Posted: 8/10/2026 4:15:29 PM EDT
[Last Edit: R_S][Edited]
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Since we are (wisely) talking about lessons learned, I wanted to re-share my experience with the Bug out from Hurricane Rita At the time of the evacuation Rita was the largest Hurricane ever recorded in the Gulf and was headed straight for Houston. This article was from last year: Rita: The evacuation that changed Houston forever Twenty years ago, Hurricane Rita triggered the largest and deadliest evacuation in U.S. history. More than 3.7 million people fled Houston and southeast Texas as the storm approached, turning freeways into a gridlocked crisis zone. Highways turned into parking lots. Cars inched forward for hours in sweltering heat. Fuel ran out. Tempers frayed. For some, the nightmare stretched more than 24 hours. “Not only was there a lack of fuel, we also had a lack of medical support, a lack of designated routes to get people where they needed to go,” he said. In the end, more than 107 people died during the evacuation -- more than the storm itself. My family was south of Houston in the Clear Lake area at the time. It was my first but not my last Hurricane evacuation. Was certainly my most memorable bug out. Key Success Factors: -Fuel disappears quickly in a crisis. You're almost certainly going to need fuel for a bug-out. You should keep your tank at least half full during normal times. And fill up at the first sign of trouble. People stayed behind because they had no fuel. Others ran out of fuel on the road. My current car is a hybrid SUV which realistically gets more than 400 miles on a tank of gas. -Your vehicle needs to be properly maintained. Not tomorrow. Not next week. RIGHT NOW. Tons of cars broke down on the road. There wasn't time to "take the car in" before evacuating. Perhaps you could run by the autoparts store to grab something, but even if you did the work yourself that would just slow you down from getting the family loaded up and getting out. -Have a plan. That plan should include a Bug Out Location, primary and secondary routes. The primary route was one I was familiar with. I still keep paper maps, just in case. -Have good insurance. So you don't get stuck on staying put in a bad situation to look after replaceable things. -Act decisively. Don't delay. Coordinate with your family ASAP. Not everyone will be on the same page. You are going to have to have heart to heart conversations to avoid leaving people behind. Some people will actively delay. They are simply causing problems for everyone. The faster you move out the better. People who waited got stuck. -Primary, alternate, contingency and emergency (PACE) is a important thing for COMMs. Cellphones are great until the towers are saturated or down. Text may get you by when voice is saturated. First responders can access specialized phone services like FirstNet, which offers prioritized connectivity and discounts for public safety professionals. Our alternate was FRS radios in each car. It worked well. Today I have HAM, but FRS is still a great option for the family and in a true emergency the FCC rules are flexible. If you are stuck in a disaster zone, HAM or SATCOMMs may be your only long range COMMs. I plan to upgrade to add SATCOMMs shortly. -Hydration. Water is life. Easy to throw a case of water in the vehicle for whenever you may need it. Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. Did not regret packing water at the time. Today I make sure to have more than I plan on needing. -Traveling together in multiple vehicles. Having supplies to keep your tires/vehicle going is not a bad idea, but field repairs will not solve every breakdown. But if one vehicle breaks down, you can always make use of those other vehicles your family are traveling with. -Cash is king when the electricity is down. Have plenty on hand. -Keep and Bear more guns/ammo/armor than you ever plan on needing. I wore concealed Level IIIA armor and 2 pistols. AR-15 carbine concealed on the seat beside me. Plates and LBE with 12 loaded mags and more guns and ammo close by. Today since AR Pistols are more common I would also have one of those. Don't forget to train with all of it. Train to real standards. In the end we overcame all but one of the people in my family trying to delay. Got out fast enough. Before the highways turned into parking lots. We had well maintained vehicles with full gastanks. We knew where we were going. Coordinated with FRS radios and stayed hydrated with the water we had packed. Hurricane parties are a thing and it was more of a party than a disaster when our plan worked. The only buzz kill was those left behind. The one family member that stayed behind eventually got out on a motorcycle. He passed a highway crammed with vehicles, many broken down on the side of the road. Lost dogs roaming everywhere because their owners didn't even bring their leashes. People suffering from dehydration from having been trapped in the heat. The motorcycle didn't have a large enough fuel tank for the trip and wanted to overheat, but he made it far enough to find more gas and let the bike cool down. |
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Great thread starter. Got me to order a crate to keep fuel/water cans in so they're easier to transport in truck. Thankfully I wasn't involved, but 95 had a shutdown, what 2/3 years ago in January due to snow and tractor trailers not being able to climb a hill. Always pack appropriate clothing for the weather. Medicine if you need it to keep you alive. |
