Stand pat or move out?

[Cybrludite]

Most any SHTF situation down here would involve bugging out. Likewise, it's a Good Thing to have a plan for bugging out in case bugging in doesn't work out. Plan in advance, and have ways to get out that do not involve the interstate. For example, last year I got to a friend's house in Cleveland, Ms. in about the same time it'd take to drive there under normal conditions. In fact, some folks suspected me of using a broomstick for a bugout vehicle...

[Erik]

I'm staying. It depends on the scenario though, if I'm in direct danger by staying where I am I will have to move. But I simply cant think of a scenario where that would be the case, that wouldn't also mean to bug out of the country and possibly the continent. I've been through some bad storms followed by power outages, as bad as anyone here can remember, and that was no huge problem. Short of something destroying my home, I'm staying. And if something does destroy my home, I have family I can stay with within an hours drive.

[Dedicated_Dad]

Most folks have "plans" that add up to (as I've seen on some site I can't recall) "Grab the BOB, Jump in the truck and go...... somewhere.... to do.... something."

Like most others here, I expect to be bugging in. My biggest worry at this point is our utter lack of a basement or other suitable "fallout" protection. I've eyed some local solutions to that quandary, though we'd probably end up having to share space it would only need be for a few days. I'm trying to organize our supplies so that we could grab a couple of tubs and head for a fallout-shelter if necessary, and have all we'd need for a few days. The rest of the supplies would stay at home, awaiting our return.

I'd strongly advise everyone to consider pre-cutting plastic to seal windows and doors - you don't want to be trying to figure that out when the cloud's headed your way. It's a simple matter to pre-cut and label the plastic, then keep it and your other supplies in a good place.

I also strongly recommend setting up a "positive pressure" system (squirrel cage blower and HEPA filter) to ensure that anything bad remains outside and isn't pulled in. A properly sized fan could easily pressurize an entire house, but would be dependent on utility power. A smaller fan could make a "safe room" or "shelter" safe, and run for a long time on a big marine deep-cycle battery. You don't need a huge amount of pressure, just a little is enough to keep things like dust and virii flowing out instead of in.

I also strongly recommend getting good aluminum tape -- REAL "duct tape" not the fabric crap we all call "duck tape." The aluminum stuff will really seal and is likely to stick where the cheaper stuff will not. You don't want to find out your tape won't seal in the middle of an emergency...

The same fan could be used to put NEGATIVE pressure on a "quarantine room" - helping keep a sick family member from contaminating the rest of the house. Decon procedures/supplies should also be considered and gathered now...

DD

[blackeagle603]

when the cloud's headed your way

That cloud headed your way? I'm from San Diego, l'll be part of it. Wave if you like as I pass by.

[randy]

Stay put, but with a lot of supplies packed for bug out if necessary. But only if present location is totally untenable.

If needed, the plan is to bug out towards family in Illinois/Iowa. Worse comes to worse, E&E Southwest towards Texas.

Mud-Dog, you got a secure waypoint to rest up about 4 hours (normal travel) South on I-75 if necessary.

[Kapikui]

Depends on the circumstances. My preference is to go turtle, but there are several scenarios I can envision which would dictate that I must leave.

Currently I live about two blocks from a railroad yard. An accident there could release all sorts of interesting gasses.

My part of Idaho is basically on top of all sorts of lava rock. While the Yellowstone caldera is a concern, and there might be a chance to get away from that (although I kind of doubt it), there is a fairly major, less violent eruption every few thousand years. There is very little option but to get out of the way.

As mentioned above, if I lived in a coastal city, built below sea level (I'd probably move before a disaster), I might want to get out when it started to fill up with water.

It also depends on the amount of time I'd be leaving. If it were a short term bug out, say a local power outage in the middle of the winter, I'd be inclined to go to a relative's house outside the outage, or to one with alternate heat sources (I rent at the moment, and can't add a wood burning stove and the like).

Generally, if I have my house, I have more access to things I can use to survive or live comfortably, however it does depend on the exact circumstances.

[Darrell]

If the Big One hits, I'd be vaporized, so no worries there. I'd probably just hunker down otherwise.

Anybody remember the original Connections show by James Burke? In the first episode he talked about what it all boiled down to if the lights went out and didn't come back on--basically, get out of town ahead of everybody else with the same idea, get yourself a farm, and learn to use the old plow in the back of the barn.

[Aglifter]

Threads like this make me really miss the old place in BFE, TX. There's no place to go in MB, although I could always take the boat if nec. (If the nuke plant goes, there's basically time to say an "Our Father" before it's all over.)

In a way, heading back to the family land in PA would work, but it would be difficult. (In certain ways, the "gay" side of the PA Dutch can be bloody minded, ruthless SOBs... but there's lots of conditioning to undo -- make it clear that it is a clear, definite danger to the family, and it would be OK -- and there would be quite an urban population of useless people to control.)

[Combat Controller]

I would bug in, unless I had to go, or it was a long term bug situation. I would then head to my mountain fastness which I hope will soon have solar...

[mousegun]

Shelter in place. Where I live, rush hour has a whole different meaning. My best way out will be from one of the local harbors if they still exisit. Been through the LA riots, and know a big shaker is the most likely scenario. I also know how people react after a big one (they go brain dead). I live within 10 miles of 4 major refineries (one is 4 miles from me) so I will be in the toxic cloud if it comes.

The bigger on for me is I know one neighbor that sees things similar to me. I have on set of allies for sure where I live (which is saying a lot for So. Cal.); that gives us an advantage.