For instance, while you are bugging out, you have to worry about logistics, routes, weight, mobility, and you leave yourself rather exposed while in transit. Also, for those of us who prefer to bug out, we have to have a place to where we can evacuate. There is no sense in evacuating, only to get lost in the middle of a crowd of refugees.
For those of us who are bugging in when things go bad, there is the advantage of having storage space, fortification, and even avoiding the prospect of being out in the open. However, there are a few things the hunkering prepper may want to consider first...
Space and Security
When deciding to bug in, you'll need to have a look at your own property. Does it have adequate space in order to support life when the grid goes down? What modifications are you going to have to make? Can your position be fortified in the event of a crisis?
There are two types of scenarios that may make you want to change your strategy to an evacuation:
First, you will want to leave if you don't have enough space, such as in a highly populated urban zone, or your property is too small. Especially, in a densely populated area, your level of space and security are very low. Not only is there a high probability of contact with hostiles, but you are also in no position to have enough storage space to support yourself and your peers.
The second is that you might have a property that is out in the open, such as a farm or ranch. Contrary to popular belief, these types of properties are not suitable for a buggin in strategy, as they are totally exposed, often being visible for miles. Staying on a farm is like hanging up a sign that says, 'Take our ample supply of food!' History has shown us that when cities evacuate, the refugees pick the outlying countryside farms clean of their crops. You might be high on space, but you will be very low on security.
Bugging in, if you live in a small town, can go either way, as this depends on your own preparations. Suburban areas can support life, especially if you have a fenced-in back yard. One of the advantages to suburbs is the fact that all the houses tend to look the same. Other houses can provide your own homestead with cover, and finding your house is like trying to locate a single card in an entire deck: it's possible, but it will take a while. Of course, you still run the risk of being looted, as suburban areas are still considered densely populated, but you will have a higher probability of success than you might in a high-rise apartment building.
The Ideal
The absolute best kind of bug in location is one where you are able to have an underground fallout shelter, stocked with supplies enough for at least one month, you are in a wooded area that provides cover and makes your shelter hard to identify from afar, and you have enough land to use as a homestead. Also, properties that back up against state game lands are highly valuable, as this will allow you to take game without ever having to set foot on the road.
Another excellent attribute to a bug in location would be one where you are situated on the side of a hill. Not only would you have the hill as cover, but to approach your shelter, you would have to come up from the low ground. This would provide both cover and security.
Do keep in mind, that you will have to develop the resources and space on your property, as you will need a way to remove waste, collect water, store water, store food, and you will also have to have security measures. The ability to fortify your position is the hallmark of an ideal bug in shelter.
-K. H. Danielsen
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