How about bugging out in my own home?

[artbylorraine]

My husband and I are new to prepping but our home is like a fortress and has a basement that will soon have a hidden door. Our house is on a hill in a rural area, overlooking the other houses and it would be easy to fortify if we need to. Suggestions?

 

[dylandrew98]

I know this is lady prepper, but if you cover your window with 1" plywood, and tread a large pole through it and brace it inside with piece of 2x4, this will block blunt objects and most bladed weapons. If you have a trap door, in the entrance hall, create a ledge where you can shoot from trough it, the plywood will cause the intruder to enter the only entrance, the front door. It will act as a funnel as long as there is no other way to get into the house.

 

[Clyde]

My husband and I are new to prepping but our home is like a fortress and has a basement that will soon have a hidden door. Our house is on a hill in a rural area, overlooking the other houses and it would be easy to fortify if we need to. Suggestions?

This is something i ponder quite a bit. for me it depends on what happens if it is a moderate earthquake i will stay put, but if it is something likely to not clear up any time soon I am headed to, as they say, "higher ground"

 

[Trapper]

There seems to be a fascination with the idea of "bugging out". Unless where you live becomes inhabitable my strongest opinion is staying in your own home. Unless you have a defined place to go and the means to get there you will become a refugee. Why would anyone want to loose what they are familiar with, leave behind all their essentials and most of all go where it maybe worse than you all ready have it. If you cant stay in your home I understand that, but leaving would be a last resort. Maybe being from rural WI I dont have a full idea of where other people live.

Now my kids on the other hand have their own places and lives. As soon as there is any idea things will turn bad they all know to pack their vehicles and get back "home". So I guess for them that would be a bug out plan.

 

[artbylorraine]

Thanks, guys...our home is twelve sided so it looks round with a wrap around deck on the first floor and the second floor. In order to get to it, you would have to have a ladder. If someone stands in the center of the home you can see almost 360 degrees. The windows are large plate glass but in order to reach them a person would have to have a ladder. I think, with our guns and my husband's Marine training, we could be safe. I agree that I would hate to be a refugee at a time like that. Since we live in the mountains we are already at higher ground.

 

[RV-Kitty]

The windows are large plate glass but in order to reach them a person would have to have a ladder. .

And those windows are the first things they'll shoot out to get to your stash of food.

 

[artbylorraine]

Our stash of food will be in the basement. We are building a wall (hidden door) over the basement door and the way our house is situated, no one will ever guess there is a basement. It is already hidden, no windows, no outside door. It can be locked from the inside and the hinges will be hidden. Even if they shoot out the windows, they can't get in because the deck goes around the house and is about twentyfive feet from the ground. I am hoping that works, anyway. Plus, we are not telling anyone about the stash of food and guns.

 

[RV-Kitty]

Our stash of food will be in the basement. We are building a wall (hidden door) over the basement door and the way our house is situated, no one will ever guess there is a basement. It is already hidden, no windows, no outside door. It can be locked from the inside and the hinges will be hidden.

Make sure you have a reliable way to get fresh air in there. You don't want to suffocate if you have to hide in there and you don't want everything moldering.

Even if they shoot out the windows, they can't get in because the deck goes around the house and is about twentyfive feet from the ground. I am hoping that works, anyway. Plus, we are not telling anyone about the stash of food and guns.

This is a good idea. Keep it quiet. The less the neighbors know, the better. 25' from the ground? How do you yourself enter it?

 

[Trapper]

Our stash of food will be in the basement. We are building a wall (hidden door) over the basement door and the way our house is situated, no one will ever guess there is a basement. It is already hidden, no windows, no outside door. It can be locked from the inside and the hinges will be hidden. Even if they shoot out the windows, they can't get in because the deck goes around the house and is about twentyfive feet from the ground. I am hoping that works, anyway. Plus, we are not telling anyone about the stash of food and guns.

Given enough time, anyone can and will breach the house if not being defended. Even with 2 people is would be hard to defend the house from all sides, especially at night. If you are locked in the basement with your preps squatters that think you left may try to take over your castle. Just something to think about.

