CP – a SHTF Blog minion loyalist – is asking for reader feedback. Whereas Rawles does survival consulting for astronomical fees, here at this site our fee is FREE. I’ll offer my immediate thoughts and invite readers to do the same.
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I would like your thoughts on something. When it comes to bugging out it’s all about having you’re gear ready to go at a moment’s notice, practicing the skills now so you have them when you need them, etc. There’s a plethora of information out there.
There is something that I haven’t seen covered though. Bugging out with disabilities. For SHTF/TEOTWAKWI/WROL scenarios, I have at minimum a general idea of what I would do in certain situations. The worst case is really bugging out, grabbing my INCH bag and booking it to a buddy’s place, possibly grabbing my brother along the way.
However, one of my best friends is blind and I haven’t had the chance to ask him what he thinks about prepping/the state of the world today. I have no idea what I would do if I had to bug out and take him with me….and I’m worried that if I don’t think about it, then no one will. One big issue is his dog, I love his dog to death, but it doesn’t obey off leash. I just wanted your thoughts on how to talk to hi about it and perhaps what kind of accommodations/ plans can be made? I’m seriously stumped, short of carrying him which I can’t do.
I live in the city, in the dorms/apartments. There’s a national park area nearby I can go into if we need to, though I’d probably be heading my my parents who live around 300 miles away. More than a bit of a hike, I know, but they are the closest. Depending on the situation, I might have to move on to a friend of mine who lives around 700 miles from them (out west).
– CP
Photo by WELS.net
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Thank you for not being an “I only care about me” prepper. Your interest in caring for friends and family is what we need more of in the prepper community. I think the first, most obvious thing is to talk with your blind friend about his/her own security. The recent, tragic events in Japan provide an excellent opportunity to ask the “what would you do if” question. Offer your bugging out assistance and sincere interest in helping.
But before you build a bug out plan, I think the first thing you should consider are the parameters around when/if bugging out makes sense at all. What are the threats to your location that would require bugging out? Would bugging IN be more prudent?
I’m not saying that you should only plan to bug in. I think particularly where you live in the city you need a contingency plan. The national park idea might will probably present problems. How long can you realistically stay there before needing food and supplies? If it’s next to a city, how many other people do you think will flock to the park? It could be a dangerous place.
Traveling by foot with a blind friend and his/her dog will present serious challenges as I’m sure you’re aware. My first step in the bug out plan would be to leave fast – by car – if possible. Don’t wait around thinking “maybe it’ll improve” – particularly in this case.
I may have dug at Rawles in the opening of the post about his consulting fees (partially joking and partially jealous), but Survival Blog has covered prepping/disabilities a few times. I don’t recall anything recently about helping people that are blind, but you may want to conduct a keyword search at his site in addition to whatever feedback you might get here.
Blind people have hiked the entire Appalachian Trail. What you’re trying to isn’t impossible, it’s just challenging. Thanks for the note.
– Ranger Man
BTW: what’s WROL?
18 comments
I live with blind family members and they are quite resourceful. I have to say however that most blind folks(especially at the level you describe) who live full independant lives live so in the construct of society. What I mean by that is that if they are totally blind(yes there are different levels of blindness) then they use a seeing eye dog for assistance, they use a cain to help get around they can read braile most times and things that are posted(elevator intructions, bathrooms placards etc) are posted in brail. Some folks are higher functioning thatn others and may rely less on thier surroundings and more on thier senses and abilities. This one, sounds like perhaps he should be networked in with a group or others who will help him in tough times. My family members function at different levels one, while being legally blind can drive with the aid of contacts and glasses(during daylight hrs.) the other can see and read with aids, but cant drive, another can bairly see with glasses and only upclose and at ceratian angles. IT really depends on how hi functioning they are. You also have to remember that self defense can become a major issue. Without some others to assist, I am affraid that your friend might become a casualty of situation to the less than compassionate thugs and looters and such that will likely be roaming around in a break down situatuion. Coordination with friends and family members is the key and perhaps an individual bug out plan to a summer home or location(think small town) where things may be less turmultuous during crisis. Places like that are easier to negotiate around and everyone knows everyone, people are moroe lily to look out for each other in those environments.
As for the national parks, yeah I know its a bit sketchy and I’ve heard a million time that that is where people will go,but it is an option, if one that should be considered with care. Also, I showed him an article on a blind blind man hiking the trail a while ago and he said that it was awesome.
Spook45: Nice to see I’m not the only with blind friends/family. Rand (as I shall call him,because it would make him laugh) has a cane,but I’ve never seen him use it. He much prefers to use J (as I will call his dog for the rest of the post) or simple feel around in areas that he knows well like right outside his room. He is ‘completely’ blind, he once told me he can sometimes see shadows, and on another occasion he said that he likes nighttime better because he can see more (the darker the better), dunno. The network idea is a good one, cept that I’m still trying to pull together a small network myself or at least two more people (not including Rand) for a team to help each other out. I didn’t move here by choice, I was uprooted. I don’t know anyone out here.
