About SHTF

When SHTF, the last place you want to be is in a big city or large population center. Being surrounded by people desperate to survive a natural disaster will make things incredibly difficult. Evacuating or bugging out is an appealing strategy in many circumstances.

Bugging out is only sometimes possible and can be difficult, depending on the situation. Still, it is common sense and one of the best ways to protect your family from immediate danger.

To bug out, you’re going to need a bug-out shelter or place to go. Let’s dive in and discuss bug-out shelters and how to choose the best bug-out location.

How to Choose the Best bug out Location

Bug out Location Proximity

The location of your bug-out shelter is critical to its overall livability in a disaster situation. You want to be able to get to your bug-out site despite many people trying to do the same.

You also don’t want your bug-out location to be too far away because getting there may be difficult. Consider that gasoline supplies may be limited, so you want to avoid driving for days.

There is a real possibility that traffic jams, downed power lines, and other obstacles will make driving to your bug-out shelter impossible. You should be able to walk to your bug-out location in a few days.

Isolation

The ideal bug-out location will be far from major cities and populated areas. Once the imminent danger of a nuclear war, man-made or natural disaster subsides, your greatest threat will be from desperate people.

Geography will vary by location, but places with thick tree cover will help obscure your presence. Mountains or other terrain features can provide concealment and impede people’s ability to access your territory. Having a bug-out shelter off the beaten path will reduce the chances of intruders and make it more difficult for people to find you.

Avoid address signs, mailboxes, or other features which may give away your current location beforehand.

Water Supply

Water is a critical resource, especially during an emergency situation. You want your bug-out location to have some natural water source like a stream or spring. Some water sources are seasonal, so check into this possibility.

If you are near a stream or river, consider flooding risks. The last thing you want is for your bug-out shelter to get destroyed by flood waters.

If your climate allows, you can collect your water using a rain catchment system to augment other water sources. Be sure to have an excellent way to store water long term to make the most of any rains or seasonal changes in water supplies.

Self-sufficiency

Does your bug-out location facilitate self-sufficiency? You will eventually run out no matter how many supplies you’ve stockpiled. The ideal bug-out location will help you keep minimal supplies to remain self-sufficient.

Good climate and soil quality will allow you to grow a garden for other food. Pasture or vegetation can be used to raise animals like chickens or goats. If there is a stream, you can generate electricity to power some things.

Many remote areas have wild game that can be harvested for supplemental food. The ideal bug-out shelter location should not work against you but complement your survival.

Robust Structure

Suppose your bug-out location includes a house or other building. In that case, it must withstand the elements and not require substantial maintenance. The more durable your structure, the better. You won’t be able to drive to the local hardware store if something gets damaged.

Your bug-out shelter should be able to accommodate your family members and protect them from harsh weather. I have small children, so my needs are different than if I was by myself. My children won’t be able to tolerate the same temperature extremes as an adult.

Security and Self Defense

No matter how hidden or secluded your bug-out shelter is, there will always be the possibility desperate people will discover it. An ideal bug-out shelter will not only be physically resistant to intrusion, but your territory should be easily defended.

Self-defense is much more than just stockpiling guns and ammo. The ideal bug-out location will have all or some of the following characteristics:

• Elevation to allow a good vantage of the surrounding territory

• Natural barriers like cliffs, rivers, or rugged terrain

• Geography and vegetation to obscure your presence

• Viable routes for emergency evacuation

No bug-out area will be perfect, but you should be prepared to consider these factors when choosing a place for your bug-out shelter.

Protection From Natural Disasters

When choosing a location to bug out, evaluate the possible threats from natural disasters. Most places are at risk from some natural disasters, but ideally, you should choose the safest position possible.

Even if your area has natural disaster risks, you can take steps to mitigate the risk. For example, my bug-out shelter is in an area prone to forest fires. This can present a dangerous situation, but I have taken steps to reduce my risk by building fire breaks and cutting down some trees.

Be Familiar With the Area

Wherever you choose for your bug-out shelter, ensure you know the terrain and surrounding areas. If you relocate to a completely foreign location, it will make survival more difficult.

Spend time in your bug-out location to learn the area’s nuances before a disaster occurs.

How Long can you Survive in your Bug out Shelter?

