Urban areas seem to be a target for civil unrest. If you have a prepper mindset, you’ve probably already considered a place to bug out that’s remote, rural, and isolated.
Before we talk about the dangers of a place like that, let's talk about the benefits, of which there are many (especially if you own land). You can cultivate crops, raise livestock, plant and harvest fruit trees, you have trees for firewood, and you can do all the things homesteaders did when America was young.
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These kinds of things are very appealing, but be careful when you're way out there, as there are also many dangers. A book was published by Fernando Aquirre called The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse. It was based on first-hand experience of the 2001 Economic Collapse in Argentina, and it talks about the dangers of living in rural areas.
One of the first things the book pointed out was the mass exodus of people from the cities to the countryside. The problem they encountered was the gangs and criminals following them to their remote locations. If you’re so far away that no one can find you, you’re too far away for anyone to help you if you are attacked.
As a result, he advocated a few basic steps and some other cautions:
- Have or develop a community or group at your bug out location so you can support and protect each other.
- Getting to a remote location can be difficult. Have a backup plan. Roadblocks, traffic jams, highway blockages caused by natural disasters, and other things can prevent you from reaching a remote destination.
- A remote location can distance you from family and friends who are the most trusted people you know.
- Local stores in remote areas often carry smaller or limited inventories. As other people travel through your area and stock up at those stores, the shelves may be left bare for you. Stock up now!
- Stocking up is critical and you should stock all you can, but it’s just as important to have the knowledge of what to do with what you’ve stored. You can have all of the medical equipment and supplies in the world, but they’re worthless to you if you don’t have a good working knowledge of first aid.
- Having dogs or a dog is a good idea as an early warning system and some degree of protection.
- Understand, learn, and adapt a homesteading lifestyle and mindset. Even with a community of friends around you, you’re all on your own.
- Remote locations can present some challenges from local wildlife. Be prepared to protect yourself from that threat as well.
- The most important thing is your community. Get to know your neighbors and understand the specialized skills you can share with one another. They’ll also be able to watch your property when you’re not there, and you should do the same for them.
There are many other things we can learn from Fernando Aquirre, and that is the topic of this video by Survival Dispatch. Be sure to watch the video below for more tips.