This whole thing about "bugging out" with a b.o.b., has me both mildly confused and amused. Where is one bugging out from, bugging out to, and why? Now don't get me wrong, preparing for any emergency/disaster situation is very important. Having a good supply of basic survival necessities, (including stockpiled food and water) stored in backpacks, duffel bags, tote boxes, etc., in your home(more than one in the house, i.e., garage, den, hall closet, etc.), in the car/truck, and at your job/work place, is just basic good sense. As for "bugging out", (I prefer, "evacuating the red zone"), there's only three major natural disasters only certain areas of the U.S. are faced with that could require evacuation; Hurricane, Tornado, Earthquake. First, Hurricanes; are deadly, destructive, cause massive flooding. But, they move forward very slowly, and with satellite imaging, their path can be plotted very accurately. Advance warning can be as much as 2-3 days. Plenty of time to load up the car/truck with family and enough gear to get out. Go 100-125 miles from the eye of a big hurricane and it's just raining. No need to walk out with a heavy pack. Second, Tornadoes; are deadly, destructive, unpredictable direction. Not as much warning time as hurricanes, but there is tornado "season", and tornado "generating" weather. Still, advance warning can be several hours. Again, use the car/truck. Drive to safety; don't walk. Third, Earthquakes; are deadly, (actually, earthquakes don't kill people, large falling objects, like buildings and bridges, kill people), destructive,(remember buildings and bridges?), but, ABSOLUTELY, no advance warning. The upside is, the area of catastrophic damage is relatively small, with damage lessening going out from the epicenter. So, if your house didn't fall down, or wasn't damaged beyond safely remaining, stay put. If you are without electricity and /or water, you have your survival supplies right there. Of course, someone might say blizzards in the northern U.S. should be considered. Well, if you want to hike through 5 feet of snow, in a 50 mph wind, at -20 degrees, with a b.o.b. ... go for it. I suppose there might be an EXTREME scenario, where you would have to walk away from your house or vehicle, either by yourself or with wife and kids in tow, with nothing but what you can carry, but that would have to be the absolutely, positively last option. I have the impression, that most people identify "bugging out", with escaping a horde of crazy looters storming down their street carrying pitch forks and torches. That's what amuses me. As Ragnar Benson said in several of his books, "Never, ever, become a refugee. Stand tall, with your face to the wind." Enough said.
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