DECIDING TO BUG-IN OR BUG-OUT (STAY OR GO?)

Desperation is the raw material of drastic change. Only those who can leave behind everything they have ever believed in can hope to escape

William S. Burroughs, Writer

Stay or go? That is the question after a disaster or during a crisis. Sometimes, it is clear that it’s time to bug-out. For example, during a wildfire that is close to burning down your neighborhood or when ordered to evacuate by government officials, you would clearly want to leave.

However, even during an ordered evacuation, some people choose to stay. The decision to bug-in or bug-out ultimately lies with you and will depend on a number of factors.

The time to consider these factors is before a disaster or crisis occurs. In that way, you know by given conditions what the decision should be for that event. Following are a couple of checklists to help you assess situations that you might encounter during a disaster.