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Here's the best tip you're going to get. Watch the news, and study the possible tracks of the hurricane. Once it's three days out, and the position of the hurricane is such that the tracks are like going to be within 50 miles of your location, and the hurricane is a Cat 3 or higher, get the hell out. Don't wait. Make sure your family knows that there is no acceptable answer to evacuate except for yes. Make sure everyone is packed, has access to their money the day before you are leaving, that would be four days before landfall, you leave on the third day before landfall. Forget all of your weapons and carrying tons of ammo that you'll never use. The world isn't ending. Call a hotel five days before landfall somewhere 300-400 miles inland and book a room / rooms. Again, as far as guns, a short barreled rifle and a pistol, a coupe of rifle mags and a couple of pistol mag, with enough ammo to refill each mag. The rest of the space in you vehicle can be better used for things you actually need. One thing to remember, it is not WW III or the collapse of society. It's a severe weather event. Just about a 100% chance you won't even need your guns. Just take one rifle and one handgun for you, and everybody else take one handgun. When you get to your hotel safely, because you will, you can watch the reports of the damage while stroking your gun and pretend you're living the Zombie takeover or whatever other masturbatory fantasy you have. When it passes, go back home and enjoy life, cleanup if there's any damage. The main things you'll need, water, your meds, a first aid kit, food, clothes, cash money. Have your tank filled up days before. |
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Originally Posted By Redman556: Here's the best tip you're going to get. Watch the news, and study the possible tracks of the hurricane. Once it's three days out, and the position of the hurricane is such that the tracks are like going to be within 50 miles of your location, and the hurricane is a Cat 3 or higher, get the hell out. Don't wait. Make sure your family knows that there is no acceptable answer to evacuate except for yes. Make sure everyone is packed, has access to their money the day before you are leaving, that would be four days before landfall, you leave on the third day before landfall. Forget all of your weapons and carrying tons of ammo that you'll never use. The world isn't ending. Call a hotel five days before landfall somewhere 300-400 miles inland and book a room / rooms. Again, as far as guns, a short barreled rifle and a pistol, a coupe of rifle mags and a couple of pistol mag, with enough ammo to refill each mag. The rest of the space in you vehicle can be better used for things you actually need. One thing to remember, it is not WW III or the collapse of society. It's a severe weather event. Just about a 100% chance you won't even need your guns. Just take one rifle and one handgun for you, and everybody else take one handgun. When you get to your hotel safely, because you will, you can watch the reports of the damage while stroking your gun and pretend you're living the Zombie takeover or whatever other masturbatory fantasy you have. When it passes, go back home and enjoy life, cleanup if there's any damage. The main things you'll need, water, your meds, a first aid kit, food, clothes, cash money. Have your tank filled up days before. Originally Posted By Redman556: Here's the best tip you're going to get. Watch the news, and study the possible tracks of the hurricane. Once it's three days out, and the position of the hurricane is such that the tracks are like going to be within 50 miles of your location, and the hurricane is a Cat 3 or higher, get the hell out. Don't wait. Make sure your family knows that there is no acceptable answer to evacuate except for yes. Make sure everyone is packed, has access to their money the day before you are leaving, that would be four days before landfall, you leave on the third day before landfall. Forget all of your weapons and carrying tons of ammo that you'll never use. The world isn't ending. Call a hotel five days before landfall somewhere 300-400 miles inland and book a room / rooms. Again, as far as guns, a short barreled rifle and a pistol, a coupe of rifle mags and a couple of pistol mag, with enough ammo to refill each mag. The rest of the space in you vehicle can be better used for things you actually need. One thing to remember, it is not WW III or the collapse of society. It's a severe weather event. Just about a 100% chance you won't even need your guns. Just take one rifle and one handgun for you, and everybody else take one handgun. When you get to your hotel safely, because you will, you can watch the reports of the damage while stroking your gun and pretend you're living the Zombie takeover or whatever other masturbatory fantasy you have. When it passes, go back home and enjoy life, cleanup if there's any damage. The main things you'll need, water, your meds, a first aid kit, food, clothes, cash money. Have your tank filled up days before. Going to disagree with you there: After Katrina, New Orleans residents were faced with carjackers