44 Responses to “10 Considerations for your Bug Out Location”

1. Gary Moore wrote:

   Can you recommend a good water filter

   August 11th, 2012 at 9:51 am
2. Carl in SC wrote:

   We’ve made some preparation with some emergency essentials but have yet to prepare a safe shelter in another area. We have a 12×20 foot corrugated aluminum storage building which I’ve considered making stronger, thus more secure, by adding siding over the aluminum and a stronger roof. It has electricity but we’ve ordered a solar power supply that would be sufficient. I do need ideas on how to put wood siding panels over the metal building. Hope you can help.

   We’ve not thought of another bug-out location although I’ve considered a slide-in camper for my pick-up truck that would, along with a tent, provide short term shelter.

   August 11th, 2012 at 10:03 am
3. Mike wrote:

   I live in San Diego. Short term, with 4m peeps living here, the highways will be crammed and therefore leaving is not an option. My bug out location is my home. Longer term — say, seeing the calamity coming in a couple of weeks and having the chance to leave quietly — I have family about 19 hours away.

   August 11th, 2012 at 10:25 am
4. Floss wrote:

   I use the Sawyer Point One bucket filter kit. One of the cheaper kits, and good for a million gallons +.

   A slide in camper will make your truck top heavy, and not clear low cut trails. It might not be the best thing to use.
   Are you planning to bury the container? Be careful if you do, as most are not deigned to hold that weight and may collapse on you.

   August 11th, 2012 at 10:30 am
5. Carl in SC wrote:

   There are slide-in truck campers that have a top which colapses to just a few inches above the cab which makes it lower and less top heavy when moving.
   I’ve considered a travel trailer which has to be light enough to pull with my Chevy S10 truck.
   As for the metal building I was speaking of putting the wood panels on the side,not the top, although I would like a more durable roof. I haven’t found any info on putting wood siding panels on the sides of a small storage building. So I’m fishing for ideas.
   Speaking of an underground container I love the idea but that is more expensive.

   August 11th, 2012 at 11:02 am
6. The Ready Store wrote:

   Hey Gary, we have a pretty good selection of filters that you can see here http://goo.gl/y05rQ.

   I personally like the Katadyn Vario. You can read more about it here http://goo.gl/gdxmJ

   August 11th, 2012 at 11:24 am
7. woodee wrote:

   Great article – might we see a printer-friendly version to this and similar articles in the near future?

   August 11th, 2012 at 11:25 am
8. Nancy wrote:

   How would it be possible bug out in a metropolitan area like Los Angles/Orange County. The traffic on a normal day is dense. It would be a Katrina-like nightmare. Doesn’t seem to be a Plan B for that contingency.

   August 11th, 2012 at 11:40 am
9. Shawn M wrote:

   Gary Moore… I recommend the Berkley line of water filters. They have multiple sizes, and are expandable. They are gravity fed, so no power required. And the history of them is good. They are what is used in 3rd world countries by a lot of health organizations. Just pick out the size you think you’ll need… and then I recommend going up one.
   They aren’t cheap, but they aren’t cheaply made either!! I also purchased 2 extra sets of filters. As they are ceramic they will last a long time, and can be cleaned until they wear out.

   Shawn

   August 11th, 2012 at 12:49 pm
10. Bruce A. wrote:

    We bought bug-out property in eastern Utah, but, thought it is close to water, a well is impractical as the land is high desert. It is also 1000 miles from where we live now.

    But, we have obtained an older 4X4 (much simpler to maintain)and are installing fuel tanks to provide 1200 mile range. Built a fully enclosed trailer to carry tools and our years worth of food storage.

    Just visited a friend’s bug-out property in northern Idaho. Water, game and shelter! Considering buying property there, but it is much closer to large urban population than is Eastern Utah.

    August 11th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
11. jess wrote:

    I live in a Blue State. High land cost, and even higher property taxes make it impossible for me to purchase a “one tank” bug-out property. Also Strict regulations and building codes make it impossible to build anything reasonably priced, and they prohibit sheds and out buidings. (Yes, I hate it, I can’t afford to stay, but I can’t afford to move) So, meanwhile does anyone have any Bug-Out Suggestions ? just 2 of us and a few cats. I’m doing fairly well with Bug-In, but have NO bug-out plan other than our Bug-out Bags.