If you evacuate to your bug-out shelter or a safer location, things are probably pretty bad. Plan to be at your bug-out location for a long time. Months and even years are a possibility.

Do not plan on being able to get replenishments quickly. Major disaster and emergency scenarios will impact the complex logistics that enable modern everyday life.

Stores will not be open, and the gas company won’t be operational if things get bad enough.

Stockpile supplies for as long as your budget and sensibilities allow. Make sure you have a way to store things securely long term. Prioritize critical resources like water and water purification. Include a first aid kit and warm clothes in your emergency preparedness aid kit.

Affordability

Buying the best land for a bug-out shelter can be very expensive. That doesn’t mean you have to spend obscene amounts on the perfect survival property. Weigh the pros and cons of a potential area and determine what is most important to you.

Consider what is required to develop land for your needs. Cheaper land will generally require more work to develop. The work to develop land is expensive and will be reflected in the purchase price.

Getting land ready to build a cabin or other bug-out shelter is expensive and complex, depending on the terrain and other factors. Buying more expensive land may make more sense if it saves you the development hassle.

Land Development Legalities

You can’t just build a cabin on any piece of land. Significant permitting and environmental assessments are required in many areas. This permitting and inspections can be expensive and take months or even years before you can legally build on your land.

Ensure you understand your area’s requirements, or you may get a rude surprise when you learn how difficult and time-consuming it may be to develop your land.

None of this will matter after SHTF, but we’re trying to get things in order before a large-scale event occurs.

FAQ

War is one of those things that you can’t imagine happening in your homeland. Since the cold war ended, we mainly see and hear about wars in faraway lands. In reality, war can happen anywhere, given the right circumstances. Let’s talk about how to prepare for war as a civilian.

The war in Ukraine has been raging for a year at this point. In the weeks and months before the start of the war, there was talk that a war may start. None of my family in Ukraine believed Russia would invade. And then SHTF.

Understand Your Geography

Geography plays a massive part in war and war zones. Where you live can affect what threats you may face should a war break out.

Do you live in the wilderness, away from military and strategic assets like power plants? Your preparation considerations will differ significantly from someone living in a major city or near strategic assets like military bases.

Assess your area to inform your prepping choices.

Preparing for war as a Civilian

Stock up on Essential Supplies

If a war breaks out, food, water, and other supplies will be hard to come by. The logistics machine that facilitates our daily lives will break down rapidly in a war zone.

Here is a short list of emergency supplies you should prioritize:

• Warm and protective clothing

• Water and water purification supplies 

• Non-perishable food

• First aid kit

• Medication

• Radios and communication gear

Know Where to Find Shelter

Your home might be the best place to shelter should a war happen. Some areas have fallout shelters, bomb shelters, and other fortified structures to take refuge in should you need to leave your home.

In the case of nuclear war, finding shelter from fallout and radioactive material will be critical to surviving.

Many cities use subway tunnels, highway tunnels, and other underground places as emergency shelters. Take note of the options in your area should you need to use them.

Warning Signs of a war

A war can break out rapidly with little warning. Other times there are warning signs that something terrible may be on the horizon.

World War 2 had many warning signs prior to things becoming a full on war. In the case of Ukraine, the US and other countries spoke of a potential invasion for months before it happened.

In the US, we have a National Emergency Alert System, one of the standard ways the US government will communicate with civilians if disaster strikes.

Television broadcasts and radio stations will periodically test the Emergency Alert System. Pay attention when you hear the Emergency Alert System in case it’s not just a test.

Stay Informed

When things start getting spicy, stay informed of the developing situation. TV and radio news can be reputable sources of information. Twitter, social media, and other alternative media will generally have the newest breaking news if the situation changes rapidly. Many governments will use all media types to distribute information to the local populace.

Build Your Emergency Kits

FEMA recommends all households have emergency response kits in case disaster strikes. These kits are the minimum needed to survive a short time with limited emergency response personnel support.

A basic emergency kit should include the following:

• Water (one gallon per person per day for at least three days for drinking and sanitation)

• Food (at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food)

• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert

• Flashlight

• First aid kit

• Extra batteries

• Whistle (to signal for help)

• Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)

• Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place)

• Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)

• Manual can opener (for food)

• Local maps

• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

• Download the Recommended Supplies List (PDF) from FEMA

Get First aid Training

All those fancy first aid supplies are only helpful with the knowledge to use them effectively. Knowing basic first aid can save the life of you or your family members.

