Jun92010
Book Review: Bug Out: The Complete Plan for Escaping a Catastrophic Disaster Before It’s Too Late
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PDFGuest post by Bernie who blogs as the The Apartment Prepper
As a quick introduction about myself, I am a wife and mom who recently started my emergency preparedness journey. My family and I are new at this, and we have additional challenges unique to our situation, as we live in a small apartment in the middle of a large, densely populated city.
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I read this book hoping to glean information on what to do in case we have to leave our home in an emergency. I was not disappointed. Bug Out: The Complete Plan for Escaping a Catastrophic Disaster Before It’s Too Late by Scott B. Williams is well-organized and informative. It provides detailed information on what to pack in the bug out bag, methods of transportation, and concrete examples of good areas to go to in case you have to leave in a hurry. It also provides information on possible hazards in each area, along with common edible plants and animals native to each region. This is stuff we all need to know, but mostly don’t think about. While I hope nothing happens that is severe enough to drive us out of our home, I am glad to have this information just in case. I already recommended this book to my husband and he will be reading it next. I plan to order copies for the rest of my family as well.
Since we started our emergency planning, I have read a few books and blogs that emphasized either sheltering in place or moving to a rural retreat. As a city dweller in a large apartment complex, with no funds for a faraway retreat just yet, I have become concerned it will not likely be safe in our area if things were to fall apart with no place to go. This is the first book that gives concrete information on bugging out. It gives me hope we can make it out of here if we need to. This book is definitely a keeper.
For a different perspective, read Leon Pantenburg’s review here.
© 2010, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.
(7) Readers Comments
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Ruth Simmons
Thanks! Can you recommend your favorite first aid/field medicine book? I am hoping to pick up one of the CERT classes you mentioned this August but also want to have a good reference guide. I'm assuming you probably have a great one!
apartmentprepper
Hello, for first aid/field medicine I like Where There Is No Doctor: A Village Health Care Handbook by Jane Maxwell, Carol Thuman, David Werner, and Carol Thuman (Paperback – May 25, 1992). There is also When there is No Dentist by Murray Dickson for dental issues. Hope this helps!
TheSurvivalMom
Thanks, Bernie! One of my readers who has a medical background has promised to write a guest post, and when he does, we'll be sure to ask this question of him as well. Ruth, you might also do a search on Amazon for the U.S. Army Special Forces Medical Handbook, also available on Kindle. Wilderness Medicine by William Forgey is in my 72 Hour Kit and comes highly recommended.
LizLong
And Where There is No Doctor For Women. They are busy in the fields right now, but the link below is for the seeds for your own medicinal herb garden. http://www.heirloomseeds.com/herb2.htm
Ruth Simmons
Thank you all! I have the books ordered along with "Sawyer Extractor Professional Snake Bite & Insect Sting Kit" which I had never heard of but was mentioned in one of the reviews. Seemed like a great cheap item to pop in the medical kit since we do have poisonous snakes etc out here in AZ. Thank you for the seeds link, I am really trying to get a decent first garden up.
Hawaii Honey
Hi Lisa
I searched the blog for where I first read about William R. Forstchen's book "One Second After," but I couldn't find it anywhere. I think I remember you recommending it??? Maybe??? Anyway, thank you!!!!!! I just couldn't put it down. Cried through most of it. Heart- retching to say the least. Critics are correct when saying, "Horrific, but thought-provoking!" God help us all if that scenario comes down the pike!
Regardless, there were many many ideas in the book that could be helpful in a WTSHTF situation. I recommend it! Also, tonight on "60 Minutes" the topic of EMP was addressed. Finally! Someone is alerting the nation about it. I hope those watching went out and started their preparedness immediately!
mama4x
"grandpappy" writes a bunch of articles about prepping and one strikes cold fear to my heart is the "One hour meltdown." He has an EXCELLENT plan for city-dwellers with no country retreat which includes building some preps at a small storage unit near a hotel within a 2 day-hike of whatever city you live in. I was amazed at how thorough and wonderful it was. Here's the link: it's really good. http://www.grandpappy.info/hbigcity.htm