    August 11th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
12. Shawn M wrote:

    To Carl in SC.
    Depending on the type of container you’re talking about. I’d bolt on 2×2′s, or 2×4′s, every 16 in on center. The you’ll also have a gap that you can insulate. This will cut down on the need for heat or AC.
    Then you can just nail the wood siding right onto it.
    You could also mount vertical 2×4′s to build a separate roof across the top. I’d highly recommend that as the majority of heat and cooling will be lost through the top, just like any house.

    Shawn

    August 11th, 2012 at 12:55 pm
13. Bonnie Anderson wrote:

    I too would love to see articles with a printer friendly option. This way I could add your great ideas to my preparation folder. Thank you for the great ideas.

    August 11th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
14. Mary wrote:

    I live in so. California in a home I rent. Have no idea where we could bug out to. Children also live in large cities except for one who is a minimum of 10 hours away by car. Other than bugging in I don’t know where we could go that would be safe. We have small tents and the weather stays fairly warm. Any suggestions

    August 11th, 2012 at 2:28 pm
15. Jase Valentine wrote:

    Dear Folks,
    Was just going to weigh in on Point 10(Medical), but saw a couple of errata to help with:

    From Shawn’s: The water filter brand is spelled Berkey. GET IT. The ‘Big Berkey’ is the Brit and UK, and disaster relief agencies standard. Get TWO or THREE, generally used to retail ’bout $287ea. – REMEMBER, “3is2,2is1,3is0,” when counting on equipment working – that’s the Special Operations rule of thumb standard. We have it for a reason, folks: Murphy.

    Next: Shelter. Putting wood siding on a ‘small metal bulding’ is a good thought, but will require studs and such to support them – in other words, a complete building – so don’t bother. (Cribbed from Monty Python: AND, NOW, FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!) Folks, don’t fight technology, even though a tendency exists in the self-preservation movement to sometimes kinda sorta go Luddite on housing. Don’t do it. Work smart. The log cabin is great, and I’m going to build one, too. But a smarter idea, which may well be my first ‘cabin:’ consider buying a used CONEX or OTR truck cargo container. Buy it, move it on site, bulldoze dirt up against it and over it – and you have an instant, permanent earth-sheltered structure that can be secured and made low-signature if you set it in a little defile – so it’s there and ready to rock when you get to it.(If it’s in Utah,Idaho,etc., glue EPS panels to the inside, cover with thin paneling. . .it’s insulated.)

    Original point: Take points 8 and 10 together. UNLESS you are a Board-certified surgeon, you’re sooner or later gonna die, w/o medical care, from something-or-other-reeeely-stupid-and-embarassing, I don’t care how many times you’ve read Farnham’s Freehold.
    If you’re going to need med support, I STRONGLY SUGGEST you make friends with, and try to talk into going partnership with a current or just retired Special Forces 18Delta Medical NCO(remember this from the beginning of the movie: “I am trained to perform any medical procedure outside the cranial cavity.”. . .?) ‘Cause if that buddy you go halfsies with is a surgeon – is he trained in trauma, and battlefield surgery?
    Additional point about partnership: Unless, and only unless, you two are the most mellow on the planet, plan on buying the larger share of the partnership and being the leader. Which you should be, ’cause you’re doin’ all this forward planning, right? Which is next: Be the leader. Not the tinpot. This is the 21st century: you can find out how to be an effective leader, train – starting NOW – and BECOME the leader your encampment will need. If you can’t, buy the smaller half of the deal, and faithfully FOLLOW THE GUY WHO is THE LEADER. A group can only function with one, effective, non-Neidermeyer-type leader. Otherwise, it eventually goes down the tube. And, that leader has to be good at it, learning always, and can work, and work with, his people – so they always see they have working plans and goals that keep them going.
    If you don’t, you’re all gonna die, anyhow, no matter how many Big Berkeys you bought.

    Let’s avoid that.

    August 11th, 2012 at 2:39 pm
16. Dave Johnson wrote:

    I read some good suggestions coming from a lot of different people. Air, Water, Food, Shelter. Air – 3 minutes, Water – 3 days, Food 3 weeks, Shelter – Depends on where you are at.In that order. Air is free but how pure is it and what is in it(NBC). Water, the same criteria. Food, minimum 1 year supply for each person (freeze dried 25 yr shelf life).
    Good luck living in the cities when SHTF. Lots of people, no water, no food, lots of zombies looking for what you’ve got. Get out early. Create a spot to be your bugout location and make friends there. Shipping container buried at least 3′ underground in remote location that has spring or well that can be easily defended. You cannot survive on your own. You need approximately 10 – 20 people to survive. Reach out and pool your resources and create a compound and make it a vacation spot with “extra stuff” that will serve all of you when SHTF.