and burglars. Then came the gun battles “The hurricane was a breeze compared with the crime and terror that followed,” said Gregg Harris, a psychotherapist who lives in the battered area. After the storm, the neighborhood association had to act as law enforcement and emergency response unit as city services collapsed and the police force was unable to protect them. Looking out for one another Citizens organized armed patrols and checked on the elderly. They slept on their porches with loaded shotguns and bolted awake when intruders stumbled on the aluminum cans they had scattered on the sidewalk. Gunshots rang out for days, sometimes terrifyingly close. For Harris, the first warning sign came on Tuesday, the day after the storm, when two young men hit his partner, Vinnie Pervel, over the head and drove off with his Ford van. “A police car drove up behind me and saw it happening but he didn’t do anything,” said Pervel, who heads the 1,500-household neighborhood association. Then residents heard that police vehicles were being carjacked and looters were taking guns and ammunition from nearby stores. A Texas woman who runs a Web site called Polimom.com served as a link between those who stayed and those who had left. With her help, they stockpiled an arsenal of shotguns, derringer pistols and an old AK-47. They were put to use the next day. Fatal shootings “Some looters came up and pulled a gun on the wrong group of men,” said Harris, who said he did not fire a gun himself and declined to say who else was involved in the battle. “Two men were shot right there,” Harris said, pointing down the street as he watered his rose bushes. “One was shot in the back, the other in the leg, and the third I was told made it a block and a half before he died in the street. I did not go down to see the body.” That was just one neighborhood Here's some of the police response: Five New Orleans police officers sentenced in hurricane Katrina killings Four New Orleans police officers have been sentenced to decades in prison over the killing of two people and wounding of four others fleeing the massive flooding of the city by hurricane Katrina. There is another story of a guy who had to protect his car from being stolen with an AK-47 so he and his pregnant wife weren't stranded in the flooded city. |
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Not a book specifically about bug outs, but Scott Reitz The Art Of Modern Gunfighting discusses his experiences in the LA Riots. The gangs organized to ambush a firetruck and then had a prepared shootout with the responding LEOs. The gangs were using prepared, concealed, elevated positions for the ambush. It was an eye opening account of just how serious and quickly even a temporary breakdown in civic order can get. Scott is a squared away dude and he and the entire police department were under unexpected and unprecedented duress during the LA Riots. |
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Originally Posted By R_S: Going to disagree with you there: That advice to take along minimal hardware works if you bug out and make it to safety, so the utilities and law-enforcement are still ops-normal. The examples you cited are for the people who stayed behind and who should still have access to the complete stash. |
Heller II - Challenging DC's bans on semi-automatic rifles, large-capacity ammunition feeding devices, and its onerous and expensive handgun registration process. http://www.HellerFoundation.org/
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Originally Posted By Bubbles: That advice to take along minimal hardware works if you bug out and make it to safety, so the utilities and law-enforcement are still ops-normal. The examples you cited are for the people who stayed behind and who should still have access to the complete stash. Originally Posted By Bubbles: Originally Posted By R_S: Going to disagree with you there: That advice to take along minimal hardware works if you bug out and make it to safety, so the utilities and law-enforcement are still ops-normal. The examples you cited are for the people who stayed behind and who should still have access to the complete stash. If is the key word there. When starting out on a bug out you aren't to safety yet. I planned for the worst and hoped for the best. |
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I was working with a crew in Galveston demobilizing a survey ship that had just finished a job. We had a week to do the job. Until Rita came along, then we had to get our gear off the boat as fast as possible. We worked 48 hours, put everything in a couple containers, and the captain told us "If you're still on the boat in 10 minutes you're coming with us to Venezuela". Not even time for a shower, just grab your bag and GTFO. They put to sea as we were walking up the pier. So we jumped in the rental car and headed for Houston. The city was deserted. The highway was stop and go for the entire trip. Our home office initially told us flights were waitlisted for 3 days. Then they got us on standby for the next day. Then they had us booked for that evening. When we got to the airport it was a zoo. Wall to wall people. We made it on our flight. I pity the fool sitting next to me, I was still dressed in the same work clothes and boots I'd worn in the heat, working for that whole 48 hour period. |
I know I'll never go home.