StopTheBleed.org puts on excellent training classes on how to treat major wounds. Best of all, these classes are free! Additional paid training is available through many resources like the Red Cross.

Keep Some Cash on Hand for Emergencies.

ATMs and credit cards may not work during a major disaster due to internet and electrical outages. Having some paper money available can be helpful if you need to buy things.

Bug out or bug in

If a war or significant conflict erupts in your area, it may be best to leave or “bug out”. Getting away from the conflict zone will reduce the immediate threat to you and your family.

In a nuclear attack or reactor meltdown, getting away from the radioactive material can limit exposure to harmful radiation. The more hardened material and distance you can place between yourself and the radiation source, the better.

Bugging out may be ideal, but it can be challenging to leave a city due to traffic and other factors. You’re better off if you can at least get to a more rural or less populated area. Higher population density will worsen things because of the vast number of people trying to survive.

FAQ

SHTF Meaning and SHTF Examples

The SHTF meaning is well known in the prepper community. The acronym SHTF translates literally to “Shit Hits the Fan” or “Stuff Hits the Fan” and typically refers to a major disaster, catastrophic event, or something going very wrong. Some common examples of SHTF scenarios would be earthquakes, tsunamis, nuclear war, world war, power grid failure or power outage, civil unrest, flash floods, cyber attacks, and many other kinds of major disaster.

Types of shit hits the fan scenarios

Here is a list of the most common natural disasters and SHTF events. Most shit hits the fan scenarios refers to something on this list.

• Major natural disasters

• Earth quakes

• Volcanic Eruptions

• Storms

• Nuclear war

• World war

• EMP

• Cyber attacks

• Food shortage

• Water shortage

• Pandemics

• Civil unrest

• Financial crisis

Major Natural Disasters

These are natural events such as earth quakes, volcanic eruptions, and storms which cause substantial damage to infrastructure and loss of life. The types of natural disasters you may experience will depend heavily on geography.

Hurricane Katrina is a good example of an extreme shtf scenario from recent memory. Many people were displaced due to flooding. The electrical grid was severely degraded due to fallen trees. Utilities such as drinking water and sewer were damaged or rendered completely useless. Cell phones were hardly functional at times.

Thousands of unprepared people were thrust into a survival situation overnight. For many, their contact with the outside world was severed.

Nuclear war and World war

We’ve been fortunate to not have a nuclear war or world war in nearly eighty years. But the threat of war constantly looms over the world since the dawn of civilization.

Most people might not think it can happen again but the war in Ukraine could easily spark the next world war. In the event of a major war resources may become scare due to the production needed to fight a world war.

For more information on how to survive a war check out our post.

Nuclear Meltdown

Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and the Fukushima nuclear disaster are all recent examples of nuclear disasters caused by the failure of nuclear power plants. All of these resulted in the release of harmful radiation and resulted in the ultimate consequences.

Nuclear meltdown preparation should be considered for anyone living near a nuclear power facility.

EMP

The acronym EMP stands for Electric Magnetic Pulse. These can be caused by the detonation of a nuclear weapon high in the earth’s atmosphere.

When the EMP is detonated the EMP pulse hits the earth’s surface and overloads the circuits of electronic devices causing them severe damage.

If an EMP were to be detonated above the United States it has the potential to completely destroy the electrical grid and damage most electronics including computers, cell phones, automobiles, and anything that contains electric circuits.

Cyber Attacks

Much of the infrastructure we rely upon for our modern life is connected to the internet and operates via software. This presents a potential for massive damage in the event of a cyber attack.

A shtf scenario could easily erupt should a utility company be attacked by hackers. Imagine the chaos if a natural gas or electric utility company was shut down by a cyber attack during the middle of winter.

People would be forced to be self reliant for heating their homes. Unprepared people will suffer most.

Food shortages

For many in the developed world, such a thing as a food shortage is hardly conceivable. Modern life has afforded us a seemingly endless bounty of food.