    August 11th, 2012 at 3:33 pm
17. Doug wrote:

    Good Posts but, no one has mentioned what they are preparing for! I think that is most important and drives the kind of preparation that needs to be made. I am not preparing for the end of the world, or political / economic failure. I am most concerned about a Katrina type event that could last several weeks.

    I am near the Gulf of Mexico and in the past a Cat 3 has removed power and water for up to a week. I have a Motor Home, onboard gas and water (fill all when a storm is a coming), 18 Gal additional fuel (for small generators and dual fuel stoves) 18 #10 cans of ready nation freeze dried foods, 2 cases of MRE, Energy Bars, water tablets, pots to boil in–and matches.

    The first aid and medical needs are an important point. I have put together a good kit. big and small bandages, disinfectant, antibiotics, stiches and staples, creams and ointments, sun block and bug spray,

    The tools are basic tools: Mechanic tools, shovel, saw, axe, hatchet, sheaf knives,bow and arrows, rifle, shotgun, and 357 with ammo for all.

    There are several inland places to go and we may need to barter or defend the camp. Some good barter is tobacco and rolling papers, alcolol, and playing cards.

    If it gets worse than a couple of weeks, It is nice to know I can have more than 1 bug out location.

    Hope We never need to do it!

    August 11th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
18. Passerby wrote:

    We also have a metal 12×16 shed that could be covered. In thinking about how I would wood-panel it, first apply a layer of primer over the metal, layer of insulation over that, 1/2 in. of whatever plastic, foamboard, etc. you want to use, then screw in your wooden board over that. Then you got the inside to worry about.

    Course, if the bldg. is in place to stay, I would mudbrick the whole thing, just not in Washington State.

    August 11th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
19. Linda in SC wrote:

    In response to carl In SC, Is this a container,or a shed with sheet metal siding? If it’s a shed, is it wood-framed? If it’s a container, does it have a wood bottom? R-mat insulation is very easy to work with, but only provides a resisistance value of about 2.5. But it’s certianly 2.5 times better than no insulation. Consider cedar (northern white) for your siding. It has air cells, and almost no sap, which makes it naturally resisistant to termitesand beetles, as well as other insects. Eastern Red Cedar has less insulating resistance,but its aromatic properties discourage roaches and also help to deflect human odors. Don;y buy it from a bog-box store. The qualty is terribly inferior. Buy from a small mill or lumber specialty store, where you will get better quality.

    Starting small is much better than not starting at all. At least you have a bug-ou location with a roof, which is more than half the population. If cost is a factor, T-111 siding comes in 4 x 8 sheets, like plywood,and can be installed directly over flat metal siding, and the sizefo the R-Mat is the same. You can always add layers on the inside of the building later, when you have more time and money.

    Water Food, and Sanitation should be you next priorities, as well as a defense plan.

    August 11th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
20. Carl in SC wrote:

    Linda,the building is a storage building or shed with a wood floor on treated skids which I think are 2×8″. I was thinking of using 2″x4″ or 2″x2″ studs nailed on the outside of the corrugated metal sides, putting some type insulation between the studs and nailing the 4×8′ siding to the studs. Insulation on the inside walls, a roof-over with insulation and I should have a solid, efficient and quiet little building. I’ve seen some good suggestions for enhancing this building and I thank you all for your help. For me I believe I’ll find it easier to work with this existing building than to start from scratch.

    August 11th, 2012 at 4:49 pm
21. Carl in SC wrote:

    If we have to leave our property for some reason for another bug-out place we’ll probably go with a slide-in camper or a pop-up or travel trailer (Hi-Lo). We can use a solar generator with these. A stockpile of food would have to be transported also and a 6 month to year supply is a large amount to transport. We have water filter pitchers but may need to buy the Berkey type if we encounter dirty water in some areas. I’ve seen some small filters for hikers that the makers say can be used to clean water in polluted streams. It’s going to take some more thought but I believe we need to prepare for these emergency situation. I want to be prepared. So now I need to make some notes. Thanks for this article.

    August 11th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
22. Craig Chambers wrote:

    To Mary,
    Make friends with someone out in the boonies. Most preppers will need additional people to help out with security, food growing, etc. Do you have any skills that would make you more valuable in that type of situation.
    I’m in the high desert in SE Cali. Write me at ccdewey2001@yahoo.com and we can talk. I’ll need more help here when the time comes.