Chris: I agree on the bugging in. Non of the windows in my building open. If the powers out and fire alarms aren’t working, it won’t matter when I suffocate/die of carbon monoxied poisoning. If I wasn’t worried about keeping a low profile during a bug in – I might bust out the window,but that doesn’t sound bright either. BTW I live 3-4 floors up from the nearest ground level entry (there are doors on the 1-2 and even I think on the 3rd floor). I’m in a dorm building with interior halllways, less like an apartment. Hes on the first floor of a different building.
Irish: He’s not from here, he lives an apartment across the way. That is a good idea on the “naked bag”. I was thinking yesterday I need to keep a change of clothes in the car when I move out and have to drive, for those Murphy days. (During my last class yesterday after a bad day, a soda exploded in my lap and it wasn’t even mine). He does not have a GPS,but he might have an iphone soon.
Thanks for the help so far guys. Now I need to get back to work. I haven’t moved from my computer since I got up this morning. XD
keep a separate kit in the car. the naked bag stuff is for getting you there, without freezing, or getting arrested.
WROL = Without Rule of Law
You mention bugging in,but living in the dorms myself….yeah. I can’t really bug in here. Plus, I think perhaps CP was thinking of some scenarios where they can’t stay put? In which case you just have to get out quickly or do your best. I agree that National Parks can be scary places and people will flock to them….maybe. It all depends.
The bug in suggestion, seems short term to me though. My dorm window doesn’t even open so if I’m bugging in and I don’t have power, I can’t really burn anything in here. i will have invest in some heaters/MRE-ish heater meals for the short-term. A long-term bug in could be problematic. Plus, with bugging in, I assume her friend is in the dorms as well. Is he/she even in the same building? What floor does he/she live on? What floor does CP live on? I’m just thinking of having a dog and bugging in in the ever so small living space that I have….ug. Plus if bugging in, do you take the dog outside to answer natures call or figure something else out?
CP,
is your friend a permanent resident there, or does he/she have family somewhere else? maybe you could facilitate the trip home for friend and dog, without additional danger to yourself, or even cache some of your supplies with them.
blind or sighted, you each need at least a “naked bag” that you can grab and go, if the fire alarm goes off while you’re in the shower… (thanks to Joe the “viking” for that idea) you also need a meetup spot away from your dorm rooms, so you can account for each other, or know to begin a search.
if your friend has a “talking” GPS, maybe you could find a few safe spots, and program them in.
While I am sure that being blind is a challenge, that only the blink can fully understand, why not think that the other senses are more accute, in particular hearing. I would bet that in a SHTF situation when everyones emotions and senses are on high alert, blind people will hear what would not normally be heard.
As far as buging-out, In todays world there must be plenty af aids to help the person. I would be practicing hiking, leading and following by both parties on a regular basis without a leader dog, Develop a raport wirh each other.
JMHO
Carl
Okay, we need to brainstorm here. I am thinking that you guys need to come up with a plan. If you want to bug out, that is fine, but prepare for it. Know that your friend will be taking his dog. So, maybe you want to get the dog used to carrying a pack so that he can carry his own supplies (dogfood & water) so that will not be an extra burden. Then, I would take them hiking and train the dog to follow you while you are at point. Usually blind people are pretty sure footed and if the dog is a working dog, it should be very trainable. Also, find out what advantages that your friend may have. Some blind people have an incredible sense of smell while others have great hearing. If nothing else, the dog will probably have both those strenghts too, so find out how you can use those strengths.
As with all things that are perceived as obstacles, you need to figure out how you can turn it around to your advantage. Your friend may be the best person to bug out with. At least he won’t be second guessing whatever path you choose.
I am a believer that if I’m in a group we will all pull together and take care of each other. With the right care even disabled people can make it. But (and there is always a but) if it were someone outside my group or a complete stranger who because of disability, attitude, injury, or whatever was going to put the rest of us at risk if we slow down or make a bad choice I would leave them. In fact I would go one step further and say I would leave someone behind if my good sense and experience convinced me there was going to be a problem from them in the future.
CP, your friend has senses attuned higher than yours, and the dog even more. I believe if you get him fully on board with prepping and training together, you will get the 1+1=3 effect. You need to train to be blind also, so you can follow him in no light situations.
Others have made the points I was going to (heightened senses, dog as an advantage, the “disabled” person being able to pretty much care for themselves, etc.), so I will try and come up with something else…
Alright… If you “bug-in”, your friend can probably prove very useful not only because he will more than likely be able to hear/smell better than you can, which can help with OPSEC, but you could also have him work on tasks around your location while you are attending to other things. My aunt was blind, and extremely dexterous with her hands, she taught me and my cousins how to sew, cross stitch and could cook/prep food better than I can (and yes the name ChefBear is because I am a chef).
One thing to note, I am prepping for family members who have disabilities, and to some degree myself (I suffered a pretty bad back injury a few years back, my father has PTSD and Gulf War Syndrome, Ma is diabetic), you really need to try and plan everything possible to make things easier when the time comes. For example, if your friend agrees to come “on board” with your emergency plans, what will he do if something happens to you… like an injury… illness… or if the worst happens to you? I understand that it is impossible to plan for every eventuality, but try and cover as many as possible, it can literally save your tail (and his) in an emergency!
