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Most of my regular readers and I have a plan for sheltering in place during a disaster, but just because our focus is on urban survival doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have a bug out bag, a bug out vehicle, and an escape plan. There are just too many scenarios where sheltering in place would not be an option.
Unfortunately, most urban dwellers would have nowhere to go if their homes were destroyed of if their cities became too unsafe. If you can afford a remote piece of land or if you have friends or relatives in the countryside, great. But what are those of us without a bug out location supposed to do? Here are a few suggestions.
Campgrounds
These are a good option, but only if these two conditions are met: 1) It’s the off season. 2) The disaster that forced you to relocate is temporary (such as a natural disaster). If there are too many other people, then it’s not worth it. And if it’s an end of the world situation, campgrounds might even become dangerous.
However, if you just need somewhere to go for a short while, campgrounds are great. Most of them have sturdy buildings with bathrooms, cafeterias, and possibly even emergency supplies. Outside you’ll find picnic tables, fire pits, grills, etc. And nearby there should be plenty of firewood, lakes and streams for water. If you can find a campground that isn’t already occupied, you’ll have a great place to stay during a disaster.
This site will help you find any campgrounds in your vicinity, and here is a list of summer camps. I recommend visiting as many as you can and staying at several of them overnight. You’ll do much better if you’re already familiar with local campgrounds and the surrounding areas, and you could go ahead and plot a safe evacuation route that avoids main roads.
National Parks and Forests
There is a lot of land in this country, but much of it is private property. And if you seek refuge on someone’s property, you could wake up with the barrel of a gun in your face. But with state and national parks and forests you’re far less likely to get kicked out, especially during a disaster when park rangers have other things to worry about. You might find shelter in a ranger station, a utility shed, or maybe even a cave.
There are hundreds parks, forests, and wildlife refuges all over the country (the links will help you find them). If the disaster is severe enough, you might want to disappear into one of these places for a while. Of course, if it comes to this you’ll need to learn some wilderness survival skills.
As with campgrounds, you should familiarize yourself with local parks and forests ahead of time. You could pick out a good place to set up camp (perhaps somewhere near a stream or lake), and you could even bury a survival cache there ahead of time. Print several detailed topographical maps of the area so you don’t get lost, and figure out exactly how you’re going to get there.
Other Possibilities
Mines – There are hundreds of mines around the country. Except for the ones that have been abandoned, they should be geologically stable and able to provide shelter for lots of people. Find one that the average person wouldn’t know about and pay it a visit.
Ghost Towns – These are all over the country, too, and most people aren’t aware of them. Ghost towns have many different buildings you can use for shelter, and the best ones will have a source of water nearby. However, some of them might not have a good source of water (which could be part of the reason they were abandoned). Here’s a list of ghost towns.
Factories – There are many plants and factories far away from cities that could provide shelter during a disaster. Since none of the owners or employees actually live there, you won’t have to worry about getting kicked out. Factories have lots of space, facilities, and some emergency supplies.
Final Thoughts
There is one major problem with these locations: They’re better for short-term disasters. If there’s a long-term breakdown of society that results in a Mad Max scenario, you’ll have to be careful because dangerous people in search of supplies will eventually find these places. That’s why it’s better to find a bug out location now rather than after the SHTF.
If you’re concerned about the end of the world as we know it, your goal should be to purchase a bug-out-location that you could stay at indefinitely. Perhaps you could chip in with other preppers and/or family members. The place should have a food source, a water source, sturdy shelter, and be defensible in case it is discovered by marauders. If you want to learn more, check out the book, Bugging Out and Relocating.
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If you are disabled, ( like me) or I should say especially if you are disabled, I would find a local Mormon bishop. Even if you aren’t Mormon ( just be polite and don’t try to convert them… you will be asking for their help). So, before SHTF go to Mormon.org>worship with us> put in your zip code and search. A list of locations, worship times and bishops phone numbers will come up. Personally, I would go to church with them a few times and maybe ask if you can help somewhere ( you don’t have to talk to missionaries but think about it, what seems more reasonable a request for help or support from someone who has been around your community or someone who just asks with trying to connect?
So whether or choose to culturally connect or not, eventually talk to the bishop. Explain your concerns and situation. Most Mormons are Preppers to one degree or another, some wards have plans for survival together and checking on each other in a disaster situation. Offer to lend your skills to the group if the local ward has this in place. Then ask if the bishop might be able to help you find a host family who has a bug out location or possibly a family from a ward somewhat away from the city ( like in a somewhat distant suburb at least).
I would plan to bring my own supplies and food and not burden the family hosting me, also this advice is geared towards single adults like perhaps just out of college. If you have a reasonable chance to sort out your own evacuation the bishop will likely say no. But if you can barely afford your rent, if you are disabled and can’t drive etc. Connecting with Mormons culturally is a great option for finding a mutual support community and a place where you can offer knowledge and skills. Note: no where did I say officially join the LDS religion. I have successfully connected to Mormons on a culturally level and I am an evangelical Seminary Student. Yes you can join officially but it’s not essential for this idea to get off the ground.
