When is the cue to bug out?

I live in a large city, Chicago, and I figure that getting out of there when an emergency strikes will be difficult because of panic. Highways may be closed off, overflowing, or guarded by military checkpoints. At that point even if I wanted to leave it would be problematic, to say the least. I know a lot of you also live in populated regions, so where would you go and in reaction to what events? (There's no turning back) Or would you choose to just hole up in your house, and for how long? Do you know if you'll be able to get out later if you do?

This is just food for thought because Situation X could happen any day now and I want to know all the details about how things will go down.

Plan your route, do it a couple of times and find out how long it takes. Throw in extra obstacles or scenarios and plan for that too. Once you know exactly how long your bug out will take, you will be far more confident in knowing when to get the hell outta dodge.

Originally posted by midnightbrigade
Plan your route, do it a couple of times and find out how long it takes. Throw in extra obstacles or scenarios and plan for that too. Once you know exactly how long your bug out will take, you will be far more confident in knowing when to get the hell outta dodge.

no that's rediculous.

you just get out now..
situate yourself somewhere completely out of danger..

and not worry about a day or time.



-

i think some good clues for when to go are,

-they tell you on the msm NOT to run for the hills
-a natural disaster hits near you
-the president says not to panic
-they start showing survival advice on the news
-all radio stations are looping government warnings
-you hear that food stocks are running out for whatever reason
-people near you start launching rockets over the horrizon

it's too late if,

-you can hear small arms fire
-you can hear rioters
-black helicopters circle over head
-the horrizon lights up with ecplosions every now and then
-you can see rockets hitting
-the sky is on fire
-it's raining acid / rock / metal / fire / radiation
-the president says to panic

If you left it too late then bunker up and prepare for the worst, it will pass over soon enough and then you can gather the remainder of your life and head to somewhere you can survive long term.

I don't know how many times I have said this, but just out of sheer caring for my fellow man I need to tell this whenever I get the chance:

Waiting for the signs of when "TSHTF" is suicide!
What you do is:
Get out of town, pretty much now.

When you get hold of the first signs of trouble, everyone else will as well.
Roads will be clogged.
People will start looting.
People will start "protecting their stuff".
Law enforcement will be put into action before you get the chance to react.

People's minds are starting to awaken out there. Many of us can feel that something is in the air, and it reeks more and more for each day that pass.
Tension is rising.

Don't wait, there is literarly no time to lose.

Chicago, among all major cities, are sitting ducks.
Be smart- don't live there!

To the OP, I'm in Chi Town too, screen name may be framiliar to another chicagoen. Do you have a friend with a boat? It would be pretty easy to get to Burnham harbor to get out if need be. There are also many streets other than 88 to get you into Indiana. If you are really in the city, ie you can name your north and west coordinate numbers, then I wouldn't worry too much. If you were hear for 9 one one then you can remember when they said that there was another plane headed to Chicago. Transportation was shut down and downtown was evacuated. People simply walked calmly down Clark street north out of downtown area. I don't think there will be mass panic unless something happenned immediately downtown.

The previous posts have --- more or less --- summed it up for you. Should the need to 'bug-out' arise, by the time you get yourself organized and on the move it will likely be too late --- maybe not IN Chicago but almost certainly along your route once you leave. You should be asking yourself now, 'bug out to where exactly?' Any situation that is going to result in a mass exodus or people will create issues that simply can't be planned for. Unless you are pretty well-off currently, how will you survive when you reach your safe haven? Any event/situation that's going to cause such an exodus isn't going to result in a long weekend in the woods. This is longterm. The more you can remove yourself --- now --- from high population densities the better off you'll be. Bugging-out should be a last resort. The best idea is to get yourself into a situation where the likelihood of needing to bug-out is diminished. A place where you can stockpile and hunker-down if the SHTF. There are no gaurantees --- even if you build that log cabin in the mountains --- we're all playing the odds.

Another thing to keep in mind:

Govenmetal intervention:
You can count on them knowing first-hand when things are getting hairy. Road- and water ways will be probably be survailed and/or sealed off. Curfew will be put into action to prevent looting.
This will most likely be the first "sign": that you find yourself immobilized.

You being dragged into governmental intervention:
What about being drafted? Will you disobey such an order? You realize what this will mean? They will probably "come get you" for doing that.
If a real, serious, nation-wide catastrophy would come upon you, you can count on the government claiming every able-bodied man and woman to "help" the country...

I don't know what kind of scenario you are considering, but have you thougt about:
Heavy weather, making transportation above ground more or less impossible?
Pollution of vast proportions, making all kinds of outside activity life-threatening?
Mass hysteria and armed mobs/milita, snipers, mine fields, booby-traps...

Just consider the above as well.
In these "romantic survivalist fantasies", it is easy to dream up a scenario of oneself gently slipping out of town, settling in some easy going place on the countryside... Not much more than a pink, fluff encrusted fantasy.