I just read back over the post and came up with another important issue you may want to consider. If something serious goes down (east of the Miss. River/National), I am headed to the Nashville area from central VA to make sure my Girl is all right, and then probably bring her back here (depending on how bad things are). One of the problems I have come across with such a long “bug out” is supplies. Chances are, if things are bad enough that I am headed out there, then there is a good possibility that supplies such as fuel, food, clean water, first-aid gear, and ammo will be hard to come by from stores along the way.
To help resolve this problem, I have stashed some supplies, ammo and stabilized fuel at locations along the route with people I trust, like family and close friends. For example, the 1/2 way point is my friends hunting cabin (it’s actually about 40mi from 1/2 way, and 5 mi off the road down an old logging road). I have 600 .45 rounds along with 8 mags (I don’t go out without my M1911), one of my older shotguns with 150 shells (slugs, 00 & 000 buck and bird shot), 2 extra camel-back bladders with 1 case, 24 MRE’s and 12 freeze-dried meals (I made myself), along with enough gear to fill my first-aid kit twice, motor oil/radiator fluid/brake fluid/transmission fluid for my JEEP, extra clothes (thermal underwear, socks, hunting gear, etc.) there is also a natural spring about 200yds from the cabin that always has water. The idea is that if need be, I can stop and re-supply/rest at the cabin both on the way out and the way back. I have several other locations with similar supplies, just not in the same quantities, the cabin would be the main re-supply point. I would suggest setting up something similar if you can.
Sorry, I forgot to mention that it is a 600 mile trip (one way) to get from my place in VA to hers in TN. If it has to be done on foot, it would require even more strategically placed “caches” than what I have the capacity to implement at the moment… and probably SEVERAL good sets of hiking boots!
I’m not sure, I really need to get him camping and test out the waters with things. Schedule’s been really hectic so I haven’t talked to him yet. Also, the problem we run into if we train the dog like that is that J already has a tendency to listen to me and not Rand. Its all I can do sometimes to keep myself from giving him commands when he doesn’t listen to Rand the first time. Then J already really likes me too much and I’m really good with animals. On a side note, I eventually want to train an SAR dog.
@ chefbear:
Your heading straight through my neck of the woods, I think. Let me pull up a map… yeah, most likelyXD.
Oh and just found a pair of combat boots in my size 🙂 now i just need to brake them in.
My dad has a service dog, for PTSD and Gulf War Syndrome (similar effects to Alzheimer’s). She is a border collie, and she listens to me better than she does him, but in this case it’s because he refuses to discipline her and will not exert his dominant role. I have been working on it with him, and it’s gotten better but there is still a lot of work to do.
An option for on the trail restraint for the dog- I don’t know the brand, but there is a leash which is made specifically for service dogs. The part you would normally hold wraps around your waist and then through a clip, then connects to the dogs collar, but works best with a harness. Also, my dad has taken Lexi (his service dog) on the Appalachian trail with him, she carries all her food/water/first-aid gear/meds and even an emergency pack of his meds in a small pack which is built into her harness. This helps cut down on how much he had to carry, just be careful not to over load the pooch, depending on the breed they may not have the endurance for much weight (Lexi, being a herding dog, could handle about 15-20lbs… almost 1/2 her weight!).
Combat boots are OK, but a good set of hiking boots will be MUCH easier on your feet over long distances/rough terrain. The exception I can think of which would justify having specifically combat boots are the “jungle issue” ones from Vietnam era, if you are moving through rubble or over an area which might have screws/nails sticking up. The Vietnam “Jungle” boots, some of them at least, have a steel plate that runs through the sole of the boot. This could help prevent puncture injuries, they were originally designed for stopping/slowing penetration of pongee stakes.
CP, well he’s blind so he can walk.He can carry a bob,possibly his dog can carry his own doggie bob.If dog doesn’t mind off leash,don’t let him off leash or tether a dog chain would be noisy and heavy. Perhaps a rope system,whereby each member holds on to rope not necessarily tied in case you must make a fast break. Possibly walkie talkie headsets you can whisper info directions etc to him. Cool that you are thinking of your friend!
China
III
What a good question? Theres so many facets to that question its hard to git your head around it Certainly if there were some training op- purtunities begin to understand there limitations.
Off the hip i would think bugging in would be the answer unless you were (1) unable to because of immediate and imminent danger. or (2) a percieved future threat.
That said I would look to move to the safest place possible very early on
Better to leave early and have false alarm so to speak than be caught out.
IMHO ……….
The only thing about caching is I’m still working on my own supplies here, though I’m getting their slowly. Really need a water filter though. Plus, I have no one to cache stuff with between here and the parents….I might know one or two people who would be between me and the friend out west if I ever do have to go that far.
I think I found a nearby mountain biking/hiking trail. I may see about getting him to hike with me. To get used to different terrain,plus to train Jeffrey not to grab sticks or chase squirrels.