Lessons Learned- Katrina Bug Out Host

While catching up on my favorite anarcho liberterian Claire Wolfe's blog I saw a real gem. Bayou Renaissance Man lived through the general disorder in the Gulf during Katrina and Rita and more significantly hosted some folks who bugged out from the coast and New Orleans. I strongly suggest that you read it.

My thoughts and or things I want to emphasize in no particular order, are as follows:

1. If you are in a place where you could end up hosting folks bugging out from a natural disaster, riot or whatever I would be absolutely crystal clear about what you can/ will offer. Can you take the Tom Smith nuclear family, the nuclear family plus Granny or host an entire Smith reunion. Same for pets, if you can take the cat and dog but not their 7 draft horses then make that clear. Also it would be good to tell them what you can offer in terms of accomodations and resources so they can make appropriate plans.

As a potential visitor I would plan on being able to be as self sufficient/ able to contribute as possible. I would also want to be sure that whatever people/ animals/ etc I am bringing are fine with my host. Coasting into the farm on fumes to find out that they aren't cool with Granny or your draft horses would be quite bad. I would also want to know if there were any particular things that it would be especially helpful for me to bring, either in general or if possible by talking to my host before leaving. Coordination is a good thing. If they have 30 cords of wood cut I probably don't need to cram any into my vehicle and that space might be more useful for dried goods or fuel or ammo or tools or whatever which the farm is a bit light on. I would also plan to help out in a variety of ways while I was there and at least offer and be ready to compensate for any supplies I used.

2. Have physical cash on hand. I typically suggest a month's worth of cash living expenses which is probably sufficient. It is worth considering that your friends/ family/ the folks whose place you go to might not have been prudent enough to keep cash on hand. For a loan of a couple hundred bucks you could really help out somebody close and gain some favor. That is a much easier decision if it isn't taking proverbial food off of your table. In other words you might want to stash some extra to share.

3. Priority of packing vehicles would vary for a short term disaster or something more serious. Off the top of my head: people and pets, bug out type bags, personal defensive weapons (at least a pistol per adult, a defensive rifle, maybe a shotgun and or a second rifle) with ancillary stuff, emergency food, small momento's like a couple photo albums and the family bible or whatever, cash and precious metals, essential documents, additional food and camping equipment, high value compact items like guns and then entertainment stuff and whatever you want to take and still have space for.

4. Plan for entertainment, particularly for small children. Stuff that doesn't require batteries like books, toys, coloring books, etc.

5. Google maps lets you select to avoid freeways and bridges. Most other services seem to have similar options. If the one you use has the politically incorrect "avoid ghetto" option use it also.

6. While it is not nice or sensitive to say I would recommend that you do not live in a place with a large disenfranchized welfare population.

7. Even if the place you are in allows open carry I would plan on concealing my handgun while out and about. Some idiot LEO might think that all of a sudden the laws don't apply and it is just not worth dealing with. So no I would not be rolling around wearing body armor and a chest rig carrying an M4 and rocking a drop holster. Lets be honest, if things are really that bad I don't plan to be walking around anyway. A concealed pistol is discrete which is a good thing.