    August 11th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
23. Tammy wrote:

    Do you have a below ground basement that stays dry? Why not consider reinforcing your basement and making a shelter in place plan? Based on my own research I’ll be buying a First Need water filter. I have yet to see a bad review on it. Wikipedia has a map of all the nuclear sites in the U.S. we’ve figured out where we are in relation to them and where we’d go if any given one of them ever had a major emergency, provided we had enough warning. If there was ever a disaster on a scale that would knock out power long term- months to years, all the prepping in the world won’t help when containment vessels and equipment begin to fail at all the nuclear and chemical plants, so keep it in perspective.

    August 11th, 2012 at 5:25 pm
24. Tammy wrote:

    One more thing I forgot to put in my post- check out the LifeStraw personal water filter. This is what relief agencies are distributing in Africa to keep people from getting sick by parasites. It can filter up to 1000 liters of water and you drink right through it like a straw. A steal at about $22-25 each considering it can filter enough drinking water to keep 1 person alive for about 8 months.

    August 11th, 2012 at 5:36 pm
25. Pat wrote:

    We bought a military tent that has a lining, fly and skirt for insulation. It also has a stove that works off of muti-fuel. (wood & Kerosene). We store water, food and many other supplies for energy, health, hygenie, solar, communications, clothes, shoes, protection, etc. When the time comes we will be able to go to a safe place set up and be good year round. I think we have thought of everything, but until your in the situation you don’t know. I’m sure I’ll be saying I should have gotten……

    August 11th, 2012 at 6:49 pm
26. Kyle G wrote:

    As far as the city people are concerned. All you really have to do is wait out the people that didnt prepare in a secret location. If you have basic handyman skills you can create a fake wall and hide a basement door, and keep barricading type items on the other side when you go in for the longer haul. As far as outside doors to the basement a shed built strategically on top of the doors with a false floor will take care of that as well. Even a closet can be utilized with the same false wall preparation method for sleeping securely, or enlarged for longer term arrangements. Prepare at least 3 months of food water etc ideally 6 months. If the disaster is severe there wont be many left after that time, if its not that severe you will have weathered out the chaos period. This is a good temporary solution until a more permanent solution can be found for your particular area.

    August 11th, 2012 at 7:51 pm
27. Passerby wrote:

    Carl, there are so many of us who are paying attention to the Man upstairs, wondering what the Truth is, and then, what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. For what’s it worth, don’t look to have to transport any more than you absolutely have to when the time comes. If that means dig something under your shed to hide supplies, do so. Nobody has to know what you’re doing; this implies a lot of elbow grease; so be it. The Ready Store has some of the best storage supplies I know of. The land I bought was $500 down and no credit check; look around. Keep quiet! For the most part, the dead stay under the ground, protected; think the same way. Remember, this article was about bugout bags; wherever you’re going to end up, you’ve got about 72 hrs. to get there. Carrying anything else is going to slow you down, not to mention who you meet on the way out. Whether you sojourn or plant in one place, freeze-dried foods last longer than anything else and this place has got ‘em…A shed is just a shed.

    August 11th, 2012 at 8:01 pm
28. BobBob wrote:

    I probably have a years worth of food prep where I am now. Man, its been a fight with the wife. Every can or pea brings a fight. Got 18, 55 gal food grade drums and purifier for that times maybe 500. I am alone as far as prepping in my house. Wife and kids think Im out of my mind. Funny, when we need something they go right to the supplies. There are a million things to think about beyond these basic 10. I like the idea of getting a container and covering it. I thought about covering it with earth and planting indigenous weeds and such over it. Also some diversion mounds so the location doesnt stand out.
    Using a fire produces smoke. Anyone know of a smokeless system or method?
    I study the videos of the Pathfinder on youtube. Hes from that TV show on twin survivalists. Hes great. No BS stuff. All good.
    I would be difficult to stock food and other things ahead of time with people raiding vacation homes and all.
    Learning to trap and use minimal things with multifunctions is important.
    Stock tons of vitamins.
    Does anyone else have a difficult time confiding in people about your plans, or finding people of the same thought? I sure do. Tell as few people as possible about anything you are doing.
    More thoughts later.
    Good sight here.

    BB

    August 11th, 2012 at 8:58 pm
29. Passerby wrote:

    I’ve got a soft spot for those who are in cities with children, thinking there’s no alternative but to stay put. We moved 12 years ago to the country (still country at this point in time) after having been robbed. Tough; took all the financial resources we had at the time. For us, it was the right thing to do.

