Thinking about bugging in? Sheltering in place.

Some times the emergency you have prepared for is not some thing you can run from. Some times the best plan is to shelter in place.

This past week at the Boston marathon there were 2 bombings.  Three people died and many more were seriously injured.

As the identity of the bombers was made known a man hunt began. During the efforts to find the bombers the people of Boston were advised to shelter in place. It was said to be for their safety. With two men driving around Bean Town tossing grenades at police I can see the point of taking cover and sheltering in place.

There are many more reasons to shelter in place. Radioactive fall out, severe weather, social unrest, an epidemic or chemical contamination. Also if you were unable to evacuate for what ever reason you may be forced to shelter in place.

Having your 72 hour kit is a good start for sheltering in place. It can meet your basic needs for the short term.

Unfortunately it may take a lot longer than 72 hours to get help.  People who were hit by recent hurricanes found that it may be several days or even weeks before there is any sign of help.

It is a cold hard fact that if there is an event near you there is not going to be enough emergency personnel to meet the needs of the disaster.

So get more supplies for your home. If you have been living providently you will already have a supply of food that can last several weeks, months or even years. If you do not have a food supply for your home you should start one. You can start by picking up a few extra food items every time you shop or you can go out and buy a lot of supplies at one time if you have the money to do so.

If you have room store at least 50 gallons of water for each person in your home. If you are short of space make sure your water supply is your first priority.

Other things you will want for your home.

Large rolls of heavy plastic black and clear. This can be used to cover broken windows or create a waterproof shelter.
Some tarps, the blue kind you find at the home center. They can be placed on the roof if shingles are lost.
Large trash bags. There will be a lot of trash you may not be able to take out side.
Be sure you have plenty of toilet paper and paper towels.
A tent for shelter if your home is damaged.
Heat source.

Have some hand tools you know how to use. The claw hammer is a wonderful tool. it can be used to build, tear apart and dig. An axe, saw, shovel, nails, screws, screw driver crow bar, chain saw, duct tape, staple gun, generator, gasoline and good quality knife are very helpful in an emergency.

Next it is good to plan for what could happen.

Know what your most dangerous threat is, When it last happened and how ofter it has happened? Earthquake, hurricanes, floods and active volcano's represent natural disasters.

Industrial accidents, dirty bombs, biological attacks and other terrorist activities can also create a need to shelter in place.

Plan your supplies for what your disaster is most likely to be.

You may need to shelter in place for several hours to weeks. Having food, water, shelter and heat will make it a lot easier.

Thinking of Bugging Out?

For years I have been teaching people about their 72 hour kit. This is most often referred to as a bug out bag. The plan is to have a 72 hour supply to make do with until you can reach a safe place or until help arrives.

I have re worked my kit several times. The best way to know what you need is to use it. This means a camping trip and only use your bug out bag. If you are not into camping see how long you can live in your home with only your supplies. That means living out of your kit.

Quick review of basic kit.

Number one item for a kit is 3 gallons of water for each person in your home.
Second have 3 days of food that can be eaten without any extra preparation. Like canned food or MREs
Third any medications you need.

After these three things you will need to determine what works for you.  Shelter, bedding, tools.

Bugging out?

If things at your location are too dangerous to stay the plan must be to bug out. This would be any emergency that had an ordered evacuation or social situation that makes where you live unsafe. If there is a chance you will need to leave. Be sure you are one of the first ones on the road out. To be one of the first out you need to be ready. Always leave at the first suggested evacuation.

Have your car kit up to date. You should check your kit every month or so to be sure it is still intact. If you are at home grab your bug out kit and add it to your car kit. If your at work grab your work kit. Have a plan of what you will be taking. Water, food, shelter, important papers and money. Be able to bug out in less than 15 min.

Have a place to go. If possible have more than one place you can evacuate to. Going to the community shelter is not the most pleasant place to end up. Plan the routs you will leave on. Try to have a safe place to evacuate to that is less than one gas fill up for your vehicle from your home. If it is a large evacuation for a hurricane, radiation exposure or other regional disaster, a lot of people will be trying to leave. Some routs may be blocked so also have a plan b, plan c, d, etc.

Some things that will slow you down as you bug out.

Need gas? You must have gas in the car. You do not want to have to wait in line to buy gas. Keep your gas tank more than 1/2 full. If you have a safe place to store gasoline store several gallons so you can fill your tank quickly without going to a retail outlet. You may want to have a few cans of gas that you can take along so you can make it if you are caught in traffic.

Waiting for family. It is important that your family have a plan of what to do if every one is not together. Most of the time your family will not all be together. Each parent may be at work, children in different schools. Grandparents at their homes. The longer you wait the less chance you have to get out.  Plan a rendezvous point for the members of your family who can drive. Use an out of state contact to keep track of the exit plans and routs your family is taking. Make assignments of who will pick up which family members who do not drive. This will speed things up if everyone knows what is expected of them. You need to accept that all your family may not be able to evacuate together. If you have to wait for every one to be together at home the chance of you leaving early will be greatly diminished. It is better to have some leave early than for no one to leave.

Have everything you plan to take packed and ready to go. If you need to gather things up from around the house you will leave late. All your bug out equipment should be together. Have copies of important documents and a cash stash as part of your equipment. Keep the bug out equipment in the front of the place you store them. If you have to dig them out from the back of the garage you are loosing valuable time.

Once on the road, keep ahead of the crowd. Keep an eye on the gas gage. Watch for a gas station near the exit. If you need to stop for  gas, try to get it quickly. If you see a long line of cars waiting and still can keep going to the next exit, keep going. Do not get into line to buy things unless you absolutely have to.

Because you are on the road quickly you will be ahead of the rest of the people. This means you will have the best chance to maintain a good speed, buy gas, food and water along your evacuation rout. You will also have first pick of lodging when you reach your destination.