Despite this, even a minor disruption in supply chain or production can have a ripple effect and lead to shtf situations. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much to prepare for a food shortage. Check out our post on long term rice storage here.

Water shortage

Be it a drought or a compromised water utility the potential causes for a potable water shortage are many. The water utility was damaged during hurricane Katrina resulting in no safe potable water.

The human body can only survive without water for two or three days depending on the climate. Storage and sanitization of emergency water supplies should be near your top priority when you prepare for shtf or other survival scenarios.

Pandemics

At this point we’ve all lived through a pandemic. In some ways it was a shft event at a global scale. There have been many throughout history and this won’t be the last. It’s only a matter of time before the next virus or bacteria mutates and triggers a shtf event.

Civil Unrest

These shtf events can range from riots, mass looting, gang violence, and other events involving mass groups of people committing violence. Civil unrest is a relatively common occurrence in parts of the world.

For those living in a rural area this is less of a concern than if you live in a big city.

A shtf situation such as this can cause massive damage to property or even loss of life. Law enforcement will generally struggle to contain these types of disasters. Self defense should be a priority if you prepare for major events.

Financial Collapse

For most people this is one of the most likely SHTF scenarios they could face. The 2008 housing collapse resulted in job loss and many people losing their homes.

Some people believe the massive money printing by the Federal Reserve bank of the US and many other countries central banks may trigger a financial collapse.

Should a financial collapse occur it will likely trigger other shtf events like civil unrest. A society is only three missed meals away from chaos. When people can’t buy food it’s only a matter of time until disaster strikes.

Considerations for a SHTF scenario

Things to consider when prepping for a SHTF situation.

Friends and Family

If shit hits the fan it’s going to be much more manageable if you’re not alone. When planning for shft events or natural disasters get friends and family involved. Not only will they probably enjoy helping with prepping but it will be comforting to know your own families will be prepared if stuff hits the fan.

Humans are social creatures. Trust me when I say you do not want to be a lone wolf in a shtf scenario. Having a group of trusted family and friends you can rely on when things are going to hell will be crucial.

Safety and Security

Depending on the shtf situation, your safety and security needs may vary. Regardless, if things are breaking down there will be people seeking to exploit the chaos. Even your average citizen will turn to looting or worse if they get desperate enough.

Law enforcement probably won’t be available to protect people. You must be self reliant when it comes to self defense. You need weapons and most importantly you need to be well trained in their use.

Shelter

Exposure to the elements is one of the quickest killers when in a shtf situation. You can die from hypothermia in a matter of hours. The same goes for heat stroke. Ensuring you have a form of shelter from the elements is critical to surviving SHTF scenarios. Your geography will dictate your needs but prioritizing shelter from excessive heat or cold, staying dry, and keeping out of the direct sun are critical.

If you have survival skills it can be incredibly useful in building improvised shelters should you need to.

Water

Second to dying from exposure, dehydration will kill you in two to three days if you don’t have adequate water to drink.

A natural disaster or shtf event can put a serious strain on water utilities. Previously clean water sources may get contaminated. To prepare for shtf one should focus on having long-term water storage as well as redundant means to filter and sanitize water.

Check out our post on how to store water long term for emergencies.

Food

Is shit hitting the fan? Then food may get scarce. Humans can survive about three to four weeks without food. If the worst case scenario is you don’t eat for a few days. No big deal.

That doesn’t mean you’re going to be effective very long without adequate calories. Storing food long-term and learning survival techniques to acquire more food will be incredibly useful if disaster hits.

Communication

Communicating with the outside world will be incredibly helpful if shit hit the fan. It is very likely that your cell phone won’t work due to cellular congestion or complete utility failure. You will need to have several redundant methods to communicate.

Radios will be one of the most reliable communication methods during a natural disaster or shft event. With a HAM radio one can communicate locally. With the proper setup a HAM radio can communicate over continents.

First Aid

Most shtf scenarios pose a risk to your health. At the very least you should have a basic first aid kit and the skills to use it. Taking things a step further and building out a trauma kit is probably a good idea too.

Most importantly, get proper first air training. It makes no sense buying all this expensive first aid gear without the knowledge on how to use it. Many state and local governments even offer free first aid training.It might save a life one day.

FAQ