How to Bug Out of a City in 7 Steps

Preppers know that being prepared for the unexpected is crucial. If you live in an urban environment, escaping a city during a crisis can be a harrowing experience. With everyone attempting to evacuate simultaneously, the potential for chaos is immense. There are ways to get ahead of the crowd, however – if you know how to bug out of a city.
Cities are getting heavily congested as our society grows and more people decide to live in the city. Some of the fastest growing cites are in Florida, Texas, and California, but the skills and knowledge required to bug out of one city is generally applicable to all cities.
I don’t live in an urban area, but I have visited many cities across the United States, in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. Cities offer a lot of job opportunities, entertainment, and culture. I would not want to live in a city full-time, but I can appreciate visiting urban centers, and as a prepper, I don’t judge anyone for choosing to live in a city.
You will hear many preppers say get out of the city before a crisis, move to rural land and build a homestead. Some people can do that. Others cannot, whether because of jobs in the city, family, or just choice. Many people want to live in the city, and to each their own. Prepping isn’t just for people in rural areas. Prepping is for everyone.
Following is what I would do if I lived in a city. This advice is based on years of prepping, following urban preppers, and thinking about the topic of urban bug out as I have spent time in cities over the years. I welcome your feedback in the comments section.
Trying to figure out how to escape during a crisis is the worst time. First, because you’re wasting time. Second, because making fast decisions during a time of crisis will lead to errors and poor judgment. The time to plan your urban bug out is before the need to bug out arises.
If you haven’t done it already, develop a personal SHTF plan. Identify potential crises that could affect your city, such as natural disasters, pandemics, civil unrest, or terrorist attacks. When doing this, break out a physical map, or head to Google Maps and take a close look at the city. Google Maps can even tell you when there’s heavy traffic and where that heavy traffic is. Technology should not be discounted. Having a bug out USB is always a good idea.
Devise a comprehensive escape plan that includes the following:
Traffic jams and blocked roads can be deadly in a severe crisis, and traffic jams can be almost guaranteed. It’s vital to know multiple exit routes out of your city. The saying in prepping is that “two is one and one is none.” It’s a statement on redundancy. This applies to your urban bug out plan. Consider the following:
Expect the unexpected. Well-laid plans can still fail, and your mind is your best tool. You may find yourself without access to a map, compass, or GPS. Would you know how to bug out of a city without them?
Here are some tips on how to find your way without relying on modern navigation tools:
These strategies are not as accurate as modern tools, but they might help guide you away from chaos and toward safety.
Congestion may be centered in specific areas, usually on freeways and highways. In general, we want to avoid those areas. There are usually several different routes to get to and from places. A map will help, but the best way to find these alternative routes is to physically go out and look for them. By physically driving, biking, or walking the alternative routes, you’ll be able to see how busy they are during different times of the day and week, how quickly you can get there from your home, work, school, etc.
Keep in mind that alternate routes will most likely take longer to get to your final destination. This extra time should be accounted for in your plans. For instance, on a good day, with no traffic, it may take 30 minutes to get out of the city using alternative routes. So in an emergency or disaster, you may want to account for it taking twice as long. If it takes less time, that’s great! But account for more time.
While a car is ideal, it may not be the absolute best option to bug out. Maybe you start out with your vehicle but end up having to abandon it because walking would be quicker and safer. It really depends on the situation, and this is coming from someone who has kids to account for. Our truck or van is better comfort, speed, and general mobility, but I also know that there may be things out of our control that would force us to abandon the vehicle.
My suggestion would be to have a tiered system (again, redundancy). Start with the car, if you have to abandon it, move to bicycles. If you have to abandon those, move to your feet. If you live on an island, like Manhattan, you’ll want to consider your options for possibly having to cross the water in some way other than using the bridges.
Traffic jams, roadblocks, or fuel shortages (know how to store gas because gas stations run empty fast) can significantly hinder your evacuation efforts. Here are some alternative means of transportation to consider when planning your escape:
A city in crisis presents many hazards, from panicked crowds and traffic accidents to civil unrest and criminal activity. Ensuring your safety during an evacuation requires vigilance, situational awareness, and quick decision-making.
As they say, the best offense is a strong defense. In this case, your defense would be foresight to see what’s coming before everyone else. You can do this by staying “in the know.” Twitter, HAM radio, NOAA weather radio, and generally paying attention will keep you well ahead of the game. If you know a natural disaster is on its way, you can choose to leave days before it arrives, instead of waiting until the last minute, like most people seem to do. Of course, there may still be congestion in certain areas of town, but we’ll go into how to plan for that.
Keep a portable radio, fully charged mobile device, or other communication tools with you to stay updated on the evolving situation, official instructions, and potential threats. This information can help you make informed decisions about when and where to move.
You should know your city inside and out. Really get to know every nook and cranny of it, especially if you live deep in a downtown area. I would highly suggest doing this through walking. Walking will give you a much more in-depth and detailed view of the buildings, people, and routes. Knowing your city could help you cache items along your route, find water by using your sillcock key, or find access to quick gas or other supplies. While it isn’t ideal to stop until you reach your final destination, sometimes you need to, and if you know your city, you’ll know the best places to stop, rest, or find supplies.
Knowing how to bug out of a city in crisis requires a combination of careful planning, adaptability, and quick thinking. By establishing a comprehensive escape plan, knowing alternative routes, and utilizing various tricks and hacks, you can significantly increase your chances of evacuating safely and efficiently.
The best thing we can do is plan ahead. Timing is key! If signs of an impending urban crisis are growing, bug out in advance. Even if you think your home won’t be directly affected, trust your gut. Do what’s best for you and your family – and stay safe!