The bug out Van

Many preparedness minded people have included relocation, or bug out plans if you will; into their total survival plans. Like I said here, most of the time it is best just to stay put, where you are now and have support of friends and family. If you have prepared correctly, you should have everything needed to survive from your home base. But; even with proper planning, circumstances beyond our control could force upon us the need to relocate…

I personally think things will slowly keep getting worse, (we are in this stage of the game now) with a rapid decline at the later stages, leading to a complete collapse, with massive inflation, unemployment, homelessness, out of control crime and a general feeling of helplessness among the population. I don’t foresee the bolt out of the blue that will throw civilization into a new stone age over night. Sure it could happen but the odds are against it at the present time.

Even so making plans to evacuate should be made, if for nothing else but to combat Murphy’s Law; what can go wrong will, usually at the worse possible time. Some types of crises require you to evacuate the area: an accidental radioactive release at a near by nuclear plant, (if your live near one consider moving now if possible) a train, plane or truck crash carrying toxic waste or a number of potential natural disasters could force you to leave behind you’re well stock retreat to head for safer territory…

Some of you, I am sure have relatives or friends living in other parts of the country that you could go to and stay with until it is safe to go back to your home or at least what is left of it. Most of us live in the same town where our friends and family reside, and will have no safe place to go. In this case we would be completely on our own.

The subject of the bug out bag has been floating around for years and while this approach is better then no plan at all it leaves much to be desired. Recently I have been looking into what I call the bug out van; good used vans can be bought in my area for less than $1,000 and offers transportation from the area, shelter with room for survival supplies and gear.

For very little cash outlay the bug out van can be a fitted with a bed, propane cook stove, kerosene heater, sink, microwave and on board power systems to run TV’s, computers etc,. If the bug out van is laid out properly it could be a very comfortable solution to the often suggested but over rated bug out bag. And as an aside it could act as an insurance policy against homelessness, should you lose your home to the bank during hard times.