Bugging Out e Book

&
ALIVE
THE STREET SMART GUIDE TO
BUGGING OUT
STAYING
Copyright 2003-2011 Delta Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction without permission prohibited.
All Random Thoughts and Case Studies written by Delta Media.
All end-of-chapter summaries are complied by Delta Media by
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BUGGING OUT AND STAYING ALIVE
Table of Contents
15
Introduction
by John Higgs
21
23
Chapter 1: Why Bug Out?
24
27
How do We Bug Out
33
Chapter 2: The Importance of Planning
43
Chapter 3: What do We Take With Us?
43
46
50
51
51
53
55
57
A Small Bug Out Bag
63
64
Chapter 4: Securing Your Home Before You Bug Out
75
78
79
Chapter 5: Do You Really Want to do This?
When do We Bug Out

Where do We Go?
A Medium Size Bug Out Bag

A Large Bug Out Bag
Money Belts to Protect Cash
Caching a Bug Out Bag Offsite
What Items do You Take With You?
What to Wear?
Medical Considerations
How to Hide the Valuables You Cannot Take With You
Survival Food
Testing Your Bug Out Bag Once it is Packed
ix
Table of Contents
83
87
90
Chapter 6: Firearms
93
94
Shotguns
103
Handguns
Rifles and Carbines
Ammunition
Conclusion
(cont)

INTRODUCTION
John Higgs
Q
13
Introduction
The Street Smart Guide to Bugging Out and Staying Alive
As the saying goes, When the going gets

tough, the tough get going.
ctually, the tough are really people who recognize

when a situation is life threatening, or when a position
is untenable, and they leave, escape, or simply bug out.
Making the decision to leave a placeperhaps never to return

can be easy or incredibly difficult. Running from a burning hotel,
even if it means leaving most of your luggage behind, should not
be a decision that anyone would take more than a moment to
make. But leaving the house thats been in the family for three
generations, before the tsunami hits, well that decision is likely
to be a far tougher, more emotional one. And hesitation may get
you killed. On the other hand, in any disaster, we must be careful
not to bug out into a worse situation than we are already in. Our
home, hotel room, vehicle, or whatever shelter we are already in
may offer better protection than whatever we encounter after
weleave it.
How would you feel if you were living in a nice, quiet, safe place
and fifty miles away, some disaster occurred that forced thousands
of people to leave their homes and head toward your town? Would
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15
Introduction
you welcome them? Would you consider them a threatpeople

who might steal your stuff to survive, commit crimes to survive,
take your home away from you or steal your car? Now imagine if
you are one of thousands of people bugging out. You arrive in a
nice quiet town along with all your friends and neighbors. Would
you expect the people of that town to welcome you with open
arms, or treat you with suspicion and caution?
Bugging out may fix one problem and cause many more.
Consider also that when we bug out, we will travel to, or through,
other communities
Figure 1
Should you stay or should you go?
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CHAPTER 1
Why Bug Out?
Q
19
As The Clash once sang, Should I stay or

should I go?
hy do we bug out? What causes us to leave our homes,

neighborhoods, towns or cities? Broadly speaking,
its either a natural or man-made disaster of some
kind; the size and extent of the disaster influences how far we bug
out, and to what location. A house fire may cause us to bug out
only as far as our neighbors house or the local Red Cross shelter.
A chemical spill caused by a train derailment or a tanker truck
accident may force us to a motel on the other side of town for a
night or two. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina decimated large areas of
the Gulf Coast of the United States and forced most of the residents
of New Orleans to move out of the citymany to other states for
months and months. In 1992, the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles
forced some people to flee the city, while others hunkered down
to defend their property from looters and vandals. In many, but
not all cases, bugging out is the only prudent choice we have if we
want to survive forest fires, floods, or mob violence.
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When do we Bug Out?

IF YOU STICK AROUND
TOO LONG, YOU MAY NOT
BE ABLE TO BUG OUT.
The decision to bug out, how to bug out, and where to bug
out to, is determined by a wide range of factors: Time, distance,
opportunity and transportation, liability, and planning.
How much time do we have to get ready to leave? A police
officer may knock on our door and inform us that there is a
standoff with an armed criminal in the house across the street, and
that we have two minutes to get out. This is not something weve
planned for, so the most we can probably do is grab wallet or purse
and remember to lock up the house as we head out the door. On
the other hand, people who live in the path of an approaching
hurricane typically have enough time to board up the windows of
their homes and businesses and then choose to either ride out the
storm or pack a suitcase and leave.
How much distance must we put between ourselves and
the threat? In 2004, when a facility in southern Ontario, Canada,
caught fire exploding propane tanks forced hundreds of people
to evacuate their homes. Certainly those people had to evacuate
a couple of miles or more to avoid the immediate threat, but how
much further did many of them have to go to find a vacant hotel
room? Once we leave home, even if we have a good plan, we may
have to adapt to changing circumstances.
Figure 2
Floods can keep you from bugging out if you wait
too long.
What opportunity is there for us to evacuate, and what mode of

transportation is available? Did the last ferry to the mainland leave
without us? Are the roads already under water? Is the last plane
full? Can we expect to walk out wearing only a pair of flip-flops?
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When it comes to bugging out, an athlete staying in a hotel
What about pets? Can we take them with us? Do we have plans
has far fewer liabilities than either the caregiver who looks after
to carry pet food and additional water? Will a cat carrier fit in the
a wheelchair-bound senior citizen, or the single parent with three
car? Wherever our destination is, will they accept the pet python
young children, two cats, a dog and a hamster. And while we are
or the rottweiler? And if we cannot take pets with us, what do we
talking about animals, how do we deal with a bugout emergency
do with them? What do we do to help them survive until we can
involving family pets, or the herd of cows or the stable of million-
return? It would be irresponsible to abandon them without food,
dollar race horses that is our livelihood?
water, and shelter. For many people, leaving a family pet behind is
How do we Bug Out?

Where we live may also determine our mode of transportation
and how we evacuate the area. During Hurricane Katrina, many
people in New Orleans who did not own cars had to bug out by
walking or waiting for a bus. In Montana its unlikely you could
jump on a train, but a horse or four-wheel drive would be a more
likely mode of transportation.
Our method of transportation determines how much
stuff we can take with us. A motorcycle or a horse might allow
us to carry more than if we are walking. A car can carry more
thanamotorcycle.
So before we can even begin to pick and choose what to take
not an option. It means that their decision point for bugging out is
that if the pet doesnt go with them, then they dont bug out.
Who is on medication? Dont forget pet meds. Does anyone
have a medical condition (Diabetes, for example) that requires
special food?
Are you likely to need weapons for self-defense, and if so, can
you carry them? During Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, law
enforcement officers confiscated guns owned by law-abiding
citizens. In a similar situation, you may find yourself trying to
decide where the greatest risk lies: Losing your firearm to a police
officer, or losing your life to a rioting criminal. Perhaps your
bugout bag should be big enough to conceal a weapon and spare
ammunition, and also give you quick access to it when its needed.
We will discuss firearms in greater detail later.
with us, we must first determine where we are, what the threat is
How much money will you need? Do you have it stashed
likely to be, the weather, how far we must go and how we are going
away at home in case the banks are closed when you have to bug
to get there. And who exactly is bugging out with us? Do we have
out? Do you carry ID such as drivers license, concealed weapons
elderly relatives or young children to take with us? How much can
permit, passport? In our Hurricane Katrina example, being able
they carry? Can we all hike to safety? Will everyone fit in the car?
to show a police officer identification might save you from being
And if we can all fit, is there any room left for our bugout bags?
treated as a looter.
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WHO EXACTLY IS BUGGING

