7 Tips learned from several wildfire evacuations and many friends and family loosing everything: 1. It's hard to think clearly in the face of impending doom and the panic of others around you. 2. Pre-Plan and stage your gear/boxes for 3 evacuation scenarios: 3 MINUTES, 30 MINUTES, and 3 HOURS. 3. Print a list for each of the 3 scenarios. Use large font and laminate the lists or put them in large zip-lock bags. 4. Clearly label and/or color code your boxes by scenario/priority. (ie Don't grab the sewing material box that looks just like the family photos box...only to find out a week after your house burnt, when open what you think are your photos, and to your horror find sewing scraps. The reality sets in that your photos, that you thought you saved, are up in smoke... True Story! I will never forget the screams of grief) 5. Store evac items close to exits, seconds count. 6. Practice your load out scenarios as if just one person/vehicle was home and then if all were home. 7. Time it and refine it.
I was evacuated from my town in 2011 in Alberta Canada because a wildfire ripped through causing all kinds of devastation. I ended up not losing my house but something like 40% of the town was lost. Anyway when it hit i grabbed my bug out bag which at the time was a military surplus duffle bag. And I had to live out of that for two days camped on the outskirts of town because we were surrounded by fire. All 3 exists out were blocked by fire. It wasn't until the bombers came and hit the highway that we could get out. Definitely crazy stuff. Be prepared people. You never think it will happen to you until it does.
So true! My friend had 15 minutes to get out due to a forest fire. A sheriff knocked on the door and said he had 15 minutes to get out. He said it took 5 minutes to get through some of the shock and 10 minutes to think about what he needed. He grabbed the dog, a picture off the wall, and a CPAP machine. That fire leveled over 500 homes.
@@moose5941 I'm glad your friend got out ok. It can happen so fast! I hope he is recovering well. Recognizing and preparing for our region's most likely disasters is a huge (and continuous) task but probably the best place to start.
Something that I would recommend if your automobile is your “plan a” “bug out” vehicle. Fix a flat, tire plugs/repair kits, and spare tire if not already. I think this is something that is very overlooked. I also keep an extra couple oil change supplies as well as vehicle maintenance supplies and tools.
Fix a flat was hot garbage when I got a flat up on a mountain elk hunting. The plug I put in after held up the rest of the trip though. I always keep a plug kit in the truck now.
I remember being skeptical when Dr. Lovell ditched his bug out bag in favor of bugging in.... but then I was trapped at home when a tornado downed thousands of trees in our neighborhood. Even with a lifted 4x4, I wasn't getting out anytime soon. The bug out supplies became bug in supplies real quick.
Just watching this, I'm glad I'm not the only one with this mentality for a "family-sized" bug out plan. Obviously, the best case is staying put, but in the event we need to leave in a hurry, the boxes go in the truck along w food and water. Takes less than 5 minutes. Keep being a promoter and producer of great content, John - it's how we fight and win this particular battle. It's not necessarily against flesh and blood, but ideas. 👍🔥🔥
John, I have lived in rural Montana and Wyoming my entire life. Week long hunting and camping takes a lot of prep and planning in non apocalyptic conditions. I have yet to see anyone test their bug out "system" or "bag" in the conditions they are planning for. Your prepacked totes are the most realistic approach I have ever seen. Have you ever considered taking a random week and going for a full test of your system? I know how much effort we put into a week long wilderness area hunting trip and have yet to come up with a workable bug out plan. Bunkering in at home it the first plan. For urban pepper I would reccomend serious actual trial runs to test what will actually work
For URBAN preppers I'd recommend prayer, or an overdose on barbs, depending on the kind of situation. Most of you folks here are yanks, and you guys have a problem none of you will ever address, that problem accounts for 80% of all violence in your country already (from 3.5% (adjusted from 12% for fighting age males) of the population) and whenever a disaster hits that 3.5% does nearly all violent crime and said violent crime goes up orders of magnitude. Without prepping for that there's no point prepping at all.
@@lenthebusboy7723 you're far from alone man, child support and insurance for my daughter is $1100-1200/ mo. Supposed to end on Halloween, but I have some back support too... Believe me, I know. But we're fighters, we figure shit out. Just try n make big obstacles into smaller, manageable ones. Little bits here n there will add up. I'm probably gonna have to get a second job, but I keep on keeping on. Good luck bro, for real. 👍✌
A few quick points: > I like the idea of putting backpacks in those boxes, one backpack for each family member. The boxes are great for preservation and pest control. During a bug out situation, we can not be sure that our vehicles will be drivable or the roads passible. Backpacks will be great if your bug out turns into a hike. > Label your stuff in bulk boxes so you can find it better. Those labels will make your gear easier to maintain, as well as easier to find during any chaotic panic that a bug out scenario might cause. > Be sure you have transportation capability for all of your planned preps, or at least your minimum required container and item set. > Know what to load first, and what is a better priority during a bug out scenario. Your time or space may be more limited than you think when it all goes down. > Keep things easy to maintain and rotate. Make sure containers with things that expire such as water, food, medicine, batteries, fuels, ammunition, chemicals, and cloth are easy to find and you know how to tell when things will expire. You will not loose any value investing in supplies you will use, unless you let it go bad before you can use it. It would hurt to be the best tactical guy in the world, but die because you let your huge food stockpile expire and poison you. Take care of yourself and your family. You are one of my favorite preppers.
When the pandemic first hit, I had already bought some emergency food and the stackable freeze dried food buckets. I came home one day with 2 MREs and told my wife if it ever gets to a point where we have to eat those, they'll probably be our last meal on this side of the Kingdom of God. I know that sounds bleak, but its important to consider that one day we're going to have a last meal, a last night's sleep, and a last laugh. Don't just prepare for what is to come, but also for what comes after. Love the content yall! and God bless!
@@DronesUnder2A That would be best case scenario, so I doubt it. The enemies of good, the globalists, would never give us such a concrete enemy. Their whole tactic is subversion, so I believe we'll continue to be gas lighted and psychologically manipulated for a while to come yet.
@@manictiger I kind of see it as both. As a christian i've often said this is as close to Hell as i'm ever going to get. But I feel the Lord blesses us with times of Peace and Joy as well. No offense intended if you don't believe . . .
We’re down in Dublin, GA. We started prepping about a month ago and realizing how far behind we are can be overwhelming. This video really helps and encourages me not to freak out about what I don’t have yet. The box storage helps me in that I can compartmentalize our needs and set goals to achieve in gathering and storing. Thank you!
lots of people have been prepping for 15 years or more now, still nothing has really happened, don't sweat it, just do what you can with what you got, it's a slow and languid decline and we probably have more time than anyone thinks is possible just due to how big our nation is, it's like an elephant on the savanna, even after it's dead the animals will be feeding off the rotten corpse for a long time before it's completely gone.....so remember, just do what you can, with what you got, that saying should almost be a way of life.
@@two_tone_xlophone2630 I definitely understand this, but at some point I feel as if there will be a hard and fast collapse (With warning signs to those who are wary) where everyone will be left to fend for themselves. And that collapse could potentially lead the way to the new world order. I've heard that all it takes for a society to collapse is three days without food and it takes a week for people to devolve into cannibalism. A new world order would be welcomed by the masses in such a situation in the modern day.
Welcome to the club! Dont let it stress you out. There are ways to make prepping fun for yourself and the family. One of the best pieces of advice I ever heard came from the Great Depression Era: "Buy a case if you can, and a can if you cant." And that obviously applies to any and all items. Put back what you can when you can.
I'm in Northern VA, I've started slowly. Got a get home bag; (I work 50 Mike's from home) with 48 hours of food 2L bladder with water in my trunk, spare clothes, first aid, spare ammo, and misc. Emergency stuff. Also can't forget spare trainers don't want to be hiking 50 Mike's in cowboy boots lol. Everything else just takes time and planning (and a lot of trial and error). Keep it up!
So when you say you ditched your bug out bag, what you really mean is you have a bug out bag (get home bag) to get to your bug in shelter (garage) where you have another bug out bag (more suited to camping) in addition to bug out boxes and bug out vehicles. 😉
layered and redundant approach is the best approach....you want to have multiple fallback plans before you reach the point of being a refugee with nothing but your feet and backpack.
