As many of you know, this title is the second in my Build the Perfect Bug Out series. My first book, Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag, started it all. It is a comprehensive no-nonsense guide to building a 72-hour disaster survival kit. I have designed each book to be completely independent, but you’ll get more out of the series if you read them in order. Each one builds on the knowledge and skill sets discussed previously. I consider building a Bug Out Bag to be the first step in preparing for an inevitable large-scale disaster. The widespread success of that book confirms my gut feeling that a staggering number of people worldwide understand the need for practical preparedness and are actively seeking solid, quality information on the subject—minus the zombie hordes, political slants, and doomsday theories. Well, maybe a little bit of the zombie hordes, but none of the others.
At the end of the day, real disasters happen to real people on a regular basis. Mother Nature is a merciless adversary and it doesn’t take a genius to realize that she is in control—always. In the past few years alone we’ve seen hurricanes, wildfires, floods, earthquakes, mud slides, and tornadoes devastate homes, cities, and regions both in the United States and abroad. Hurricane Sandy, dubbed Frankenstorm, unleashed a fury on the upper East Coast that many experts believed to be nearly impossible. It is a statistical truth that natural disasters are larger, more frequent, and more violent than ever before in our history.
As if Mother Nature doesn’t cause enough problems, we humans add in our own plethora of nightmarish events. From nuclear meltdowns to terrorist attacks and pandemic outbreaks, we are our own worst enemies.
Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag
The term Bugging Out refers to the decision to abandon your home due to an unexpected emergency situation, whether a natural disaster or one caused by man. The thought of having to evacuate your home due to a sudden and imminent threat is not at all unrealistic. The reality is that sudden and uncontrollable events of nature and man do happen. Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, storms, earthquakes, floods, and volcanic explosions can strike quickly with devastating effects on homes, vehicles, roads, medical facilities, and resource supply chains such as food, water, fuel, and electricity. Time and time again we have seen disasters strike the United States and abroad, forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes with little warning. Unprepared and with no emergency plan, many of these people are left completely dependent on scavenging and handouts while living in makeshift shelters, fending for themselves in a time of complete chaos and disorder. In our unstable and unpredictable world economy, we would be foolish to think there is also no chance of a terrorist or military attack from forces domestic or foreign that could possibly force us to evacuate our own homes. An act of war is not the only threat from man. Dams burst, power plants go down, pipelines explode, oil spills occur, and other man-made structures and facilities can fail, resulting in disaster. Epidemics and outbreaks of disease could also warrant an evacuation.
We cannot control when, where, or how disasters strike. But we can control how prepared we are to deal with a disaster. There is a fine line between order and chaos, and sometimes that line can be measured in seconds. When every second counts, having a plan and the tools to see that plan through is crucial to survival. A Bug Out Vehicle (BOV) specifically chosen and outfitted with survival evacuation in mind may very well be your key to making it out alive.
Natural disasters are larger, more frequent, and more violent than ever before in our history. (©istock.com/Beyond Images)
Everyone has his or her own perception of the role for a BOV in a Bug Out scenario. It’s a fairly subjective topic. For reasons I’ll thoroughly explain later, I believe my definition is one of the more practical ones out there. Simply put, a BOV is a mode of transportation specifically and thoughtfully chosen based on budget, environment, and personal survival needs to transport you, your loved ones, and any necessary equipment and supplies to a predetermined destination (Bug Out Location) if and when the decision is made to Bug Out. Bug Out Vehicles are prepared in advance of disaster and are ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
Bug Out Vehicle
Whether you live in a high-rise loft in New York City or in the cornfields of Indiana, there is undisputable evidence that a disaster may one day force you to evacuate your home. As I always say, “It’s not if but when.” It happens to tens of thousands of people every year all over the world. Many do not make it out of the disaster zone in time and suffer incredible loss, including death. “Not making it” is due to either bad planning or bad luck, and you can’t control luck. Although, I argue that the study of survival skills helps to “make your own luck.” The what-ifs in life are someone else’s reality, and your turn could be next. Just having a Bug Out Bag is not sufficient. All of the guns, bullets, food storage, survival skills, and seeds in the world will be of no use if you can’t escape the disaster to begin with. If your Bug Out Plan does not include a BOV of some kind, then it is incomplete and, quite frankly, reckless.
Arguably, the most important aspect of surviving a sudden large-scale disaster is the ability to quickly, effectively, and safely get away from it. Only in the movies do people outrun a disaster on foot. In the real world, your best option is to “outwit” and “outsmart” a disaster by using every tool at your disposal. The disaster will always have the upper hand, but you can improve the odds.
The mode of transportation you choose should represent the best you can do with the resources you’ve been given. Do the best you can. Your life (and those of your family) may one day teeter on a BOV’s ability to perform under horrific and unpredictable circumstances. Decisions you make now absolutely affect your options later.
Choosing a BOV is not an easy decision and should not be taken lightly. It is one of your most important survival tools. Any survival tool that your life depends on should be given thoughtful consideration. Choosing a BOV involves many factors. From budget to environment to family size, the list of deciding factors can be a little overwhelming.
In the following pages I will help you wade through all of these deciding factors. I’ll discuss the “must haves” and “don’t dos” along with the “whys” and “why nots.” I’ll detail important vehicle features and also outline items that should be packed in your BOV. I’ll cover BOVs of all types—cars, trucks, bicycles, ATVs, boats, and even horses. I’ll discuss city BOVs and those better suited for less urban environments. (And for all you guys out there, yes, there is a weapons section.) You’ll also find BOV Highlight sections that showcase a wide variety of real-life BOVs other people (or companies) have built because it’s always helpful (and fun) to see what other people are doing. Long story short, I will help you choose and outfit your perfect Bug Out Vehicle.
Let’s get started. Mother Nature doesn’t care about your busy schedule.