have to aviod the mobs with torches and pitchforks.

By-the-way, if that roadblock was due to a quarentine you are trying to escape don't plan on sympathy from the country folk.

In 1877 the city of Memphis was quarenteened due to a Yellow Fever plague. The city was sorrounded by NG troops with orders to shoot anyone trying to leave the city. Several people managed to skirt the roadblocks only to be shot by farmers in the outlying areas. No charges were ever filed against any of the farmers. It was considered an act of self defense.

**klickitat** · 08-18-2010, 03:42 PM

I finally found the news clip.
Stay if you want, but for me and my own we are moving to secluded and defensible areas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4Ibx...eature=related

**Pal334** · 08-18-2010, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by klickitat

I finally found the news clip.
Stay if you want, but for me and my own we are moving to secluded and defensible areas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4Ibx...eature=related

I am still not tracking your point. This is a video of a poorly trained and disciplined and more importantly lead city police department violating the laws of its own state. You would not see that in a professional Police force (and pre Katrina They were not considered professional by the Law Enforcement Community at large). There is no mention there either of martial law. The National Guard was there (from various states) On STATEorders, not FEDERAL orders. And you do not see any evidence of them acting in the same unprofessional manner.

**klickitat** · 08-18-2010, 05:36 PM

How many of the gun confiscated where returned? Only the ones you had receipts for and only after several years. I know of a father and son who had well over 100k worth of antique guns confiscated. They got some of them back 3 years later after they took it to court and only because their guns were documented with an insurance company. Everything else was not given back even though they had copies of serial #'s. The guns that came back were rusted to hell, scratch and the value of most of them were destroyed.

These were law abiding citizens with legal guns and they had their rights trampled on. These were professional cops and nation guard who did this. This was during martial law. People were made to leave their homes even though they themselves were secure.

You better go back and watch that clip closely. You are either missing something or blatantly disregarding it. I have come to think you are good guy and so I choose to think you got distracted when you watched that news clip.