So set fire to your ships, and past regrets, and be free.
So set fire to your ships, and past regrets, and be free.
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Originally Posted By R_S: In the end we overcame all but one of the people in my family trying to delay. Got out fast enough. Before the highways turned into parking lots. We had well maintained vehicles with full gas tanks. We knew where we were going. Coordinated with FRS radios and stayed hydrated with the water we had packed. Originally Posted By R_S: In the end we overcame all but one of the people in my family trying to delay. Got out fast enough. Before the highways turned into parking lots. We had well maintained vehicles with full gas tanks. We knew where we were going. Coordinated with FRS radios and stayed hydrated with the water we had packed. @R_S I would like to say all that sounds like common sense, but sadly, it needs reminding, so thanks for the follow up with your lessons learned. I do have a question regarding Rita; how long were you and the family displaced? We were in Central Texas during Katrina and my wife was a schoolteacher. Her district received a pretty big influx of displaced kids and many were there for the remainder of the school year; like 9-10 months. Some never returned. Originally Posted By Redman556: Here's the best tip you're going to get. Watch the news, and study the possible tracks of the hurricane. Once it's three days out, and the position of the hurricane is such that the tracks are like going to be within 50 miles of your location, and the hurricane is a Cat 3 or higher, get the hell out. Don't wait. I use to think the same think. Until we here hit by Hurricane Helene, well inland and went off the projected trajectory by over 100 miles. Everybody was caught with their pants down. Hell, I was planning on going to our ARFCOM hometown gun range that Friday morning just 24 hours prior. Even worse, most schools kept kids in school all day Thursday and we had severe thunderstorms hitting the area 12 hours prior to Helene. My wife was an Assistant Principle and had to handle a bus full of asshole kids late Thursday, so late she didn’t fill up her car (as I asked her to do). Yes, I pay attention to the weather and the news, but the projected path was way off and caught the entire area with their pants down. There was bugging out, but only after day three of no power. We didn’t have power for 18 days, but were able to recover, keep working and mostly stuck to a normal schedule. Three-days-notice would be nice, now I plan for anything in the whole of the Southeast! Originally Posted By Redman556: Forget all of your weapons and carrying tons of ammo that you'll never use. The world isn't ending. Call a hotel five days before landfall somewhere 300-400 miles inland and book a room / rooms. Again, as far as guns, a short barreled rifle and a pistol, a coupe of rifle mags and a couple of pistol mag, with enough ammo to refill each mag. The rest of the space in you vehicle can be better used for things you actually need. Even with three days’ notice, I likely wouldn’t be packing up all my guns, but I sure would have several with me including ammo and mags. For the first two weeks without power, we never saw a cop (semi-rural area). We had zero comms the first three days after Helene (as in zero/zero, satellite and HAM were the only means if backup power was available…which I’ve since remedied). While OP’s experience was about the bugout, coming back home is an unknown, and that’s if you can even get back home and that’s if your home isn’t completely gone. Much better to have and not need than need and not have. Priority? Yes. My wife and I can and have lived out of a carry-on sized backpack and roller luggage for almost two weeks. Any extra vehicle room will be mostly items that can’t be replaced or are “mission” essential. I understand what you’re saying, but once you leave your home in an emergency of that scope and scale, self-defense becomes a major priority and replacement and replenishment are no guarantees. Originally Posted By Deny_Everything: I think many people underestimate the level of violence desperate or opportunistic people will go to in widespread emergencies. Society is a thin veneer. I would say that is both location, demographic, and density specific but the point is a serious one to always consider. No power, little water, high temps/humidity, no fuel, hot, frustrated, no information, bitching wife, crying kids, substance-dependent withdrawals, etc. and it doesn’t take much to trigger a violent situation Given the season, good post OP! ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: @R_S I would like to say all that sounds like common sense, but sadly, it needs reminding, so thanks for the follow up with your lessons learned. I do have a question regarding Rita; how long were you and the family displaced? We were in Central Texas during Katrina and my wife was a schoolteacher. Her district received a pretty big influx of displaced kids and many were there for the remainder of the school year; like 9-10 months. Some never returned. Thanks for the kind words ROCK6! IIRC we were displaced for about a week. At the time my gun collection was more modest so I took all the guns in part to not leave anything for looters. Ammo fort was simply too large to move, but I took an extra 1,000 rounds in the trunk. When we left I had no idea what I would come back to. Destroyed home? Destroyed community? Looted home? Squatters? I knew the physical security at my home wouldn't stop a serious break in attempt. House nearly flooded... but the water stopped short of the foundation. Fence was messed up badly by the winds so that was my only repair. These days, as long as there is power/internet, it's nice to check my home security cameras remotely to see what is going on. Wish I had those back then. Hurricane affected areas can take weeks to get the power back. Dead stoplights and no air conditioning really suck in a place like Houston which is large, hot and humid. Waited until the power was back to return. |
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Today with more survival training I would have my updated survival kit/go pack with me in the car. Key elements of any survival kit are fire, water, and shelter. In particular a tarp and cordage to rig some protection from the elements is helpful protection from the sun. Fire can be as simple as a Bic lighter wrapped in ducttape. And a power bank to keep phones charged is also a must carry. |
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One thing I keep weighing is fuel. I drive a diesel truck. When Phoenix all but ran out of gas nearly 25 years ago, you couldn’t find fuel around the valley to save your life. But diesel was everywhere. I remember limping into a gas station on fumes, shutting her down under a canopy, and laying in the bed of my truck to nap while I waited for a supposed delivery. But diesel was everywhere. Now I’ve got a diesel truck and am in a different state. Not every station has diesel, much less diesel at a fair price. Or the station has one diesel pump, which is either clogged with gas vehicles or just out of order. Haven’t decided how I’m going to handle this, but I have identified the problem. Need to learn more about how to store diesel. I had a buddy get crap growing in his stored diesel and clearing it out of his vehicle was a nightmare. |
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Attached File 10 gallons of water 10 gallons of gas Ready to be filled, and strapped into truck. With diesel I would rotate more frequently. |
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Originally Posted By Deny_Everything: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/411707/20260813_180514_jpg-3811045.JPG 10 gallons of water 10 gallons of gas Ready to be filled, and strapped into truck. With diesel I would rotate more frequently. Please tell me about the crate that those cans are sitting in....... |
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Best I can recall, the mobile network during the Rita escape from Houston madhouse became totally unable to handle calls. Text was pretty new, so only a few people used it but would go though. Text on a flip phone keypad sucked, and cost then. If traveling in separate vehicles, have a radio. I was coming back from out of the country, trying to get back to Houston to ride it out. Flights to Houston were canceled, so I flew to Austin and rented a car into town Friday evening, bringing an extra 2.5 gallons of gas with me because it was the only size can left in Austin. Westbound 290 looked like the zombie apocalypse had happened with dead cars every hundred or two yards, trash all along the road. I made the decision then to ride all the future hurricanes out, as long as out of storm surge distance. There wasn't any traffic eastbound, and the storm turned enough that East Texas got smacked hard. |
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Originally Posted By 2Hut8: Please tell me about the crate that those cans are sitting in....... I had the same question and I think it's this one here |
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In areas like Houston, your best bet is to either stay or make the decision to leave before everyone else. Leaving when the call to evacuate is given is generally a bad idea. |
"Everyone dies. To do so for something worthwhile is a rare privilege." -- JamesP81
Sometimes, ridicule isn't a weapon. In many cases, it's just society's signal that you're retarded. - bigfatOTMs
Sometimes, ridicule isn't a weapon. In many cases, it's just society's signal that you're retarded. - bigfatOTMs
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https://www.northerntool.com/products/big-ant-collapsible-smart-crate-23-8-gallon-265-lb-capacity-16-9-16in-l-x-28-3-4in-w-x-13-3-4in-h-model-ip734235-77823?srsltid=AfmBOorOP8CMxVXsCKoJDBy2vTUNyGe3MlnrLd3GsEPbQmoThEY7S1T_ This is the crate I bought. $49.99 and free shipping. |
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Originally Posted By Deny_Everything: https://www.northerntool.com/products/big-ant-collapsible-smart-crate-23-8-gallon-265-lb-capacity-16-9-16in-l-x-28-3-4in-w-x-13-3-4in-h-model-ip734235-77823?srsltid=AfmBOorOP8CMxVXsCKoJDBy2vTUNyGe3MlnrLd3GsEPbQmoThEY7S1T_ This is the crate I bought. $49.99 and free shipping. Thanks, just ordered it. |
