Since the tragedies of September 11, 2001 and Hurricane Katrina, many more Americans have been rethinking just how well they are prepared to face an interruption in civil services and the supply line known as “the grid.” When the grid goes down, it is never at an opportune moment. The gas goes off, the electricity goes off, the grocery store shelves have been stripped bare, and the gas stations are out of gas or cannot sell because there is no electricity to run the pumps.
Typically a disaster causing interruption in life-sustaining services is severe enough that evacuation is both imminently necessary and dangerous. It is up to the individual to have multiple plans established for family to shelter-in-place or to bug out (evacuate rapidly). When staying is not an option, leaving has to be able to be accomplished as safe as possible, and a vehicle made to be a bug out vehicle is prudent.
Bugging out is the rapid evacuation from an area with minimal life-sustaining supplies. Typically 72-hours of supplies are the norm to be on-hand when an individual or family is bugging out. Backpacks packed with 72-hours of the bare minimum, with emphasis on special needs such as medications, are pre-packed and maintained in case bugging out becomes necessary. These bags are commonly referred to as bug out bags. A bug out vehicle is a motor vehicle prepped in advance and maintained in the event bugging out by motor vehicle becomes necessary.
Traveling over land on foot is dangerous when it is during a disaster situation in which rapidly leaving the area becomes necessary. Moving at a fast pace, a healthy individual who is used to cross-country travel while carrying a heavy pack can only be expected to cover a few miles per day. A nuclear incident unfolding at a nuclear power plant may require much greater distances to be traveled to be safe than what can be traveled on foot in days. Though there should be an option in place if foot travel is absolutely necessary, there should also be a primary motor vehicle bug out plan and vehicle.
That red Corvette will get one away from a scene at over a hundred miles per hour, but its ability to travel on compromised road surfaces or off-road is severely limited. Other than taking a shortcut through a neighbor’s yard, a Corvette just cannot go hill climbing, trek over big rocks, or cross moving or standing water. Specialty vehicles are impractical and very expensive. By all means, if the funds are available, keep a specialty evacuation vehicle on standby. If, however, there are budget concerns, then a commercially produced SUV will suffice.
Jeep brand vehicles are a common choice for those who have a preparedness mindset. Jeep is not the only maker of suitable bug out vehicles but for purposes of this article will be elaborated upon. Consider the options mentioned when choosing a different brand of bug out motor vehicle. At the time of this writing, Jeep has models ranging from the Jeep Grand Cherokee to the smaller Compass. The most often chosen vehicle is one that off-road enthusiasts choose and that is a Jeep Wrangler. Now we have the Wrangler Unlimited four door vehicles.
Four-wheel drive is a must. Jeep does offer two-wheel drive models that must be avoided when putting together a bug out vehicle system. A Jeep can serve as a family vehicle as well as an adventure and bug out vehicle. It won’t be the car to sit in the driveway or garage. Don’t just fall in love with the good looks of any new SUV. Take the time to outfit it according to need. If one lives in an environment that gets frigid, then be sure to have the engine block heater option installed. If one can’t stand the idea of the minimal protection of a soft top, then opt for the three-piece hard top.
Steel wheels are always preferable to aluminum but may not be an option with some packages. Specialty tires will always outperform standard tires included with a commercially bought Jeep. Just don’t go overboard following a bunch of local hype. While some people outfit vehicles to get a certain look, we are discussing outfitting a vehicle to save lives in the event of a disaster requiring rapid evacuation.
Buy tires for the terrain that will be encountered. Finds a balance that will cover all of the seasons and modes of travel in which the vehicle will be used. Tens of thousands of miles on a highway with off-road tires can permanently ingrain that road “hum” in ones head, but a good set of tires made to get the Jeep over land in one’s home area can be a lifesaver.
Always go for the extra airbags even if it requires ordering from the factory rather than picking one off the lot. The extra airbags will be much appreciated if there ever is an accident. Manual or automatic transmission is not that important for evacuation purposes since the odds of using the vehicle in such a manner may be low depending on where one lives. Get what can be driven by most that will be in the group evacuating. If only one person knows how to drive a stick, then the choice for an automatic is a given.
Always opt for the skid plates to protect the undercarriage. Get the more sturdy roof racks since that is where the bug out containers will go. Be sure to get locking differentials on both the front and rear axles. This means that power will go to the wheel that has traction instead of a slipping tire endlessly spinning. This one option can save a life when evacuating during a disaster.
Go for the gasoline engine. It is a matter of fact that gas is more readily available in most urban areas of the United States. It is true that diesel may be found in storage tanks on most farms in the heartland, but gasoline is by far the more prevalent fuel available.
A quick checklist for outfitting a bug out vehicle should include:
Four-wheel drive
Locking differentials
Enough room for everyone evacuating
Enough space to pack bug out gear – sturdy roof racks to hold hard and soft containers
A large fuel tank
Ability to go off-road without having to get out of the vehicle to lock in four-wheel drive hubs
Think it through before buying. Get something that will be regularly driven by all family members with a license. Don’t ever wait until bugging out is necessary before testing the bug out gear. Be sure to have room for everything or decide now what to leave behind. People and pets first. Gear is secondary. Write down the pros and cons of a pending choice. Don’t rely on memory to make such an important decision.