As preppers, when we think about escape and evasion tactics we immediately think about the worst-case scenario. We think about escaping a war zone cause by civil unrest, and evading large numbers of marauders looking to steal our supplies and do us harm.
While this is possible, and extremely important to plan for, not every scenario is a worst-case scenario. Understanding escape and evasion tactics could be beneficial in a wide number of disaster scenarios including natural disasters.
Escape and evasion is much more than slapping on some camouflage and acting like a Navy Seal. Escape and evasion is also about more than counter tracking and escaping zip ties, it’s about everything we do on a daily basis to stay out of situations where escape would become necessary.
SPP194 Escape & Evasion Tactics for Preppers
This week in the show we talked about escape and evasion tactic for preppers, and how they apply in a number of different disaster scenarios. Some of these techniques also apply to what we do in our everyday lives.
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Blending In
Blending into your environment and becoming “the gray man” is about how you look, how you act, and what you say. If you live in an urban area you don’t want to be wearing cammo and carrying a tactical backpack or bug out bag. If you live in a rural area you wouldn’t want to be wearing a 3-piece suit and carrying suitcase. Fitting in means looking and acting just like everyone else. It means being unremarkable in every way.
Regardless whether you are talking about a large scale civil unrest scenario or just discussing preparedness with friends, what you say will have repercussions. Being the gray man means not showing your cards until you are absolutely sure the time is right.
Trust No One
This might sound a little harsh, but we need to treat everyone is a potential enemy. This doesn’t mean board up the windows and shoot anyone who comes to the door, we just need to be on high alert with everyone we encounter. People without food become very dangerous, and even the most well-intentioned person will do what it takes to survive.
Even during small scale natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina we have seen this happen. People for the most part will try to come together and help each other, but all it takes is a few people looking to take advantage to ruin your plans.
Situational Awareness
You might not think about situational awareness when you think about escape and evasion, but it could be one of it’s most important aspects. We need to constantly be aware of the actions of others, as well as how our own actions might put us at risk.
Using the acronym S.U.R.V.I.V.A.L. in a crisis situation is a great way to remind yourself what is important and to stay focused. We need to make sure that when we are traveling we are not leaving a trail, not easily followed and not an easy target. To do this we need to be on high alert, and aware of the situation around us.
Tracking & Counter Tracking
The most important part of escape and evasion is making sure you do it unnoticed. This not only includes being the gray man and situational awareness, it means not leaving a trail for someone to follow. If you are a hunter, you might know quite a bit about tracking animals, and the same principals apply to humans.
Counter tracking is simply understanding what kind of signals humans might leave, and not leaving them. There is quite a bit that goes into tracking and counter tracking, but the great thing is it’s easy to learn…and it’s free. We can learn just about anything on YouTube these days, and Black Scout Survival has a good series on escape and evasion.
Using something like the Sneek Boot will make it harder for someone to follow your footprints, but we also need to make sure we are not leaving other signals like trash or disturbing the surrounding area.
Navigation
Not every scenario involves hiking through the woods to your bug out location, but navigation and map reading is important none the less. Regardless where we live, escaping or evading will mean traveling in secluded areas in hopes to avoid people. It doesn’t matter if you are in an urban area, or a rural area, losing your direction, or making a wrong turn is easier than you think.
Having maps of your area, and knowing how to read them could literally be the difference between life and death. Most of us could make it home from work without using a map, but would it be the safest route? It’s much safer to take 30 seconds and plan a route, than to turn a corner and find yourself face to face with someone wanting to do you harm.
The Best Bug Out Vehicle
Instead of thinking about a bug out vehicle as the biggest baddest vehicle that can bust through walls and road blocks, we should think about the type of vehicle necessary for the job. The safest route might be going discreetly around a road block rather than through it. If you find yourself stuck in an urban area, which is better a bicycle? or an RV?
The truth is, the best bug out vehicle is the one you have now. It’s fun to think about these big bad bug out vehicles, but we should make sure our car is maintained and reliable.
Any bug out vehicle is only as good as the supplies and tools that are in it, this includes your everyday carry items. Having the tools to fix a flat tire or tighten a hose could be the difference between driving somewhere and hoofing it.
Planning
Planning is not only important before a crisis situation, it’s also important during a crisis. In order to execute a bug out plan properly we need to learn about escape and evasion and practice it. Bugging out should not just be grabbing your go bag and walking. The more we know about escape and evasion tactics, the better our chances will be.
This is also important during smaller scale disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes and wild fires. Evasion could mean getting to higher ground, or even helping someone who has been trapped under rubble to escape. As I said earlier, escape and evasion is about much more than hiding from, or escaping from would be kidnappers.
Organization in Groups
If something were to happen while we were at work, we might not be heading out alone. While we all have a group of coworkers we just can’t stand, there are probably a few you couldn’t leave behind. In a situation like this, you would need to be the leader. Most people have no idea what to do in an emergency other than panic.
This will also make traveling discreetly and hiding your tracks a little more challenging. On the flip side, it will also increase your security because you have more hands, and more eyeballs. Just remember, you’ll have to do some training on the fly, but your friends will be glad you are one of those “crazy Preppers” at this point.
Links From the Show…
I mentioned the Army Tracking Manual in the podcast that has some tips on escape and evasion. Here is the link to that download.
In the beginning of the show I mentioned the new podcast “The Prepper Website Podcast” This is available at iTunes, Stitcher or any of your favorite podcasting apps.
As many of you know we have been selling the Blaze Charcoal Bricks which are available on Amazon. I also have a few 50% off coupon codes for anyone who is interested. If you would like one of these coupon codes just email me here and I’ll let you know if they are still available.
2 replies to "Large and Small Scale Escape & Evasion Tactics for Preppers"
Good article. It shows a more realistic view of the subject than most. A point few consider about trackers: trackers don’t have to follow your footprints to find you. They use tracks as well as all they know or can intuit about you, your environment and needs to know where you are going. They may then take a shortcut and be waiting for you along the way.
Regarding your reference to “Sneak Boots”: Pardon my crudeness, but this is a load of crap. Any competent tracker can pick up the sign of anyone (or group) wearing this type of ‘trail concealment.” I have tracked illegal aliens and drug smugglers wearing ‘booties’ and carpet shoes. If the tracker knows what to look for, such as overturned rocks and pressed soil, it is relatively easy to identify and follow any group. Save your money. A better strategy is to learn how to walk without leaving a trail..