Nothing up to this point matters if you can’t protect yourself, your family, and your survival supplies should the need arise.
Theft, looting, rape, violent crime, and even murder are very common during chaotic large-scale disasters. In fact, they are so common that entire organizations exist to help victims of violent crime during disasters. It’s a well-known fact among law enforcement personnel that criminals look forward to the cloak of darkness and chaos that a disaster presents. Some criminals even travel hundreds of miles to disaster areas to take advantage of the opportunity. If you abandon your home during a Bug Out, you can fully expect that looters who risk life and limb to stay behind will go through it. Allow me to pull a section called “The Ugly Truth” from my first book, Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag.
Disasters have devastating consequences and can leave people, cities, and regions with horrific and unimaginable circumstances. I am always amazed at how generous my fellow Americans are when responding to help victims of disaster. It seems that disaster sometimes brings out the absolute best in people. Whether it be in the form of donations or hands-on labor, it is very moving to see people rally behind those who have suffered so much loss. These efforts are always covered by news outlets weeks and months after a disaster strikes.
Unfortunately, however, there are people in this world who do not share the same sentiment for our hurting brothers and sisters. For some, disasters bring out their worst qualities. These predators use the chaos and disorder that surround disasters to further victimize people through looting, robbing, violence, and rape. These events are rarely, if ever, mentioned by news outlets—leaving many unaware of the potential dangers. This reality is the darkest side in any disaster situation and is rooted in selfishness, greed, and sometimes desperation.
It’s no mystery that large-scale disasters overwhelm normal public-safety operations—at least temporarily. It’s during this time when most violent crimes occur. You must be prepared to defend you and your family from individuals and gangs should the need arise. Whether you like the idea or not, you would be naïve and foolish not to take this category seriously—especially if traveling with women and small children.
The best form of self-defense is avoiding contact to begin with. The fewer people you encounter the better. Get out of the city and away from people as fast as possible and stay out. Stick to less traveled back roads rather than expressways. Every time you stop, there is increased risk. Don’t stop for anyone or anything unless absolutely necessary. I don’t even like the idea of stopping at official roadblocks because “official” can easily be faked and I don’t trust many “officials” to begin with. I will certainly try to detour around those if possible. I don’t want anyone getting in the way of where I’m headed.
Before we get into a discussion about BOV defense tools and weapons, there are a few basic security strategies to consider:
When possible, travel with other vehicles. There is power in numbers and an entire convoy of vehicles is much less likely to be compromised than just one traveling alone. You can share resources and intelligence.
Know your primary and two back-up routes by heart. You should know the vulnerabilities and strengths of each route, such as choke points (like bridges), flood-prone areas, cliffs, buildings, water sources, etc. The more you know about your route the better prepared you are to deal with potential and unexpected events along the way.
Ideally, each BOV has a dedicated team member for driving, navigation/security, and communications. Any extra members should be on the lookout for potential threats including road damage, hot spots of rioting or violence, or other dangers. It’s nearly impossible for the driver to also manage security and navigation during times of stress, such as avoiding dangerous roadblocks or steering clear of aggressive evacuees. Map reading and navigation during a sudden detour can be a full-time job.
BOV security and self-defense isn’t restricted to just self-defense weapons. As I mentioned earlier, the best form of self-defense is avoiding conflict altogether. Surveilling ahead, setting perimeter alarms, and camouflaging are all offensive measures to prevent surprise encounters.
Setting a perimeter alarm around camp during an unexpected overnight stay on a Bug Out Journey can serve as an extra set of “eyes and ears” for potential threats.
Motion Sensor Driveway Alarms: Motion sensor driveway alarms make excellent perimeter alarms. They are inexpensive and easy to deploy. Many of them have a range of several hundred feet and even operate on battery and DC power, which is perfect for a mobile setup. If you go this route, get one with both silent and audible notification options. You may not want the audible alarm to sound for the sake of discretion.
Pull-String Firecrackers: Cheap pull-string firecrackers make great quick and dirty perimeter alarms. Fasten a trip line to one side and the other side to a stake or tree. The firecracker pops when the trip line is triggered. The trick to setting these is to make your trip line very tight so that the slightest tug sets it off.