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Originally Posted By R_S: IIRC we were displaced for about a week. At the time my gun collection was more modest so I took all the guns in part to not leave anything for looters. Ammo fort was simply too large to move, but I took an extra 1,000 rounds in the trunk. When we left I had no idea what I would come back to. Destroyed home? Destroyed community? Looted home? Squatters? I knew the physical security at my home wouldn't stop a serious break in attempt. House nearly flooded... but the water stopped short of the foundation. Fence was messed up badly by the winds so that was my only repair. These days, as long as there is power/internet, it's nice to check my home security cameras remotely to see what is going on. Wish I had those back then. Hurricane affected areas can take weeks to get the power back. Dead stoplights and no air conditioning really suck in a place like Houston which is large, hot and humid. Waited until the power was back to return. Yeah, I totally understand the firearms and ammo conundrum. I will need to kind of figure out beforehand what's worth taking and likely pre-stage a few ammo cans with assorted ammo to grab and go. I would need a U-Haul trailer or truck for the "ammo fort"  Displaced how long? When can you return? Are you restricted from returning? What are you returning to? What is the threat-level if you do return? House damage, no electricity, water access? Lots of info to assess and process, but I do think you need to plan for an extended displacement, even if it's at family or friends or a hotel. Can you take care of your essentials? Enough cash to get buy for short term? Can you still work to avoid burning PTO and keep the paychecks coming in? Are you organized enough to handle all the insurance stuff while displaced? We were hit pretty hard with Helene. Fortunately, no real home or property damage (several trees blown down), very minor flooding and no power for 18 days. Plenty of lessons learned, but bugging out wasn't a consideration at first and then it was simply too late to make the decision. We'll be moving to FL (panhandle) next year, so bugging out will be a great part of the plan. ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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The original ShaneS thread has been archived. There was a very good discussion about bugging out after Katrina https://www.ar15.com/forums/outdoors/-ARCHIVED-THREAD-Hurricane-katrina-et-al-and-LA-Riots-Survivor-Question/17-606652/? I haven't seen him on arf in quite some time. He later made a blog with excellent information on bugging out, and preparing for continuity of business. I learned that I should have papers for the house, insurance, resume, medical records, etc. ready to go. That blog has also been lost to time. It might be available on the Wayback machine. https://www.theplacewithnoname.com/blogs/klessons/ That last part can't be emphasized enough. I need to make sure I have what I need to restart life if the house is destroyed. |
I know I'll never go home.
So set fire to your ships, and past regrets, and be free.
So set fire to your ships, and past regrets, and be free.
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Originally Posted By R_S: Going to disagree with you there: After Katrina, New Orleans residents were faced with carjackers and burglars. Then came the gun battles That was just one neighborhood Here's some of the police response: Five New Orleans police officers sentenced in hurricane Katrina killings There is another story of a guy who had to protect his car from being stolen with an AK-47 so he and his pregnant wife weren't stranded in the flooded city. Originally Posted By R_S: Originally Posted By Redman556: Here's the best tip you're going to get. Watch the news, and study the possible tracks of the hurricane. Once it's three days out, and the position of the hurricane is such that the tracks are like going to be within 50 miles of your location, and the hurricane is a Cat 3 or higher, get the hell out. Don't wait. Make sure your family knows that there is no acceptable answer to evacuate except for yes. Make sure everyone is packed, has access to their money the day before you are leaving, that would be four days before landfall, you leave on the third day before landfall. Forget all of your weapons and carrying tons of ammo that you'll never use. The world isn't ending. Call a hotel five days before landfall somewhere 300-400 miles inland and book a room / rooms. Again, as far as guns, a short barreled rifle and a pistol, a coupe of rifle mags and a couple of pistol mag, with enough ammo to refill each mag. The rest of the space in you vehicle can be better used for things you actually need. One thing to remember, it is not WW III or the collapse of society. It's a severe weather event. Just about a 100% chance you won't even need your guns. Just take one rifle and one handgun for