    It’s a change of mindset. I still get tested. Learn all you can, do the best you can, hand the rest over.

    I’ve often wondered what I would put into a bugout bag to be able to live off the land in? You know, the “last resort bag.” The one covered in dust when somebody finds out where you are and you’re able to excape, or when camping or hiking for a week or so. Does the Ready Store or anyone have any suggestions on this?

    August 12th, 2012 at 5:30 am
30. Michelle wrote:

    A suggestion for those talking about covering an existing shed with wood panelling… Have any of you considered using earth bags instead? Earth bag construction usually consists of essentially sandbags filled with dirt and rocks. Rock filled bags along the bottom for a stronger foundation, and sit filled bags higher up. Depending on how thick you want your walls to be, you could get a lot of insulation just out of the earth bags and depending on the thickness of your wall, you could end up with bullet and tornado proof walls. There are several great sites out on the web about earth bag construction and there are often workshops available so you can learn more by helping build a structure.

    I’ve mostly been prepping for job loss. We have plenty of friends and family who are struggling right now because it is getting harder to find work. Low pay jobs are still available, but more skilled labor positions are becoming increasingly difficult to get into even with plenty of experience. We personally had a short period of income loss when my husband had a heart attack just two years ago. I had been trying to keep more food in the house, but we had family move in with us who didn’t have jobs for a while, so reserves were drained in our pantry and our bank account, so the time he was restricted from work was difficult for us. Our daughter was only a couple months old. Thankfully we had family and friends to help out, but I’m working hard to provide for us in the future as well. We never know when something can take us out of the work force or for how long.

    I do have a buyout location in mind if things got really bad, for whatever reason. We have family in the country we could stay with, and land we could build on and move to eventually. We’ve also paid off credit cards and vehicles so we have less to worry about with creditors, etc if income became a problem again.

    Anyhow, there are lots of great ideas here. Thanks everyone for sharing.

    August 12th, 2012 at 7:41 am
31. Lucinda C wrote:

    Someone posted that it is important to know what type of event you are preparing for…That being said..I would imagine that we should be prepared for all types of events economic as well as natural disasters and of course the ever threatening nuclear disaster. I have read many books to help me prepare but am a relatively new “prepper”.
    My beginning preparations have included water storage, and heirloom seeds. I am trying to prep my own food storage and avoiding freeze dried etc to save $$.
    We live on 2.5 acres in the high desert of So Ca. We have a well. I am thinking about a manual pump for when it all goes down. We have some chickens but no fruit trees or anything like that.
    So many things yet to acquire and of course the ever limited budget. We haven’t
    made any preps for bugging out. We would like to purchase out of state property but that would reduce the $$$$ available for prepping here. I think first we will “bug in” then expand our plans to “bug out”.
    We have looked at AZ which is close to us…but will also share the same water availability problem. ID is lovely but the best prepper areas are at least a hard 20 hr drive…not sure that is doable in a TEOTWAWKI!!

    August 12th, 2012 at 9:09 am
32. Nancy wrote:

    How does one know their bug-out place will be any safer? Quakes and fires and floods can devastate the land in the blink of an eye. And again – how to get out of town when everyone else is trying to? And no one has addressed the issue of dead bodies and what to do with them.

    August 12th, 2012 at 11:15 am
33. A. Richards wrote:

    Great information and posts! I live in Houston TX and was here during both Rita and Ike. After the attempted evacuation of several million people from the greater Houston area (Hurricane Rita) – with 3 – 5 DAYS notice, it was an epic fail. The famously long traffic jams from Hurricane Rita are now stock footage for any doomsday scenario show. I think for a really devastating scenario, and evacuation announcements are made – there is no way people will be able to leave. Example: San Antonio is approx 3 hr drive from Houston, during the Rita evacuation – 12 hours to get there. And those were the lucky ones that left ‘early’. My point to all of this is that if anyone is living in a densely populated area – bugging in may be the most realistic way to go.

    August 12th, 2012 at 10:23 pm
34. Roger B. wrote:

    If you are a city dweller and think you are going to live off the land, hole up and defend yourself or any of these other scenarios, you are probably kidding yourself. Trapping?? Bartering? Really. Unless you live in the country, hunt and fish, grow your own food,are special ops or Bear Grylls all of the preparation for the SHTF might make you feel better but will be of little use.

    Agree with Nancy and A. Richards. Be ready for short-term disaster-i.e. power outage in the dead of winter. Bug out bag or 72 hour kit is a good idea. Beyond that, we have a vested interested in seeing that the S just doesn’t HTF.