OUT WITH US? DO WE
HAVE ELDERLY RELATIVES
OR
YOUNG
CHILDREN
TO TAKE WITH US? WHAT
ABOUT PETS?
Where do we go?
If the kids are at home and mom and dad are at work, is there
a plan to meet in a prearranged place? How do you communicate?
After the terrorist attacks on September 11TH 2001, the cell
phone system was overloaded. In the middle of your disaster, if
communication is impossible, do you have a prearranged safe
place to meet up with family members? If you dont, try to find a
place that is easy for all members of the family to get to. It should
be somewhere that everyone is familiar with. It should be a place
that is not likely to be affected by the disaster, so dont plan on
meeting at the wooden shack in the woods if youre escaping a
forest fire. If a family member is unable to travel to the rendezvous
place, for example if grandma cannot walk very far, then you may
need to designate grandmas house as the rendezvous point.
So far we have only considered a disaster that occurs in the
vicinity of our home.But what if we are away from home on business
or vacation, for example, when a disaster strikes? What if we are in a
foreign country? Before we can bug out, we must know where we
are going to go.We must be able to communicate that information
to people such as friends and relatives who will be looking for us,
and without a destination, we dont have a complete plan. Our
Figure 3
The people you take with you may require
special considerations.
destination may be a friends house, a government shelter, under a

bridge, the airport, a train or bus station, a tent in the wilderness,
or simply living out of our car in an alley. Wherever it is it must be
as safe as is realistically possible, and people must be able to find
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us when we want them to. If you are in a foreign country when

you experience a disaster, your passport will prove to be invaluable
in getting you home. So will money, in case you have to pay one of
the locals to take you to the airport or the border.
These are the kind of issues that we must take into account
when we are planning our escape. We have to plan ahead and not
wait until the molten lava is six feet from the front door before we
make some tough decisions.
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CHAPTER 2
The Importance
of Planning
Q
31
or any situation that requires us to leave promptly, we must

have a plan or possibly more than one plan, depending on
the likelihood of various situations.
There are two important things to remember about making
a bug out plan. First, the most important thing is to have one.
It may not be perfect, but it at least has to be thought through
carefully before we need to initiate it. Second, dont skip planning
the details. You cannot assume that when the time comes to bug
out that the details will just fall into place. Any plan that includes
the phrase, Well, Ill just is likely doomed to failure because
the important details have not been carefully thought out ahead
of time. Lets think about that for a moment: Well Ill just hitch a
ride on the expressway. Or Well Ill just wear shorts and a tee
shirt and hope it doesnt snow.
Here in the United States, emergency services at the local,
state, and federal level generally advise that we should plan to
survive for 72 hours until help arrives. Regardless of whether it is
appropriate for us to bug out or just stay where we are and wait
for help, we should plan on looking after ourselves for at least 72
hourswhen did you ever know the government to be on time?
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Before any kind of disaster hits us, we need to have spent

WHEREVER WE LIVE, WE
NEED TO TAKE A LOOK
AT OUR SURROUNDINGS
AND DETERMINE WHAT
THE THREATS ARE THAT WE
MAY HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
a little time planning how we would cope. Having a plan does

threethings:
First, it means that we dont have to rush to make decisions on
the spur of the moment and risk making the wrong decision. For
example, its better to say,when my feet get wet, its time to leave,
rather than wait until the water is knee high and say,I wish Id left
two hours ago, now I might not make it.
Second, having a plan gives us confidence and reduces the
possibility that we will panic.
Third, planning forces us to consider things ahead of time, and
allows us the opportunity to research things that we need to know
in order to plan effectively. Planning gives us the opportunity to
create what I call decision points.
For example, I have two friends who live in the foothills of
the Rocky Mountains. The big danger for them is forest and grass
fires. They already know that when a grass fire crests the ridge a
quarter of a mile from their home, the sheriffs deputies will order
them to leave. So for my two friends, one of the decision points is
that when the fire reaches the ridge, they know they have to leave.
They have already made the decision a long time before the fire
ever starts.
Figure 4
People in one part of the country may have to contend with
wildfires, while others in a different part of the country
have to deal with other natural disasters.
We all need to have a plan. Wherever we live, we need to take

a look at our surroundings and determine what the threats are
that we may have to deal with. Homes built in a flood plain are at
risk of being flooded. Homes built on a fault line are at risk from
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earthquakes.These factors are fairly obvious, but its amazing how
bag for different circumstances, and its quite likely that equipment
many people choose to ignore them. Once weve identified likely
such as clothing will have to be appropriate for the weather and
threats, we need to come up with a plan to evacuate to a safe area
the season of the year.
at short notice. A plan should be written down. This forces us to
As we examine different options for bugout bags and the items
think through the details. It means that everybody in the home
that we should carry in them, lets remember that every item we
will understand how they fit into the plan and they will know
own meets one of the following criteria:
what their personal responsibilities are. The plan should include

these components:
Need to have
Nice to have
1. Define Decision Points.When certain specific events occur,
Dont need
this is a signal to get out.

2. Know where you are going and make sure that all family
members know the plan.
3. Know what items you will take with you and what you
will leave behind.
The most basic bugout bag is your wallet or purse. Do you

always carry emergency money, identification, car keys, a cell
phone? On September 11TH 2001, the day the World Trade Center
was bombed, I wonder how many of the people who escaped
from the Twin Towers brought their wallet or purse with them?
A bug out plan must take into account our geographical
Did they have the means to get home, contact relatives, establish
location. For example, if we live along the Gulf Coast of the USA,
their identity, and take their prescription medication? I work in
we can expect hurricanes and flooding. In California, we have
an office. There is nothing in my office or on my desk that would
earthquakes, forest fires, and mud slides to contend with.Anywhere
make me pause for one second if I had to get out of the building.
close to a railroad or an expressway, we might expect a chemical
The important things are in my pockets.The less important things
spill from a tanker. Some of these disasters are seasonal. Forest fires
are in a small briefcase next to my desk. If I have time to grab that
are more likely in summer, flooding may occur in the spring when
briefcase on my way out, thats good, but not essential.
snow melts, or during a rainy season.
In 1912, when the passenger ship Titanic struck an iceberg,
The details of the plan will determine the size, design, and
many people on board ignored the incident. It had been widely
number of bugout bags that we need.We may need more than one
publicized that the ship was unsinkable. Perhaps they were waiting
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DO NOT WAIT FOR OTHER

PEOPLE TO TELL YOU
WHEN TO LEAVE. IF YOUR
GUT TELLS YOU ITS TIME
for instructions from the ships captain. Maybe many of them were
TO GO,
they were launched, and that two hours and forty minutes later,
THEN GO!
in denial that something bad had happened.Who knows? What we

do know is that some of the lifeboats were partially empty when
the ship sank and 1500 people died.
The golden rule here is that when you have to leave, LEAVE
NOW! Do not wait for other people to tell you when to leave. If
your gut tells you its time to go, then GO! Dont dawdle. Dont
waste time collecting unimportant thingsGET OUT!
Figure 5
Never forget.
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CHAPTER 3
What do We
Take With Us?
Q
41
o far weve touched on Why, When, How, and Where we

should bug out. Now lets look at what we should bug out
with. Given the criteria above, we must now make a list
of the items we will take with us. Then we will assemble all those
items on our living room floor or some other flat, empty space and
decide how we are going to pack those items into a bag.
The chances are that we will have assembled more items than
we can reasonably carry. Remember: Need to have, Nice to have,
Dont need. So you need to go back over your list and throw out
all the Dont Needs. Still too much gear? Try to justify taking the
Nice to Have stuff and throw out those items that you cannot
justify logically in a survival setting. You should be left with only
the items that you truly need to survive. Now that you know what
you will take, you can choose the correct size and type of bugout
bag (or bags) to carry those items. They are described below in
Small, Medium, and Large sizes.
A Small Bug Out Bag
One step up from our purse or wallet is a small and simple
bugout bag, such as a fanny pack, a small backpack, or a zippered
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bag.This is something that we should always keep next to the bed