12-Gauge Blank Perimeter Alarm: This nifty perimeter alarm fires off a blank 12-gauge shotgun shell when tripped. Typically, it’s just the primer that fires, but even that is plenty loud. It’s reusable with extra 12-gauge blanks and is perfect for scaring the pants off would-be intruders or even large wild game, such as bear and wolves. This alarm can be heard for many yards away.
DIY Rat Trap Alarm: Not only are rat traps excellent small game food trapping tools, but they can also serve as dual-purpose perimeter alarms. Drill a hole in the base and screw it to a tree or doorjamb. Then set the trap and attach your trip wire to the trigger lever. The loud snap from a rat trap can be heard for several hundred feet, even in dense woods or in abandoned homes. The hole in the base can also be used to secure the trap with Paracord to a fixed object when used for trapping small game. Rat traps are excellent tools for trapping squirrel and chipmunk.
Motion sensor driveway alarm
Cheap pull-string firecrackers and a spool of military surplus tripwire
12-gauge perimeter alarm from www.pyrocreations.com
DIY rat trap perimeter alarm
Binoculars: Binoculars are perfect for avoiding potential messes ahead. From positively identifying uniformed personnel to verifying road damage, the ability to see far into the distance is a huge advantage. A good rifle scope can serve double duty for this use as well.
I have a pair of Bushnell 7×50 binoculars in my BOV that I received as a gift a long time ago. They are waterproof and perfect for my needs. Bushnell makes several 7×50 and 7×35 models that are under one hundred dollars. Binoculars are labeled with two numbers: The first is the level of magnification, and the second is the diameter of the front lenses (the ones farthest from your eyes). For example, 7×35 binoculars are smaller than 7×50 binoculars. Larger lenses will let in more light but are also bulkier for mobile travel like in a Bug Out Bag. Also, 10×50 binoculars are more powerful than 7×50 binoculars. The object will appear 10 times closer than with the naked eye with 10×50s versus 7 times closer with 7×50s.
Night Vision: It’s not hard for me to imagine a circumstance when I might want to survey my immediate area at night without using a “beacon in the night here I am” flashlight. Night vision goggles, scopes, binoculars, and monoculars offer a huge tactical advantage when attempting to mitigate nighttime threats.
Night vision optics that also magnify are really expensive. Some great Bushnell Gen 1 Night Vision Monoculars can be found on Amazon.com for less than two hundred dollars. These are entry-level monoculars but will still get the job done. Other affordable brands are Yukon and Night Owl.
Spot Light: Whether changing a tire in the middle of the night or assessing off-road angles out of your BOV headlamp range, a mobile spotlight certainly has its advantages. My WayPoint from streamlight.com is rechargeable and came with a convenient mounting bracket. Sometimes you just need a high-power mobile spotlight to light up the night sky.
Binoculars
Creek in head-mounted night vision goggles
Waterproof WayPoint light from www.streamlight.com
As I say to my students at Willow Haven, “The guy in the worst predicament is the guy who has no options.” The ability to camouflage your BOV gives you options. What if you have to scout on foot away from the BOV for an alternative path to travel? What if you have to pull off the road to camp or take a break? What if you have to abandon your BOV in a small patch of woods, but you plan to come back for it later? BOV camouflage may be the one thing that saves your BOV from getting ransacked and looted. It can also prevent would-be threats from seeing you while passing through the vicinity.
I pack a 10' × 20' (3m × 6m) military-style woodland camo netting tarp from camonettingstore.com. This is a quick and easy way to make my BOV virtually disappear in plain sight when near or in a forest setting. It can also be used to cover a gear stash or even camouflage a camp area if necessary.
Natural camouflage can also be deployed in a pinch. At Willow Haven, I teach how to naturally camouflage your body and the technique is equally effective when working with vehicles. The concept starts with mud. Slather on a nice wet and gooey layer of mud that can be found in most ditches and riverbanks. Next, grab fistfuls of debris from the forest floor and smash it on the mud. The leaves, grasses, twigs, and pieces of bark will stick to the mud and provide the most realistic looking break-up camo pattern you’ve ever seen.
