Creating a bug-out plan: Essential steps for emergency evacuation

08/14/2024 / By HRS Editors

As a prepper, emergency plans can help your family stay organized, especially if you need to evacuate or bug out.

Having a bug-out plan before disaster strikes is also important because this ensures that all family members know what to do and where to go in case you are in different locations when SHTF. (h/t to Habitat.org)

What to do before an emergency

When preparing your bug-out plan, make a list of emergency contacts, such as the fire department, police station and ambulance, in your cell phone and near your home phone. Print a list so you also have a physical copy for reference.

Schedule a family meeting and agree on a family meeting place in your neighborhood and out of town. This ensures that if you are unable to get in touch or to go home, you will be able to meet with each other.

Program ICE (in case of emergency) numbers into your phone and family members’ phones. If someone is injured, emergency personnel can use these numbers to notify other family members or close friends.

Create a contact card for all family members. Keep the cards in a purse, wallet, or child’s backpack. Include an emergency contact name and number, an out-of-town contact name and number, a neighborhood meeting place and other important information that can help when SHTF.

All family members must have emergency phone numbers and a cell phone.

Teach young children how and when to call 911 for help.

Teach all family members how to send a text message. Texts can usually get around network disruptions when phone calls cannot.

Subscribe to alert services. Some communities have systems that will send out text messages and emails with the latest information during an emergency. Visit your local emergency management website to sign up online.

Prepare a bug-out bag for all family members. Make sure each one includes the following supplies:

Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
Detailed local maps of the area
Dust mask
Emergency whistle (To signal for help)
First aid kit
Flashlight with extra batteries
Food (At least a two- or three-day supply of non-perishable food)
Manual can opener (For canned food)
Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (For maintaining proper hygiene and sanitation)
Plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape (For building an emergency shelter)
Water (At least one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking, cooking and sanitation)
Wrench or pliers (To turn off utilities)

What to do during an emergency

If you or a family member is facing a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Conserve your cell phone battery and avoid making phone calls except in serious emergencies. If you need to make a call, keep the conversation brief.

Send text messages or emails for non-emergency communication instead of making phone calls. Too many phone calls can cause network congestion, meaning people in life-threatening emergencies can’t get help.

Update your out-of-town contact on your location and condition. (Related: Survival 101: How to turn your car into a bug-out vehicle.)

Where to buy lab-verified supplies for your bug-out bag

The Health Ranger Store is committed to helping you prepare for any emergency, such as a bug-out scenario. That’s why we’re proud to introduce a variety of lab-verified food supplies for your prepping needs.

Health Ranger Select Mini-Bucket Organic Almonds have a wholesome flavor and a wealth of nutrients.

As one of the world’s most popular raw nuts, organic almonds are full of healthy fats, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Our premium almonds contain no sugar, chemical flavoring, hydrogenated oils, or added sodium, and are not treated with preservatives.

Organic blueberries are one of the most nutritious and antioxidant-rich fruits in the world.

Loaded with a variety of essential nutrients, Health Ranger Select Freeze-Dried Organic Whole Blueberries are an excellent healthy snack. They have been carefully freeze-dried to preserve the taste, texture and nutrients of fresh produce without any chemical preservatives.

You can eat them directly or reconstitute them by simply adding water.

Health Ranger Select Freeze-Dried Organic Whole Blueberries contain no gluten or GMOs and have undergone extensive lab testing for glyphosate, heavy metals and microbes. They are also vegan, non-China and certified Kosher and organic.

You can also try Health Ranger Select Organic Trail Mix – Raisins & Nuts, made with only the highest-quality, USDA-certified organic ingredients.

The carefully selected ingredients in our premium organic trail mix include:

Organic coconut chips
Organic coconut flakes
Organic raisins
Organic roasted almonds
Organic sunflower seeds
Organic walnuts

This product provides the full nutritional benefits of several tasty and nutrient-dense superfoods in one convenient trail mix.

Visit Health Ranger Store and Brighteon Store to find more prepping products. You can also check out BugOut.news for more tips on how to create your bug-out plans.

Click on this link to view the ultimate prepper gear checklist for outdoor survival.

Watch this clip about why you should add Organic Blueberries to your daily routine.

This video is from the Health Ranger Store channel on Brighteon.com.