@Nathaniel Shrock No need for towers anymore. It's stealthier to use cameras and drones. 😁 Then again, there is always an EMP. Need to ponder that some more. 🤔
Great stuff John. Try working over your rack storage. Break everything down by need, like, and finally if there is time and space “nice to have”. Where possible, setup redundant crates. One for the pickup, one for the trailer, and possibly a third for 2nd family vehicle. At least a firearm and Ammo in every other tub in the need category. In the event you bug in, keep garage bays clear. That will allow you to park truck in one bay, and depending on size of trailer in the second bay. That allows you move equipment gradually into vehicles to prep them for departure if situation changes. Once those vehicles are in the garage, disable automatic openers and use another door to enter and exit garage. Save empty boxes, stack them to create a screen between vehicles and garage doors, in case you have to open garage doors manually. And don’t forget camouflage tarps to cover each vehicle, trailer, until you can create concealment from available organic materials at bug out location.
If done right, "off grid" has nothing to do with location too. You can make houses "off grid" even in cities if you plan ahead. Water (rainwater?), heat, food (garden?), etc.
@@SoloRenegade Ive been thinking about this too. I can easily live and homestead "off grid" Upstate NY, small village. Im by a main road have an acre of land and the houses on each side of me are empty. For now at least, lol. But is it dumb to try defending my house? Is it too easy for others if shtf? 🤷♀️
@@thatswhatshesaid8365 Part of "defense" is also things like making your place not appealing to rob. Or if a SHTF scenario were to ever happen for real, not telegraphing your presence. Every location is different. It can even come down to how well you know your neighbors. but defense in such a scenario is a separate idea from a purely "off grid" setup. Just because a person desires to be off grid, does not mean they are also a hardcore prepper, nor do they have to be. For me being off grid is a goal for the purposes of retirement. the less money I have to spend on things like grid power, property taxes, etc in retirement, the sooner I can potentially retire, even if I don't become a millionaire and not have to worry about it.
COCONUT OIL! You can cook with it, it’s amazing for teeth health( gargle for 10 mins a day and 40 times for affective than fluoride), skin and other medicinal uses!
Thanks John! I have similar plans of securing the neighborhood verses bugging out. There is a lot of skills, talent, and resources in the neighborhood, not to mention the elderly that need people looking out for them.
Best quote today "if bad things happen, we'll be ready and if they don't happen we'll just have a lot of cool camping supplies" My gear is very similar, in tote boxes as this was our camping system when we were tent campers. We now have a tear drop camper stored in the garage so a lot of our gear is always loaded and ready to go. I carry two boxes in my truck at all times, which would allow me and one other to camp comfortably for several days but also contains a get home bag in case I have to abandon the truck. I test the gear periodically by going on a primitive solo camping trip.
I really appreciate this. So many people talk about the bug out bag but forget that so many of us have families or are at least not hermits living a solo life. I know the family preps are a lot but they are also invaluable. Thanks heaps.
If you are already talking vehicles and trailers, I recommend a camp trailer. You can have the thing completely loaded with all this gear and save the time of loading boxes. Sleeping, cooking, shelter, food, water… so many boxes are already checked in the time it takes you to hook up and go. We live in fire county and have had to evacuate in minutes. Trailer stays prepacked. I can get the family loaded and out of here which allows me time to concentrate on fire suppression.
I couldn’t agree more. In most scenarios I’d be thinking bug in, but here in CA fires 🔥 are a big concern and we have evacuated before. It’s a humbling learning experience.
Where I’m from fires are rare but not to rare so people have this spray they spray there house with it before the fire gets to bad so there house won’t burn down
For exactly this reason (wildfires), it would be a good idea to have a few priority boxes or bags that you have labeled to grab in 2 minutes and get out in a rush.
It can be overwhelming during accumulation, second guessing, etc. A good rule of thumb is to start accumulating with what you feel most comfortable with according to your worry level. One item at a time, over time. And the MOST IMPORTANT thing to keep in mind is: One is none and two is one. Utilize that nugget where you see fit.
First of all, any type of preparedness can't be wrong. I have some things already, but I need to get them more organized and ready like you....lol... I'm sure you have this, but I didn't hear you mention medical supplies... Anyway thanks for the videos John and keep up the great work.... Peace Brother
John, this channel has helped me make an every day pack (with medical), organize a gun belt, helped with shooting techniques at the range, I have a month supply of food now from my patriot supply, lots more ammo than I did before, I got the TLR7 for my glock after your review of them. I am going to look into some of these tote bins as I like how they can be stacked and strapped down onto my flatbed trailer in a hurry. This channel has helped immensely please continue with the great content. Hell I even took your hiking tips from your trip to Africa when I hike now!
Nice! I would suggest getting big zip lock bags to keep the blanket and jacket, vacuum. They can help prevent and bug/dust mites and water and the zip lock bags can be useful when you need it
I'd like to be listening to John and Mrs. Lovell discuss what scenario would warrant "bugging out"...Where I live it's definitely bug in. I have a bag to get my butt home if need be. John have Evan come over without your knowledge...and say BUG OUT!!" and film it all!
Here in South Florida, our biggest threat is hurricanes. I keep an "evacuation" box. Everything we need should we have to get out of Dodge. Each person should prepare for what the see as the biggest obstacle. Hurricanes bring downed trees and major traffic when trying to evacuate, so I keep a small chainsaw for clearing away debris, extra cans of gas, and chains for my tires should I have to get offroad in the mud to get around traffic. I then have my "shelter in place" box, which is full of candles, flashlights, batteries, potable water, sandbags, etc for hunkering down at home. Biggest advice is prepare for your unique threats. Rural Georgia will have different threats than NYC. If you have a bug out bag, where is it that you are bugging out too? How will you get there? What obstacles will you face trying to get there and once you are there?
John, great stuff! You touched on Radio. If the cell phone and internet are off, radio is all we will have. Everyone should learn more about that. The one thing you didn't mention which is more for the homestead bug in folks is canning food. It's fairly easy and it works. I'm even canning meat now. It looks gross but if fresh meat is unavailable it works great. Love the channel, always good info.
Personal experience note: dried goods (bags of beans and rice especially) in the black and yellow tubs are NOT sealed away from vermin. Mice get into those EASILY.
@@jessicaSmash yes they can. But you can put a 2 inch piece of dry ice on top BEFORE you close the lid. Once it has sublimated to a piece about the size of a dime go ahead and put your lid on. It will push out all the oxygen and kill any bugs that may be in your buckets and the smell will discourage rats. Won't effect your food at all.
Tip for the Storage Boxes: some blue painters tape on the sides facing out to you, labeled with whats generally inside of each. In case you needed a family member to grab something important, they could see the boxes immediately labled as “ Sleep Systems” “ Clothes” “ Cooking “ etc and of course, having the good stuff labled and easy to get to “ Food” “ Medical” “Tactical/Fighting Gear” etc.
I love how he casually said "if bad things happen" . 😆.. Yeah, so.. we're kind of in a bad thing right now lol.. but if things get more bad, then that would be a good reason to have things for when bad things happen..
i have been doing the "box" idea or bucket idea from the start!! i still have a INCH bag in my truck...also dont put all your eggs in the same basket, have a couple boxes hid at a friends/other property someplace at least a couple miles away in case your house is destroyed by "something" you still have a back up!! thanks for sharing with us!!
We’re in a similar situation/setup. I keep my prep boxes color coded and numbered (I keep an inventory list with expiration dates) with an emphasis on food (rations ready to eat without cooking), water, medical, self defense , comms and resupply. I have contingency plans for grab and go, 15 & 30 minute grab and go, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 & 72 hour bugout gear grab plans. My gear is sorted and prioritized, not only for grabbing, but order so I can get to what is most important during an emergency after it is loaded up. Be flexible, gather intel, adjust plans as needed. Any situation will be dynamic, plan for that. Use the P.A.C.E. method.
I’m on board, John. I don’t have specific bug out bags, just organized bins. One thought I had was sanitation. I have a 5 gallon bucket w/ seat lid and a bunch of the smell good bags that catch what drops inside. Good stuff. Keep up the great content and God bless you, brother.
Great Video ! If you haven’t already , set the tent up in the back yard and let it stay out and get rained on a good bit to make sure it doesn’t leak . Nothing worse then waking up on a cold morning with everything wet including your extra clothes that you have sitting there ready for the next day .
"It's really suited to going camping." Has a butt stock sticking out the top of the pack...lol. Really discrete there John ;) One thing to consider as well are stores of tools. As guys, most of us aspire to have a garage full of tools, but sometimes tools get misplaced or aren't replaced when they've gotten too old, and this leaves gaps in our tool collection. Tools would be necessary to fortify your house, dig pits for water or storage or sanitation, keep machinery running, plant a garden, and even contribute to the rebuilding of your community if you (or a neighbor) has the skills to use them properly. Most preparedness videos talk about food/water, guns/ammo, medical supplies, etc., but fail to mention having tools prepared as well.