 

[artbylorraine]

Oh, I realize that we are somewhat vulnerable. You asked how the windows are 25 ft. high? Our house is built in the side of a hill. The part that is very vulnerable is the entrance, which is level with the top of the hill. We would have to cover those two windows with plywood. I am not saying we will be totally safe, but my husband is a Marine with special training in making trip wires and home made grenades and such. I just think we will be safer here than any where else. Oh, I would love to have one of those underground bug out shelters but being realistic, we can not afford one. I appreciate any suggestions since this is pretty new to us.

 

[Colt 1911]

Bugging out is my last resort, I am on board with what Trapper said.

 

[Kenny Lee]

It is better than what most people have it is a very good thing. I would think about reinforcing the areas around the windows or have some kind of mobile barrier that can absorb some bullets.

 

[artbylorraine]

That sounds good. I know that the downstairs windows will be covered with plywood. The upper deck is big so it may be hard for them to get up to it but they could always shoot them out. But then, they would have to bring a big ladder to get up there. I don't want to "bug out" because all our food and medicines, etc...are here.

 

[RV-Kitty]

That sounds good. I know that the downstairs windows will be covered with plywood.

Plywood can be easily pried off in the middle of the night when you're sleeping. I would use those iron window guards people use in the cities. They would turn all but the most determined away.

The upper deck is big so it may be hard for them to get up to it but they could always shoot them out. But then, they would have to bring a big ladder to get up there. I don't want to "bug out" because all our food and medicines, etc...are here.

A small dog would give you warning if someone was outside trying to get in or up on the deck. But that means hoarding dog food.....

 

[artbylorraine]

Oh, yes, we have two medium doggies that would try to eat anyone that came in. I have already started hoarding canned dog food.
If the ply wood is mounted on the inside of the window, can it be so easily removed?

 

[RV-Kitty]

Oh, yes, we have two medium doggies that would try to eat anyone that came in. I have already started hoarding canned dog food.
If the ply wood is mounted on the inside of the window, can it be so easily removed?

Plywood, nailed or screwed on the outside or inside isn't going to keep people out. Have you looked into those heavy duty iron window guards? They're mounted from the inside and unless someone uses a heavy chain and motor vehicle to rip out the entire window frame, they wont get in. But if there's a fire, you may have trouble getting out. Keep a key to the lock on these window guards on a chain around your neck at all times.

Plywood would help keep them from being shot out and glass everywhere.

 

[Haloray]

my greatest fear is fire. Like Molotov cocktails or explosives

 

[RV-Kitty]

my greatest fear is fire. Like Molotov cocktails or explosives

If they burn or bomb you out they lose all your store of food, ammo and whatever you had they wanted. I would think any fires in your home or bunker would be accidental.

 

[Haloray]

If they burn or bomb you out they lose all your store of food, ammo and whatever you had they wanted. I would think any fires in your home or bunker would be accidental.

yeah but you cant expect everyone to be so rational. Someone might be crazy enough to think "oh they aren't sharing? well screw them" or what if you were defending your own and killed a family member of said psyco and they wanted revenge? Just from what I have seen on the news I can't expect anyone to have a stable mind set especially in a world that might not have rules.

 

[RV-Kitty]

yeah but you cant expect everyone to be so rational. Someone might be crazy enough to think "oh they aren't sharing? well screw them" or what if you were defending your own and killed a family member of said psyco and they wanted revenge? Just from what I have seen on the news I can't expect anyone to have a stable mind set especially in a world that might not have rules.

You have a point there. That's why everyone who hopes to survive should be well armed. I feel our house is vulnerable but we're not close to any large city. Hopefully the starving hoards wont make it this far.

