In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew forced people to evacuate their homes. With more than 2.5 million people being told to evacuate, it was the second-largest evacuation in U.S. history. Without having an escape route planned and not taking things seriously, many decided to hunker down and test their luck. If you are a serious prepper, you probably learned by now that luck plays only a minor part when it comes to surviving a major catastrophe. Having an escape route planned and bug out bags ready is necessary in these modern times.
During the California wildfires in 2017, more than 900,000 people had to evacuate Southern California to escape the deadly fires. Some lost everything while others were lucky enough to think things through before the evacuation order came.
However, even if no order is given when a disaster occurs, you may decide it’s safer for your family to remove yourselves from an affected area and seek safety in some out-of-the-way location. If that’s the case, you’d better not leave things at luck and be ready to evacuate.
Before leaving
History showed us that most evacuation orders come at a moment’s notice. Having your gear and your family members ready means, you will be way ahead of the crowds choking the road of your town.
Go Vehicle
Since you might have to go at any time, your bug-out vehicle should be prepared for the escape route. It should be gassed up and kept well-maintained. The gas stations will be closed, and service will be limited. As a backup plan, you should always keep a host of minimum, needed gear in your car at all times.
This will save you time when the time to evacuate comes, and there will be less you’ll need to gather. You’ll be just that much more prepared for an emergency when you are away from home on a daily basis.
Gearing up for the escape route
As with any disaster preparation, the first thing you need to do is consider your environment, time of year, type of crisis and intended destination. I’ve stressed before about the need to keep your bug out bag updated based on at least the time of year and weather. It should be able to keep you comfortable for a few days to a few weeks.
It is crucial to pack well for an escape route, but you should never overpack. Since not everyone is an experienced survivalist, for the majority of people food and water are the most important. Proper clothing and sheltering materials are the items that should be packed based on where you are heading. Putting extra warmer clothes will only take up valuable place if you are heading towards a warm zone.
Always keep your gear in accessible boxes in the vicinity of your car. If you aren’t able to take your car due to various factors, place every needed gear and resources in backpacks. Each family member should have one, and the total weight should be distributed according to each body type and physical strength.
Additionally, consider adding the following when you are planning for an escape route:
- Extra cash – always assume that ATMs won’t work
- Prescription medications, vitamins, and other needed medical supplies (for people with allergies, diabetes and other conditions that may require special care)
- All important documents stored in a waterproof container (personal identification documents, insurance policies, deeds, and bank accounts)
- Gear and food for your pets
- Extra gas if your escape route needs a detour or alternative paths to escape dangers
- A dynamo-powered radio to keep you up-to-date with the latest news
Your exit plan
Since every city is different, you have to plan your escape route accordingly. Some cities may have multiple different directions to evacuate to, while others will be limited. You should make the exit plan based on your location, population density, and intended destination. This means that you should know all the main routes and secondary routes of your town.
Never go towards the city center and keep detailed paper maps of your area. Mark your primary and secondary routes on the maps. Besides the usual highway and local roadmaps, also bring along topographical maps and forest service maps. You should have a clear picture of all the available roads and paths when planning your escape route.
Since it is advised to follow the advice and directions of government officials when an evacuation order is given things may not always be so straight forward. While they may be more informed than you, always be prepared to go your own way if the situation requires it. Listen to the radio and plan your next move based on the information you gather.
Related reading: Escape and Evasion Tactics for When S Really Hits the Fan
Exit plan B through C
Whatever you plan for your escape route, you should also plan for failure. Plan for the main city highway to be jammed. Plan for secondary roads to be blocked by fallen trees or be washed out. Plan for alternate routes that might not be as crowded but would require a long detour (more gas needed).
As you build up your plan, think about all the items you might need along the way. You may not be a “firearms enthusiast,” but what if you have to defend yourself and your loved ones? It is important to consider what you will need if your plan falls apart due to an unforeseen reason. That’s why you need a plan B and perhaps a plan C.
You may have the safest vehicle money can buy, but what if it breaks down? Do you have the tools and parts to fix it? Do you know how to fix it? If not, you have to figure out other ways to advance. Maybe you packed a bicycle or two, or maybe your family is used to go camping and carrying their backpacks won’t be a problem. Only you know about these things, and only you can properly plan for alternatives.
You can plan for everything when it comes to your escape route, but you can maximize your chances of making it out alive if you plan properly.
Practice your bug-out plans
Everything we learn must be put to the test. This is a golden rule for whatever we do in life, and it’s mandatory to improve our skills. Putting your escape route to the test may be as simple as organizing a trip out with the family. As simple as driving your intended routes and be observant of what happens along the way. Even better, do it during rush hour to get a proper feel of the kind of traffic you can expect.
Note on your maps problematic areas to avoid (bad neighborhoods, busy landmarks, etc.) and areas to target in case of an unexpected emergency (hospitals, friends, etc.). Also note if there are any sources of fuel, food, and water that you can target in case needed.
Check on your map if the escape route has choke points where traffic can bottleneck and natural obstacles that you may have to cross (rivers and streams).
Evacuation day
No matter how much you plan your escape route, when the time comes, it will be hard to take on the road. The prospects of may never seeing your home again it’s heartbreaking for many. After all, you have to leave everything behind, and there’s no telling if your home will still be standing when you come back.
Even so, you should be leaving without creating a big fuss, without letting others now you’re abandoning everything. To be on the safe side of things and to avoid inviting looters to pick your house clean, leave like you’re going on a vacation. Pack your gear in the garage, where nobody can see it and open the garage only when the car is packed.
If there’s a chance of flooding, you should cut the power to avoid further damage. If that’s not the case, leave a couple of light on to discourage looters. Locking all windows and doors is common sense at this point, and I don’t think I have to stress out that all your home-defense systems should be double-checked before leaving.
Once you take the road, stick to your escape route you have laid out in the preparation phase. Stay vigilant for unforeseen dangers. You may encounter riot zones, and you may have to deal with road hazards like downed powerlines. The main goal is to escape the city as quickly as possible, but you should never put your safety at risk by taking chances with “not so serious” obstacles.
Related article:Escape Tactics You Should Know
How long to stay away?
This is a question many people have a hard time answering when planning their escape route. If you find yourself troubled by the same question, you shouldn’t worry. In fact in the majority of cases, this is an unanswerable question. However, the answer is dependent on one major factor, safety.
Is it safe to go home? The reason that forced you to evacuate has come to an end? Is your home still standing? If not, is there a reason to go back to a pile of rubble?
You should be prepared for the duration of your absence and fight the impulse to go home early. You took an escape route for good reasons, and there’s no point in going back early and possibly, face addition dangers.
Conclusion
Planning for an escape route is a necessary action if you know your area is exposed to natural disasters. At the same time, building a bug-out plan is a personal task that requires a certain knowledge of your whereabouts. Every properly planned escape route should include the unforeseen or unexpected factor that may force you to readapt. Plan for both the expected and unexpected when building an escape route.
Useful resources to check out:
Knowledge to survive any medical crisis situation
A Green Beret’s guide to combat and shooting
If you chose to hang around for a while to protect your home and property, please evacuate your children and your animals.
I can see why you would want to do that, I would want to hold back. If you do that, you will have more flexibility when you have to leave in a hurry.