Especially for true “doomsday” prep. It’s amazing how far removed we are from the natural order and that we forget about the tools that literally enabled us to build civilization to begin with.
@@RjGold5.12 John uploads a video exactly to the day of my moon time; cat tail fluff and leather, IDK don't camp next to the bears and wolves keep the fire lit, yo. wtf wool and cotton straps and bury it outside the camp there was a well pipe like thing dug out in the woods at a camp about a mile from the campsite. That's where i met this officer from the KGB he asked if i speak Russian and I said no, i am an American honey...lol🤣it was after the Berlin wall. Don't worry Putin we don't keep secrets here. We can be all one happy global family, where were you at the Glasgow COP 26 this year? Don't feel bad i couldn't make it either, it was my moon time.
Solid reasoning in my opinion. Overland and long-term “camping” is where we are at insofar as preparations too. A word if I may though: Alubox containers (or repurposed aluminum military boxes with gasket for a more budget-friendly option) is a top performing container system built to handle loading/unloading and rigorous use.
This is the best strategy. Bugging out to the woods or a remote property can be a cool concept, but in most disaster scenarios, your best bet is to stay home with all of the supplies you need. The best prep is ensuring you have a private home location that you can defend and survive for months without any assistance or outdoor travel.
You doing this made me feel better, I have same set up in same containers, easy to grab and go when there’s no time to gather. Solar generator or sum sort of for recharging batteries (flashlights, radios…) without using a gas engine is critical for the list.
I have little ones as well and bugging out isn't much of an option for us either. I have boxes like what you put together, but one thing I think you should consider... I keep a bag in my vehicle with a season appropriate set of clothes and shoes for everyone in my family. It's always in my car. If there was a house fire or earthquake in the middle of the winter night, I have something to put on them.
LOVE this video. I’m in a blue state and my wife and I have started having the convo “what if we REALLY need to leave?” Thanks for the validation on what I’ve started building out and what I can focus on next
Interesting vid. I had bug out bags when I lived in Tampa, FL. It was just enough to get us to our storage place outside of Tampa where we had supplies and could group up. Had enough of big cities so moved to Montana. This vid is good for thous who can bug in at home and are away from a big city.
Joining the WPSN was the best money I've spent in a long time. No one wants to travel far from home for classes right now. The rifle and pistol instructional videos alone exceeded the cost. Please get Rex Tibors sniper 101 series on there. God bless you guys .🙂👍
The weirdest thought I have is if something is blowed up, I kinda wana go toward that space and kind of skiff off, cause lightning rules. Safer where it already has been done.
My advice: prep what you use, use what you prep. I have a huge family so for example, I take them camping a lot and so my preps are used regularly so I KNOW my system's strengths and weaknesses.
John I agree about the "Bug in" rather than "Bug Out". Having said that, I think an hour to put that together is most likely not going to happen. Secondly, if your bugging out just where are you going? Do you have a place in mind? If not, that is a problem. My truck camper is ready to put on in short order and I am in the process of making ready our enclosed trailer which in include the side-by-side, I see you have one. This would also be where I would through in most of my "to go stuff" and it would also double for shelter...Short of WWIII, I am as ready as I can be. Number one thing is putting God into all those thoughts...Ask Him for wisdom. And for us, I have to be ready to assist those in my Assembly who would need help. So, most likely, I'm not going too far.
Been prepping for several years. I do a training of bugging out about every season change. It has helped me streamline what is needed when in a hurry so I am not grabbing unwanted weight and rarely used items. During those exercises, I swap out all batteries, hand warmers, fuel, medicine, older food items and such. It also helps weeding out older/obsolete items for upgraded ones. Label. date and rotate everything. Square boxes/containers hold 33% more than round ones and will not roll away from you. Most important thing is to make sure that the tactical gummy bears are fresh and are in Mylar bags.
The Roaches can easily get into those Totes! Take it from the missionary who stores things for long periods! Get Action Packers or something with latches.
Good info - We have those stackable bins (from Costco) they fit in my midsize truck bed with a tonneau cover on it (just can't get that many in overall but they are cheap and effective). For cooking we looked for more compact solutions and I highly recommend the Jetboil Genesis Base Camp. You get a lot of extras in a small package. One last thing I would call out is if you cannot transport a generator, a power station from Jackery with the solar panel is amazing!! Lots of power and during the day you can charge it quickly -more importantly easy to use! Just some ideas - thought I would share if it helps anyone!
It’s always good to drill with the things that you have for emergency situations, whether it be on a weekend camping trip or a 48 hour bug out in the backyard. Given a situation where you have like-minded neighbors and you trust them to some extent, you can always set up a neighborhood bug out plan in the event of a tornado or other natural disaster that precludes your staying in the home itself. This way you learn what people’s skill sets are, and you’re able to formulate a plan where everybody is able to come into the situation having some idea of how things will play out going forward. The strength, comfort, and security that come from being in a trusted group scenario can bring a lot of peace of mind.
Greetings from the beautiful Emerald Coast of northwest Florida! The home of THE University of Bombs & Bullets! Awesome content as always. No such thing as "the easy way" to bug out because every family remains different contingent upon individual skills, needs, and of course the proverbial oops I forgot to prep. Additionally, I always recommend as a bug out contingency (as a last measure) to go to a pre-staged designated place. It requires more preparation to preemptively stage, bury, etc. Best COA reflects private property with shelter (e.g. cabin, tiny home, shipping container, etc.) already pre-staged with appropriate gear but, alas I digress. Most people have not even began to adequately prepare for anything to determine whether to bug in or bug out. Plan and prepare! Hooyah 🇺🇸! Hooyah EOD!
I love these vids, thanks! East Tennessee here, we're DEFINITELY buggin in! Me and my neighbors DEFINITELY take care and watch out for each other! PLUS, it's East Tennessee, there's always dinner out in the backyard! God bless and stay safe.
I’m rolling with the same set up for the most part for a family of 3 you just probably have a much larger quantity of supplies. I would much rather have the homestead than the suburban home my wife wants us stuck in.
Nice setup, well thought out. I have a background in SF, so my thinking is similar, but I’m a single person, so a bit different in that regard, and I’m a paraplegic, so smaller bins that will fit in my lap to move easier. But one thing that I did that’s different is cross loading bins and numbering them, so that bin #1 is a complete though sparse package, #2 builds on that and adds more capability, etc. I also keep a master list of what’s in each bin, 1 copy outside of the bin and 1 copy in the bin itself both laminated so that if I remove anything I put a mark by it on each copy so that I know to put it back later. The copy outside the bin is at the entrance to the door where I keep my bins. Of course some stuff is just everywhere, like guns, because, well, I like guns. 😎
I have 2 adult daughters that live on their own... if shit happens.... we've made a plan. One kiddo owns several guns, the other owns none (never liked em). Just a perspective from a guy that doesn't have his kids at home. Great video... as always
"don't be freaked out if you don't have a lot." that moment when you realize you very well might have more preparedness things than John Lovell..."I think i'm doing pretty good." lol
When talking bugging out or bugging in people really underestimate the power of good neighbors and a good neighborhood. After making some evaluations to what my preps were I found that like John there very few scenarios where I would actually bug out. Good to be prepared for as much as you can reasonably handle without driving your self to unhealthy mental status.
Definitely. Other than one potential bad actor seeing as he is hostile to my family, the rest of the neighbors in my out of town, very spread out neighborhood would band together. I just wish I could convince my parents to prep more than they have.
I wish I could convince my mom to prep more. She might have a couple weeks worth of food on hand, and thinks that is plenty. But now she is seeing the shortages at the stores and starting to ask me for help.
You are on to something. I have had to “bug out” with my family of 5, 2 German shepherds and a cat. 3 different times now due to wild fires. After the first time (we had little notice) we switched to the same Bin storage method. It made way more sense and the last 2 more times we were packed a lot more quickly and didn’t feel like we forgot anything. ( don’t forget pet food). I thought I was prepared before but I have learned more each time we have had to do it.
I live in an apartment. I'm also a militiaman with a large network of fellow militiamen throughout my state. If my family were to bug out, which I believe would be a wise decision considering our living situation, we can live with other members of my group. We are prepared, so we wouldn't leave behind anything and be a burden on whomever we bug out to.
Thanks for the great info. I use the same plastic boxes so I speak from experience when I tell you they are not bug proof by any stretch of the imagination. However, if you lay a large trash bag over the box, letting it overhang on all 4 sides and then put the lid on (think "gasket") your good to go.