 

[Ally Oakley]

Consider putting security film on your windows. Have supplies for building a barricade for exterior doors. You will probably need to put peep holes in the plywood on windows to see out. Keep all your equipment stored away so that you don't draw attention to your property. If you can, store fuel and water tanks underground. If it is just the two of you, you might consider having another couple stay with you to help keep watch. You would have to find someone that brings skills to the table and who would be willing to add to your preps that are stored in the basement. Make sure you have binoculars. Night vision would be great so that you could see someone approaching at night. Put rain barrels on your decks so that you have a water source and wouldn't have to leave the house to get water. You can run a water house with a sprayer on it into the house. You sound like you have a nice setup. I'd stay put unless I have no choice.

 

[artbylorraine]

Our house is miles and miles from town so I am hoping that the hoards won't get here either. Besides, where could we go without getting even more vulnerable. Where we live food does not grow well and you can't live on the land without supplies. When I asked for a book on edible growing plants in the area they said that a study was done and it would take five hundred miles of land to get enough wild grown plants for one person to eat. So why would anyone venture out in the dry mountains when home would be a safer refuge? I know that the most determined person can get in no matter what we do, but even if they do they will face some lead.

 

[Gazrok]

Nothing is full-proof, but plywood is certainly better than nothing.

I'm with the others saying to bug in. Nice idea on the hidden door. What are you guys doing for water?

Is plywood on those upper windows feasible? I'm also with those supporting iron bars for lower windows. They can be decorative, but it is EXTREMELY expensive. We have them on our shop window, but that's it. I'd love to do more windows this way though.

Consider putting security film on your windows

An excellent suggestion here.

Also, think about the security of your front door (which I'm assuming is far more accessible?). There are lots of ways to reinforce this.

 

[doc pops]

Start with a fence, if possible 100yds from home or put fence at a place where topo would make fence even harder to breach. Another idea is plants that bite or let you know you need to ''wait a minute''. Build shutters that have an pleasant look but could stop small arms as well as high winds and hail. Get 4 legged alarm system for in and out of home. Or you could get geese or Guinea's they will let you know if you have any intruders. Donkey's not only would they warn you of intruders 2 or 4 legged kind. Donkey's also will attack dogs and coyotes to protect your other small stock. That's a few ideas, if you would like more permanent or more ... Contact me on a private mail. Good luck sounds like you have a wonderful start

 

[Ma'am]

keep going Mr. Doc Pops...
you have great ideas so far...i appreciate hearing more of them Please

 

[Gazrok]

We plant rosebushes under all of our windows for security, beauty, and medicinal purposes. To get in the house, you'd have to go through a minimum of two fences, three in some places (and sometimes, the electric is on)).
All external doors are solid oak and have deadbolts and top/bottom bolt locks as well. In addition, the shop door is metal (though looks like an ordinary wooden door), so good luck there. Windows have security film (mostly for storm protection).

 

[doc pops]

You could also get lexan and mount a few inches in front of windows to let air in but keep projectiles out natural or man made. 1/2" inch is minimum thickness. As I have said! Please contact me on security issues on back pages or mail. This is for your security and mine.

 

[Gazrok]

my greatest fear is fire. Like Molotov cocktails or explosives

All you can really do there is try and limit how close they can come to your structures. Comes back to fencing and having ways to detect an intruder as they get closer.

 

[doc pops]

True, and the geographic location and how the mind set of the people around you

 

[artbylorraine]

The iron bars on windows sounds really good for the smaller windows but our upper floor in our "round" house, (12 sided but looks round) has huge plate glass windows in it. I think the plywood from the inside reinforced by 2 x 4 s would be ok. Nothing is perfect. We also have a trap door in our living room floor that goes into the basement. It is covered by carpeting that can be lifted up. But the best thing will be the hidden door that will actually be a wall that we can move to get into the basement where our store is. Our house is built in such a way that you cannot tell there is a basement and our dry weather here assures us that nothing will mold. Everything is stored in air tight plastic containers. Our water can be accessed by our well but we will have to use our generator to run it if the power goes off. There is water going in to the basement underground so we are in a perfect place. Or, I should say, as perfect as we can get with what we have. Oh, sure, I would love to have one of those underground bug out places they show on TV on Doomsday Preppers but who has millions to spend on that?