Bugout Location?

**ColdDeadHands** · 08-21-10, 23:08

Living in flat Texas and fairly close to the coast I'm thinking about buying a bug-out location...small piece of land somewhere in the mountains and build a cabin possibly with fallout shelter. I might even consider moving there all together....might be more cost effective.

To my question, what do you look for in a good bug-out location? Altitude, Game, distance from city, climate? Educate me. I'm thinking colorado...

**sadmin** · 08-21-10, 23:42

When my father and I were looking, we stayed around Texas and not too far from a I45. We talked about that if there was ever a sudden need to get away, likely from the Houston area as it being a probable target due to the industry, that traveling would be extremely difficult.
We ended up settling on about 200 acres 15 miles east of Fairfield. We considered the proximity of a body of water, in our case Lake Fairfield, Richland Chambers, and some very large private lakes are within 15 miles of us. The Trinity River is 5 miles from us as a crow flies, so the game in that area is thick.

In your case, I would consider the realistic travel barriers you may encounter should you ever need to get away from the city. Air travel wont happen, and you better have beaucoup gas for that trip. Besides, we will need all the gun toting Texans we can get to fight off the maniac thieving illegals.

**ColdDeadHands** · 08-22-10, 02:49

We live on 10 acres in the sticks currently and have 40 acres in Terlingua but that is a 12 hour drive. I'm really thinking Mountains...

**Naxet1959** · 08-22-10, 07:22

Stay at least 120 miles from the nearest large cities... most folks will have around 2 hours drive time in gas in their car so this way you avoid the Golden Horde. Don't buy off of major roads, again for access or visibility. Water access would be major concern. Some people think a small community makes sense from the standpoint of mutual aid as well as trade. Remember also that you will need time and fuel to get from Texas to Colorado and roadblocks, unrest and other things will challenge your trip. Good luck in your planning...

**crhoades** · 08-22-10, 08:46

Here is some reading material that should be what you're looking for:
http://www.survivalblog.com/retreatareas.html

Also, here are numerous podcasts if you're in the listening mood:
http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/tag/bug-out-location

Hope this helps!

**arbninftry** · 08-22-10, 21:42

Terlingua?
That is a real bugout location where you are at. I think Bugging in (or to there) would be a better plan than going to CO. If SHTF, driving will be crappy, and gas would be little. The roads and crowds, plus you already have mountains all around. Big Bend has resources there. You got a good site, unless you are worried about further cartel incursions.
If you are staying in TX and not relocating, Broken Bow, OK area is a game plentiful area and secluded. It can keep you from trying to travel to far post SHTF. And it is a feasible location on a tank of gas or so from Galveston, TX area. I am assuming that is your origination area.

**sandsunsurf** · 08-23-10, 09:56

The problem with Terlingua and other desert locations is the lack of arable land. If you're considering a bugout location that is far away and away from the golden horde, then you're planning on how to survive a complete collapse (not just weathering a storm) so you have to be able to be completely self sufficient. There is also a lack of consistent and easy water. I'm not aware of many wells in Terlinqua that are shallow enough to be hand pumped. I've considered Terlingua, and I love the area, but for the reasons above and the fact that it's 24 hours drive time for me, it's out of the picture in all reality...

So to really answer your questions, here's my thought process:

How can I get there? Driving may be impossible or nearly so in the case of certain attacks. How many people will it take to safely stay there? Two people can't hold off many attackers. Can my other friends/family get there? Does the area have game, arable land, and water? Is it a defensible position? Other people in the area and will they be friend or foe?

My current situation is that I can't think of ONE place to bug out to, so I've got three different locations (friends and family) that we talked about being the choices, and if the choice has to be made we will choose the location based upon the then current circumstances. I'm actually concerned, too, that if I stock up one and only one place to go that somehow I won't be able to get there... You know how Murphy can be...

**ColdDeadHands** · 08-23-10, 10:35

Originally Posted by sandsunsurf

The problem with Terlingua and other desert locations is the lack of arable land. If you're considering a bugout location that is far away and away from the golden horde, then you're planning on how to survive a complete collapse (not just weathering a storm) so you have to be able to be completely self sufficient. There is also a lack of consistent and easy water. I'm not aware of many wells in Terlinqua that are shallow enough to be hand pumped. I've considered Terlingua, and I love the area, but for the reasons above and the fact that it's 24 hours drive time for me, it's out of the picture in all reality...

So to really answer your questions, here's my thought process:

How can I get there? Driving may be impossible or nearly so in the case of certain attacks. How many people will it take to safely stay there? Two people can't hold off many attackers. Can my other friends/family get there? Does the area have game, arable land, and water? Is it a defensible position? Other people in the area and will they be friend or foe?

My current situation is that I can't think of ONE place to bug out to, so I've got three different locations (friends and family) that we talked about being the choices, and if the choice has to be made we will choose the location based upon the then current circumstances. I'm actually concerned, too, that if I stock up one and only one place to go that somehow I won't be able to get there... You know how Murphy can be...

I agree completely. That's why I'm thinking about relocating altogether. To be honest all the 2012 hype has me a little concerned, while I don't believe it's going to be the end of the world I think some serious disasters are going to happen.