Until last year I too could not think of a reason to bug out as we are in a rural area of Western Oregon and fairly self sustaining. Then the wildfires forced us to flee.
Anything that's for long-term storage that can fit, should be vacuum-sealed with silica beads, imo. Humidity can ruin anything after 10 years. Dehumidifier also helps.
I'll agree to that. Keeping the moisture no higher than 50% should be a critical goal for long term storage items. All of them really, from food, propane cylinders, clothes, to pans, matches, and more.
@@Deviated09 I'm in an area where 50% isn't possible without jacking up the electric bill, but every time you cook or shower, you put steam into the air and that stuff usually winds up landing on all your stuff. Dehumifier is a must. For food I like not even oxygen to get to it. For ammo, I like not having any water at all. Iron for oxygen and silica for water.
Please check out Darwin on the trail . Ultra light gear allows the carrying of amo needed and its tougher than it used to be. Most don’t have the ability to carry the weight of military grade …besides being more gray man it’s just plain better gear/ kit. ( yes Solomon shoes are good but a pair of Altras lone peaks with Marino wool socks will get you there without blisters etc..)
Great setup, I’m on a small home stead too and have a similar setup. The one scenario you have thought about but did prepare for is the red dawn invasion. If we were invaded but prior to the invasion whatever country used EMP’s none of your trucks or vehicles would work. You mentioned have shielded radios. But if you had to bug out because a foreign army was headed your way but your vehicle was down because of an EMP. You would still need a bug out bag to get out on foot.
Highly unlikely, rapid deployment of troops to the US is insanity. It would be like invading the Japanese Homeland circa 1944 with untold numbers of combatants with arms ready to stand and fight at a moments notice. It would be military suicide
If that side by side and 4 wheeler are not chip controlled, he has that. I kept waiting for him to mention loading them on his trailer. I deliberately bought a non fuel infected Ranger years ago.
Lot's of good stuff here. My only thing is I tend to avoid the D-Bags. Especially in a bug in/out situation. And just in general I want nothing to do with D-Bags. And I'm there with you for the Walking Dead zombies scenario.
Super Props for the Zombie comparison and hierarchy! I said the same thing that the WWZ Zombies totally negated the one advantage humans had over "traditional" zombies: speed of movement.
- it's good to leave your sleeping bags unpacked so they don't lose their "loft"(aka ability to keep you warm) - I would keep an economy size bottle of cooking oil, like extra virgin olive oil, in the box for your stove. You won't enjoy cooking much without that. And cooking oil doesn't really go bad. Extra virgin olive oil is the most healthy of your options, but lard will work too.
Thanks for another great video and in reality if possible staying “in” is better. I have livestock and am trying to make sure i have enough for them to.
Trying to wrap my head around the need to "bug out" in what scenario would leaving a rural homestead be beneficial over randomly going into the woods on foot?
Maybe some group is looking to take your homestead, it may be better to tactically retreat and re-group (find some buddies) and rr take your land....just spitballing here, I live in a neighborhood, I'd never want to stay put lol
Thank You John for not sticking with the cookie cutter systems with all the fancy buzz words. Biggest thing is we need to not stick inside this tiny little box and do what works for us. This is awesome.
Good stuff John, have a couple of recommendations. Put all the gear especially the blankets in plastic bags first with some sort of natural anti mold (sealed) then put them in the container, if not mold will set in and then sickness. As for the plastic bins, label them as well as the Date Sealed so that the family knows which is which.
We’re on the same wavelength. I keep a get home bag in my truck but at my age and physical ability I plan to bug in. However, I’m on a ranch which is pretty much secure. We have several stocked ponds for food and water and a small herd of cattle as well as chickens. If we did bug out it would most likely be into the woods here on the ranch. I realize you just did a quick and dirty overview but it jumped out at me that you didn’t mention first aid or medical gear. That said, I enjoyed the video. Keep on doing the things brother.
If you have time to get out with a trailer or large truck add lots of tools. Axes, saws, files etc. and also keep in mind that just like gun fighting and tactics, wilderness skills will alleviate a lot of things with practice. Cheers bro
Funny, was just talking last night about how a big goal of mine is sustainable preparation, but I haven't had the chance yet to really get anything that's necessary for surviving more than a month in a collapse... I only have basic stuff. First full-time job was started 1 year before layoff in 2020, just got a good job again, hoping to not get fired over vaccination mandate. What a fun time in the world to start life on my own...
Love the video, great ideas & tips. I totally agree on the bug in concept. I’m not as prepared as you are, but working on it. One thing I did learn a couple of years ago with the thought experiment is thinking about living through a disaster is different from actually doing it. I would recommend actually trying to bug in for a weekend. I found this helpful in figuring out what we actually needed & used. & what sounded good on paper or on my mind but didn’t work to well for my family in actual application. A WPS bug in weekend would be awesome to watch too. A common scenario would be a natural. Disaster that cut your power would be reasonable. Thanks for all your tips & videos.
I already switched to a get home bag. Now I’m going to start with food supply, I have most of everything else I just need to organize it so it’s easily accessible and ready to go if we need to get out of Dodge.
Suggestion, for the boxes label the front as well as the top so it's easier to see what is where and for the rest of your family to find what is needed in an emergency.
Still need packs for all the family. Small ones for the small kids. Also personal water filter packs for both adults. Need to be able to transition to walking once vehicle is done.
Out of curiosity, and something that is beyond my practical depth, when there is an apocalypse in a country/region who are the ones who survive? What have people observed who have seen actual families survive war zones, civil unrest, and famine? What do the survivors have in common?
7 Tips learned from several wildfire evacuations and many friends and family loosing everything:
1. It's hard to think clearly in the face of impending doom and the panic of others around you.
2. Pre-Plan and stage your gear/boxes for 3 evacuation scenarios: 3 MINUTES, 30 MINUTES, and 3 HOURS.
3. Print a list for each of the 3 scenarios. Use large font and laminate the lists or put them in large zip-lock bags.
4. Clearly label and/or color code your boxes by scenario/priority.
(ie Don't grab the sewing material box that looks just like the family photos box...only to find out a week after your house burnt, when open what you think are your photos, and to your horror find sewing scraps. The reality sets in that your photos, that you thought you saved, are up in smoke... True Story! I will never forget the screams of grief)
5. Store evac items close to exits, seconds count.
6. Practice your load out scenarios as if just one person/vehicle was home and then if all were home.
7. Time it and refine it.
I was evacuated from my town in 2011 in Alberta Canada because a wildfire ripped through causing all kinds of devastation. I ended up not losing my house but something like 40% of the town was lost. Anyway when it hit i grabbed my bug out bag which at the time was a military surplus duffle bag. And I had to live out of that for two days camped on the outskirts of town because we were surrounded by fire. All 3 exists out were blocked by fire. It wasn't until the bombers came and hit the highway that we could get out. Definitely crazy stuff.
Be prepared people. You never think it will happen to you until it does.
@@northernselfreliance6943 Thanks for sharing that. We all need to learn from these real world experiences that others have lived through.
Excellent addition to the thread. Thx
So true! My friend had 15 minutes to get out due to a forest fire. A sheriff knocked on the door and said he had 15 minutes to get out. He said it took 5 minutes to get through some of the shock and 10 minutes to think about what he needed. He grabbed the dog, a picture off the wall, and a CPAP machine. That fire leveled over 500 homes.
@@moose5941 I'm glad your friend got out ok. It can happen so fast! I hope he is recovering well. Recognizing and preparing for our region's most likely disasters is a huge (and continuous) task but probably the best place to start.
Something that I would recommend if your automobile is your “plan a” “bug out” vehicle. Fix a flat, tire plugs/repair kits, and spare tire if not already. I think this is something that is very overlooked. I also keep an extra couple oil change supplies as well as vehicle maintenance supplies and tools.
Totally agree
Fix a flat was hot garbage when I got a flat up on a mountain elk hunting. The plug I put in after held up the rest of the trip though. I always keep a plug kit in the truck now.
Good thinking.
Yes, they work wonders. The jab that actually works!!
Add a tube of Seal-All.
WPSN idea: a Walking Dead parody where you and your friends are SO prepared, you actually manage to end the zombie apocalypse
Now that can be super aersome
Fear the Walking Poet
You mean Range15, but with values? lol
It would take them like an hour.
I'd pay to see a few seasons of that
I remember being skeptical when Dr. Lovell ditched his bug out bag in favor of bugging in.... but then I was trapped at home when a tornado downed thousands of trees in our neighborhood. Even with a lifted 4x4, I wasn't getting out anytime soon. The bug out supplies became bug in supplies real quick.
