Your Bug Out Bag Might Actually Be Useless

It’s a foregone conclusion that everyone who wants to be remotely prepared for a disaster needs to have a bug-out bag.

When a worst-case scenario strikes, like a wildfire, hurricane or the aftermath of a tornado, you need to be able to get out of Dodge fast.

In a scenario such as this, a bug-out bag with at least 3 days’ worth of survival supplies can save you the precious moments you need to keep from being trapped in the herd.

Yet there are some scenarios where it’s better to bug in, hunker down, and wait out the proverbial storm. Understanding these scenarios and focusing your mental lens to identify them will help you know when your bug-out bag might be useless!

Someone in Your Family Can’t Be Moved

If someone in your family is injured or medically unable to be moved, your bug-out bag could become unnecessary. Choosing to stay with them to help them weather the disaster might be the moral and wiser choice.

In a scenario like this, your bug-out bag’s only value might be in repurposing the medical and/or survival supplies for bugging in.

In a situation where you need to stay put and provide care for a family member, having the right medical supplies on hand becomes even more critical.

Don’t wait until disaster strikes—add these 10 medical supplies to your stockpile now, as they will be the first to vanish when an emergency hits.

You Don’t Have a Predetermined Destination

Bugging out without a safe destination and a reasonable plan on how to get there is often more dangerous than staying put and riding out the disaster. Especially if there are family members who aren’t present, and you don’t have any sort of predetermined meet-up spot.

You shouldn’t assume that you can just wander out into the countryside to find an ideal location. Even if you do find a perfect little farm with dairy goats, chickens, and a windmill, you can bet the original owner has designs on keeping it for themselves. You can also bet that there will be thousands of other people emerging from urban areas that will also take a shine to it.

The wise move right now is to come up with a plan that includes a safe destination or safe house. Perhaps it’s a family friend’s remote cabin or your grandparents’ farm.

Related: Worst States to Live in if You Have to Defend Your Property

The plan should also include various meet-up spots that everyone in the family knows about. If you do get separated, or you have to bug out at different times, being able to reconnect at a spot everyone in the family knows well will save you time. It could even save lives!

The Weather Makes Travel Too Dangerous

Some types of weather like hurricanes and wildfires can force you to bug out. Yet it might be wiser with a blizzard, or ice storm for you and your bug-out bag to stay home.

There are multiple layers to the decision-making process in a weather-related bug-in scenario like this.

You have to account for what the weather will be like in your current location.

You also need to factor in the available resources you have to support you.

If you’re reasonably warm and safe, even if the municipal mains are down, it might make more sense to bug in. In a pinch, you can use your bug-out bag supplies to help you survive until the situation improves.

You also need to account for what conditions are at your intended destination, and what the travel conditions are on the way to get there. If you can check the extended forecast, be sure to also factor in how the weather will change at key points over the coming three to five days.

There’s Mass Chaos in the Streets

If you live in an urban setting and a massive riot breaks out, the wise move might be to shelter in place, rather than bug out. The last thing you want is to try to escape the city and get caught up in mob rule violence or being mistakenly detained by authorities.

However, your bug-out bag might not be completely useless. Depending on the reason for the civil unrest, you might be able to use your bug-out bag later to escape the city. You might just have to wait a few days for things to calm down. Then you can reassess the situation to determine if you do indeed need to bug out.

If, however, you find yourself with no other choice but to bug out and seek refuge in the wilderness, remember that survival in the wild isn’t just about knowing a few tricks—it’s about understanding how to thrive off the land for the long haul.

That’s why I turn to this essential guide. Unlike typical survival manuals, this resource brings to life the forgotten knowledge of our ancestors who not only survived but thrived in the wild. So, when you need to head for the hills, make sure this handbook is in your backpack; it might just be your key to making it through tough times.

Your Vehicle Is Broke Down or Roads Are Blocked

If you’re in an urban or suburban area without a vehicle, or the roads are badly blocked, bugging out might be a bad idea. If you can’t immediately get away from the massive crowds, you’re just putting yourself at more risk than if you sheltered in place.

Riots and mass civil unrest can easily swallow you up as you attempt to bug out.

There’s also a very real chance that you become a victim of violent crime, or your bug-out bag gets stolen. Not to mention the chances of authorities mistaking you for a looter and detaining you.

If you can’t immediately get to a remote area, or some type of safe travel corridor, you’re better off not using your bug-out bag. In time, things might settle down enough where it is possible to bug out, but you’ll have to assess that on a day-by-day basis.

Martial Law Has Been Declared

When martial law is declared it usually comes with very strict curfew orders, which means you and your bug-out bag need to stay put. This is not the time to imagine yourself as the plucky Hollywood hero who slips out despite curfew orders to find freedom and grace.

Martial law means the military is not in charge of maintaining the rule of law. This is a broadsword approach to maintaining civil obedience, without the arguably gentle protections you might be used to from local law enforcement.

Certain states are likely to be among the first to experience the harsh realities of martial law. If you live in one of these red zones, prepare for the reality of restricted movements and limited access to supplies. Make sure your home is stocked with food, water, and medical supplies. Staying calm and collected is essential.

The wise move in a time like this is to keep your bug-out bag under wraps. You should consider it useless and avoid touching the supplies in it until there’s a significant shift in the disaster management landscape.

You’re Waiting for Rescue

If a natural disaster like a hurricane, wildfire or earthquake cuts off all the safe travel corridors, you and your bug-out bag might not be able to reach a safe destination.

In many of these cases, civil authorities might have an evacuation plan, but they need time for conditions to improve enough for them to get people out.

If you attempt to bug out before the evacuation plan can be implemented, you might not be able to escape the area of devastation. You might also miss your opportunity to be evacuated or miss your chance to receive relief supplies.

The wise move is to stay put and make sure any markings declaring you need evacuation are clearly marked. You might also want to divide your bug-out bag into two smaller containers.

In some evacuations, authorities limit just how much you can take with you. You don’t want to be suddenly dumping stuff out at random. It might even be possible to divide your larger bug-out bag amongst other family members during the evacuation effort.

You may also like:

Why You Need to Put Newspapers in Your Vegetable Garden

6 Ingenious Projects for Endless Hot Water Without Electricity

I Ate Only MREs for a Month and This Is What Happened

SHTF Uses for WD-40

14 Survival Trees You Can Forage for Medicine