when we go to sleep. Of course, this can be done at home, but it
should especially be used when staying away from home, such as
in a hotel. In case you have to bug out of your hotel room in the
middle of the night because of a fire, terrorist bombing, tsunami,
or whatever, be sure to keep your wallet, car keys, essential
medication, passport, airplane ticket, cell phone, maps of the area,
flashlight, and eyeglasses, in a small pouch on the nightstand. It
may be the only thing you have time to grab on your way out the
door. Personally, I use a soft nylon case designed to hold a pair of
softball shoes. It has a zipper and a soft nylon handle at one end.
It holds everything that I would need in an emergency with room
left over for things that I might pick up later such as bottled water
or a sandwich from the Red Crosswho knows?
Youll notice that I did not say to keep all those important
items in your suitcase. You may not have time to drag a heavy,
bulky bag down ten flights of smoke-filled stairs and out of the
hotel. You cannot expect the elevators to be working, and even if
they are, they will no doubt be filled to capacity by people who
ignored the directions to not use the elevators in an emergency!
In addition to your small bugout bag, dont forget to keep a
pair of sensible shoes and a simple change of clothes like jeans
Figure 6
and a sweater by the bed. Sensible shoes are of the type that you
can actually walk and run in, and that will protect your feet from
broken glass and other debris. During Hurricane Katrina the streets
flooded, the sewers overflowed, dead bodies, broken glass and
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other debris from damaged buildings clogged the streets. Do you
A backpack is pretty good. They come in three basic sizes:
know how many people tried to walk out of that mess wearing
a school or book bag, (which I classify as a small bugout bag) a
only flip-flops on their feet? A lot. This is why I suggest keeping a
three-day pack, and a full-size pack like mountain climbers carry.
pair of sensible shoes handy.
Lets designate the three-day pack as a good medium size bugout
A Medium Size Bug Out Bag
bag. Its designed to be carried long distances, and many packs

have exterior pockets that allow you to access frequently used
The next step up is a medium size personal bugout bag. This
items easily.A backpack also keeps your hands free for other things:
is probably what everybody envisions when we talk about the
holding onto your dogs leash or your five-year old daughters hand,
classic bugout bag. In my opinion, hard sided cases dont make
or carrying your rifle. One slightly negative point about hiking-
good bugout bags. They dont give when you try to cram gear
style backpacks is that many of them open at the top. This means
into them, and they cannot be jammed into a tight space in a
that it isnt easy to access items at the bottom of the bag without
vehicle. They may offer better protection for fragile items than a
emptying out all the contents. Its worth shopping around to find
soft bag, but realistically, what fragile item falls into our need-to-
a bag that unzips down the sides so that you can lay it flat and
have category? Maybe a cell phone or a Global Positioning System
access the interior in the same way that you would access a duffel
(GPS), probably a pair of reading glasses; In that case, wrap them
bag with a zipper that runs along the top.
up in a sweatshirt and stow it in the middle of your soft bag. But

that antique vase or the nineteenth century bone china tea set
should probably be stored in a safe and secure location where you
can retrieve them after the emergency is over.
So, weve decided on a soft bag. There are two basic designs:
a bag with handles and a shoulder strap, a long zipper along the
top side, and perhaps a couple of outer pockets; or a hikingstylebackpack.
The bag with handles provides quite a lot of space and easy
accessibility to items. I recommend a carry strap so that you can
keep your hands free.
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There are some important things to consider when you select

a bugout bag:
Get one that is comfortable for you to carry. If its a
backpack, be sure that the straps dont chafe and that they
spread the load evenly.
If you look inside a good quality backpack you will probably
see that the inside has a waterproof, rubberized coating. I
think this is an important requirement for any pack or bag.
You need to keep your gear dry.
Check the weight of the bag when its empty.A really stout,
heavy duty bag is great, but youd be surprised how much
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it can weigh before you even put anything into it. And you
BACKPACKS KEEP YOUR
HANDS FREE FOR OTHER
THINGS; HOLDING ONTO
YOUR DOGS LEASH OR
YOUR
FIVE-YEAR
OLD
DAUGHTERS HAND, OR
CARRYING YOUR RIFLE.
may have to carry it long distances.

Get a lightweight, but strong bag. Double or triple stitching
is good, especially on the load bearing areas like the straps
or handles. The zippers need to be durable and of good
quality. Many of the better quality bags seem to have YKK
brand zippers.
Now that we have our medium size bag, we must decide
what needs to go into it. Going back to our criteria, this is the
must-have gear. Wherever you are, whatever your circumstances,
in my humble opinion, you will need the following: Your wallet,
purse, or the small bug out bag we discussed earlier, with cash
(including small bills and credit cards.) In addition, prescription
medication, a small first aid kit, heavy duty sun screen lotion,
sunglasses (for sun, snow, water, or flying debris) flashlight, toilet
paper and hand sanitizer, personal wash kit (antibacterial soap,
toothpaste and toothbrush, razor) and towel (if youve read The
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, you know how useful a towel
is!) one change of underwear and socks, energy bars, electrolyte
powder, candy and gum, cell phone and charger, folding pocket
knife or a Leatherman-type multi-tool, gloves, map, compass/GPS,
drinking water. In addition, a large piece of plastic sheet can prove
Figure 7
to be invaluable as a makeshift shelter (dont forget several yards

of strong twine550 parachute cord is ideal, and a roll of duct
tape is helpful too) and at the very least, it can be laid out on wet
ground to give you a dry place to rest.
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Yes, its not a big deal to survive for three days or more in the
four or five feet in length, with wraparound handles and a zipper
same underwear and without washing. But remember Hurricane
that runs the full length of the bag.This design not only allows easy
Katrina where some people had to wade through filthy water to
access to individual items without having to pull out everything
get to safety. In those conditions, a wash and a change of clothes
else, it also allows discreet carry of rifles and shotguns.
isnt just a good sanitary measure, its also a huge morale booster.
Heres another important piece of equipment for almost any
size bugout bag. Place the change of clothes and underwear in
one of those plastic, vacuum seal storage bags that are advertised
on TV. Squeeze all the air out of it before you seal it, and then put
it in your bugout bag. Not only will this keep your spare clothes
dry, it will also take up less space than just packing clothes loose
in your bag.
You can also use sealable Ziploc bags to protect items like
cash, papers, and medications from dirt and moisture.
A Large Bug Out Bag
A large bugout bag, such as some of the big camping duffel
bags, is very useful if you dont have to carry it very far by hand. But
for people who have the option to bug out by car, or even by boat
or small aircraft, a large bag can be packed days or even months
in advance with a lot of useful equipment and supplies that might
not fit into the medium or small bags. Keep this packed all the time
with general purpose items: food, survival tools, clothing etc. Bags
like this must be maintained regularly. Throw out old food and
replace water. Depending on the season, (winter, summer, etc.)
change clothing. Some of these camping duffel bags are huge
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Money Belts to Protect Cash

One other point to consider is that once we have bugged
out, we may have to stop and rest in some pretty strange places,
possibly with other travelers and complete strangers. Wherever
we sleep, we may not have total security over our small, medium,
or large bugout bags. We must find a way to keep our emergency
money with us at all times. About the best we can do is probably
to use a money belt. This small belt is worn by travelers around
the waist under clothing to keep money secure from pickpockets.
If a thief steals your bag while youre asleep or otherwise
distracted, at least you stand a chance of keeping your money and
identificationpapers.
Caching a Bug Out Bag Offsite
It may seem illogical to store a bugout bag away from home,
but storing emergency supplies outside the home might be a good
idea for some people. For example, someone who lives in a house
in a forest may come home to find that a forest fire has destroyed
their home, or that local authorities have closed the roads, and
access to the house is denied. First, during fire season, it would
be prudent for homeowners to carry a small or medium bugout
bag in their vehicle. Second, a large bugout bag might be stored
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at a friends home, at work, or anywhere else that is not likely to

be affected by the same disaster at the same time as their primary
residence. Offsite storage can be a reciprocal agreement with a
friend or neighbor. You store their bugout bag in your house, and
they store your bag in theirs. This way, unless a disaster destroys
both houses at the same time, youre both covered. You may even
both agree that your houses will be the bug out destination for the
other person.
What Items do You Take with You?
What should you put in your bug out bag? Weve already looked
at some of the things that anyone, in any geographical location
should have, but here is where we are going to get more specific.
Water is vital for survival. Dehydration is the result of the
body losing more water than it takes in. Dehydration makes even
the simplest of tasks more difficult, and makes a person more
susceptible to shock if they are injured. At 68 degrees Fahrenheit,
the average adult loses 2-3 quarts/liters per day just by urinating,
sweating, and defecating. Hot or cold temperatures, illness or
burns, intense activity (like bugging out on foot or carrying a
heavy bugout bag) may cause even greater loss of fluids. A person
surviving at average altitude and temperatures needs to drink
Figure 8
about a half gallon of water each day. This is a rough guideline.