Just watching this, I'm glad I'm not the only one with this mentality for a "family-sized" bug out plan. Obviously, the best case is staying put, but in the event we need to leave in a hurry, the boxes go in the truck along w food and water. Takes less than 5 minutes.
Keep being a promoter and producer of great content, John - it's how we fight and win this particular battle. It's not necessarily against flesh and blood, but ideas. 👍🔥🔥
John, I have lived in rural Montana and Wyoming my entire life. Week long hunting and camping takes a lot of prep and planning in non apocalyptic conditions. I have yet to see anyone test their bug out "system" or "bag" in the conditions they are planning for. Your prepacked totes are the most realistic approach I have ever seen. Have you ever considered taking a random week and going for a full test of your system? I know how much effort we put into a week long wilderness area hunting trip and have yet to come up with a workable bug out plan. Bunkering in at home it the first plan. For urban pepper I would reccomend serious actual trial runs to test what will actually work
For URBAN preppers I'd recommend prayer, or an overdose on barbs, depending on the kind of situation. Most of you folks here are yanks, and you guys have a problem none of you will ever address, that problem accounts for 80% of all violence in your country already (from 3.5% (adjusted from 12% for fighting age males) of the population) and whenever a disaster hits that 3.5% does nearly all violent crime and said violent crime goes up orders of magnitude. Without prepping for that there's no point prepping at all.
If you think John's content is good on TH-cam, it's even better on the WPSN's streaming service. Keep the content coming bro!
Agreed. It’s unmatched
i wish i could still pay for that =( that was the best content ever. can barely afford food now
@@lenthebusboy7723 you're far from alone man, child support and insurance for my daughter is $1100-1200/ mo. Supposed to end on Halloween, but I have some back support too... Believe me, I know. But we're fighters, we figure shit out. Just try n make big obstacles into smaller, manageable ones. Little bits here n there will add up. I'm probably gonna have to get a second job, but I keep on keeping on. Good luck bro, for real. 👍✌
@@firstnamelastname6216 yessir. keep it moving in JESUS name. I will not stop and i will not comply
Love the network
A few quick points:
> I like the idea of putting backpacks in those boxes, one backpack for each family member. The boxes are great for preservation and pest control. During a bug out situation, we can not be sure that our vehicles will be drivable or the roads passible. Backpacks will be great if your bug out turns into a hike.
> Label your stuff in bulk boxes so you can find it better. Those labels will make your gear easier to maintain, as well as easier to find during any chaotic panic that a bug out scenario might cause.
> Be sure you have transportation capability for all of your planned preps, or at least your minimum required container and item set.
> Know what to load first, and what is a better priority during a bug out scenario. Your time or space may be more limited than you think when it all goes down.
> Keep things easy to maintain and rotate. Make sure containers with things that expire such as water, food, medicine, batteries, fuels, ammunition, chemicals, and cloth are easy to find and you know how to tell when things will expire. You will not loose any value investing in supplies you will use, unless you let it go bad before you can use it. It would hurt to be the best tactical guy in the world, but die because you let your huge food stockpile expire and poison you.
Take care of yourself and your family. You are one of my favorite preppers.
When the pandemic first hit, I had already bought some emergency food and the stackable freeze dried food buckets. I came home one day with 2 MREs and told my wife if it ever gets to a point where we have to eat those, they'll probably be our last meal on this side of the Kingdom of God.
I know that sounds bleak, but its important to consider that one day we're going to have a last meal, a last night's sleep, and a last laugh. Don't just prepare for what is to come, but also for what comes after.
Love the content yall! and God bless!
Hey guys. Got an email from NAGR that Biden is about to sign that UN small Arms treaty
@@DronesUnder2A That would be best case scenario, so I doubt it. The enemies of good, the globalists, would never give us such a concrete enemy. Their whole tactic is subversion, so I believe we'll continue to be gas lighted and psychologically manipulated for a while to come yet.
Life is a burden. You are coming back over and over until you learn to do better.
@@adlucem9845
Idk if I'd go that far. Life is a gift, otherwise, people wouldn't be so protective of it.
@@manictiger I kind of see it as both. As a christian i've often said this is as close to Hell as i'm ever going to get. But I feel the Lord blesses us with times of Peace and Joy as well. No offense intended if you don't believe . . .
John: i don't feel comfortable keeping guns and ammo in the garage.
Johns garage: *full of guns and ammo*
We’re down in Dublin, GA. We started prepping about a month ago and realizing how far behind we are can be overwhelming. This video really helps and encourages me not to freak out about what I don’t have yet. The box storage helps me in that I can compartmentalize our needs and set goals to achieve in gathering and storing. Thank you!
lots of people have been prepping for 15 years or more now, still nothing has really happened, don't sweat it, just do what you can with what you got, it's a slow and languid decline and we probably have more time than anyone thinks is possible just due to how big our nation is, it's like an elephant on the savanna, even after it's dead the animals will be feeding off the rotten corpse for a long time before it's completely gone.....so remember, just do what you can, with what you got, that saying should almost be a way of life.
@@two_tone_xlophone2630 I definitely understand this, but at some point I feel as if there will be a hard and fast collapse (With warning signs to those who are wary) where everyone will be left to fend for themselves. And that collapse could potentially lead the way to the new world order. I've heard that all it takes for a society to collapse is three days without food and it takes a week for people to devolve into cannibalism. A new world order would be welcomed by the masses in such a situation in the modern day.
Welcome to the club! Dont let it stress you out. There are ways to make prepping fun for yourself and the family. One of the best pieces of advice I ever heard came from the Great Depression Era: "Buy a case if you can, and a can if you cant." And that obviously applies to any and all items. Put back what you can when you can.
I'm in Northern VA, I've started slowly. Got a get home bag; (I work 50 Mike's from home) with 48 hours of food 2L bladder with water in my trunk, spare clothes, first aid, spare ammo, and misc. Emergency stuff. Also can't forget spare trainers don't want to be hiking 50 Mike's in cowboy boots lol.
Everything else just takes time and planning (and a lot of trial and error). Keep it up!
@@TheComsicCurator that's a great loadout! I'm a Mack as well lol.
Looks like my garage. I’m ready to go. With or with out family. What ever serves our people best.
So when you say you ditched your bug out bag, what you really mean is you have a bug out bag (get home bag) to get to your bug in shelter (garage) where you have another bug out bag (more suited to camping) in addition to bug out boxes and bug out vehicles. 😉
sumpin like that 👍
layered and redundant approach is the best approach....you want to have multiple fallback plans before you reach the point of being a refugee with nothing but your feet and backpack.
@Nathaniel Shrock wonder if I can get permission to join the castle in emergency if I offer to help dig the moat?
@@two_tone_xlophone2630 totally true, just wish it wasn't so darn expensive and time consuming... I'm still working on the first layer.
@Nathaniel Shrock No need for towers anymore. It's stealthier to use cameras and drones. 😁
Then again, there is always an EMP. Need to ponder that some more. 🤔
Great stuff John. Try working over your rack storage. Break everything down by need, like, and finally if there is time and space “nice to have”. Where possible, setup redundant crates. One for the pickup, one for the trailer, and possibly a third for 2nd family vehicle. At least a firearm and Ammo in every other tub in the need category. In the event you bug in, keep garage bays clear. That will allow you to park truck in one bay, and depending on size of trailer in the second bay. That allows you move equipment gradually into vehicles to prep them for departure if situation changes. Once those vehicles are in the garage, disable automatic openers and use another door to enter and exit garage. Save empty boxes, stack them to create a screen between vehicles and garage doors, in case you have to open garage doors manually. And don’t forget camouflage tarps to cover each vehicle, trailer, until you can create concealment from available organic materials at bug out location.
With the supply shortages and food so expensive, I think preparing to live off-grid (as much as possible) is one of the top priorities.
Skills to trade, special skills, self reliance, community building.
If done right, "off grid" has nothing to do with location too. You can make houses "off grid" even in cities if you plan ahead. Water (rainwater?), heat, food (garden?), etc.
@@SoloRenegade Ive been thinking about this too. I can easily live and homestead "off grid" Upstate NY, small village. Im by a main road have an acre of land and the houses on each side of me are empty. For now at least, lol. But is it dumb to try defending my house? Is it too easy for others if shtf? 🤷♀️
@@thatswhatshesaid8365 Part of "defense" is also things like making your place not appealing to rob. Or if a SHTF scenario were to ever happen for real, not telegraphing your presence. Every location is different. It can even come down to how well you know your neighbors. but defense in such a scenario is a separate idea from a purely "off grid" setup. Just because a person desires to be off grid, does not mean they are also a hardcore prepper, nor do they have to be. For me being off grid is a goal for the purposes of retirement. the less money I have to spend on things like grid power, property taxes, etc in retirement, the sooner I can potentially retire, even if I don't become a millionaire and not have to worry about it.
