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Post by ColcordMama on Jun 11, 2012 12:58:51 GMT -7
You have your weapons and ammo, you have crates of toilet paper and freeze dried food, you have shelves packed solid with supplies of all kinds, but do you have YOU? How's your mental status? Are all your loved ones on this lifeboat with you? When push comes to shove, could you follow through?
I'll kick off this new board with a challenge I posted once before on a site that's been sucked into a black hole. Here we go.
Could you really pack your whole clan into the family truckster and hit the road for as long and hard as it would take to get you wherever safety is? We all hope when the big black hairy bug-out scenario happens, we'll have a little warning, at least an hour or so, so we can pack the BOV full and hit the road. But what if your lead time is, say, fifteen minutes?
On the spur of the moment, declare an emergency drill and see how long it takes to get your family and BOBs up onto the couch, then stay there as long as you can stand it to simulate being stuck in a panic traffic jam of evacuees. If your whole family won't fit onto the couch, then push a chair(s) up next to the couch to expand the "BOV" space accordingly. If you always have emergency supplies in your car, put them on the couch before you start.
Now see how long before the squirming and complaining and thirst and hunger start. Do your supplies fill the bill? Nobody can get off the couch/chair(s) during this exercise except to run to the bathroom, simulating taking a bathroom break next to the highway. For the bathroom break, the only toilet paper allowed has to be in the emergency supplies. Forgot to pack some? Tough break, huh? No drinks while in the bathroom either. Bevs have to be in the emergency supplies. No snacks. Look in your supplies if you're hungry. No napping on a couch throw pillow. If you forgot to bring one or keep one in your BOV, you're SOL. One adult must be awake and on duty, "driving" the couch, during sleep time. The couch will get cramped, just like a vehicle will. Deal with it.
If you make the effort to perform this unpleasant exercise, it will be an eye-opener for you. Even though a genuine emergency will bring forth genuine emotions that will certainly skew these results, you will still learn just how far you can push the boundaries of boredom, cooperation, privation and inventiveness. Better to do this now and learn from it, than during a REAL emergency, huh?
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Post by lonewufcry on Jun 11, 2012 13:31:07 GMT -7
We did something like this about a month ago we all jumped into the truck packed it to the hilt and took off. We drove for the allotted time and when we arrived at our destination and unpacked the truck and set it all up. We had have a few issues to work out but all in all it went well. It pays to practice and know what needs to be done when it needs to be done. Thanks for this post.
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Post by angelhelp on Jun 11, 2012 15:01:41 GMT -7
More homework for when school lets out...
Back at the black hole, there used to be something just about daily that created homework for me. Looks like it's going to be more of the same here. ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2012 1:00:47 GMT -7
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Post by cowgirlup on Jun 12, 2012 3:53:53 GMT -7
I must say...I got on my nerves!!! And the next time I ask if we are there yet, I swear I am going to leave me setting in the livingroom floor!!! LOL!!! Too funny. I have to say bugging out has never been a high priority here. We don't live in the city so we don't think there is much to get away from. But, in the case of a nuclear reactor meltdown or some other type of emergency we could be better preparred. We have a realistic offer of a place to go but I really think it's a bad option. Which is probably part of why I haven't spent as much time on this scenario. ***note to self*** add TP to the SUV.....
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Post by angelhelp on Jun 12, 2012 4:40:52 GMT -7
I've carried tp in my car for years.
Hearing Dink ask if we're there yet is hilarious! Still, we laugh a LOT together and would likely have to make a conscious effort toward noise discipline when and if the situation warranted it.
On a more serious note, while we're all practicing on the couch or wherever, has anyone considered the pets? For the folks whose pets are a necessary part of their plan (early warning system, perimeter patrol, pest control, etc.), could your pet deal with being in close/cramped quarters for the requisite time?
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Post by cowgirlup on Jun 12, 2012 5:14:32 GMT -7
I've carried tp in my car for years. On a more serious note, while we're all practicing on the couch or wherever, has anyone considered the pets? For the folks whose pets are a necessary part of their plan (early warning system, perimeter patrol, pest control, etc.), could your pet deal with being in close/cramped quarters for the requisite time? I had a roll of paper towels I figured they were dual purpose. Then a mouse shredded themin them and I didn't replace them. Pets are the other thing. Dogs are a clear advantage to cats in a bugout type of situation. It would take a half an hour to catch and crate the one uncooperative cat we have.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2012 15:18:44 GMT -7
I've carried tp in my car for years. On a more serious note, while we're all practicing on the couch or wherever, has anyone considered the pets? For the folks whose pets are a necessary part of their plan (early warning system, perimeter patrol, pest control, etc.), could your pet deal with being in close/cramped quarters for the requisite time? I had a roll of paper towels I figured they were dual purpose. Then a mouse shredded themin them and I didn't replace them. Pets are the other thing. Dogs are a clear advantage to cats in a bugout type of situation. It would take a half an hour to catch and crate the one uncooperative cat we have. I thought your kitty looked pretty cooperative....but I'm not gonna catch it for you!! Attachments:
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Post by Redneckidokie on Jun 12, 2012 16:14:45 GMT -7
My group didn't make it too far, the engine blew up on our couch.
