Bugging in. Where to start?

How are you preparing
Arzosah
Posts: 6473
Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2012 4:20 pm

Re: Bugging in. Where to start?

Post by Arzosah »

I have one week of storecupboard eats all together, but everything else (about a million years of dried beans :oops: for instance) is stashed into plastic crates upstairs, or on a bookcase in the kitchen. First aid items have their own crate.
User avatar
Deeps
Posts: 5797
Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2014 8:36 pm

Re: Bugging in. Where to start?

Post by Deeps »

Arzosah wrote:I have one week of storecupboard eats all together, but everything else (about a million years of dried beans :oops: for instance) is stashed into plastic crates upstairs, or on a bookcase in the kitchen. First aid items have their own crate.
For the hundred thousandth time, stop exagerating ! :lol:
jansman
Posts: 13692
Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2010 7:16 pm

Re: Bugging in. Where to start?

Post by jansman »

Reading the posts, it is certainly a case of what works for you. Our system, such as it is, is fairly simple. First in , first out ( FIFO). Our house is an old 'un, so has an old fashioned walk-in pantry. This is stocked in an orderly way. Everything in the same place, and stuff like condiments put back in the same place. That is the theory, but when the ladies get in there it looks like the
Tasmanian Devil has whirled through!

As well as food and drink in there, are first aid kit, emergency box with lightbulbs, fuses and such, and a couple of LED lanterns.

As stuff gets used, it is replaced with stuff from our 'bunker' as my youngest calls it. It is a dry lined brick outhouse. There we keep two freezers and tinned, dry and packet stuff. Everything is rodent proof and bait points are present at all times. I shelved this out making sure I maximised the space by measuring the tins and boxes being stacked. This means everything goes in the same place. On the highest shelves I keep hotel bags, extra lighting and emergency cooking kit. I dont keep anything like gas in the house for obvious reasons.

We have an outside loo too. It is a fair size brick building, and that is shelved too. Here is spare toilet paper, probably 100 rolls. Also wash powder, wash up liquid, toiletries, bleach, disinfectant etc. There is even an old medicine cabinet on the back of the door where new pills 'n' potions are placed, ready for moving to the bathroom cabinet in the house.

And dont start me on the workshop! :D
In three words I can sum up everything I have learned about life: It goes on.

Robert Frost.

Covid 19: After that level of weirdness ,any situation is certainly possible.

Me.
User avatar
FlashPan
Posts: 135
Joined: Mon Sep 28, 2015 1:18 pm
Location: Norf Laandon

Re: Bugging in. Where to start?

Post by FlashPan »

Without going into too much detail of exactly what I have put together (just to do with my time as in the office and still a work in progress), for a bugging in scenario I think of the following that needs to be addressed:

I say the below in the context that I could also be in a position that I may not want to be discovered as well.

Food:
What type to store (calories/vitamins etc) and where (dark/cool), how long will food last when package opened?. Also store a variety as eating £land beans for 7 days will get very boring very quickly.
What to cook with? (beware of fumes)
Be aware of smells when cooking (could give you away)
Clean you cooking/eating utensils.

Water storage:
Buy in bottles of water to store.
Various empty containers you can fill up quickly (and also take if you need to bug out)
Fill the bath is 1 option and cover with plastic sheet. (a very quick clean with bleach beforehand if possible and make sure you cover up the overflow hole).
A system to collect rainwater.

General comfort:
Candles/light
Battery powered devices (also think of rechargable batteries and a solar usb charger)
Torch (batteries)
Radio (batteries)
Mobile (solar charger)
Board games, cards, books etc (nothing loud like kerplunk)
Heat/warmth - can you run a gas or wood fire ok? or cold weather clothing.
CB radio - if it is a shtf situation I do not think you need to worry if you have a licence or not. (I do not condone not having a licence :roll: )
Long life batteries (long term storage that keep a charge for 8 - 10 years).

Health:
How to clean yourself (assuming water supply is gone/not safe - baby wet wipes are a good option - 2 or 3 for the body 1 for your pits and bits)
Going to to the toilet (assuming water supply is gone/not safe - vinegar in a spray bottle for your hands afterwards - the smell fades quite quickly), doing your business in a plastic bag (how to dispose is always an issue) Used body wet wipes to wipe your backside with (suggest not to keep/use the pits and bits wipes ;) ).

Security:
Light and noise discipline (eg kerplunk)
Black out windows
Have a room you can fall back to which is more secure so you can store items and defend them, yourself and family if needed.

Defense:
Only you can come up with how and what to do.

Offense: (also same as defense)
Nobody likes a bag of human waste thrown at them. (this is said a bit tongue in cheek)

Even though you have bugged in you should also be prepared to bug out very quickly, so I would also think an exit strategy could be made in case you need to get out for whatever reason. Can you go to friends places nearby, do you have keys, do you have an arrangement with friends to use each others places as a bug out location etc? If you are upstairs have a rope/fire ladder you can exit an windows with (or old school sheets tied together).

Be mentally prepared. What will you do if people you know or don't come knocking on your door?

With all the items that require power I have been putting together various hand crank, solar rechargeable stuff as well as usb battery chargers that can run of a portable solar screen/hand crank to help keep everything going.

Consider how long you could also bug in for as well...days, weeks?

That's my initial memory brain storm but I guess you can see where I am heading.

Cheers
Gordon's Alive!?
User avatar
sniper 55
Posts: 1045
Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2015 11:49 am

Re: Bugging in. Where to start?

Post by sniper 55 »

One thing to consider in a bugging in option is what if's What if your house is damaged when you get back to it, what if you get home and find it occupied by others, what if it's contaminated in some way. Etc etc.
Not knocking the idea, it just things to think about and keep your options open, obviously a lot depends on what critical event actually happens. Theres a big difference between a bad winter and a zombie apocalypse or nuclear war.
User avatar
bungee
Posts: 60
Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2015 10:53 pm

Re: Bugging in. Where to start?

Post by bungee »

Id say liquids are a major issue, at least in our house they are. We've got probably a week to ten days worth for four people in various forms but they're a bugger for eating up space.
I keep a shed load of water purification tabs, some portable water filter - life straw type things and a larger one which can supposedly filter water for four people for up to three years.
" those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it. To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.”
― Douglas Adams
Arzosah
Posts: 6473
Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2012 4:20 pm

Re: Bugging in. Where to start?

Post by Arzosah »

Deeps wrote:
Arzosah wrote:I have one week of storecupboard eats all together, but everything else (about a million years of dried beans :oops: for instance) is stashed into plastic crates upstairs, or on a bookcase in the kitchen. First aid items have their own crate.
For the hundred thousandth time, stop exagerating ! :lol:
Deeps, only just seen this :mrgreen: You're always always always so mean to me :lol: :lol: :lol:

Jansman - I love your description of where you've got stuff. Distributing supplies between the pantry, the bunker, the outside toilet and the workshop sounds great.