My SEEDS go with me wherever I go.
COCONUT OIL! You can cook with it, it’s amazing for teeth health( gargle for 10 mins a day and 40 times for affective than fluoride), skin and other medicinal uses!
Thanks John! I have similar plans of securing the neighborhood verses bugging out. There is a lot of skills, talent, and resources in the neighborhood, not to mention the elderly that need people looking out for them.
Best quote today "if bad things happen, we'll be ready and if they don't happen we'll just have a lot of cool camping supplies"
My gear is very similar, in tote boxes as this was our camping system when we were tent campers. We now have a tear drop camper stored in the garage so a lot of our gear is always loaded and ready to go.
I carry two boxes in my truck at all times, which would allow me and one other to camp comfortably for several days but also contains a get home bag in case I have to abandon the truck. I test the gear periodically by going on a primitive solo camping trip.
I really appreciate this. So many people talk about the bug out bag but forget that so many of us have families or are at least not hermits living a solo life. I know the family preps are a lot but they are also invaluable. Thanks heaps.
If you are already talking vehicles and trailers, I recommend a camp trailer. You can have the thing completely loaded with all this gear and save the time of loading boxes. Sleeping, cooking, shelter, food, water… so many boxes are already checked in the time it takes you to hook up and go. We live in fire county and have had to evacuate in minutes. Trailer stays prepacked. I can get the family loaded and out of here which allows me time to concentrate on fire suppression.
I couldn’t agree more. In most scenarios I’d be thinking bug in, but here in CA fires 🔥 are a big concern and we have evacuated before. It’s a humbling learning experience.
Yep! Texan here.. the freeze we had in February 2021 was a huge learning experience and now we are prepared.
Where I’m from fires are rare but not to rare so people have this spray they spray there house with it before the fire gets to bad so there house won’t burn down
For exactly this reason (wildfires), it would be a good idea to have a few priority boxes or bags that you have labeled to grab in 2 minutes and get out in a rush.
That last message on what zombie apocalypse he rather have was gold!
Awesome!
It can be overwhelming during accumulation, second guessing, etc.
A good rule of thumb is to start accumulating with what you feel most comfortable with according to your worry level.
One item at a time, over time. And the MOST IMPORTANT thing to keep in mind is:
One is none and two is one. Utilize that nugget where you see fit.
First of all, any type of preparedness can't be wrong. I have some things already, but I need to get them more organized and ready like you....lol... I'm sure you have this, but I didn't hear you mention medical supplies... Anyway thanks for the videos John and keep up the great work.... Peace Brother
John, this channel has helped me make an every day pack (with medical), organize a gun belt, helped with shooting techniques at the range, I have a month supply of food now from my patriot supply, lots more ammo than I did before, I got the TLR7 for my glock after your review of them. I am going to look into some of these tote bins as I like how they can be stacked and strapped down onto my flatbed trailer in a hurry. This channel has helped immensely please continue with the great content. Hell I even took your hiking tips from your trip to Africa when I hike now!
You’ve come a long way in preparedness John. Proud of you bro! 😉
🤣🤭🤪🤩
We are working on a deal with the French for our own submarines. In case we have to go for a deeper dive👑😁🤪
I like clear storage boxes so i can see what's in them without having to open.
I think you and your family are lovely people. Thank you for a little insight you are much appreciated.
God bless.
Liz
Thanks John. As a recently retired L.E. who promotes preparedness I always appreciate your perspective.
Nice! I would suggest getting big zip lock bags to keep the blanket and jacket, vacuum. They can help prevent and bug/dust mites and water and the zip lock bags can be useful when you need it
I'd like to be listening to John and Mrs. Lovell discuss what scenario would warrant "bugging out"...Where I live it's definitely bug in. I have a bag to get my butt home if need be. John have Evan come over without your knowledge...and say BUG OUT!!" and film it all!
Here in South Florida, our biggest threat is hurricanes. I keep an "evacuation" box. Everything we need should we have to get out of Dodge. Each person should prepare for what the see as the biggest obstacle. Hurricanes bring downed trees and major traffic when trying to evacuate, so I keep a small chainsaw for clearing away debris, extra cans of gas, and chains for my tires should I have to get offroad in the mud to get around traffic. I then have my "shelter in place" box, which is full of candles, flashlights, batteries, potable water, sandbags, etc for hunkering down at home. Biggest advice is prepare for your unique threats. Rural Georgia will have different threats than NYC. If you have a bug out bag, where is it that you are bugging out too? How will you get there? What obstacles will you face trying to get there and once you are there?
I’m blessed to be in a place where we would bug in, and not out…
John, great stuff! You touched on Radio. If the cell phone and internet are off, radio is all we will have. Everyone should learn more about that. The one thing you didn't mention which is more for the homestead bug in folks is canning food. It's fairly easy and it works.
I'm even canning meat now. It looks gross but if fresh meat is unavailable it works great. Love the channel, always good info.
Personal experience note: dried goods (bags of beans and rice especially) in the black and yellow tubs are NOT sealed away from vermin. Mice get into those EASILY.
I’ve been using 5g buckets but I wonder if a hungry rat can chew through that too
@@jessicaSmash Do they have tightly sealed lids?
@@jessicaSmash yes they can. But you can put a 2 inch piece of dry ice on top BEFORE you close the lid. Once it has sublimated to a piece about the size of a dime go ahead and put your lid on. It will push out all the oxygen and kill any bugs that may be in your buckets and the smell will discourage rats. Won't effect your food at all.
@@jessicaSmash bears got mine.
@@liamtaylor9081 I e been using gamma seal. They have a gasket…. But I wonder if animals could still smell through it.
Tip for the Storage Boxes: some blue painters tape on the sides facing out to you, labeled with whats generally inside of each. In case you needed a family member to grab something important, they could see the boxes immediately labled as “ Sleep Systems” “ Clothes” “ Cooking “ etc and of course, having the good stuff labled and easy to get to “ Food” “ Medical” “Tactical/Fighting Gear” etc.
I love how he casually said "if bad things happen" . 😆..
Yeah, so.. we're kind of in a bad thing right now lol.. but if things get more bad, then that would be a good reason to have things for when bad things happen..
Living that box life for years now!
i have been doing the "box" idea or bucket idea from the start!! i still have a INCH bag in my truck...also dont put all your eggs in the same basket, have a couple boxes hid at a friends/other property someplace at least a couple miles away in case your house is destroyed by "something" you still have a back up!! thanks for sharing with us!!
I too am on the box train. Great video, would love a homestead tour
We’re in a similar situation/setup. I keep my prep boxes color coded and numbered (I keep an inventory list with expiration dates) with an emphasis on food (rations ready to eat without cooking), water, medical, self defense , comms and resupply. I have contingency plans for grab and go, 15 & 30 minute grab and go, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 & 72 hour bugout gear grab plans. My gear is sorted and prioritized, not only for grabbing, but order so I can get to what is most important during an emergency after it is loaded up. Be flexible, gather intel, adjust plans as needed. Any situation will be dynamic, plan for that. Use the P.A.C.E. method.
I’m on board, John. I don’t have specific bug out bags, just organized bins. One thought I had was sanitation. I have a 5 gallon bucket w/ seat lid and a bunch of the smell good bags that catch what drops inside. Good stuff. Keep up the great content and God bless you, brother.
Damn. Nobody is thinking of this lol
Great Video ! If you haven’t already , set the tent up in the back yard and let it stay out and get rained on a good bit to make sure it doesn’t leak . Nothing worse then waking up on a cold morning with everything wet including your extra clothes that you have sitting there ready for the next day .
PETS !! Family favorite Fluffy PETS...They are great first alert, early warning, dont forget food and stuff for them! great video! Cheers from Maine!
"It's really suited to going camping."
Has a butt stock sticking out the top of the pack...lol. Really discrete there John ;)
One thing to consider as well are stores of tools. As guys, most of us aspire to have a garage full of tools, but sometimes tools get misplaced or aren't replaced when they've gotten too old, and this leaves gaps in our tool collection. Tools would be necessary to fortify your house, dig pits for water or storage or sanitation, keep machinery running, plant a garden, and even contribute to the rebuilding of your community if you (or a neighbor) has the skills to use them properly. Most preparedness videos talk about food/water, guns/ammo, medical supplies, etc., but fail to mention having tools prepared as well.