There are many factors such as weather, or an individuals overall
state of health. Sick people, nursing mothers, and children need
more water. Water is heavy and bulky to transport, but it is an
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absolute necessity. Some people opt for flavored energy drinks to
a fire. Both tea and coffee are available in single serving bags you
carry with them, but plain drinking water can always be mixed
just dunk in hot water! Ah, the joy of civilized living!
with a powdered electrolyte, (which will also replace salt that the
Also, there is a wide array of commercial water filters now
body needs to function) and plain water, unlike energy drinks, can
available. One of these filters can adequately supplement an
be used for washing or cooking.
emergency drinking water supply. A water reservoir with a
Let me stress the importance of staying hydrated: Every person,
drinking tube attached (such as those made by Camelbak and
regardless of where they are, what the climate is, or what they
Blackhawk) can be inserted into a backpack, allowing the wearer
are doing, needs to be well-hydrated in order to be healthy and
to take a drink without having to remove their backpack each time.
to survive. By the time a person feels thirsty, they are already on
Like other manufacturers, both companies manufacture complete
their way to being dehydrated, and dehydration prevents the body
systemsbackpack, reservoir, and drinking tube.
from working efficiently. This can be a big problem for someone
Its important to be able to make a fire and illumination.We need
who is already stressed from the physical and mental exertions
to be able to stay warm, cook food and boil water, wash, dry our
of traveling while carrying a heavy pack. It is better to sip water
clothes and other equipment, and even signal for help. We should
frequently throughout the day rather than gulp down a large
include in our equipment a fire starter kit, matches or cigarette
amount once or twice. If your urine is clear, you are well hydrated.
lighter, and a couple of chemlites or snap-lights (the plastic tubes
If it is dark yellow, you need to be drinking water immediately!
filled with two chemicals which, when mixed together, give off a
Any shade of yellow in between indicates that you are heading
bright glow for several hours.)
towards being dehydrated.

Drinking liquids such as tea and coffee that contain caffeine
What to Wear?
is generally regarded as being a bad idea because caffeine causes
Choosing appropriate clothes often depends on the weather,
the body to urinate more. However, if youre bugging out in cold
but a jacket should be a rainproof shell that is both warm and
weather or if youre like me and your body craves caffeine every
lightweight. Dress in layers for additional warmth. A hat should be
morning just to get moving, I would suggest including some tea or
waterproof and able to provide protection from the sun. Gloves
coffee in your bugout bag. You will have to include equipment to
should provide warmth and afford protection to the hands. We
boil water, but you wont need all the trappings associated with
may have to move debris, construct a shelter, or climb obstacles. A
brewing coffee of tea at home.You just need a steel cup, water, and
pair of jeans, not a skirt or dress, is surprisingly practical in most
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environments and blends in with the local population in many

parts of the world. A belt with a pouch for the small survival kit
(wallet, pocket knife, flashlight, cell phone) plus a water bottle
pouch is a good addition to jeans. Wool is warm even when wet,
although it can get heavy. Shoes or boots should be comfortable
and durable because even though we may not have planned it, we
may need to walk long distances over rough terrain and debris.The
soles should be heavy enough to withstand sharp objects like nails.
Dont forget sunglasses. They are especially important to protect
the eyes in bright sunshine or snow, and also from flying debris.
Medical Considerations
A First Aid kit is a valuable item. Even if you dont have much
room, consider packing a very basic kit that will at least provide
relief for headaches, nausea, diarrhea, cuts, bruises, splinters,
andblisters.
Many people have to take prescription medication. Its
important to have a few days supply of all prescriptions in a bugout
bag. And this may be one of those items that a person may have to
remember to drop in their bag before they leave their home. This
is fine for tablets or capsules, but lets look at more serious long
term medical conditions.
Figure 9
Consider the medical needs of everyone in your bug out
party (even your pets).
Since medical conditions vary considerably from one person

to another, and medications vary from one manufacturer to the
next, the following is a hypothetical example, and is not meant to be
taken as medical advice.
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A diabetic takes daily injections of insulin. His doctor prescribes

a thirty day supply, and gives him a second thirty day supply as
a backup. His insulin medication can only last for thirty days at
roomtemperature.
But in this example, the weather is hot and sunny. The daily
such as when administering epinephrine for an allergic reaction, a

smaller diabetic syringe will come in handy.
This is just a general example, so its very important
that you consult a medical expert for advice on your specific
medicasituation.
temperature is in the 80s. The backup thirty day supply must be
Before any disaster occurs, it is important to have a plan to deal
kept refrigerated until it is needed. How does this person bug out
with medical requirements such as these. Consult with doctors and
with enough insulin to last at least 72 hours and keep his insulin
drug manufacturers, identify the patients requirements and then
cool enough for it to be effective?
plan how to fill those requirements under bad conditions. What if
An Emergency Medical Technician advised that the first step is
its time to bug out and the weather is very cold or very hot? What
to contact the manufacturer of the medication and explain your
if you have to walk a long way or though difficult terrain? What are
concerns and ask for guidance in how to maintain the effectiveness

of that specific medication.Ask how extreme heat and cold affects
the medical risks involved and how do you plan to deal with them.
Always have a detailed, well researched plan.
the medication. A doctor may not know exactly how a specific

medication responds over time to extreme conditions, so its
advisable to talk to the manufacturer. Next, our EMT friend offers
this useful tip: A simple way to keep medication cool is to use a
small insulated picnic cooler, like the ones some people use to
take their lunch to work; add a packet of frozen peas with the
medication.Yes, frozen peas.They stay frozen for quite a long time
and they have the added advantage of being useful to apply as an
ice pack for injuries. Our EMT uses them all the time.
Next, if medication must be administered by injection, our
EMT recommends that a 5 ml syringe with a 22 gauge needle will
suffice in most emergencies. For a more precise measurement,
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CHAPTER 4
Securing
Your Home Before
You Bug Out
Q
61
f you have some prior warning that youre going to have to

bug out, there may be time to secure your home before you
leave. This would include the obvious things like locking all
doors and windows, but homeowners may also be instructed by