    August 13th, 2012 at 8:12 am
35. Dan T. wrote:

    First, it is so encouraging to read the thoughts of so many like minded people all in different stages of preparation for their survival.I have been in preparation mode for about two and a half years.
    I am just finishing the book,”One Second After”, by William Forstchen, that describes the very real and sobering details and possibilities of trying to survive the aftermath of an EMP strike on America. I would recommend the book to you all. Although it is a fictional account of survival in a small southern town, it not only gives wonderful tidbits of valuable information beyond what “we” might have thought about and are preparing for in various ways, it gives us glimpse of human behavior at its worst when panic, desperation, and death are the harsh realities of the times. Join with others that you can trust and develop a plan A, B, and C.

    August 14th, 2012 at 9:31 am
36. Diane wrote:

    I live in the country and a conex seems to me like a good idea. How would you provide for air? I have a well and would also like to know more about where to purchase a manual pump, if anyone can provide suggestions it would be greatly appreciated. I am new to this but would like to start preparing a bug out location.

    August 14th, 2012 at 9:47 am
37. Mel wrote:

    I have talked to my wife about finding a bug out place and she thinks that I am nuts. I have the view that once a long term disaster happens, some people will kill others for food and lodging. I would prefer to have my bug out place to be isolated and defendable.

    August 14th, 2012 at 5:28 pm
38. William wrote:

    Diane, and anybody else; Go online to Lymans, they have many good things one would need in a bad situation. They have stuff that is used by the Amish, so you know it will work the old fastion way before electricity.
    Remember to have more than one Bug-out plan and Bug-out bag. Murphy is always ready to get in the way!

    August 15th, 2012 at 6:44 am
39. Audrey wrote:

    I think the website for Amish products mentioned above, “Lymans” is supposed to be “Lehmans.”

    August 15th, 2012 at 8:25 am
40. michelle dowell wrote:

    William, do you mean “Lehmans”? I have also found them to be a great source. Good customer service.

    August 15th, 2012 at 10:48 am
41. Dave wrote:

    If things are that bad, going to a hospital would probably mean that the authorities will detain you and it could mean being put in a refugee (or what ever)camp.. but then, if you are hurt / sick enough to go to a hospital, that might be best for you. In this situation, if you chose to go to a hospital, don’t plan on being allowed to go back to your retreat.

    August 16th, 2012 at 9:19 am
42. Passerby wrote:

    I remember a YouTube documentary on four families who are ‘preppers’ at different stages and styles. I liked the last one; underground, fully stocked except for extra water, and above all, anonymous for the most part. If I tell anyone where I am or what I’m doing, I’ve just opened the wrong door, and where my immediate family is concerned, even then I wonder. I don’t have to know people personally to pray for them. As to uses for duct tape on another article, maybe one of the best uses is over my own mouth, I’ll admit.

    August 23rd, 2012 at 4:35 am
43. Bob Anderson wrote:

    The biggest problem for me at least is: proximity to DC (my wife is F@#) and lack of money with which to DO anything else, or buy anythinng else. We would like to go back to the F#@ site in WV, where we spent part of the 90s. But, here, we have no money with which to do anyting; a small townhome, no garage, no real storage area. Except for water purifiers and firearms (hunter for 55 years, lots of firearms), we are ‘stuck’, unless and until a billet becomes available in WV. In the meantime, traffic daily is a nightmare; in a crisis, realistically, we would be trapped, and gangs of local thugs from DC and other bad counties would,on foot, be here in hours. What to do!??? Suggestions? Bob Anderson

    September 14th, 2012 at 8:32 pm
44. Carl in SC wrote:

    Wondering if any updates since 9/14/2012. I’ve decided on going with the conversion of my 12 x 20 foot corrugated metal building into a tiny bug-out house. First, I will cover outside and top of my corrugated metal building with plywood paneling over 2×4 studs. There are exposed wood beams under the floor to which I could attach 2×4 horizontal studs around the perimeter of the building to which the vertical studs would be mounted so depth will be 2″ inches, not 4 inches. Insulation between the studs on outside, then the siding.
    On inside more 2×4 uprights secured thru metal sides to the 2×4 uprights outside. Then insulate the walls, put in paneling or thin sheetrock.
    Putting a wood roof over the top will complete the outside and make it snug and quiet. Of course, insulation will go between old corrugated metal roof and new plywood roof. New windows and regular house door will convert this into a tiny home.

    February 7th, 2013 at 3:49 pm

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