The idea of bugging in, rather than bugging out, has widely been accepted as the best solution for survival, in the face of most disasters. Most of us can’t afford a cabin in the woods to escape to, so it only makes sense to make the most of our home, as a survival retreat.
Even so, not all homes are created equal; nor are all home sites. If you’re looking to buy a home and it will be your primary survival shelter, then it only makes sense to buy something that will provide you with the best possible potential for survival. If proximity to schools or shopping can be important, so can proximity to the things you need to have, in order to survive.
The question is; just what are those?
Population
The population in the area around the home is a major factor in how easy it will be to survive. There are two things that come into play here; the ratio of population to resources and the number of people who might turn into enemies, trying to get what you have. Obviously, there will be more people trying to get whatever resources are available in the city, than out in the country.
By and large, living in the suburbs is preferable to the city, for survival purposes. Likewise, living in a small, rural town, outside the city is better than living in the suburbs. That can reverse a bit living out by yourself though, as there is nobody else in the area to help you defend yourself.
Major population centers tend to have a higher crime rate. That won’t change during a time of crisis. If anything, the crime will escalate even more in those major population areas, while it will remain low in rural areas.
Major population centers tend to have a higher crime rate. That won’t change during a time of crisis. If anything, the crime will escalate even more in those major population areas, while it will remain low in rural areas.
Enough water
Finding enough water is going to be one of the biggest challenges in any long-term survival situation. Many people recommend having a map of available water sources near your home, so that you know where you can get it, if the city is no longer pumping water to your home.
The problem is, there are a lot of places where the nearest water is a few miles away from the home. If there’s no water pumping through the city water system, what makes any of us think that we’ll be able to get gas for our cars? Are we going to walk a several miles a day, hauling water back to our homes? Better to find someplace where water is within a few blocks.
Other option is harvesting water on the property
Of course, the other option is harvesting water there on the property. If rainwater harvesting or putting in a well will work, then there’s no need to be concerned about available groundwater. But make sure that you can do one of those options, before buying.
Your Home IS your Survival Retreat… Frank Mitchell
While not a requirement, finding a place where there are other resources available is a big plus. Small local farms which can keep operating will be extremely useful. Just make sure you have barter goods that they will take in exchange for whatever food they have.
Another important resource is firewood. Are there woods nearby, where wood can be cut? Keep in mind that you won’t be the only one looking for wood, so don’t count in any trees in the park. They’ll probably be long gone before you can get there.
How much land does the house have? Is there enough room for planting a sizeable garden? Can you raise chickens? What about some way of getting your vehicles into the backyard, so that they aren’t in front of your home where they can be vandalized?
Configuration Of The Home
How will the home work out for a survival retreat? Is there enough room for everyone? Is there enough storage space for your stockpile?
You’ll have to do things differently during a time of crisis, such as cooking outside, over a fire. Does the home and property lend itself for that or are you going to have to come up with an alternative plan?
One big problem with for many of us is not having enough room in our homes for our survival team. We make plans to survive together with others, but we are separated by several miles. If the team can’t all gather together in one place to survive, than how is it really a team?
Defensibility
No home is truly defensible, because they’re not built for that. Nevertheless, is the home you’re looking at better or worse for that, than others? Houses on the end of a street have a lot of different directions that people can attack from, while a house in the middle of a block has fewer avenues of approach. Attackers might be able to approach that house at the end of the street without being seen, making it a prime target.
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How could you set up your defensive plan and what would you have to do to the home, in order to give you a better chance of defending it, in the face of an outright attack?