10'× 20' camo netting from www.camonettingstore.com draped over an SUV
Natural camo on Creek’s hand: Mud layer
Natural camo on Creek’s hand: Debris layer
Naturally camouflaged front fender of a vehicle
Camouflage isn’t the only tactic you can use to protect an abandoned BOV until recovery is possible. If it comes to that, you must understand that everything left behind is as good as gone. If you can’t take your supplies with you or cache them in a safe place, they will likely be stolen by looters or destroyed by the disaster that threatens you.
Regardless, if you have to abandon, there are a few tactics you can use to increase your chances of at least salvaging the vehicle.
Hide the Battery: Use the tools in your vehicle maintenance kit to remove the car battery and hide it nearby. This would drastically affect a thief’s ability to steal your BOV.
Locking Gas Cap: While not a guarantee against theft, potential fuel looters will quickly move to vehicles that do not have locking gas caps to source fuel.
Steering Wheel Lock: You can purchase a steering wheel lock or do what the military does and weld two chains to the floorboard that padlock around the steering wheel.
Welded chain steering wheel lock
Like the scenarios described in the beginning of this chapter, sometimes you can do everything right and still be faced with difficult decisions. You are only one-half of the self-defense equation. A violent attacker may give you no choice but to use some type of force protection—lethal or nonlethal. Let’s discuss some viable BOV weapons. Keep in mind that any weapon can be forcibly taken and used against you as well.
The decision to take someone’s life should be an absolute last resort. It’s not hard at all to imagine the need to deter potential attackers rather than kill them. Nonlethal weapons are perfect for these types of scenarios.
There is a reason why military, police, and security professionals carry pepper spray—it works! I have a Tornado brand dash-mount pepper spray in my BOV. No matter what brand you choose, you want your BOV pepper spray to be easy to access and deploy. You may only be given a few seconds to react and you don’t want to be fumbling through the glove box or center console when every second counts. Gettornado.com has a few great vehicle-mounted pepper spray options.
If you already have a bottle of pepper spray, double-sided Velcro makes an excellent makeshift mounting system. Simply wrap the bottle with an adhesive-backed hook or loop and then screw a strip of the opposite side against your dash for a secure mount. I’ve found that if you just apply the Velcro to the dash with an adhesive backing it will come loose in extreme heat.
A pepper spray jogger armband can also be repurposed to wrap around the sun visor for quick and easy overhead access.
Below are my general guidelines when it comes to purchasing and using pepper spray:
Oleoresin Capsicum: Buy a pepper spray that has the active ingredient oleoresin capsicum. Oleoresin capsicum is derived from pepper plants and is extremely effective in irritating the eyes, airways, and lungs of an attacker. The spray you choose should have around 5 to 8 percent oleoresin capsicum. Tornado brand has 10 percent. A pepper spray’s strength is measured by Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Anything in 2,000,000 SHU range is sufficient.
Spray and Retreat! Don’t hang around to watch what happens. The entire purpose of pepper spray is to disorient and demobilize an attacker long enough for you to escape. Spray your attacker and after you confirm a direct hit, retreat immediately. Any decent pepper spray should buy you enough time to get away safely.
Know the Local Laws: Pepper spray is legal in all fifty states, but some states have imposed certain restrictions. Be sure to check your local and state laws to see if they have any that apply specifically to the purchase and use of pepper spray.
Tornado brand pepper spray in convenient cigarette lighter vehicle mount from www.gettornado.com
Tornado brand surface mounted pepper spray in Creek’s BOV
Makeshift Velcro pepper spray mount
Almost anything that can be swung, thrust, or thrown at an attacker can fit into this category. There are a few items, however, that are worth considering specifically.
Not only are Maglite’s LED D-Cell iconic lighting tools popularized by the law enforcement community, but they also make very efficient impact weapons. The machined aluminum construction weighted by chunky D-cell batteries carries quite the punch when swung in self-defense. The waterproof flashlight is just a bonus. Handy mounting clips are available for mounting these “flashlights” within easy reach.
Maglite LED D-Cell mounted to vehicle pillar
GearUp’s Crovel is an excellent multiuse survival tool and can easily serve double duty as a wicked self defense weapon. From the hooked hammerhead pry bar to the sharpened shovel edge, I wouldn’t ever want to be downrange of this tool. You can dig a latrine and protect your family all with one tool.