you, and everybody else take one handgun. When you get to your hotel safely, because you will, you can watch the reports of the damage while stroking your gun and pretend you're living the Zombie takeover or whatever other masturbatory fantasy you have. When it passes, go back home and enjoy life, cleanup if there's any damage. The main things you'll need, water, your meds, a first aid kit, food, clothes, cash money. Have your tank filled up days before. Going to disagree with you there: After Katrina, New Orleans residents were faced with carjackers and burglars. Then came the gun battles “The hurricane was a breeze compared with the crime and terror that followed,” said Gregg Harris, a psychotherapist who lives in the battered area. After the storm, the neighborhood association had to act as law enforcement and emergency response unit as city services collapsed and the police force was unable to protect them. Looking out for one another Citizens organized armed patrols and checked on the elderly. They slept on their porches with loaded shotguns and bolted awake when intruders stumbled on the aluminum cans they had scattered on the sidewalk. Gunshots rang out for days, sometimes terrifyingly close. For Harris, the first warning sign came on Tuesday, the day after the storm, when two young men hit his partner, Vinnie Pervel, over the head and drove off with his Ford van. “A police car drove up behind me and saw it happening but he didn’t do anything,” said Pervel, who heads the 1,500-household neighborhood association. Then residents heard that police vehicles were being carjacked and looters were taking guns and ammunition from nearby stores. A Texas woman who runs a Web site called Polimom.com served as a link between those who stayed and those who had left. With her help, they stockpiled an arsenal of shotguns, derringer pistols and an old AK-47. They were put to use the next day. Fatal shootings “Some looters came up and pulled a gun on the wrong group of men,” said Harris, who said he did not fire a gun himself and declined to say who else was involved in the battle. “Two men were shot right there,” Harris said, pointing down the street as he watered his rose bushes. “One was shot in the back, the other in the leg, and the third I was told made it a block and a half before he died in the street. I did not go down to see the body.” That was just one neighborhood Here's some of the police response: Five New Orleans police officers sentenced in hurricane Katrina killings Four New Orleans police officers have been sentenced to decades in prison over the killing of two people and wounding of four others fleeing the massive flooding of the city by hurricane Katrina. There is another story of a guy who had to protect his car from being stolen with an AK-47 so he and his pregnant wife weren't stranded in the flooded city. The new official line is that there was no violence after Katrina amd only racists and the sensationalist media thought there was. Yet I remember footage of NOPD clearing a convenience store one of them had a Hi-point carbine because it was the only long gun he had ammunition for. I also knew a Blackwater guy that was there.(r.i.p. Mo) He said BW was in one gunfight that they ended with a 40mm grenade into the apartment they were taking fire from. |
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If anyone is reviewing their Preparedness in advance of Hurricane Season: Ready.gov Evacuation Build A Kit Make sure your basics are covered before getting deep into the weeds. I recently saw this video from a guy who clearly was too far in the weeds when a real Bug Out situation occurred for his family:  3 Lessons Learned from a Real Bugout Situation When a real situation hit he suddenly realized he didn't have a realistic plan and was not organized. And that slowed him down. Fortunately he took responsibility for his family, didn't wait for the .gov and adapted. He suddenly got his head around the fact he needed a BOL. And that living off the land in the woods was not something he was prepared for. Truly living in the woods even for a short time is difficult with children. I'm still scratching my head at the duffel bag full of documents he has prepared. Laptop or thumb drive is a lot easier to carry. But it's refreshing to see the honesty |
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Rural Alaska unfortunately cannot bug out in a lot of places. Most of the time we end up having to ride it out in place. Kipnuk and Kwig are still considered closed and only so many people can go back and get things. Houses are still being moved and rebuilt. Walk paths being put back in and reinforced. Halong really did a number on them. River ice break-up is another danger. Most do try and put their boats by the houses. But ice can be forced into the villages and knock house off the foundation. |
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WY, USA
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I have lurked here since just before Katrina. The lessons I learned were put in practice for Hurricane Matthew. We bugged out early. Boarded up the home, sand bagged all entries. Moved stuff to the upper floor. Took essential IDs, documents and irreplaceable items with us… to a pre planned retreat outside the danger zone. |