the utility company to turn off utilities.This is because events like
earthquakes and aftershocks, flooding, and tornados can rupture
gas and waterlines.
Natural gas leaks can cause a buildup of gas that leads to an
explosion and a fire. If you smell gas, or hear a hissing sound, get
everybody out of the house. BUG OUT NOW! Everyone in the
home needs to know how to shut off the gas supply at the main
outside valve. Procedures vary, so its a good idea to contact the
utility company for instructions. Be aware, that while it may
be OK to turn the gas off, it should only ever be turned
on by a technician from the gas company.
Sparks from electrical appliances can ignite gas leaks in the
home. Its a good idea to turn off the electricity (especially if
the home is soaked from flooding.) Once the electricity circuit
box is located, all electrical circuits should be shut off first,
before shutting off the main circuit breaker. Keep in mind also
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that turning off electricity is going to affect the food in the
important items in a secure location away from home. This could
refrigerator and freezer, so this is a decision that must be left to
be at a friend or relatives house, or it could be in a safe deposit
the individual homeowner.
box in a bank vault.
Water is a precious commodity in a disaster. Even during
Keep in mind that if you store your valuables at someones
Hurricane Katrina, there were incidents where buildings that
house, you havent made them any more secure than if you were
were actually under three feet of water were left to burn because
to keep them at home.All youve done is to bet your valuables that
there was no water available for fire hoses. In the event of an
disaster will strike your house and not your friends. Of course, if
earthquake, water mains may be cracked or ruptured. This can
your friend lives in a concrete bunker a thousand feet above the
lead to contamination of the water in the pipes. Its a good idea to
nearest flood plane, and he is a true and trustworthy friend, then
shut off the water until local authorities announce that it is safe to
maybe your possessions will be OK. But this may not be an option.
turn it back on. The water should be turned off at the main valve
We have to find a way to secure those things that we cannot take
inside the house, not at the outside valve buried near the street.
with us.
How to Hide the Valuables

YouCannotTakeWith You
Most people own a lot of things that they could not possibly
take with them on foot, or even in a large vehicle.There simply isnt
time or space to carry everything; and for anybody bugging out on
foot, the items they would be able to carry are severelylimited.
Of course, ones home should be made as secure as possible
before leaving, but suppose that just isnt adequate enough to keep
the coin collection, the jewelry, or even all the important papers
(birth certificate, diplomas, stocks and bonds, property title) safe?
While we are away a lot of things might happen to our residence:
fire, flood, earthquake, not to mention looters.
There are two options, both of which require some preparation
before any disaster strikes. The first option is to store these
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For around a couple of hundred dollars a year (depending on

the bank and the size of the safe deposit box) valuables can be
locked up in a vault constructed of steel and concrete.Although this
seems like a perfect solution, you should check to see if the bank
is situated in an area that is prone to flooding or earthquakes. Just
to be on the safe side, whenever I store items in a safe deposit box
I always double-bag them in Ziploc bags for added protection.
The other option might be to cache your valuables underground
or even under water in a cache tube. The best way to do this is to
use standard white PVC plumbing pipe, which is easily available
from hardware stores in 4-, 6-, or 8-inch diameter sizes. Cut to the
desired length, glue a PVC end cap at one end and an inspection
cap (which can be repeatedly opened and closed) at the other, and
youve got an extremely durable, watertight container. For a tube
65
that will not be opened and closed very often, instead of using an
IF YOURE GOING TO HIDE
VALUABLES,
REMEMBER
WHERE YOU HIDE THEM.
inspection cap, you can use end caps at both ends, glue one end in
place permanently, and at the other end just apply a thin layer of
heavy grease between the inside of the end cap and the outside of
the tube before slipping the end cap on.
Again, our old standby, the plastic Ziploc bag can be used to
further protect papers, jewelry, and other items that must be kept
dry before they are placed in the tube. This doesnt have to be a
huge tube. Lets say youre going to bury a couple of certificates,
a couple of pieces of jewelry and maybe some banknotes or a
gold coin or two. Id guess that an 18 inch by four inch diameter
tube would be sufficient. If youre planning on hiding your 12
gauge riot shotgun, Id guess that a 48 inch by eight-inch diameter
tube would be better; Id also ask why youre burying a gun in the
ground at a time when your personal security situation has taken
a turn for the worse.
The next task is to decide where the tube will be buried. Lets
assume that you have a small backyard, or some other area of private
ground that is off-limits to the general population. A hole needs
to be dug at least twelve inches deeper than the overall length
of the PVC tube, which will be stored vertically in the ground.
Figure 10
An option might be to cache your valuables underground
or even under water in a cache tube.
Digging a shallow ditch and storing a tube horizontally is not the

best idea because it makes it easier for the contents to register on
a metal detector. The simplest way to dig a deep, narrow hole is
to rent a post-hole digger called a soil auger. Make sure that the
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tool is capable of drilling down deep enough to accommodate the

IF YOURE GOING TO BURY
IT, BE ABLE TO LOCATE IT!
overall length of the cache tube plus at least twelve inches.

So far, we have identified a quiet location where a tube can
be secreted, the dimensions of the tube, and what will be hidden
inside it. Now comes the hard part. There is no point in hiding
something if other people know where youve hidden it because
either you told them, or they saw you put it there! They may dig
it up as soon as you arent around. So, you have to find a way
to dig the hole and place the tube in it without anybody putting
two and two together. One thought would be to select a location
where nobody can see what you are doing; in the middle of a
dense cluster of trees or bushes perhaps. If you can hide in or
behind something while you dig so much the better. On the other
hand, if you have a good reason for digging, putting in a series of
fence posts, for example, it is a simple matter to add one extra hole
and then come back at night when the neighbors are asleep, and
plant the cache tube.
Heres one very important thing to remember when it comes
to burying or hiding anything. You must be able to find it again
when you want to retrieve your valuables! People dont search
for buried pirate treasure because the pirates deliberately left it
Figure 11
A GPS can be invaluable in finding your hidden
valuables.
where it could be found by someone else. If there is such a thing

as buried pirate treasure still to be found its because the pirates
either died, or THEY COULDNT FIND WHERE THEY BURIED IT.
Today, a Global Positioning System is invaluable in identifying
exactly where you are to within a few feet. But once you get to the
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area where you buried something, you will need to pinpoint the
location to within a few inches, otherwise you will waste a lot of
time, and possibly draw a lot of unwelcome attention, digging hole
after hole. Photograph the immediate area from different angles.
Make detailed notes of how many fence posts your cache is from
the road. Consider what landmarks may change or disappear and
note it accordingly when you dig the hole.
Another alternative for caching small quantities of valuables
is to use the existing infrastructure of your house. A tool shed, for
example, may be a good place to hide a container under the floor.
Cut an opening in the wooden floor, dig a hole for the container,
and then replace the floor and throw a grimy old rug over it.
If you decide to build a brick barbeque in the back yard,
design it so that a brick can be removed to provide access to a
space inside the structure where valuables can be stored. Just be
sure that when the barbeque is burning, the heat wont damage
the valuables.
These are just a few basic ideas. Use your imagination to come
up with a solution that fits your needs that you can build yourself.
If you need to get someone else to build your little hidey-hole for
you, then youve defeated the object of making something that is
secure because only you know about it.
Yes, it all sounds very clandestine and like something from the
plot of a Pink Panther movie, but the fact remains that when you
mix bad times with valuables, you have to find some way to keep
them secure until you can retrieve them at a later date.
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CHAPTER 5
Do You Really
Want to do This?
Q
73
ut clearly, if we envision getting ourselves into so much

trouble that we have to carry a large supply of ammunition
with us, we may want to rethink our bug out plan.
Case History Number One:

In 1879, one hundred and thirty nine British soldiers were
stationed at Rorkes Drift, a tiny mission in Natal, South Africa.They

received word that a large force of Zulu warriors had decimated
a large British force six miles away, and was heading for the tiny
mission at Rorkes Drift. The three junior officers in charge of the
mission, Chard, Bromhead, and Dalton decided that if they were
to evacuate the mission (which included wounded soldiers) they
would be cut to pieces by the much faster force of four to five
thousand Zulus. Instead, they decided to stay because they had a
better chance of defending the mission than they would if they
were caught in the open by a much, much larger opposing force.
The fighting was fierce. It lasted into the following day. Finally,
the Zulus gave up and left. Most of the British defenders survived.
Of the original supply of 20,000 rounds of ammunition, they had
900 rounds left.
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What can we learn from this?