Crovel multiuse survival and self-defense tool from www.gearupcenter.com
Popularized by Armament Systems and Procedures Inc., telescoping batons are often referred to as an ASP. This style of baton is quickly replacing the wooden versions. Telescopic batons are used primarily by the security and law enforcement sectors as a nonlethal tool for controlling unruly subjects. They are ideal for strategic strikes to the body or for choking and body restraints. Contact ASP online at www.asp-usa.com for certified training instructors in your area.
I’d love to detail every potential BOV weapon available, but the list is longer than space allows. From knives and machetes to homemade clubs and tomahawks, the possibilities are endless. The photo includes several other weapons to get you thinking.
Potential BOV weapons
Being chased by a bad guy? Consider packing caltrops. Caltrops are a medieval antipersonnel devices made from metal spikes situated in such a way that, when thrown on the ground, land with a spike pointing up every time. These can be homemade by welding thick four- to five-inch nails in the center and bending them in such a way that a point always points upward. The nail heads need to be ground down to points as well.
Homemade nail caltrops (left) and store-bought caltrops (right)
While nonlethal self-defense tools are great options to broaden your overall BOV security plan, guns are my first option for self-defense. It is my opinion that you should not pack guns in your BOV that you cannot also carry if you have to abandon your BOV. Others may disagree. The last thing you want is to leave one of your guns behind or have to stash it because it’s too heavy to keep carrying. The only exception is if you install some kind of gun safe in your BOV and, even then, it’s questionable.
Bug Out Guns is probably the most heavily debated topic among survival enthusiasts. Literally everyone has a different opinion about what and what not to take. And, quite frankly, there are many valid variations. Firearms are very personal tools and consequently most people have different thoughts when it comes to Bug Out Guns. The following are simply my thoughts on the subject, and I hope they help you to choose a combination of guns and ammunition that you are happy with.
As I detail in Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag, I carry a handgun (.357 revolver) in my Bug Out Bag. I believe all permit-holding and trained adults should carry a handgun. If I were to Bug Out on foot from the start, I would take this one gun because of weight and keeping a low profile. However, if evacuating by BOV, I will definitely be taking a long gun and another pistol of a different type. I have chosen a long gun that I can take with me and conceal if I have to abandon the truck. I’ll discuss this later.
Below are five basic categories of guns that I think everyone should consider when preparing a BOV for disaster. I list what I believe to be the pros and cons of each. There is no perfect gun for any given situation. No matter what you choose there will be compromise.
Creek’s .357 Magnum Bug Out Bag gun
As I’ve already stated, I choose to carry a .357 revolver in my BOB for self-defense. I’ve fired thousands of rounds downrange with about every type of handgun you can imagine and I’ve never had a revolver fail me. I can’t count the number of times I’ve have semiautomatic pistols jam or fail. Even the split second it takes to clear a jam counts. When it comes down to pulling the trigger for self-defense, I want a revolver in my hand. Don’t consider any caliber smaller than a 9mm for self-defense. I love to shoot .22 caliber pistols but I don’t want one for self defense. Choose a larger round with knock-down power. My philosophy with self-defense is that you don’t shoot to injure, you shoot to kill. If someone or something (bear, dog, zoo animal) has pushed you to the point of drawing your gun and pulling the trigger, you want the result to bring finality to the situation. But, as many of you semiautomatic lovers are already saying to yourselves, there are drawbacks to revolvers. Below is an unbiased evaluation.
Pros:
Cons:
Revolver cylinder
Now don’t get me wrong, I love my semiautomatic pistols and I’d be thrilled to have any of them in a Bug Out Scenario. In fact, I installed an under-dash-mounted holster from Texas Custom Holsters in my BOV for my 9mm Glock 19 just in case I decide to bring it along. This is also one of my everyday carry guns, and when I drive the BOV, I transfer it from my concealed carry holster to the dash holster for quick access. Semiautomatic handguns certainly have their advantages, but they aren’t perfect.
Pros:
Cons:
Creek’s Glock 19 semiautomatic pistol
Under-dash-mounted holster from www.texascustomholsters.com
These shotguns are two of the most versatile firearms ever made. Both the 500 and 870 are highly customizable with aftermarket grips, stocks, butt pads, and accessories. Both are used extensively by police and military personnel. I own a Mossberg 500 but it’s really a personal choice between the two guns. You can’t go wrong either way.