Say again: get out of town now.

Originally posted by Raud
Another thing to keep in mind:

Govenmetal intervention:
You can count on them knowing first-hand when things are getting hairy. Road- and water ways will be probably be survailed and/or sealed off. Curfew will be put into action to prevent looting.
This will most likely be the first "sign": that you find yourself immobilized.

You being dragged into governmental intervention:
What about being drafted? Will you disobey such an order? You realize what this will mean? They will probably "come get you" for doing that.
If a real, serious, nation-wide catastrophy would come upon you, you can count on the government claiming every able-bodied man and woman to "help" the country...

I don't know what kind of scenario you are considering, but have you thougt about:
Heavy weather, making transportation above ground more or less impossible?
Pollution of vast proportions, making all kinds of outside activity life-threatening?
Mass hysteria and armed mobs/milita, snipers, mine fields, booby-traps...

Just consider the above as well.
In these "romantic survivalist fantasies", it is easy to dream up a scenario of oneself gently slipping out of town, settling in some easy going place on the countryside... Not much more than a pink, fluff encrusted fantasy.

Say again: get out of town now.

Heavy Weather making traveling impossibe? You have never been to Chicago my friend. We have a saying here "don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes." Above ground travel? WTH. I do have a plan and a BOB but seriously calm down a little. It sounds like your sitting behind a curtain in the front window of your house looking out the window with a loaded gun waiting for them to come and get you. Chicago is a very unique city unlike New York or other major cities, there are many many ways to get out in all directions. In regards to major arteries of travel being monitored, no worries. Cops here don't even give traffic citations, it's a waste of their time. Drivers here are nuts, they will run barricades, drive over your lawn etc. if in a panic. To the OP I will only leave down and do so immediately if the announce martial law. And no, it will not be too late at that point. Martial Law does not mean that everyone has to stay at home and wait to be rounded up, it simply imposes restrictians on when you can be out under various degrees.

You live next to Lake Michigan. That will be the road less traveled. Go down to the docks and beg, pay, or barter your way on to a vessel and head north. I've told my father the same thing as he lives in South Florida. If the SHTF and bugging out is your only option for survival get on a boat and head south in his particular instance. Same should apply for anyone that lives next to water IMO. You will have the time while your out and away from all of the violence that will be happening to make the right decisions on where to go.
P.S.
I need help centering my Avatar, could someone U2U me with some advice?

[edit on 4-3-2009 by The Undertaker]

Originally posted by wolfwood290
I live in a large city, Chicago, and I figure that getting out of there when an emergency strikes will be difficult because of panic.

I think this is the 5th time Ive written this in the past week.

Get out of the major cities now.

Find a small community, get a new job, move your family and start a new life. Cities are horrible places. They take and take from your wallet, your health, your mental well being and give you nothing but a paycheck in return. Isnt there more to life than that? Get out before you get a cue to "bug out" by then it will be too late and you will have lived like an ant your entire life for nothing. Get out and live. Not just sit-x but now.

I starred every one of the first 4 responses, because they were completely valid, and reinforced my own opinions.

We live in a CONSTANT state of survival, but we should consider this emergency survival with the highest wisdom. History is our teacher and psychology our barometer. Stay aware of those events around your location with a critical eye. You will know when you are personally threatened.

I think that joining up with other like-minded people is your best option, if you do not have anywhere else to go; because gangs will rampage in the face of civilization's collapse. If you are the governmental cooperative type, then becoming deputized or allowing yourself to be drafted are not bad options (but, they aren't risk-free). If you are not so sure of the ability of government to ensure your liberty and life are safe, then you will need to either already BE in your safe-location, yesterday, or you need to go there, now. Don't wait for STHTF to start protecting your interests (the bankers and elite already have, right?).

As for me, I'm already where I need to me, fully stocked and locked, fearless of what the future holds, because I know that I got here from a long line of survivors that fought and won the right to live on. I own the future, along side all of those critical-thinkers that will survive these most trying of times.

Good luck and God bless you all, in Liberty for Life, eternally your ally,
O-315

I almost have to agree with every one else.
Dude, if you ain't outta there by now, good luck later!
Instead of buyin' fancy cars and unaffordable houses,
people should of been buying farms and tractors.
Good luck also now with the way the housing crisis is!
Better start growing food in your apartment in pots
and buying one extra can of food every time you
go somewhere!!! Think pork and beans and fruit and
stuff you dont have to cook. You will be learning how to
grow food for later also.
Maybe you can work on a farm for food or have a garden
intstead of a lawn, whatever you can do, etc!
Do what you can, with what you have, while you still can!!!
Get a list of emergency supplies you need and get going!!!

[edit on 4-3-2009 by dodadoom]

Your Bug out plan is supposed to be a last desperate measure to get out should your retreat become unsafe or unsustainable, If you are serious about survivalism and not just another dude with a 4x4, gun and rucksack you should have relocated ages ago for your families sake.

