My wife and I had yet another of those discussions last night. She's all for hunkering down and bugging-in. Which is all good and fine until you get lots of hungry people, injured people, or worse.... bad people (e.g. criminals and/or roving government security contractors i.e. Blackwater type folks with a FEMA mandate) running about.

Getting out of Littleton for us could be a major problem, especially if the roads were choked. I-25, I-70, US-285, etc. would be a nightmare of epic proportions as everyone and their mother will be leaving (most without a clue as to where or why they are going). Which brings into play having the knowledge of every little back road (paved or not) as alternates. Most maps do not have all of those roads listed and the only way to know about them is from topos or direct knowledge of having traveled them. Good routes include knowing every single old mining road/path and passes. Which means having a suitable 4x4 in good working condition with good tires and spares.

A practice I put into play for our vehicles are black-out lenses for all lights, with a manual switch for disabling the indicator lights. Less light means you're less noticed. A good pair of NVGs for night travel with lights out is huge (if you can afford them).

The problems of bugging-in for those of us in urban/suburban environments will depend on the level of disaster and type of disaster. The first 24 hrs is the great wait-and-see game. The second 24 hrs is the I-gotta-get-out-and-see time. People will have access to enough water and food over that 48 hour period. After that, it begins to get sketchy. People will start taking what they think they need. Then many will begin the panic of I got to leave and leave now. That's where the roads bog down even more. Arguments will ensue over gasoline, food, water, slow traffic, and so chaos begins with little order. What LEO and Fire/EMS services remain will be stressed and stretched. Locally and haphazardly implemented martial law will come into play. Turf will begin at some point to become established, neighborhood by neighborhood. Pretty dismal, eh? The truth of it all is that we are pack or herd animals and still have that tribal mentality in our genes. It is a means of survival and entirely instinct based.

Where will our Federal government be? At first, they will be sitting on their fat butts, two thumbs up where the sun does not shine. They will be trying to establish Command and Control Centers, region by region. Figuring out what resources they have to bring to bear and finding out they have a lot less than they thought or budgeted for. Deals will be made and rules of engagement will be set, do not expect the latter to be in the favor of John Q. Public.

Somewhere in a dark room will be some of them deciding who are the trouble-makers. In their infinite wisdom, most of their databases are stored in hardened networks of servers. They know a lot more about us than any of us would like them to know (perhaps not to the level the UK government goes to, but still...get the point?). They will know who the majority of gun-owners are, who the criminals are, and who belongs to a militia or other affiliation they do not like. Under Martial Law, they have the right to suspend the US Constitution, meaning they can come and take (not ask) your firearms. They can take you gasoline, your food, your water, even the clothes or other items without regard to your rights. They have the right to arrest you and hold you, or to even outright execute on the spot for failing to comply.

Bugging-in is nice if you're well protected, careful, and have the means and knowledge to maintain a very low profile. Bugging-out is an eventuality everyone must prepare for.