Twelve-gauge shotguns are outstanding self-defense guns. Just the sound of racking a shell into the chamber is a deterrent in and of itself. There are basically three types of ammunition for a shotgun; bird shot, 00-buck, and slugs. Bird shot is for hunting birds and small game. 00-buck and slugs are designed for hunting larger game. 00-buck is also the round of choice for self-defense. Not only is 00-buck like firing ten 9mm bullets at one time, but as these balls travel, they also spread out. It’s safe to say that you might be a little nervous if ever in a close quarter self-defense scenario. The spread pattern of 00-buck helps to make up for your less-than-perfect aim. Chances are it will be lights out as long as you’re pointing in the general direction of the target.
Shotguns are amazing hunting weapons. From dove and quail to deer and wild boar, you can effectively hunt almost any animal on the planet with a 12-gauge shotgun. The 500 and 870 are also fairly easy to troubleshoot and clean in the field with basic tools (previous practice required). The pistol grip option converts the gun into a much more packable Bug Out Weapon for urban, up-close environments. It’s possible, but certainly not ideal, to hunt with a pistol grip shotgun. State regulations about shotguns with pistol grips vary. Check your state laws about restrictions on hunting and traveling with a shotgun outfitted with a pistol grip. Federal and state laws apply before, during, and after a large-scale Bug Out Scenario.
I keep a Mossberg 500 at home for self-defense and at my BOL for self-defense, but I do not plan to pack one in my BOV. I just prefer to travel lighter and more low profile if I have to walk, but many do not share these preferences.
Pros:
Cons:
Creek’s Mossberg 500 mounted to roof of BOV using a rack from www.bigskyracks.com
Stock of Mossberg 500 fitted with compact survival kit
The AR-15 rifle is the semiautomatic civilian version of the M16 military rifle. Colt was the first to offer this style of rifle to civilians in the 1960s. Now, however, there are many variants sold by many different manufacturers and they are all generally referred to as AR-15s. This is an awesome rifle that can be configured to take a variety of ammunition calibers. .223 is a very popular AR-15 caliber.
The AR-15 rifle one of the best-selling platforms ever produced. Literally hundreds, maybe even thousands, of aftermarket accessories are available. ARs are excellent varmint and large game hunting guns but they excel in the arena of self-defense. After all, it is a finely tuned descendent of similar arms carried by soldiers in combat. It has excellent long-range defensive capabilities but is flexible enough to be very effective in close quarters as well with collapsible stocks and shorter barrel lengths. Most people buy ARs because they are inarguably one of the best self-defense guns available to mankind and have a high-capacity magazine. Whether defending your BOV or your BOL against enemies domestic or foreign, an AR-15 offers you the reliability, the power, the design, the accuracy, and the reputation to get the job done right. With all of that said, I keep an AR at my BOL, but not in my BOV. I have many acquaintances that pack ARs in their BOVs. If you have to walk, it’s hard to conceal an AR-15. Like with the shotguns, I prefer to travel lighter with a low profile if I’m forced to Bug Out on foot.
Pros:
Cons:
AR-15 with a stack of extra magazines
While .22 rifles don’t have the tactical advantages of a shotgun or AR-15, they are amazing weapons nonetheless. I have chosen to pack the Henry U.S. Survival AR-7 in my BOV. When it comes to .22s, there are many models from many manufacturers to choose from. I prefer a takedown model, which breaks down into more packable and concealable sections. The Henry U.S. Survival AR-7 does this as does the Ruger 10/22 Takedown. At 3.5 pounds (1.6kg), the AR-7 is my Bug Out Long Gun of choice.
Most .22 rifles are notoriously accurate and they make excellent all-around survival guns. The guns and ammunition are both very affordable and accessible. This caliber is also not highly regulated, unlike many of the more powerful rifles. They are also lighter and less bulky than other larger guns. The one big disadvantage is that the .22 caliber bullet is not a powerful takedown round—for hunting or self-defense. However, I have put more food on the table with my .22 than any other gun I own. I have also heard firsthand accounts of people taking game as large as wild boar and deer with very selective head shots. And I don’t know about you, but I sure wouldn’t want to get shot in the face with a .22 rifle.