Originally posted by elston
It sounds like your sitting behind a curtain in the front window of your house looking out the window with a loaded gun waiting for them to come and get you.

Well, what kind of "situation" did you have in mind, thennn?

The OP is talking about "bugging out". That means that things have gone out of hand, and that surviving with decent odds at the current location is out of the question.

Need to add one more thing:
You people talking about "bug out vehicles" and such: are you aware of the gasoline will be like the hardest thing to come across during an emergency?
How long can you go on one tank full?
How much does your ride drink?
How far will that take you?

At my current location, I would consider walking or biking rather than driving. But I am also pretty fortunate with where I reside.
My only dilemma is the possibility of being drafted. I mean, since I did service in the army, I kind of took an oath to do service once they tell me to.
Major dilemma!

Originally posted by Raud

Originally posted by elston
It sounds like your sitting behind a curtain in the front window of your house looking out the window with a loaded gun waiting for them to come and get you.

Well, what kind of "situation" did you have in mind, thennn?

The OP is talking about "bugging out". That means that things have gone out of hand, and that surviving with decent odds at the current location is out of the question.

Need to add one more thing:
You people talking about "bug out vehicles" and such: are you aware of the gasoline will be like the hardest thing to come across during an emergency?
How long can you go on one tank full?
How much does your ride drink?
How far will that take you?

At my current location, I would consider walking or biking rather than driving. But I am also pretty fortunate with where I reside.
My only dilemma is the possibility of being drafted. I mean, since I did service in the army, I kind of took an oath to do service once they tell me to.
Major dilemma!

I think the OP was asking another question other than Bugging Out. Things in Chicago have not gotten any worse out of control than they have been for years. With the exception of sales taxes, parking meter increases, toll increases, etc. I haven't noticed a large increase in crime (although that ususally will happen in the summer). I am not ignorant as to what is going on, as indicated I have my plan and am stocked reasonably well. But I get the feeling feeling from many responses that most of you just hate cities and this is the reason for your response. City living is for tough people. We are not fragile by any means. If you think cities are evil that's fine, I have been here for eight years and I'm starting to hate it too. But let's keep the reposnes relevant. This "GET OUT NOW OR DIE" crap is not helpful to the OP. If you can not answer his question because you have never lived in a city, keep your replies to yourself as you would never know what the warning signs could or would be.

Get out of Chicago.

I dont know what possesses people to live in these awful places. Is it money? Whatever more money you make in a city is blown due the insane cost of living and urban taxation.

Everyone I've ever met or known in a city has either been immeasurably wealthy or so poor they just didnt care.

Get the hell out of the city.

You're not safe there. The money you make is already spent before you even get it. The "culture" so many urban roaches claim to love translates to self-medicating with alcohol and anonymous sex with other drunks.

In a city you already live in a control grid suckling from the utilities they so generously allow you to leech from.

Every last one of them needs to be leveled.

If you are heading out of Chicago stay off the toll roads.

Roads like US 45, 47, etc. are likely to be packed as well.

Get yourself a DeLorme Illinois Atlas. They are excellent and show all the backroads with GPS coordinates etc.

I am in Champaign and I feel pretty good about being here when the SHTF and we're only a couple hours south.

Southern IL (not near St. Louis) would be a wonderful place to bug out to as well.

I paid attention at the grocery today (Walmart Super Store,I am rural and it's the closest):
The stockers were pushing goods to the front of the shelves,there was MUCH less stock in terms of canned goods and basics.
Many empty spaces on the shelves.
Some of the produce had been cut in half to show it wasn't "old"...I've been getting a LOT of inside-black food lately,waste of cash.
The expiration dates on a lot of the dairy and meat products were closer to the date than they should be.
Much of the fresh-stuff looks pittiful.It's Wednesday,typically a "good day" at the grocery.
Stock up now.
I absolutely believe the threads about shipping and credit and that we're going to be fighting for food soon.

Originally posted by thisguyrighthere
Get out of Chicago.

I dont know what possesses people to live in these awful places. Is it money? Whatever more money you make in a city is blown due the insane cost of living and urban taxation.

Everyone I've ever met or known in a city has either been immeasurably wealthy or so poor they just didnt care.

Get the hell out of the city.

You're not safe there. The money you make is already spent before you even get it. The "culture" so many urban roaches claim to love translates to self-medicating with alcohol and anonymous sex with other drunks.

In a city you already live in a control grid suckling from the utilities they so generously allow you to leech from.

Every last one of them needs to be leveled.

You're just proving my point. Ever watch Crocodile Dundee? It's true most rural people think that city people could not live like that, while it's also true that most rural people couldn't last inthe city. It's all about the person. If you're tough you can make a go of it anywhere you are.

My favorite quote: "Tough Times Never Last But Tough People Do."