WHEN WE FAIL TO PLAN,
WE PLAN TO FAIL.
Sometimes the best place to be is right where you

alreadyare
The correct mindset is critical to surviving a bad situation
Be prepared and have a plan
Case History Number Two:
This isnt strictly an example of bugging out, but it does
illustrate the dangers of being caught in the open by an enemy
with greater firepower and numerical superiority.
In 1876, the Seventh Cavalry of the United States Army, under
General George Armstrong Custer fought Lakota and Northern
Cheyenne Indians led by Sitting Bull at the infamous Battle of the
Little Big Horn. Custer declined the offer of two units of Gatling
guns (that would have significantly increased the firepower at
his disposal) because he didnt want his arrival at the site of the
battle to be delayed. He also declined the addition of two more
companies of cavalry troops because he thought the Seventh
Cavalry could handle any enemy. Custer encountered many more
Indians than he had estimated. He and his force were cut to pieces.
The lessons to be learned here are obvious:
Figure 12
Be prepared!
Dont refuse help that is actually useful

Dont assume you are the biggest, baddest kid on the block.
Somebody else probably is. And even if they arent, they
might just be luckier than you
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SURVIVAL FOOD
In general, bugout food should comprise of items that
are available to civilians. They come in various configurations and

provide a complete meal in one package.
minimize weight and bulk, do not deteriorate rapidly, and require
Testing your bug out bag once it is packed
little or no preparation. Examples of this would be such items as
Determine how much time you need to bug out (say, 10
granola or energy bars, and powdered items that just require (hot)
minutes.) Test it. See how long it takes from getting out of bed to
water: soup, energy drinks, oatmeal, tea, coffee. Ive also found that
grabbing your gear and locking the front door behind you.
condiments such as salt, sugar, pepper,Tabasco-style hot sauce and

curry powder liven up otherwise bland food. If you are feeling
Repeat the test but go away for 24 hours. If this works, go away
for 72 hours with only what is in your bag.
cold and wet, a drop of Tabasco or a pinch of curry powder on

the tongue will give you a warm glow! I also like bagels because
they provide energy and are quite filling. Ive tested them in the
field, and if they are wrapped, they do keep fresh for a week or
more. Heres another obvious use for the plastic Ziploc bags
mentioned earlier.They are invaluable for storing all kinds of items
and protecting them from moisture, dust and insects. Certainly,
food can be stored this way, but equipment can be organized by
bags too.
Lets not forget that we will need to be able to make a fire.
Another useful addition to our food supply is a water filter. A good
one will provide us with the means to obtain potable water along
the way, without having to carry a lot of bulky, heavy water with
us. Add a stainless steel mug and a knife, fork, and spoon, and we
have the means to cook a meal and eat it, all in the cup!
From World War II to Vietnam U.S. troops used to carry food in
cans known as C-rations. Modern day soldiers now carry a lighter,
more efficient meal called an MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) these MREs
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CHAPTER 6
Firearms
Q
81
Chapter 6: Firearms
irearms are not for everyone. However, I believe that lawabiding, responsible people have a right to keep and bear
arms, or more simply, own and carry guns, especially for
defense of self, family, and country. At the time of this writing, 48

of the 50 states allow some form of open carry or concealed carry
of a handgun.
If you decide that you want to have a gun, then I recommend
two things:
First, research the laws at the local, state and federal level to
determine what firearms are legal for you to own and use.
Second, seek out professional training in the safe use of
firearms. The National Rifle Association conducts basic classes in
Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, and personal protection both in the home
and outside the home. Contact the NRA for a listing of instructors
in your area.
If you have learned everything you know about guns from
watching movies and television, you are in no condition to handle
a firearm safely, let alone use one in self defense. TV and movies
are designed for entertainment, not education. When I teach basic
firearms classes, I always get questions from students about why
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Chapter 6: Firearms
cant we just shoot like the cops do in the movies? My answer is

WILL WE PASS THROUGH
AREAS WHERE WE MAY
NOT BE ALLOWED TO
CARRY WEAPONS?
that logically, legally, practically, mechanically, and owing to the

natural laws of physics and the physical limitations of the human
body, it simply wont work, and it will get you killed or thrown in
prison. Do yourself a huge favor and take at least one class from a
certified, professional instructor before you buy a gun.
Should guns be included in a bugout kit? That depends on a lot
of things. Personally, I believe that as long as criminals have cars,
there is nowhere that is safe, and so I act accordingly. But here are
the things everyone should consider:
What is the perceived threat that we wish to defend against?
This will determine what kinds of weapons wecarry.
How much can we carry?
Will we pass through areas where we may not be allowed
to carry weapons? These may include airports, security
checkpoints, or government facilities.
Is it legal? This may seem to be irrelevant if law and order
has broken down, but at some point it will be restored,
and the police will be looking for those people who broke
the law.
Figure 13
If youre carrying weapons, keep in mind where youll be
traveling and who youll be encountering.
Have I trained and practiced the art of self-defense

withafirearm?
And finally, the single most important thing to consider:
Can I use a lethal weapon to defend myself if I have to?
Can I take another persons life in order to save my own?
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Chapter 6: Firearms
Handguns
This is not a decision that can be left until the time comes.
It must be a decision that is made in a calm environment.
Take some time, at least thirty minutes (or as much time as
it takes) to sit down by yourself, with no interruptions or
distractions, and ask yourself if you can shoot somebody in
When we discussed actual bugout bags we started small and

worked up to large.We will start here with small gunshandguns,
often called pistols.These are the most easily carried and concealed.
self defense.Ask yourself if you are prepared to be arrested
From a ballistics standpoint, compared to rifles and shotguns they
afterwards. Ask yourself if you are prepared to go through
are also the least effective in terms of stopping an attacker. But
a trial that will be expensive and emotionally devastating
because handguns are easy to carry and conceal, they are the
even if you are found not guilty. Not everybody can commit
most likely type of gun to be available almost instantly in a violent,
to that, but on the other hand, being murdered, raped, or
unexpected confrontation. In other words, handguns are quick
otherwise scarred for life isnt a good proposition either. If
to get into action, or they should be, if a person has the correct
you must use a gun for self defense, do it to save your life
mindset and is trained to use them safely and efficiently.
or that of a loved one. Dont do it to protect your stuff

your valuables. You can always get more stuff. Be honest
with yourself. Its one of the most important decisions you
might ever make.
The first rule of gunfighting is have a gun. A pistol carried in a

holster satisfies this rule.
Lets begin with carrying a gun for survival. If we plan to
travel through wilderness areas and avoid towns, then perhaps we
can use a handgun to shoot small to medium size game for food.
For bugout purposes, firearms fall into two categories: guns for
self defense and guns for survival as in hunting for food.
Before we decide what guns to include in our bugout kit, we
must know how we intend to bug out, where we intend to go,
the distance we must travel, the time we expect to be traveling
before we reach a safe destination, our mode of transportation, the
liabilities involved, (such as contact with dangerous bad guys or
traveling through areas where firearms are prohibited and will be
Hunting (assuming that we are successful) means that perhaps we