If you choose to pack a .22 rifle, other members of your Bug Out Team could also add .22 LR pistols to their kit and you could share ammo. Most of these models are small and lightweight. They aren’t the first choice for self-defense guns, but they make a great backup.
Pros:
Cons:
Henry AR-7 disassembled with barrel stowed in stock for easy transport
Henry AR-7 in action
Gun Model: AR-7
Manufacturer: Henry Repeating Arms, henryrepeating.com/rifle-survival-ar7.cfm
Caliber: .22 Long Rifle
Capacity: eight-round magazine (comes with two)
Weight: 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg)
Length: 16.5 inches (42cm) when stowed, 35 inches (89cm) when assembled
Price: MSRP $280
The AR-7 rifle was designed with survival in mind. In fact, the AR-7 has been the survival rifle of choice for the U.S. Air Force since 1959. It is an amazing small game hunter for gathering food off the grid but can also serve as an emergency backup self-defense gun if necessary. I wouldn’t want to be sniped in the head, chest, neck or face by a .22 rifle, would you?
As if those qualities aren’t good enough, the AR-7 does something that no other rifle on the market can: The barrel and receiver detach and fit into the impact-resistant and water-resistant molded stock. Once packed, it can be easily stowed out of sight in a backpack, canoe, or under a seat. The unique casing keeps it protected even in the harshest disaster conditions.
It comes with two eight-round magazines. You can easily pack hundreds of .22 long rifle bullets in a BOV or BOB. .22 caliber rounds are smaller and lighter as compared to shotgun and AR rounds and are much easier to transport.
Henry AR-7
I’m the first to admit that I am not an expert when it comes to the legal nuances of self-defense. Quite frankly, it can be a really confusing subject based on mixed accounts of what really happened. I do know two things. First, you can only act in self-defense if you feel threatened with physical injury or death. I take that to mean my loved ones as well. You can only defend threats to your physical body, not your pride or ego. There is a huge difference. Second, you need to take the phrase “anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law” really seriously. That means you don’t say anything to anyone without a trusted attorney present. Sometimes it seems the law favors the attacker more than those defending themselves, and just a few ill-chosen words can change the course of your life even if your actions were completely legal. The laws of our country exist before, during, and after a Bug Out Scenario.
How and when you will use self-defense tools and tactics to keep you and your loved ones safe is a very personal decision with very serious ramifications. Self-defense is serious business and further reading on the subject is highly recommended. Look for firearm and lethal use of force training courses that may be offered in your area.
Course Name: MAG 40
Website: massadayoobgroup.com
Instructor: Massad Ayoob
This is an intense, four-day, forty-hour immersion course in the “rules of engagement” for armed, law-abiding private citizens. The course emphasizes legal issues, tactical issues, and aftermath management. Topics will include interacting with suspects, witnesses, responding police officers, threat recognition, and mind-set, and the management of the social and psychological aftermath of having to use lethal force in defense of self or others. Also covered is preparing beforehand for legal repercussions and minimizing your exposure to them. Situations in the home, at the place of business, or “on the street” will all be covered. Range work will include instruction in the use of the defensive handgun under extreme stress. Drawing from concealment, two-handed stances, shooting from cover, one-handed stances with either hand, speed reloading, and more are taught with an overall emphasis on fast, accurate shot placement. The course will culminate with a written examination covering the classroom topics and a police-style handgun qualification course.
The United States military has a training program titled SERE, which stands for Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape. This program, among other things, helps prepare and equip (mentally and physically) soldiers who may find themselves behind enemy lines in the line of duty. Large-scale disasters that warrant a full-scale Bug Out can create circumstances that may feel like a war zone, complete with obstacles, chaos, and even combative attackers. You must also prepare to survive, evade, resist, and escape the unpredictable twists, turns, and turmoil that come with all large-scale disasters. Recognize the threats you may face ahead of time and prepare yourself accordingly. Take self-defense classes, get firearms training, and mentally prepare yourself for the possibility that you may have to fight to defend your life or the lives of your loved ones against man and beast. When a disaster strikes, do all you can to avoid danger and violence, but outfit your BOV with tools and weapons in case trouble seeks you out.