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Post by Redneckidokie on Jun 12, 2012 16:34:50 GMT -7
On a serious note, if your survival plan involves driving a long way, you are pretty much assured of failure. Other than non emergency weather related evacuation I just don't see travel being viable. If some event that is bad enough that we are BUGGING OUT roads will be clogged, gas short or non available, violence likely. Possible bans on travel altogether, road blocks, martial law? I just would not want my plan to revolve around being able to drive out of danger. If you can not walk to it over a few days time, it is probably a place you will never see.
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Post by Lawdog2705 on Jun 12, 2012 16:50:58 GMT -7
On a serious note, if your survival plan involves driving a long way, you are pretty much assured of failure. Other than non emergency weather related evacuation I just don't see travel being viable. If some event that is bad enough that we are BUGGING OUT roads will be clogged, gas short or non available, violence likely. Possible bans on travel altogether, road blocks, martial law? I just would not want my plan to revolve around being able to drive out of danger. If you can not walk to it over a few days time, it is probably a place you will never see. That's a big worry of mine. Where I want to go is several hours away and I fear it may be nearly impossible to reach if SHTF. At this point in time, we do plan to bug in as long as possible.
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Post by angelhelp on Jun 12, 2012 17:19:11 GMT -7
We too would want to bug in for as long as possible, however, the nearby park is going to attract a lot of fools who'll expect Mother Nature to hand them sustenance. The few deer who live there will be wasted, and the park will be trashed. That puts us entirely too close to the action. I don't see a good solution, short of a preemptive bugout; as far as a long-term BOL solution, there isn't any for us.
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Post by missasip on Jun 12, 2012 17:36:29 GMT -7
On a serious note, if your survival plan involves driving a long way, you are pretty much assured of failure. Other than non emergency weather related evacuation I just don't see travel being viable. If some event that is bad enough that we are BUGGING OUT roads will be clogged, gas short or non available, violence likely. Possible bans on travel altogether, road blocks, martial law? I just would not want my plan to revolve around being able to drive out of danger. If you can not walk to it over a few days time, it is probably a place you will never see. That's a big worry of mine. Where I want to go is several hours away and I fear it may be nearly impossible to reach if SHTF. At this point in time, we do plan to bug in as long as possible. What I look and try to plan for is how far can I get on a tank of gas. Most vehicles will get you 350-400 miles. That is prefect conditions. I think I can make 300 if I take 5 spare gallons with me. That will get me to my sons if nessisary. I don't trust being able to get gas. But know what I can do with a tank full. Jimmy
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Post by COB on Jun 12, 2012 19:29:28 GMT -7
That's a pretty cool exercise and could teach a lot of lessons. Our BOV is pretty well stocked with water, food, sanitation, blanket, sleeping bag, pillow extra clothing and sundry other stuff. We could sing and play road games, read books, and if we take our laptops, we can watch DVDs. We could last a good while without getting on each other's nerves.
Actually our BOV is only about a 1 1/2 hour drive under normal conditions. As long as we have fuel, I think we will be ok to get to our destination. If we have to go further, we will still be ok. I've taken several 19 hr. road trips with my family only stopping for bathroom breaks and to stretch our legs. Once we drove across country from the East to West coast.
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Post by celticwarrior on Jun 12, 2012 20:36:34 GMT -7
I've personally done several crosscountry trips in the 15 to 28 hour straight range, stopping for gas and the occasional bathroom break. It's no fun, and it will tax even the best driver once the fatigue starts to set in, especially if you hit traffic jams or bad weather. However, I have done it, so I know I could do it again should an emergency arise. However, since I live in the boonies already, and very few natural disasters hit my area (with the exception of wicked winter storms and the occasional wildfire), I doubt I would need to bug out unless there was a really horrifying disaster. Saying 'never' is a bad idea, since there are plenty of reasons anyone could come up with that might necessitate a hasty road trip. Bugout drills are a good idea for anyone, especially if they live in an urban area. Just figuring out the routes to take and avoid would be worth the trouble. Sitting on my couch with the family for 15 hours with just what is in my bugout bags sounds amusing, but I doubt I could get them to sit still for that long unless they were really trapped in a moving vehicle. LOL
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