can carry less food with us. (Lets not forget that some fishing line
and hooks, even a short, takedown fishing pole, might also offer
the chance of some fresh food.)
Either a revolver or a semi-auto pistol chambered in the
popular .22 Long Rifle cartridge, with a barrel length of around 4-6
inches, is a fine choice for rabbits and squirrels. The ammunition
confiscated) and how firearms fit in with our plans for how much
is cheap compared to larger calibers, and its easy to carry a brick
we can carry.
of 500 rounds. People have certainly shot larger animals with a
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Chapter 6: Firearms
.22, but lets not try to make this little round do more than we can
reasonably expect of it.
At the other end of the power spectrum, a large revolver,
chambered for .41 or .44 Magnum, .454 Casull or similar large
cartridges is capable of taking down deer, antelope, sheep, cows
and even elk at short distances. For most people, Id say that 25
35 yards or less is a practical shooting range, but be advised that
these revolvers all have some heavy recoil and require some regular
practice before being used to shoot live animals. If we choose to
hunt animals, we have a moral and ethical responsibility to only
shoot an animal when we can make it a quick, clean, humane kill.
Handguns for self defense generally fall into two categories,
semi-auto pistols and double action revolvers. Unlike hunting
pistols, which are either very light or very heavy loads, the most
popular calibers for self-defense pistols are a good compromise
between power and controllability. Forget Clint Eastwoods Dirty
Harry character with his .44 Magnum revolver and slow, deliberate
shots. Gunfights in the real world are generally won with pistols
that produce medium recoil that allows for accurate, first-shot hits
and fast follow-up shots.
The generally accepted, most common calibers for self defense
Figure 14
Many handguns are built for personal protection and are
not ideal for hunting game for survival.
in revolvers are .38 Special and .357 Magnum. In semi-auto pistols

the most common self-defense cartridges are 9mm, .40S&W,
and.45ACP.
For every pistol that we carry, we should have a holster that is
specifically designed for that model of pistol.The bargain-basement
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Chapter 6: Firearms
five dollar one-size-fits-all holsters are flimsy, poorly designed and
more power for shots at longer ranges, and the ammunition is still
dangerous! If the holster is too loose, the pistol will fall out as
fairly cheap if you shop around, although not all retailers carry
soon as you try to run, bend over, or make any overt movements.
.22Magnum.
If the fit is too tight, it can cause the finger to slip onto the trigger
The lever action carbines chambered for .357 Magnum and
prematurely and fire the weapon before it has been fully drawn
.44 Magnum offer quite a bit more power at short ranges for
from the holster and aimed at the intended target. Pistols that are
carefully placed heart or head shots on medium-size animals, and
carried in a bugout bag should be secured in a holster or gun case
as protection against feral dogs, but neither one would be my first
for safety, and left unloaded until required.
choice for a defensive carbine because they are slower to reload
Rifles and Carbines
than a semi-auto with a detachable magazine. Like the pistol,

carbines for self-defense must be capable of hitting hard with
Generally speaking, a carbine is a shorter, lighter version of a
low recoil so that fast follow-up shots are possible. The generally
full size rifle. It may also be chambered for a mid-range cartridge.
accepted design incorporates shorter barrels (a 16-inch barrel
For example, the M1 Garand rifle, the M14 or Springfield Armory
is the shortest length allowed by law without a special permit)
M1A rifle, and the Ruger Mini-14 are all similar in design. However,
in a semi-auto design with a detachable high capacity magazine.
while the Garand and the M14/M1A are all full size battle rifles
Iron sights are fine for most work, although many people opt for
firing either the 30-06 or 7.62NATO cartridge, the Mini-14 is a
more sophisticated electronic red dot sighting systems or low
considerably shorter, lighter, scaled down design that fires the
magnification optical scopes. For semi-auto carbines chambered in
lighter .223 Remington cartridge. Other semi-auto carbines
pistol calibers, the 9mm, .40S&W, and .45ACP are the most popular.
are chambered for pistol cartridges such as the 9mm, .40S&W,
The advantage to choosing one of these calibers is that you can
.45ACP, while lever action cowboy guns are chambered for .357
carry both a pistol and carbine that use the same ammunition.
Magnum and .44 Magnum. Now that weve put this nomenclature
The most popular carbines are those semi-auto versions of
in perspective, lets just say that for our bugout survival and self-
military rifles that retain the original military cartridge:The U.S.AR-
defense purposes, we are going to concentrate more on the lighter,
15, (5.56 NATO or .223 Remington) The Belgian FAL, (7.62 NATO
shorter carbines.
or .308 Winchester) and the Soviet AKM (formerly the AK-47)
A rifle chambered in .22 Long Rifle is an ideal small game
chambered in 7.62 x 39. These carbines in addition to the Ruger
gun. A bolt action rifle chambered in .22 Magnum offers a little
Mini-14 are all popular choices. Its a good idea to add several
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high capacity magazines too. Also, any longarmrifle, carbine, or

shotgunthat is used for either survival hunting, or self-defense
must be equipped with an efficient sling in order to leave the
WITH MODIFIED SIGHTS,
SLINGS
AND
MAG
CAPACITY,
THE
SAME
SHOTGUNS USED
BY
HUNTERS ARE USED FOR
HOME DEFENSE.
hands free when carrying the weapon.

Shotguns
Shotguns are excellent hunting weapons and can be devastating
self-defense weapons. While shotguns are available as single-shot
and double barrel firearms, we will concentrate on the two most
efficient designs, the semi-auto and the pump-action. Semi-auto
works the same way that semi-auto pistols, rifles and carbines
do, while a pump action rifle has to be cycled manually before
each shot. Both styles are used by hunters to shoot every kind of
game from ducks and geese to rabbits and deer.The same designs
of shotgun (with a few minor modifications to sights, slings, and
magazine capacity) are used by law enforcement and military
units, and by civilians for home defense.
The shotgun fires a wide array of different types of (shotgun)
ammunition, making it one of the most versatile weapons ever.
Caliber is measured not by internal diameter of the barrel as with
rifles and pistols, but by gauge. For example, if a single round lead
ball fits snugly inside the barrel, and twenty lead balls of that size
Figure 15
Shotguns are devastating self-defense weapons.
add up to one pound, then the barrel is a twenty gauge barrel. If a

barrel requires a larger lead ball to fit snugly inside it, and twelve
balls of that size equal one pound, then the barrel is a twelve gauge.
Therefore, twelve gauge can fire a larger load than twenty gauge.
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Chapter 6: Firearms
For our purposes, we will concentrate on the two most popular
happens when various types of bullets and other projectiles
gauges of shotgun: twelve and twenty. Ammunition is available for
are shot into living tissue. The term that describes this is called
both of these gauges that is suitable for hunting small game, large
terminal ballistics.
game, and for self defense. Law enforcement and military also use
When a bullet enters a warm body it encounters various
the twelve gauge to fire a wide array of specialized ammunition for
obstacles to its path: hide or skin, blood or other liquid, cartilage,
blowing the hinges off doors, (breaching rounds) delivering tear
tissue, and bone. Some tissue is elastic and will stretch as the
gas, and penetrating thick armor, but that specialized ammunition is
shockwave created by the bullet hits it, but will return to its
beyond the scope of this book.This is a good time to point out that
original shape after the bullet has passed and the shockwave has
this discussion of weapons is all about self-defense and hunting for
subsided. In this case, the hole created by the bullet is called a
survival. We are not planning to invade a foreign country. Forget
temporary cavity. Other tissue will tear or fragment, and will not
what youve seen in the movies; Rambo is fiction.
return to its original shape after the bullet passed through it. The
Well discuss various types of pistol, rifle, and shotgun
hole left behind by the bullet is called a permanent cavity.
ammunition in a moment, but for now, the three types of shotgun
Grisly as it may sound, the whole point of shooting into a
ammunition in either twelve or twenty gauge that are most useful
warm, living body is to create a large hole that will destroy vital
to us for survival hunting or self defense are: birdshot, buckshot and
organs such as the heart and lungs and drain blood quickly away
slugs. Birdshot is good for hunting small game; buckshot is good
from the brain, thereby depriving it of oxygen. This is done by
for self defense at distances up to about twenty five yards. Slugs
creating a large permanent cavity.
turn the shotgun into a fairly accurate rifle out to 50-100 yards,
depending on how good the sights are.As with rifles and carbines,
a shotgun should be equipped with a good sling that allows the
wearer to keep both hands free while carrying the shotgun.
Ammunition
For pistols and carbines there are three basic designs of bullet
that we should understand.
The first is a simple lead slug. It may have a rounded tip, a
flat tip, or a round or flat tip with a shallow hole in it called a
hollowpoint. These simple lead bullets work pretty well for small
game, and when fired into people they tend to deform, flatten out
Throughout the section on firearms we have focused on two
a little bit, and cause some sort of a permanent cavity. Although it
types of shooting: hunting and self-defense. Before we discuss
is one of the oldest bullet designs, it should not be underestimated.
different types of ammunition we need to understand what
A lot of plainclothes detectives are very fond of their little five-
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Chapter 6: Firearms
round snubnose revolvers, firing a .38 Special lead hollowpoint