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Originally Posted By NotIssued: 400 miles per tank.... Um. How long can you idle? Let's say you get stuck in that gridlock next time. I'd think that's a more important metric. My current SUV is a hybrid. So the engine doesn't even run most of the time when I'm sitting still, and the brakes are regenerative... they charge the battery. |
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Originally Posted By R_S: My current SUV is a hybrid. So the engine doesn't even run most of the time when I'm sitting still, and the brakes are regenerative... they charge the battery. Originally Posted By R_S: Originally Posted By NotIssued: 400 miles per tank.... Um. How long can you idle? Let's say you get stuck in that gridlock next time. I'd think that's a more important metric. My current SUV is a hybrid. So the engine doesn't even run most of the time when I'm sitting still, and the brakes are regenerative... they charge the battery. After recently driving a hybrid for a few thousand miles, all future family vehicles will be hybrids. My older V8 pickup has enough tankage to drive all day and I’m keeping it but other vehicles will all be hybrid. Stopped in traffic, the engine runs maybe 10% of the time in summer heat and the regenerative braking along with easing forward/slow speeds can give much better efficiency than the EPA numbers suggest. Getting 40-50mpg in a vehicle rated for 30(granted, ideal conditions for a hybrid but not generally downhill) was an eye-opener. |
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Originally Posted By Cpn_Ron: After recently driving a hybrid for a few thousand miles, all future family vehicles will be hybrids. My older V8 pickup has enough tankage to drive all day and I’m keeping it but other vehicles will all be hybrid. Stopped in traffic, the engine runs maybe 10% of the time in summer heat and the regenerative braking along with easing forward/slow speeds can give much better efficiency than the EPA numbers suggest. Getting 40-50mpg in a vehicle rated for 30(granted, ideal conditions for a hybrid but not generally downhill) was an eye-opener. Originally Posted By Cpn_Ron: Originally Posted By R_S: Originally Posted By NotIssued: 400 miles per tank.... Um. How long can you idle? Let's say you get stuck in that gridlock next time. I'd think that's a more important metric. My current SUV is a hybrid. So the engine doesn't even run most of the time when I'm sitting still, and the brakes are regenerative... they charge the battery. After recently driving a hybrid for a few thousand miles, all future family vehicles will be hybrids. My older V8 pickup has enough tankage to drive all day and I’m keeping it but other vehicles will all be hybrid. Stopped in traffic, the engine runs maybe 10% of the time in summer heat and the regenerative braking along with easing forward/slow speeds can give much better efficiency than the EPA numbers suggest. Getting 40-50mpg in a vehicle rated for 30(granted, ideal conditions for a hybrid but not generally downhill) was an eye-opener. In the wake of the energy crisis, have been very grateful for the improved mileage |
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Rode out Rita, 20 miles off the coast, went right over my house. Won't make that mistake again. Sent family 200 miles north to her family and they were fine, but they left 4-5 days ahead. House made noises I have never heard before, but I built it myself, 2x6 walls, lots of appropriate hurricane additions. A class 2 isn't too bad. Three is a b!tch. Just leave. 35 days without power at my house, 37 at my clinic. Generating your own power is stinking expensive. In those days, the solar generators really weren't a thing. Chain everything you can down. I hate a d@mn thief. Cash and cards are both important. First few days, I could get gas just fine with cash, then I found a station that was on generator. Lines out the wazoo during the day, but I would make a run at about 2am and had free reign on gas or diesel as long as I had my card. During evac local highway was parking lot. Road in front of my clinic, parking lot. One of the more disgusting things, I have a circle drive around my office so large animals can pull up to the chutes. Well, that became the local porta potty. Must have been 200 piles of crap and toilet paper behind my office. I will probably rope it off if I ever have anything similar, but doubt it will do any good. Also had many multiple friends who had to use weapons to keep miscreants from looting and stealing. One guy walked up to my bud while he was filling a 5 gal gas can and grabbed the handle and said "I'll be taking this". Thankfully he had a little Ruger single action .22 in his pocket. Not the best choice, but it was enough. Dude cussed him up one side and down the other, telling him he just needed it for his family........well, what do you think I need it for. Anyway, good thread. Doc |
