When you don’t have a retreat and bugging in is not an option. I recently wrote a post on the types of group leaders you can expect to encounter after SHTF hits and I received a comment from a reader about their experience with trying to join a Prepper retreat group. As they put it, one person said it was his land and he was the boss! As they put it, “He was kind of creepy!” All too often, people seem to run into this mentality when looking for a retreat group to join. If you encounter this, then my advice is to stay away. If they are that much of a control freak now, then they will probably want to dominate their group after SHTF hits. But what is one to do if they can’t find a good retreat to join and bugging in simply is not an option? In today’s post, we are going to look at just this issue and what options might be available to someone in just this situation.
OK, so maybe you live in an apartment in the middle of down town in a large city. In that case bugging in just simply would not be a good option for long-term survival. Maybe you live in a bad part of town and know that you could be easily overrun when SHTF hits? There are literally thousands of Preppers in this very situation right now with very few options. If you are in this situation, then I hope to offer you a few ideas that maybe you haven’t thought of or considered today, so let’s get started.
I know that I have met some Preppers that say because they have no choice, they will simply load up their car or truck with what they can carry and head to the State parks and wildlife reserves and camp in the woods in a tent to survive the gangs in the cities and neighbors who would try to take their supplies. This should only be attempted if you have absolutely no other choice. You see, what many people don’t realize, is that even though they may be able to survive for a week or two, long-term survival without a proper shelter and a constant food source, it would only be a matter of time until you would be forced to move on by starvation, weather, and the flood of other people fleeing the cities with the same idea. Trust me; this is not a good option if you can help it. One idea that has been floating around is the idea of a caravan of RVs and Travel Trailers. The premise around this is that a group of people buy new or used Travel Trailers or Motorhomes and can flee to the Wild life refuges for the first couple of weeks as a group to survive until the masses start to leave the city in search of food. There is safety in numbers and that is what it will take to survive in the post SHTF world. While they are not the best, these can be fortified to offer much more protection than a tent can. The fact that they can be relocated with all of your supplies in them is a very big plus. Most of their systems run a 12 Volts DC and the batteries can be charged using a simple solar panel setup. Almost all have a 12 volt water pump and a water storage tank for potable water as well as a holding tank for the sewage so you don’t have to go outside and dig a cat hole every time you need to potty. This can be a huge thing in the winter when it is cold outside. The stoves in these are almost always propane and are setup to handle 2 large tanks on the Travel Trailers and many of the Motorhomes have a single very large Propane tank built right in, that can last several months before you would need to refill them. I personally have 2 seven and a half tanks on my travel trailer and they will last a month under regular use including running the refrigerator and hot water tank 24-7. There are tons of advantages to having one of these on stand-by for when you may need it. I know plenty of people who have bought used ones for hardly anything then remodeled them for a bug out shelter. Many have less than five thousand dollars in them when they finished. Even those who have land in the country, sometimes use these for shelter. If you don’t have a retreat, then these are great option. They can be stored at your house or at a local storage facility if you live in an apartment or have no place to store it.
Once the masses started leaving the city, it would be time to move on down the road, preferably to a large farm or ranch where you could trade your services as security to watch over the crops or herds. With the masses spreading out through the country and looking for food, they will quickly destroy a herd cattle or a crop of food if not protected. You could offer your services in trade for meals and a place to park your RV until things get better. Many Farmers and Ranchers will be more than happy to accommodate you in exchange. It’s a win-win situation and a lot better than being one of the walking dead looking for food. If the crisis last more than a year, then many of the people who have not prepared will have died off and at that point there will be many places in the country with no owner left and you and your group can simply find an empty piece of land that you like and settle down. Maybe even find some deserted houses that you can occupy and live out your life. This is only one such option for those who have no other choice. Plan ahead and be ready by making sure you have a way to survive, no matter where you live now.
If you can’t afford to get a Motorhome or travel trailer, then you could simply form a group with like-minded individuals and make a plan to travel together along a preplanned route that would allow for occasional hunting and fishing to supplement your food stores. This could be one option until you could locate a vacant piece of land in the middle of nowhere and settle down and build shelters and create a safe life for yourselves. Cargo trailers could also be converted to supply shelter for you and your group while on the roads. Make no mistake about it, this would be very dangerous because of gangs and groups of people that will be watching the roads to take advantage of travelers and rob them of what they have. If you are going to travel, be sure it is in as large of group as possible for safety. Be sure you are well armed and know how to use the weapons you have. Travel only during the first month or two, after that, it will become too dangerous for several months or years that follow. No matter what your situation is, there are always options for bugging out and by planning ahead of time; you will greatly improve your chances of survival when the time comes. Well, I guess this about wraps it up for today and I hope I have given you a few new ideas that you maybe have not thought of. I just want to take this chance to say thank you for taking the time to visit us and read this article. Please come back tomorrow for more on prepping in this uncertain world of ours. Until then, keep on prepping!
-The Sargent-
We are in a single homes neighborhood halfway down a hill. I would be more in a stay home situation. Some woods behind and top of street, and across street downhill if needed. A north/south running Interstate about 1/8 mile away can be seen from one side at top of hill. There is a turn around at top of hill- dead end. Good neighbors. One police officer lives near top of hill – don’t really know him well. Living half way down hill – only home on one side, I feel in 3 directions i have wooded escape/hiding and small pray for food areas. In a marshal law situation I’m guessing only homes would be checked; not woods? Some big builder type rocks behind homes wooded area. Might did a hole to hide in. Maybe move cars down the street so people think nobody home; or would that not be a good idea? Sometimes I feel like a sitting duck, not sure why; maybe something wrong with my situation?
Marci, Do you have a water well or a lake or stream near by? If not then no matter how much you prepare, you will not be able to survive there very long. Water is the single most critical thing when it comes to survival.
As a rancher, I can tell you that the “food and shelter for protection” pitch will be a hard sell. Refugees are more likely to encounter well protected properties and enclaves with a zero-tolerance for armed strangers moving in. Most will have a number of ranch hands, already trusted, providing perimeter security. If bugging out to farm and ranch land is the plan, it’s best to do it now while circumstances are more under your own control.
All of these ideas are great if you are young and healthy.but no one ever has any ideas for retired handicapped persons
Audrey, At 60, I no longer consider myself to be a young man and I completely understand where you are coming from. Motorhomes can be made handicap accessible and I know several people that are handicapped that use them all the time. You just need to keep an open mind and a good attitude and you will find a way. Even if you can’t ride security, I am sure that there are other things that you could do to earn your keep on a large farm or ranch. The only other option is to role over and die, and I don’t know about you, but I am just too dam stubborn to do that! 🙂
Sarge, my Father was a DI and my Father in law was a DI. I am 53 and absolutely am stubborn and would nor surrender or quit unless my enemy was vanquished. So kudos to you and Audrey. We will be fighting in the streets with our children at our feet. The WHO !!!
Sounds like you come from good stock. HOO-AHH!!!!!
But when the SHTF after a Nuke/EMP gasoline for cars/Trucks/RVs will be scarce.
You are absolutely right about that. There is no absolute way to make it to any bug out location unless you bug in. This post covers just a couple of possible solutions that may be available to you. Thanks for your comments! 🙂
If its an EMP there will be a lot of vehicles not running with gas in them all you have to do is syphon it out. Sounds well thought out for different scenarios however, if its a nuke and there is no radiation in your area I would stay bugged in alap.