Crowbar, whenever I read some ‘Bug out’ article I just shake my head. People really believe they will know when to go in advance of the herd, jump in their vehicle with all the kiddies, pets, and supplies and make it to Grandma’s 300 miles away. Or, just as bad or maybe worse, throw on those BOBs along with all the family and walk to safety.
Having spent decades in public safety, everyone who lives in an area subject to severe weather events like hurricanes, floods, or wild fires should have an EVACUATION plan. There is usually advance notice, and if they are paying attention to developments, have time enough to move to safety. It is a temporary move, and they have no reason not to think they will be returning once the immediate emergency is over. Call it “bugging out” if you like, but what it is is a mass relocation of a population to safer areas until the danger has passed. It is an evacuation. Evacuation is supported by public safety and service organizations to help the most people it can to reach safety.
Bugging out, OTOH, seems to be an individual preparation within the prepping community concerned mostly with some societal collapse within the more heavily populated areas, like cities, for instance. The plan consists mainly of grabbing those bags that were pre-packed and waiting patiently and “heading for the hills”, so to speak. I do wonder how many really have a safe place to go and leave in time to get there. Personally, I think for anyone living in a heavily populated urban area, their chances of success are slime to none and Slime has already left town because they likely will not see whats coming in time, or be reluctant to “pull the trigger”.
The best situation is to already be in that safe(r) location BEFORE such an event occurs. Too few are able or willing to do that.