Well said. I have hand tools in place for this reason.
Especially for true “doomsday” prep. It’s amazing how far removed we are from the natural order and that we forget about the tools that literally enabled us to build civilization to begin with.
Another area I've never heard anyone talk about is feminine products. I wonder what female hikers use during their menstrual cycle?
Good point. Most tools you could probably keep in a truck bed (with a cap). I’ll need to start doing this.
@@RjGold5.12 John uploads a video exactly to the day of my moon time; cat tail fluff and leather, IDK don't camp next to the bears and wolves keep the fire lit, yo. wtf wool and cotton straps and bury it outside the camp there was a well pipe like thing dug out in the woods at a camp about a mile from the campsite. That's where i met this officer from the KGB he asked if i speak Russian and I said no, i am an American honey...lol🤣it was after the Berlin wall. Don't worry Putin we don't keep secrets here. We can be all one happy global family, where were you at the Glasgow COP 26 this year? Don't feel bad i couldn't make it either, it was my moon time.
I would label the boxes. That’ll help you grab what’s needed most in case you can’t take it all
Solid reasoning in my opinion. Overland and long-term “camping” is where we are at insofar as preparations too. A word if I may though: Alubox containers (or repurposed aluminum military boxes with gasket for a more budget-friendly option) is a top performing container system built to handle loading/unloading and rigorous use.
That's pretty much what I take when we go to our camp in Maine. I also have a 50 gallon water tank in the back of my truck my wife think I'm crazy
My bugout bag doubles as a get home bag. If im at work I'm technically bugging out to get to the house.
This is the best strategy. Bugging out to the woods or a remote property can be a cool concept, but in most disaster scenarios, your best bet is to stay home with all of the supplies you need.
The best prep is ensuring you have a private home location that you can defend and survive for months without any assistance or outdoor travel.
Well now I know I need to invest in some boxes and a enclosed trailer keep up the good work John.
Don't forget family *MEDICAL*
It's good to have a bright red trauma bag as well as a smaller "ouch" bag packed into a tote.
TH-cam: Monty Python- Constitutional Peasants (HD) they have John's bug out backpack and a red emergency medical 🤣✌️😆
Oh, I'm sure he has *at least* one in those totes.
You doing this made me feel better, I have same set up in same containers, easy to grab and go when there’s no time to gather. Solar generator or sum sort of for recharging batteries (flashlights, radios…) without using a gas engine is critical for the list.
I have little ones as well and bugging out isn't much of an option for us either. I have boxes like what you put together, but one thing I think you should consider...
I keep a bag in my vehicle with a season appropriate set of clothes and shoes for everyone in my family. It's always in my car. If there was a house fire or earthquake in the middle of the winter night, I have something to put on them.
Hell ya!!! & feminine hygeine items.. pads, tampons, even a reusable product, wipes. Super important, even at bare-bone minimum
fantastic, would include a few tarps (kelty noah's tarp comes to mind) and maybe some chairs, noone wants to stand in the rain around camp :)
LOVE this video. I’m in a blue state and my wife and I have started having the convo “what if we REALLY need to leave?” Thanks for the validation on what I’ve started building out and what I can focus on next
Interesting vid. I had bug out bags when I lived in Tampa, FL. It was just enough to get us to our storage place outside of Tampa where we had supplies and could group up. Had enough of big cities so moved to Montana. This vid is good for thous who can bug in at home and are away from a big city.
Joining the WPSN was the best money I've spent in a long time. No one wants to travel far from home for classes right now. The rifle and pistol instructional videos alone exceeded the cost. Please get Rex Tibors sniper 101 series on there. God bless you guys .🙂👍
The weirdest thought I have is if something is blowed up, I kinda wana go toward that space and kind of skiff off, cause lightning rules. Safer where it already has been done.
My advice: prep what you use, use what you prep. I have a huge family so for example, I take them camping a lot and so my preps are used regularly so I KNOW my system's strengths and weaknesses.
This is completely insane, thank you sir.
John I agree about the "Bug in" rather than "Bug Out". Having said that, I think an hour to put that together is most likely not going to happen. Secondly, if your bugging out just where are you going? Do you have a place in mind? If not, that is a problem. My truck camper is ready to put on in short order and I am in the process of making ready our enclosed trailer which in include the side-by-side, I see you have one. This would also be where I would through in most of my "to go stuff" and it would also double for shelter...Short of WWIII, I am as ready as I can be. Number one thing is putting God into all those thoughts...Ask Him for wisdom. And for us, I have to be ready to assist those in my Assembly who would need help. So, most likely, I'm not going too far.
Been prepping for several years. I do a training of bugging out about every season change. It has helped me streamline what is needed when in a hurry so I am not grabbing unwanted weight and rarely used items. During those exercises, I swap out all batteries, hand warmers, fuel, medicine, older food items and such. It also helps weeding out older/obsolete items for upgraded ones. Label. date and rotate everything. Square boxes/containers hold 33% more than round ones and will not roll away from you. Most important thing is to make sure that the tactical gummy bears are fresh and are in Mylar bags.
The Roaches can easily get into those Totes! Take it from the missionary who stores things for long periods! Get Action Packers or something with latches.
He speaks the truth.
The Husky pro series are amazing totes for the money. Ace sells a weatherproof brand as well.
Duck tape the lid to the bin wrap, repeat, sealed. Duck tape it lol
Your level of organization and cleanliness is admirable.
Good info - We have those stackable bins (from Costco) they fit in my midsize truck bed with a tonneau cover on it (just can't get that many in overall but they are cheap and effective). For cooking we looked for more compact solutions and I highly recommend the Jetboil Genesis Base Camp. You get a lot of extras in a small package. One last thing I would call out is if you cannot transport a generator, a power station from Jackery with the solar panel is amazing!! Lots of power and during the day you can charge it quickly -more importantly easy to use! Just some ideas - thought I would share if it helps anyone!
I’m intrigued about emp proof radios and comms you briefly brushed over!! I’d love to be educated more on that topic and material.
Just regular radios and lights, but stored in a faraday cage...EMP proof.
It’s always good to drill with the things that you have for emergency situations, whether it be on a weekend camping trip or a 48 hour bug out in the backyard. Given a situation where you have like-minded neighbors and you trust them to some extent, you can always set up a neighborhood bug out plan in the event of a tornado or other natural disaster that precludes your staying in the home itself. This way you learn what people’s skill sets are, and you’re able to formulate a plan where everybody is able to come into the situation having some idea of how things will play out going forward. The strength, comfort, and security that come from being in a trusted group scenario can bring a lot of peace of mind.
Greetings from the beautiful Emerald Coast of northwest Florida! The home of THE University of Bombs & Bullets!
Awesome content as always. No such thing as "the easy way" to bug out because every family remains different contingent upon individual skills, needs, and of course the proverbial oops I forgot to prep.
Additionally, I always recommend as a bug out contingency (as a last measure) to go to a pre-staged designated place. It requires more preparation to preemptively stage, bury, etc.
Best COA reflects private property with shelter (e.g. cabin, tiny home, shipping container, etc.) already pre-staged with appropriate gear but, alas I digress.
Most people have not even began to adequately prepare for anything to determine whether to bug in or bug out.
Plan and prepare!
Hooyah 🇺🇸!
Hooyah EOD!
I love these vids, thanks! East Tennessee here, we're DEFINITELY buggin in! Me and my neighbors DEFINITELY take care and watch out for each other! PLUS, it's East Tennessee, there's always dinner out in the backyard! God bless and stay safe.
I’m rolling with the same set up for the most part for a family of 3 you just probably have a much larger quantity of supplies. I would much rather have the homestead than the suburban home my wife wants us stuck in.
Nice setup, well thought out. I have a background in SF, so my thinking is similar, but I’m a single person, so a bit different in that regard, and I’m a paraplegic, so smaller bins that will fit in my lap to move easier. But one thing that I did that’s different is cross loading bins and numbering them, so that bin #1 is a complete though sparse package, #2 builds on that and adds more capability, etc. I also keep a master list of what’s in each bin, 1 copy outside of the bin and 1 copy in the bin itself both laminated so that if I remove anything I put a mark by it on each copy so that I know to put it back later. The copy outside the bin is at the entrance to the door where I keep my bins.
Of course some stuff is just everywhere, like guns, because, well, I like guns. 😎
I have 2 adult daughters that live on their own... if shit happens.... we've made a plan. One kiddo owns several guns, the other owns none (never liked em). Just a perspective from a guy that doesn't have his kids at home. Great video... as always
"don't be freaked out if you don't have a lot." that moment when you realize you very well might have more preparedness things than John Lovell..."I think i'm doing pretty good." lol
@Drew Price hammock is king.
