There are countless articles and videos with lists of tips, hacks, and things to do if you bug in during a disaster. However, there aren’t many lists of things NOT to do. That is the subject of this video by Reality Survival.
If you’ve never bugged in for an extended period of time without power, then you probably have no idea all the mistakes people make when doing this. If you’re not careful, you could get your family sick, draw unwanted attention, waste your resources, and even get yourself killed.
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Here’s his list:
• Don’t burn treated wood because the chemicals in it could make you sick.
• Don’t cook inside unless you have an exhaust system or you will get carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Don’t board up the windows from the outside. Rather, board them up from the inside.
• Don’t cook with galvanized metal containers because of the dangerous chemicals in them.
• Don’t burn green lumber or pine in your fireplace or stove.
• Don’t assume your walls will provide you with functional cover.
• Don’t try to heat your entire house. Instead, keep everyone in one room.
• If you’re manually flushing toilets, make sure there’s enough water in the S-trap so no sewer gases get into your home.
• Don’t let any light shine out of your windows. You don’t want to draw attention.
• Don’t run your generator inside your home or garage or you’ll risk carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Don’t drink water without treating it or boiling it, even tap water.
• Don’t let candles burn unattended. They cause a lot of house fires.
• Don’t use space heaters without proper ventilation.
• Don’t answer the door without a firearm and someone watching the back entrance.
• Don’t sleep without at least one person on watch.
• Don’t store fuel close to an open flame or any heat sources.
• Don’t barricade all the exists. You need one or two you can open easily.
• Don’t go outside during daylight hours if you don’t have to.
• Don’t allow trash to accumulate outside your home.
• Don’t run your generator unless you have to.
• Don’t give warning shots to intruders.
• Don’t respond to a ruse. Never trust a stranger.
• Don’t leave your cars parked outside. Back them into the garage.
• Don’t let your pets outside unless you have to.
Watch the video below to hear him discuss each of these bug-in mistakes in detail.
You can use an alcohol stove indoors.
They only run about 20 min. Not enough CO buildup to be a problem, even IF there is any CO.
For those lucky enough to have a REAL hot water tanks (not electric) in the basement –
If there is no gas to keep it working, lift up the top of the draft hood and pipe above the tank and swing it over to the side a bit to make room for an alcohol stove and skillet. Heat rises so will any fumes.
The possibility of someone smelling anything is low due to the height of the chimney or discharge pipe.
Even if they did, assuming you cooked at night, they couldn’t tell which house is doing it.
Really great info!!
I disagree with the not letting the rash accumulate in the yard…a “CLEAN” yard may draw unwanted attention….somebody is cleaning it up, so somebody is HOME!!
Some people just might have the opp. opinion that you guys do! If you don’t want to watch the vids,,,,, DON’T. it is your choice. He NEVER said that you have to watch it. There are sme people in this world that have to be told EVERYTHING, using EVERY means you have at hand. Some ou us DON’T!
Although there are many good points made here, there are some major omissions/ mistakes.
If you are bugging in:
Don’t expect to have running, city water, that requires a working grid and water dept personnel.
By the same requirements; Don’t expect your city sewer to be usable or not to back up into your location.The longer you bug in, the more likely this will occur.
I suggest you plug the drains and toilets with paper (to contain the hot wax) and cover them with wax to seal them off. Toilet rings/ seals are made of wax and so this should work well if properly done.
Build an out house and use the “grey water” on your garden, the plants will love it.
Any fires,( smoke smell, visual smoke, food smell, etc) for heating, cooking, etc, will alert others to your presence.
Any heat used in winter will leave tell tale signs, such as less snow accumulation, melting ice, etc, on your building or roof.
Houses that show that they are boarded up, will mean that they are not abandoned or are abandoned but have valuables, (according to the former owners thinking), stored inside.
So basically everyone will know you have bugged in. There is really no way to avoid it. So expect a lot of visitors, beggars, etc.
Post a sign that clearly reads:
“I EAT TRESPASSERS”
Hang a piece of old raw liver under the sign. A rotten piece.
I appreciate the advice. I’m new to prepping and this was helpful. I didnt know (but should have) about burni g treated wood. Thanks for taking time to give advice.
Thanks for all the great reminders. The only thing I would disagree with is backing the car into the garage. If for reason the garage door isn’t opening, there isn’t time to manually open it, or in my case, there is just a locked gate. You may have to ram yourself out. And for that I prefer to have the back end of my car do the ramming rather than front.
Most garage doors have a manual release to open if the power is out. I like the backing in as getting out would be easier. Backing up seems to be riskier. Good luck yo you though.
He skipped point number 20. I listened to it twice.
Don’t cook indoors? I suppose it depends on your heat source but so many of your other points are about hiding your presence. And your recommendation to cook on the deck will not only advertize your presence, but also that you have food.
Also I’m not sure about going to such lengths to make your house look empty… Wouldn’t that just attract wanderers looking for an unused place to shelter or an unguarded place to loot? I say, keep a low profile but maybe let a small candle show at night. Maybe? Not sure.
Finally, much more brevity would have been nice.
Most of these recommendations are general in nature. Everybody’s situation will be different.
You might be better off cooking indoors, especially if there are a lot of looters or bad people around.
Depending upon how air tight your home is, that will partly determine the carbon monoxide build up potential and smoke or particulate issues. However many primitive peoples and third worlder’s cook indoors.
I think the biggest threat to Bugging in (and the most ignored) is Fire. Not the accidental fire you might start, but the city destroying fire, the looters or pyromaniacs will start.
A Fire Storm, much like a wild fire, is possible in a city where there are no longer Fire Depts or Fire Hydrants with water pressure to put out fires.
Stocking up stuff is great, but if you rely mainly upon that and lose it, to theft, fire or whatever.
What will you do?
You will be forced to Bug out, but to where? You need to have a plan for that.
So personally the long term lack of food and water available in the cities, as well as the two legged predators, (gangs) and the potential for Plagues and
Fire, makes me believe that a Nomadic style of country living might be the best choice for a lot of people.
That means being self reliant and knowledgeable about survival. But then that is what this is all about.
I agree with the other comments. Why not just continue the written list? That would be more easily accessible. Don’t like videos, so as a result, I didn’t pin this otherwise noteworthy article. So disappointing.
Way too wordy. Could have been said in 3 or 4 minutes. I’d rather read it anyhow than listen to all the what-ifs. Can’t finish this.
Exactly–now, when I see a video, I just delete. I can read much faster than these idiots talk.
I didn’t watch, but did read the first 5 before it resorted to video.
This video trend is getting to be standard and it ruins it for me.
I actually deleted ‘Common Sense’ from my favorites and I read it every morning for a few years.
The author thought it necessary to create a video for ‘every’ topic.
He probably lost a lot of viewers.
Amen Brothers. What’s even worse is if the words are on the screen and someone on video is reading it at his pace. DELETE!
More frequently have time to read, rarely to watch a video. However, occasionally, I can keep doing something else and listen simultaneously so having both options is ideal. If can only have one method, hope my reading glasses are handy because I much prefer to read.
Thanks
Sorry, but why does everything have to be in a video anymore? I can read a lot faster than he’s talking. I don’t have all day to watch videos. I have just a few minutes a day to look over emails.
Joyce – DAMN STRAIGHT!!!
Agreed. I have NO interest in watching the video
I lost interest @ the video too.
Agree with all. I don’t like videos and just don’t watch them.