Twigg
NES Member
Every so often we talk about bugging out if SHTF. Sometimes folks like to talk about burying a gun or two “Just in case”, no argument from me about this being a good idea but if you can’t get to it then you’ve got other issues. I’ve always had a place to go even if it was just a campsite out in a remote location.
Well let’s say it just the SHTF. Doesn’t matter what’s happened, you’re buggin’ out, but just to complicate things a bit let’s say the power’s out. Now the issue is how do you get out ? Ideally you’d drive, and keep to secondary streets to avoid traffic and possible roadblocks / checkpoints if the .guv decides they don’t want you leaving the area. You’ll need to refuel at least once before you get to your bug-out location.
How do you re-fuel en-route if nobody’s got electricity ? Yeah some gas stations might have a generator but maybe they won’t. Murphy will prevail unless you prepare. So whaddya do ?
You have a cache.
Weeks or months ago you as you drove your bug-out route you were scouting locations where you could cache supplies along the way. A cache could be as simple or as elaborate as you need. You can place your cache in plain sight like in a U-Store U-Lock place or you can have a covert cache buried someplace.
Let’s save the discussion on where to place your covert cache for later.
Let’s talk about how to stash away some traveling supplies, and what to put inside.
I’d suggest making two sizes of boxes for your cache, what I call the fifty mile and hundred mile boxes. (Based on a generic worst case 10 MPG scenario.) Basically the 50 mile box will hold one gas can as well as enough food for one day per person and the 100 mile box will hold two five gallon gas cans as well as additional food, first aid supplies or firearms. Make the box at least twice as wide as the gas can for your additional supplies. Keep in mind the thought of using multiple boxes in one hide. Makes placement and access easier.
First you’ll need fuel so we’ll start with a five gallon can of gas. Be sure to add some fuel stabilizer before sealing the can. I recommend placing the gas can inside a plywood box. Now, I know a plywood box isn’t going to be waterproof and it doesn’t have to be. You can caulk the seams and paint it inside and out with a waterproof coating if you want. The gas can will be fine. You can wrap it up inside a garbage bag or two if you feel the need.
Now place other watertight containers into the cache box. Some ideas for other items might be a couple of bottles of water and a few MRE’s, a 5X7 tarp and some dry clothes and in this neck o’the woods I’d add some warm clothing or wool blankets as well. Seal all of these items in plastic bags using one of those seal-a-meal devices. Nail the lid on, using caulk (Not Glue !), don’t use screws and don’t use hinges or locks as you want to be able to dig this up and open it with the tools you’re likely to have when buggin’ out.
A firearm & ammo is a good addition to the 100 mile cache and here is where C&R firearms shine. Why ? With no serial number, it would be difficult to trace back to you if it’s accidently discovered. For the same reason don’t put anything in a cache which could be traced either.
What are your thoughts on caching ? Anybody here have any suggestions on what to use for a box, or what to put inside ?
Well let’s say it just the SHTF. Doesn’t matter what’s happened, you’re buggin’ out, but just to complicate things a bit let’s say the power’s out. Now the issue is how do you get out ? Ideally you’d drive, and keep to secondary streets to avoid traffic and possible roadblocks / checkpoints if the .guv decides they don’t want you leaving the area. You’ll need to refuel at least once before you get to your bug-out location.
How do you re-fuel en-route if nobody’s got electricity ? Yeah some gas stations might have a generator but maybe they won’t. Murphy will prevail unless you prepare. So whaddya do ?
You have a cache.
Weeks or months ago you as you drove your bug-out route you were scouting locations where you could cache supplies along the way. A cache could be as simple or as elaborate as you need. You can place your cache in plain sight like in a U-Store U-Lock place or you can have a covert cache buried someplace.
Let’s save the discussion on where to place your covert cache for later.
Let’s talk about how to stash away some traveling supplies, and what to put inside.
I’d suggest making two sizes of boxes for your cache, what I call the fifty mile and hundred mile boxes. (Based on a generic worst case 10 MPG scenario.) Basically the 50 mile box will hold one gas can as well as enough food for one day per person and the 100 mile box will hold two five gallon gas cans as well as additional food, first aid supplies or firearms. Make the box at least twice as wide as the gas can for your additional supplies. Keep in mind the thought of using multiple boxes in one hide. Makes placement and access easier.
First you’ll need fuel so we’ll start with a five gallon can of gas. Be sure to add some fuel stabilizer before sealing the can. I recommend placing the gas can inside a plywood box. Now, I know a plywood box isn’t going to be waterproof and it doesn’t have to be. You can caulk the seams and paint it inside and out with a waterproof coating if you want. The gas can will be fine. You can wrap it up inside a garbage bag or two if you feel the need.
Now place other watertight containers into the cache box. Some ideas for other items might be a couple of bottles of water and a few MRE’s, a 5X7 tarp and some dry clothes and in this neck o’the woods I’d add some warm clothing or wool blankets as well. Seal all of these items in plastic bags using one of those seal-a-meal devices. Nail the lid on, using caulk (Not Glue !), don’t use screws and don’t use hinges or locks as you want to be able to dig this up and open it with the tools you’re likely to have when buggin’ out.
A firearm & ammo is a good addition to the 100 mile cache and here is where C&R firearms shine. Why ? With no serial number, it would be difficult to trace back to you if it’s accidently discovered. For the same reason don’t put anything in a cache which could be traced either.
What are your thoughts on caching ? Anybody here have any suggestions on what to use for a box, or what to put inside ?
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