A recent thread on the UK Preppers forum highlighted the perils of choosing a poor location for your bug out location (BOL). This a particular issue here in the UK when compared to the USA as I mentioned in my earlier post.

In the thread, a forum member had discovered a prepper’s bug-out location hidden in woods.  It was well hidden but clearly not well hidden enough.  The prepper(s) in question had apparently done a good job in constructing it which would have taken some effort and planning.  They also had a bed as well as boxed and sealed supplies stored inside.  However, they made the crucial mistake of building it on public land where it always stood a high probability of discovery.

Location, Location, Location

There are a number of points to consider when choosing a bug-out location and a more comprehensive article on the subject is high on my to-do list.  The headline issue simply has to be the location you choose.  Even if you ignore the task of getting to it, the location has to provide the basics, including the following:

  • Is it secure?
  • Can you control access?
  • How well hidden is it?
  • How easy would it be for someone to take what you have?

As I see it, the biggest mistake this prepper made was construction their bug-out shelter on public land.  It was discovered by a dog-walker walking through the woods.  The dog walker happened to be a prepper who realised what he had found but it could just as easily have been some exploring children.  Once it was discovered and a note was left to warn to that effect, the shelter was quickly vacated.

My first rule of bug-out locations would be If you don’t own it you have zero chance of securing it.  That’s part of what makes bugging out in the UK so much more difficult than in the USA.  Land is less plentiful. It’s more expensive and if you do buy some, you will almost certainly have neighbours and potentially nosey ones at that.