We are at the point in South Africa when many white South Africans are asking themselves the question. Is it time to go or should I wait and see what happens? We are not talking about leaving the country we are talking about leaving where you live, packing what you can load into your vehicle and trailer (if you have one), leaving your home and all you have behind you (perhaps forever) and heading to a redoubt (safe place) where you might enjoy relative safety for a time. The alternative – if you stay – and things go really pear shaped is that you may pay with your life (and those of your loved ones). This is a very hard decision to make and can be very traumatic. The best thing to do is keep a clear head, think logically and weigh up the options.
There is a time to stay and a time to go. The important thing is to know when to bug in (stay) or when to bug out (go) and head for a safe(r) area. The situation prevailing will largely dictate whether you will hunker down at home or head off to some remote location. You must therefore be able to “read the situation” correctly.
Bugging in has advantages and disadvantages. The same applies to bugging out. Your decision should be based on which is going to provide your best chances of survival. There are situations when bugging in would be advised. There are situations when “getting out of Dodge” would be the better option.
Let’s break this down logically.
BUGGING IN ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Advantages
If you have prepared properly you should have all you need at home. Water, food, medicine, security, shelter, sanitation etc.
Home is where most people would choose to be. You are familiar with your environment, things are ordered, it is convenient and it is comfortable.
Generally speaking bugging in is less stressful than bugging out.
You don’t have to be “survival fit” if you stay at home – in other words you don’t really have to be in good physical shape.
You do not necessarily have to have good outdoor survival skills.
It is a better place to be for old people, sick people or small children.
Lots of storage space and more resources available.
You can avoid a panic exodus when thousands of people suddenly try and escape and get caught up in gridlock situations.
It makes staged / prepared defence easier if you have planned correctly.
You can plan and prepare pre-emtively.
Disadvantages
There may be situations where it would be fatal or very dangerous to stay. You may end up staying to the point where it is almost impossible to get out.
Services you depend on may collapse (security, electricity, water from your taps, sanitation, refuse removal etc.)
You may run out of supplies and may be forced to go somewhere where there are supplies or where you have access to natural resources or where you can live more cheaply.
If people in your area get to know that you are well prepared, have water, food, medicines and other supplies you may well become a target.
BUGGING OUT ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
The term “bugging out” had its origins in the Korean war and is an expression used by military personnel for leaving an area in a hurry
Advantages
You can move to less populated areas. Less people means less violence (generally), and less competition for resources. During societal collapse you do not want to be where there are masses of people.
You can move to where you are safer. A redoubt/enclave together with your own people.
You may find a place where there are more natural resources available to you than what there would be in a city environment for example.
You could relocate to a healthier environment in pandemic situations, natural disasters or radioactive scenarios.
Your assets are with you and you are mobile which makes you a more difficult “target” or be trapped.
If you have the skills set and are physically in good shape you can survive almost indefinitely in some rural / wilderness locations.
You are generally able to react more quickly to changing circumstances.
Disadvantages
You are out of your comfort zone.
Because you are mobile – possibly on foot – you can carry far less with you than what you would have available to you at home.
Your supplies will run out quickly
There are risks when you are on the road – especially if you are in masses of people (refugees) or in heavy traffic.
You will not last long if you in poor shape – physically and mentally.
You will not have established defence structures whilst you are on the move and may therefore be more vulnerable.
You will not have medical care available and may have to live in unhygienic/unsanitary conditions.
It may be difficult or even impossible to return back home should you want to.
WHEN SHOULD YOU GO AND WHEN SHOULD YOU STAY?
The decision to stay or go will depend ultimately on the prevailing situation. If your house is in the path of a massive uncontrolled wildfire that threatens to soon engulf your home the choice is obvious – it would be fatal to stay. If there has been localized flooding in your area but your home is not immediately in danger then it would be wiser to stay. The bottom line is that it is generally better to stay at home (bug in) – especially if you are prepared – if at all possible. There are situations however that will dictate that you leave. Prepare to stay but be prepared to leave at short notice if you have to.
WHEN SHOULD YOU CONSIDER BUGGING OUT?
Many people (especially preppers and survivalists) have the notion that “bugging out” or becoming a refuge is somehow romantic. Do not be fooled. It is inconvenient, frightening, unsettling, uncomfortable and dangerous – ask any person who has experienced the misfortune of having been a refugee. Deciding to bug out is a major decision and should not be taken lightly. In the following situations bugging out may be a serious consideration:
If there has been a nuclear disaster in your area and there is a danger of radioactive contamination.
If there has been a chemical disaster / spill in your immediate area which may pose a risk to life or health.
When your home is directly threatened or has been rendered uninhabitable by some natural disaster such as wildfire, flood, earthquake etc.
When, after having bugged in, you run out of supplies and cannot restock locally.
When services collapse (security/electricity/water/sanitation etc.) and (a) they are unlikely to be soon restored or (b) you have not made provision to get along without them (i.e. you do not have your own power source, water, food supplies etc.).
When your home is targeted by large mobs, looters, violent protesters.
During genocide, war or civil war when you find yourself in a conflict zone.
When you find yourself in an area where a pandemic disease has broken out (e.g. Ebola).
When mandatory evacuation orders have been issued by authorities for some legitimate reason.
When you have somewhere to bug out to and the means for getting there.
If staying too long might deprive you of the opportunity of leaving at a later stage if you have to.
Even if you do not plan to bug out you should be prepared to. At the very least have a grab and go bag (bug out bag) ready for each member of the family packed with survival basics (water, some food, warm clothing, basic medicines, weapons for self-protection, means for making fire and means for purifying water). Have a place to go to and know how you will get there.
WHEN SHOULD YOU CONSIDER BUGGING IN?
Under the following conditions it may be wiser for you to consider bugging in:
If the disaster/unrest is likely to not last longer than 2 -3 weeks and it appears as if the authorities have or will soon have control of the situation.
If you are very unfit, overweight, have some physical disability are sick or are far advanced in pregnancy it would be better to bug in.
If you are adequately prepared (have adequate supplies of water, food and medicines, have an off grid energy source, have available alternatives for ablutions and trash disposal) and can defend your home.
If there are other preppers in your close vicinity with whom you could work together and offer mutual support.
If you do not have somewhere to bug out to or a means for getting there.
If you do not have the skills to survive away from your home.
Plans for bugging out or bugging in should never be set in concrete. You must be able to adapt and change your plans as the situation dictates. Prepare to stay but always be ready to go at short notice if you have to.
This article appears in next month’s edition of SA Prepper magazine which is in the business of identifying threats on a local, regional, national, and international scale and advises you how to prepare for what may come so that you and your loved ones can be more self-reliant and have a better chance of surviving and is committed to helping you prepare for emergencies with practical advice and up to the minute information – much of which you will not see or hear from the mainstream media. The electronic magazine is emailed each month to subscribers and costs R300 for a year’s subscription (12 issues). It is available in English or Afrikaans.
Suidlanders: Interessant dat Siener gesê het mense vlug uit die stede, maar dan sal sommige wat agtergebly het in die nag mense hoor gil, honed wat blaf en skote.Vir hulle is dit te laat, hulle moet in hulle huise bly.