I’m sure he showed us everything… #opsec
Yay for that
@@TheFi1thyCasual I took that into account.
@P A Yea Ive got a tarp hammock and a tarp to go over it. both camo. its the tits
When talking bugging out or bugging in people really underestimate the power of good neighbors and a good neighborhood. After making some evaluations to what my preps were I found that like John there very few scenarios where I would actually bug out. Good to be prepared for as much as you can reasonably handle without driving your self to unhealthy mental status.
Definitely. Other than one potential bad actor seeing as he is hostile to my family, the rest of the neighbors in my out of town, very spread out neighborhood would band together. I just wish I could convince my parents to prep more than they have.
I wish I could convince my mom to prep more. She might have a couple weeks worth of food on hand, and thinks that is plenty. But now she is seeing the shortages at the stores and starting to ask me for help.
You are on to something. I have had to “bug out” with my family of 5, 2 German shepherds and a cat. 3 different times now due to wild fires. After the first time (we had little notice) we switched to the same Bin storage method. It made way more sense and the last 2 more times we were packed a lot more quickly and didn’t feel like we forgot anything. ( don’t forget pet food). I thought I was prepared before but I have learned more each time we have had to do it.
I live in an apartment. I'm also a militiaman with a large network of fellow militiamen throughout my state. If my family were to bug out, which I believe would be a wise decision considering our living situation, we can live with other members of my group. We are prepared, so we wouldn't leave behind anything and be a burden on whomever we bug out to.
Thanks for the great info. I use the same plastic boxes so I speak from experience when I tell you they are not bug proof by any stretch of the imagination. However, if you lay a large trash bag over the box, letting it overhang on all 4 sides and then put the lid on (think "gasket") your good to go.
Until last year I too could not think of a reason to bug out as we are in a rural area of Western Oregon and fairly self sustaining.
Then the wildfires forced us to flee.
Anything that's for long-term storage that can fit, should be vacuum-sealed with silica beads, imo. Humidity can ruin anything after 10 years. Dehumidifier also helps.
Yup I left some blast strikers to start fire in a box and few months later they were ruined
I'll agree to that. Keeping the moisture no higher than 50% should be a critical goal for long term storage items. All of them really, from food, propane cylinders, clothes, to pans, matches, and more.
@@freedomlovingmerican4580
Ouch. Yeah, this is why they say ammo needs to go in ammo containers with good seals on them.
@@Deviated09
I'm in an area where 50% isn't possible without jacking up the electric bill, but every time you cook or shower, you put steam into the air and that stuff usually winds up landing on all your stuff. Dehumifier is a must.
For food I like not even oxygen to get to it. For ammo, I like not having any water at all. Iron for oxygen and silica for water.
Please check out Darwin on the trail . Ultra light gear allows the carrying of amo needed and its tougher than it used to be. Most don’t have the ability to carry the weight of military grade …besides being more gray man it’s just plain better gear/ kit. ( yes Solomon shoes are good but a pair of Altras lone peaks with Marino wool socks will get you there without blisters etc..)
Great setup, I’m on a small home stead too and have a similar setup. The one scenario you have thought about but did prepare for is the red dawn invasion. If we were invaded but prior to the invasion whatever country used EMP’s none of your trucks or vehicles would work. You mentioned have shielded radios. But if you had to bug out because a foreign army was headed your way but your vehicle was down because of an EMP. You would still need a bug out bag to get out on foot.
sadly this scenario is very likely since China likely received much of the military equipment that we left in afghanistan. :(
Highly unlikely, rapid deployment of troops to the US is insanity. It would be like invading the Japanese Homeland circa 1944 with untold numbers of combatants with arms ready to stand and fight at a moments notice. It would be military suicide
If that side by side and 4 wheeler are not chip controlled, he has that. I kept waiting for him to mention loading them on his trailer. I deliberately bought a non fuel infected Ranger years ago.
Lot's of good stuff here. My only thing is I tend to avoid the D-Bags. Especially in a bug in/out situation. And just in general I want nothing to do with D-Bags.
And I'm there with you for the Walking Dead zombies scenario.
I’ve been doing bug out boxes for years. It’s the way to go! Grab and go.
Super Props for the Zombie comparison and hierarchy! I said the same thing that the WWZ Zombies totally negated the one advantage humans had over "traditional" zombies: speed of movement.
- it's good to leave your sleeping bags unpacked so they don't lose their "loft"(aka ability to keep you warm)
- I would keep an economy size bottle of cooking oil, like extra virgin olive oil, in the box for your stove. You won't enjoy cooking much without that. And cooking oil doesn't really go bad. Extra virgin olive oil is the most healthy of your options, but lard will work too.
Rendering fat is the key, after killing game.
But yeah olive oil is a nice luxury or if you're going camping, great to have.
SPAM solves that problem😉
Can of grease is better because oil bottles leak overtime
cooking oil def goes rancid, takes less than a year even in the dark... ???
Thanks for another great video and in reality if possible staying “in” is better. I have livestock and am trying to make sure i have enough for them to.
Trying to wrap my head around the need to "bug out" in what scenario would leaving a rural homestead be beneficial over randomly going into the woods on foot?
Maybe some group is looking to take your homestead, it may be better to tactically retreat and re-group (find some buddies) and rr take your land....just spitballing here, I live in a neighborhood, I'd never want to stay put lol
Thank You John for not sticking with the cookie cutter systems with all the fancy buzz words. Biggest thing is we need to not stick inside this tiny little box and do what works for us. This is awesome.
Good stuff John, have a couple of recommendations. Put all the gear especially the blankets in plastic bags first with some sort of natural anti mold (sealed) then put them in the container, if not mold will set in and then sickness. As for the plastic bins, label them as well as the Date Sealed so that the family knows which is which.
There is this antimicrobial spray for fabrics and surfaces last a couple weeks once it's dry found it in walmart going through texas.
Lysol kills mold too.
We’re on the same wavelength. I keep a get home bag in my truck but at my age and physical ability I plan to bug in. However, I’m on a ranch which is pretty much secure. We have several stocked ponds for food and water and a small herd of cattle as well as chickens. If we did bug out it would most likely be into the woods here on the ranch. I realize you just did a quick and dirty overview but it jumped out at me that you didn’t mention first aid or medical gear. That said, I enjoyed the video. Keep on doing the things brother.
If you have time to get out with a trailer or large truck add lots of tools. Axes, saws, files etc. and also keep in mind that just like gun fighting and tactics, wilderness skills will alleviate a lot of things with practice. Cheers bro
Funny, was just talking last night about how a big goal of mine is sustainable preparation, but I haven't had the chance yet to really get anything that's necessary for surviving more than a month in a collapse... I only have basic stuff. First full-time job was started 1 year before layoff in 2020, just got a good job again, hoping to not get fired over vaccination mandate.
What a fun time in the world to start life on my own...
Love the video, great ideas & tips. I totally agree on the bug in concept. I’m not as prepared as you are, but working on it. One thing I did learn a couple of years ago with the thought experiment is thinking about living through a disaster is different from actually doing it. I would recommend actually trying to bug in for a weekend. I found this helpful in figuring out what we actually needed & used. & what sounded good on paper or on my mind but didn’t work to well for my family in actual application. A WPS bug in weekend would be awesome to watch too. A common scenario would be a natural. Disaster that cut your power would be reasonable. Thanks for all your tips & videos.
You are doing great! Don't stop. Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger! LoL 🤣 he is going to kill me 😂 oh my GOD he is going to kill me.
I like your bug out concept more vs comparison to others. I also have some boxes and similar gear so I’m glad we’re on the same page
“Don’t be freaked out if you don’t have a lot”
I already switched to a get home bag. Now I’m going to start with food supply, I have most of everything else I just need to organize it so it’s easily accessible and ready to go if we need to get out of Dodge.
Suggestion, for the boxes label the front as well as the top so it's easier to see what is where and for the rest of your family to find what is needed in an emergency.
I had this same thought. My eye was twitching seeing as nothing was really labeled.
Still need packs for all the family. Small ones for the small kids. Also personal water filter packs for both adults. Need to be able to transition to walking once vehicle is done.
Out of curiosity, and something that is beyond my practical depth, when there is an apocalypse in a country/region who are the ones who survive? What have people observed who have seen actual families survive war zones, civil unrest, and famine? What do the survivors have in common?
That wwz vs walking dead zombies thing at the end was well worth the wait lol