2nd note: if you read this and think “ Mormons are Preppers? Aren’t they pacifists too? ( thinking it would be like shooting fish in a barrel to steal their stuff). Mormons ARE NOT pacifists. The Book of Mormon is full of war strategies. Also, a very famous group in history was the Mormon Battalion. Although it isn’t a militant religion by any means, I would not recommend trying to steal from them. If you ask they might share or trade with you but in a survival situation trying to steal from this group is likely a great example of a bad idea.
Simply immigrate to an inherently safe country like New Zealand or our Australia, Fiji, Vanuatu etc which are non-nuclear – no worries. We are highly self-reliant growing a 1/4 acre edible jungle, plenty water on this island, fish & shell fish some yards away, deep hole toilet, all-solar home & vehicles, at 84 & 68 years we thrive on 4% pensions. Send your email address if you wish more data. God Bless.
Hi Dr. Pat,
I just saw a video earlier this evening mentioning the same areas you did. I will look up more info on New Zealand. I have only seen pictures of course but one of my favorite opera singers is from there, Kirk Te Kanawa. Although I think Fiji might have some pretty awesome weather!
Things you forget about when things aren’t so bad.
Thanks
Denise
The reality is 95% of Americans can’t afford to have a survival plan. Of the 5% who can, 95% won’t bother. If you’re part of that quarter of a percent, the worse advice I’ve ever heard was to bunker down in place if you are in or near a major city. If you live in a city that’s just plan stupid. The 100,000 people in New Orleans who did that got screwed. If the event just swoops in, an earthquake for instance, you may not have options, but for things like Hurricanes you know its coming. You can plan for them. Many other disasters like major infrastructure failure requires getting out early before the Zombies realize what’s happening. You really do need a “summer” home in a rural location if you live in a city. Can’t afford that, well take up Bush Camping; camping in really remote locations and scout out a few remote locations within 3/4 of a tank of gas of your home. The more remote the better, unless you’re able to get completely off the “X”. The last place you want to be when the SHTF is in a city. If the Federal Government doesn’t roll in within a day or two things will get ugly, just go back and look at the news clips of New Orleans after Katrina. If the Federal Government is the problem then remote is good, at least for awhile! Just imagine a Katrina coming ashore in Key Largo and leaving Florida via Jacksonville. You want to be camping out in Alabama or Mississippi when it hits if you live on the East coast of Florida. With 10 million people homeless and without food, things will be out of control, even if the US Government mobilized the whole military, they won’t be able to deal with that one. I can imagine a million people dying within 10 days and the health hazards that will cause would be worse than a war zone. Think in terms of a cyclone hitting Bangladesh or the Aceh Tsunami, you just don’t want to be there when it happens.
National forests are not necessarily safe. There are many people squatting there, and they do NOT want to be disturbed. Some of them are already disturbed.
Be prepared for unpleasant “neighbors” if you choose this option.
Whether sheltering in or bugging out, clean water is going to be critical to survival. The best source of clean water in a crisis may come from private wells, but without power to run the pumps it will be inaccessible. The Emergency Well Tube was designed to draw water from a well without power and without having to pull the pump to use it. This is a necessary tool for anyone who has a well but has tremendous barter potential for folks who may be planning to bug out but don’t have a place of their own. If you can help others secure clean water, you’ll stand a better chance of being welcomed into a group or community than someone who shows up without skills or resources to contribute. You can learn more at http://www.emergencywelltube.com.
There is a problem with the “ghost towns” listed for, Brevard County Florida. All the “ghost towns” listed are not towns but old town names that no longer exist. Allenhurst, Shiloh, and Wilson are on KSC property. The only thing there is swamp. Orsino is now part of Merritt Island and 50,000 people. Tillman was the name of Palm Bay back in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Today it’s home for 100,000+ people (far from ghost town). Minton’s Corner is part of West Melbourne and is now a shopping center.
You may want to really check these “Ghost Towns”. Florida has no ghost towns.
I have to agree with some of the others, about trying camp grounds too many desperate refugees, and I can’t remember who said it but it’s something like ” humanity is 3 or 4 meals away from disaster, would you watch as your spouse and children die of starvation or thirst? The nicest most civilized people will become animals willing to take by whatever means necessary what you have for your family, so you won’t have to worry about the people camping next to you asking you for anything politely.
THINK ABOUT IT.
That nice campground in the Adirondaks, with 100 prepared spaces, is going to have 5000 people trying to get in. Those nice folks in the next site, that last year politely asked if you had a couple eggs to spare? After 2 or 3 weeks, they’ll kill you for a granola bar to feed their kids. I don’t think I would recommend a campground to anyone I cared about.
Camp grounds don’t have emergency supplies. I don’t like the idea of being around so many people I don’t know. In three days they’ll be knocking on your tent asking for food for their kids. I don’t think you would have much security at one either. Head up a forest service road and find a good spot. Then get yourself sorted out and make a plan. Bigpaul’s comment is totally right.
if you don’t have a BOL and just wander hoping to find somewhere safe, you are nothing more than a refugee, the time to find a BOL is now…not after SHTF.