SAFE AND SECURE

BY MIKE TRAVIS

Bug-out security starts with your everyday carry items. It is the equipment that you have immediately available that can help get you to your main supplies.

When circumstances have progressed to the point at which bugging out has become unavoidable, you will probably be under a considerable amount of stress.

High-stress, dynamic situations are not the best times to make new decisions, but this often becomes necessary. Thoughtful planning and preparation for a variety of scenarios can mitigate some of that stress, increasing your chances of successfully bugging out to a more secure location.

PRE-BUG-OUT PLANNING

General Helmuth Graf von Moltke is credited with the statement, “No campaign plan survives first contact with the enemy.” While this is true, it is easier to modify an existing set of plans or switch to a “plan B” than to create a new set of plans out of thin air.

No matter what your reasons are for bugging out, make several sets of plans prior to the event. Pre-planning multiple routes to your destination will afford you the flexibility to choose the route that best suits your purposes. Even if you need to switch routes in mid-event, having multiple options to choose from will have provided you with a greater familiarity with your area of operation and allow you to more easily make decisions on the fly.

Depending on your location, you might want to consider seeding your routes with some extra supplies. Caching supplies in multiple secure locations can give you some added peace of mind. Should you have to abandon some of your supplies during your travels, you will rest assured knowing that a fresh resupply is available and waiting.

A map, quality compass and a GPS should be considered essential equipment for your bug-out kit.