THE WHOLE POINT OF
SHOOTING INTO A WARM,
LIVING BODY IS TO CREATE
A LARGE HOLE.
bullet. It has saved the lives of a lot of cops. But arguably, there are
more efficient types available.
Next comes the same lead slug with a thin copper jacket that
covers the entire bullet. This ammunition is used by the armies of
the world. It is designated Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) and is common
in semi-auto pistol calibers such as 9mm, .40S&W and 45ACP.
It is also used in military rifle ammunition such as 5.56NATO,
7.62NATO and 7.62 x 39. These bullets do not deform easily the
way that a soft lead bullet does inside a warm body.The FMJ bullet
penetrates much further, and for soldiers it works well because
they may shoot through solid objects such as wooden doors or
sheet metal in vehicles to reach enemy soldiers hiding there.
The third type of bullet is a combination of the first two; a
lead slug covered with a copper jacket with a hole in the nose.
Often, the copper jacket does not cover the entire tip of the
bullet, leaving some of the lead core exposed.This is called a semijacketed hollowpoint. It is the generally accepted round for self
defense using a pistol.
For self defense using a rifle or carbine chambered in the calibers
listed above, the cartridge has enough power that even using
military FMJ ammunition, the terminal ballistics are devastating.
Figure 16
There are many different kinds, and calibers,
of ammunition.
Shotgun ammunition is different. Birdshot are tiny lead pellets

that come in several different diameters. For simplicity, well just
say that they are about the size of the letter o as shown here.
Hundreds of these bird shot are poured into a shotgun shell.When
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Chapter 6: Firearms
the shotgun is fired, the birdshot spread out into an ever widening
be overkill for a rabbit.) Or perhaps we can only carry a pistol for
pattern that makes it easier to hit a moving object like a bird in
self defense. How about a .22 pistol for hunting and a .45 caliber
flight. The same principle applies to buckshot, which is simply
pistol for self defense?
a larger form of birdshot. A typical buckshot load uses pellets
There is a saying that when we fail to plan, we plan to fail. For
that are .30 inch in diameter, loading nine pellets into a shotgun
example, when we bug out, we could plan to carry an ammunition
shell. Again, when fired, this load spreads out once it leaves the
pouch on our belt that contains spare magazines for our firearm.
shotgun. At twenty five yards, the pattern might be approximately
Next wed carry a day pack or a medium size bugout bag that
12-24 inches in diameter. Nine .30 caliber shotgun pellets weigh
would hold spare ammunition to recharge our magazines. Finally,
one ounce. Thats a pretty devastating load when its applied to
wed keep a large bugout bag in the car that contains enough
humantargets.
ammunition to resupply our medium size bag.
The other shotgun load used for hunting large game and for
The possibilities are endless. This is why we take the time
self defense is the slug. It is a single lead bullet that generally
to plan, based on our expectations of the circumstances we will
weighs one ounce. A shotgun slug is effective out to more than
encounter if we are forced to bug out.
one hundred yards, although accuracy at that distance is nowhere

near as good as a typical rifle or carbine at the same distance.
If we decide the time has come to bug out, we must decide
first if it is appropriate to carry a firearm, then we must decide
what we can realistically expect to use the firearm for: survival
hunting, self defense, or both.
Can we carry a carbine, rifle or shotgun? Or are we limited to
something much smaller and lightera handgun?
How much ammunition can, and should we carry? Would the
ammunition be used primarily for survival hunting, self defense,
or do we need to do both? We could, for example carry a shotgun
with birdshot for hunting, and use buckshot and slugs for self
defense (the slugs could also be used to shoot a deer, but would
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CONCLUSION
Q
101
Conclusion
ugging out is not the solution to every problem. There

are times when its safer and smarter to sit tight and try
to improve the situation or wait for help to arrive. The
important thing is to know when to stay and when to leave, and

to have a detailed plan, and the necessary equipment to survive.
Identify the people who you can truly rely upon in a disaster
and also those people who will not necessarily have your best
interestsat heart.
When some disaster befalls us as individuals, members of a
community, or citizens of this nation, it is unlikely that we will
be the only ones affected. The way you conduct yourself during a
crisis says a lot about you as a person. If you take the time to release
your neighbors dog from his chain in the front yard before the
flood waters get deep, if you save a seat in your car for a neighbor,
if youre a construction worker, police officer, firefighter, or EMT
who rushed towards Ground Zero on 9-11 to help others, then
youre an asset to humanity.We determine what kind of people we
are not by what happens to us, but by how we behave when the
going gets tough.
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THE STREET SMART GUIDE TO

Copyright 2003-2011 Delta Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

THE STREET SMART GUIDE TO

Chapter 1: Why Bug Out?

How do We Bug Out

Chapter 2: The Importance of Planning

Chapter 3: What do We Take With Us?

A Small Bug Out Bag

Chapter 4: Securing Your Home Before You Bug Out

Chapter 5: Do You Really Want to do This?

When do We Bug Out

A Medium Size Bug Out Bag

How to Hide the Valuables You Cannot Take With You

THE STREET SMART GUIDE TO

The Street Smart Guide to Bugging Out and Staying Alive

As the saying goes, When the going gets

ctually, the tough are really people who recognize

Making the decision to leave a placeperhaps never to return

The Street Smart Guide to Bugging Out and Staying Alive

you welcome them? Would you consider them a threatpeople

THE STREET SMART GUIDE TO

Why Bug Out?

The Street Smart Guide to Bugging Out and Staying Alive

Chapter 1: Why Bug Out?

As The Clash once sang, Should I stay or

hy do we bug out? What causes us to leave our homes,

The Street Smart Guide to Bugging Out and Staying Alive

Chapter 1: Why Bug Out?

When do we Bug Out?

What opportunity is there for us to evacuate, and what mode of

The Street Smart Guide to Bugging Out and Staying Alive

Chapter 1: Why Bug Out?

When it comes to bugging out, an athlete staying in a hotel

a wheelchair-bound senior citizen, or the single parent with three

or the rottweiler? And if we cannot take pets with us, what do we

talking about animals, how do we deal with a bugout emergency

do with them? What do we do to help them survive until we can

involving family pets, or the herd of cows or the stable of million-

return? It would be irresponsible to abandon them without food,

dollar race horses that is our livelihood?

How do we Bug Out?

How much money will you need? Do you have it stashed

out? Do you carry ID such as drivers license, concealed weapons

permit, passport? In our Hurricane Katrina example, being able

to show a police officer identification might save you from being

The Street Smart Guide to Bugging Out and Staying Alive

WHO EXACTLY IS BUGGING

Chapter 1: Why Bug Out?

destination may be a friends house, a government shelter, under a

The Street Smart Guide to Bugging Out and Staying Alive

Chapter 1: Why Bug Out?

us when we want them to. If you are in a foreign country when

THE STREET SMART GUIDE TO

Chapter 2: The Importance of Planning

The Street Smart Guide to Bugging Out and Staying Alive

or any situation that requires us to leave promptly, we must

There are two important things to remember about making

Chapter 2: The Importance of Planning

The Street Smart Guide to Bugging Out and Staying Alive

Before any kind of disaster hits us, we need to have spent

a little time planning how we would cope. Having a plan does

We all need to have a plan. Wherever we live, we need to take

Chapter 2: The Importance of Planning