Don’t Draw Attention to Yourself and Your Supplies When Bugging Out
If you find yourself bugging out, you’re not going to be by yourself or your family. There are going to be other people out and about as you’re trying to make it to your bug out location.
Eventually, these masses start to thin out as you near your location and your path won’t be as jam-packed as it was earlier. However, there will still be people around and not all will be friendly. This is when you want to make yourself as invisible as possible.
It’s not the time to show off what you can do or what you have. When you stick out in a crowd of people who are shocked, worried and growing increasingly panicked, it will only put a really big target on you.
By fitting into the crowd or by being invisible if you’re not in a crowd, you’re less likely to be singled out as a target. People are going to be looking for someone who has what they need.
Sometimes in a SHTF situation where you have to bug out, people are going to be looking for stuff they can steal to use or to barter with so they can get whatever they need for themselves.
If others know you have survival gear, you could be a target for anyone who wants what you have so that they can sell it to get their needs met. In a bug out situation, harmful people always grow bolder.
You can hide in plain sight by not looking like you’re prepared. Don’t dress in a way that makes you stand out, instead you want to wear clothing that looks like everyone else. Don’t wear bright colors or patterns that make you memorable. Basic colors with no logos are good. This also means that you don’t want to be walking down the street with your weapons strapped to your hip. Keep your knives and guns out of view. Wear clothes that blend in and that make it difficult for you to be picked out of the crowd. Nothing colorful and nothing expensive should be on your body in full view of others.
Be casual about the way you move through crowds or around people. Cover up any distinctive feature that you have. “Guy with the mohawk and the dangling feather earring in his ear” is a lot easier to remember and locate than “guy in jeans and a dark shirt.” One stands out, the other fits in.
A subtle but important tip is not looking like you are better fed than the majority. Most people in a SHTF situation will have lost weight, so it’s probably a good idea for you to also lose some weight so you don’t stand out in the crowd.
The same kind of discretion is key to protecting your supplies, too. The have-nots will take from the haves, but it’s far less tempting if they don’t know you have it. Don’t carry a bug out bag that’s brightly colored or has any kind of memorable logo splashed across the back of it.
Don’t talk about your supplies for any reason – because people will remember that later when they want something, or they’ll be tempted to just go ahead and take it. You don’t want to open up your gear in front of anyone.
Only do that when you’re alone. You have to remember that none of society’s laws will be heeded by anyone who’s desperate enough. They’ll take what’s yours – even if they have to use force to do it.