Your only chance could be your ability to bug out at night
If you had to cross over a large field with family and perhaps some friends during the dead of night, could you do it without being detected? The time may come when you are forced to do exactly that. Bugging out at night following a disaster that has taken down the power grid is a very real possibility.
Why would it be necessary to do this without being seen or heard? Well, there are several reasons. If martial law were enacted, which it undoubtedly would be following a disaster that keeps the grid from functioning for any length of time, authorities will declare a curfew and want you to stay in place so they can better control you. If you’ve set up a place to bug out to during this type of emergency, the only way to get there might be during the night.
OK, so how can you successfully navigate your way across a large field that will include some uneven terrain without being seen or heard? Forget about flashlights or lanterns. They can be seen at night from a great distance. They might keep you from tripping on a rock, but they will also expose your group to authorities, not to mention those who might want to steal your supplies. A flashlight or lantern will tell them exactly where you are and where you’re headed.
If you want to provide just enough light for yourself without people being able to see you from a distance, get some “cat eye” bands that will fit over caps or your head. They have strips or bands of luminous materials that glow in the dark after being exposed to light. Usually they are worn so someone in your party behind you can see them and follow you.
Anything you own that can reflect light at night, such as the lens of your watch, your eyeglasses or anything else that is made of shiny metal, should be covered with black tape. So, always keep that tape handy.
If you can afford night vision goggles, they would be a great help. They’re expensive, but even if your party had only one set, the lead person could use them and make your group’s trek safer than it would be otherwise.
Of course, you also don’t want to be heard. Place all jewelry in your bug-out bag or pockets so that it doesn’t make noise by jangling around. And keep your communications to mere whispers.
If you have to stop somewhere overnight, make it a quiet area so that you could hear someone sneaking up on you. A running stream would be convenient for your water needs, but the noise it makes could end up hurting you.
Like everything else, preparation is the key. Map out your route while it’s daylight so you’ll know exactly where you’re going when it’s dark. What will look like a casual stroll during the day that you and your party are taking before a crisis will actually be a very important dry run for an escape at night.
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Night vision goggles can be found at your sporting goods store or Walmart. They vary in style and of course in price. If you want the military ops type then you will pay a pretty penny. However, there are the down and dirty mono night vision goggle which you can afford.
Now you need to understand the use of night vision goggles. Yes, they allow you to see in the dark and you can travel across land; but, they are designed to see things that you need to see without being seen yourself. Namely, the enemy as they advance on you. If you have night vision goggles you would want to be in the position of safety, looking out for danger, rather than being hunted, escaping or eluding capture. The thing you want to keep in mind is that if someone is looking for you or your group in the dark, chances are that they may have a helicopter at their disposal to aid in searching for you. These forces would try their best to circle you in a containment fashion, beat the bushes forcing you to expose yourself, thus being sighted and caught. The helicopter may have night vision themselves or better yet infrared capabilities and find you that way. While you are trying to keep your footing while running across land and using your night vision goggles; they will see you through the heat of your body. For this reason I say night vision goggles are best used as a defense tool than an offense tactical tool.
The down fall to night vision goggles is that if both eyes are using these goggles a sudden flash of light, such as striking a match, will blind the user. It will be like looking into the bright lights of a hi beam. You will become disoriented, unable to see and in danger of making that one fatal error enabling your enemies to find and capture you.
So, all I am saying is this: night vision goggles is a nice toy to have but are you really going to use them? Are you prepared to play Fox and Hounds?
I have used night vision goggles. I must say they are cool. I wanted to buy some but they ran $1500.00 a pair and only the military could get them. That was 30 years ago. I don’t know where I can get a good set. I remember I would drive a jeep at night. I could see in the pitch of darkness. One time I thought it could’ent be so dark, I took them off for a second. I could not see my hand in front of my face. So yes. night vision goggles are necessary for any bug out bag. That can make the difference between life and death.
Thanks for the article on the concrete/canvas shelter. I wonder how much support it would need to bury it, as in instant root cellar.