Sign-up for our email Newsletter

Mobile Devices Note:

There's more to this site! Go to the bottom of the page for a list of posts or click "View Web Version" to see the whole site. Please excuse the Ads that keep this site free for you!

Find More Lessons and Articles

To see all the dog training posts (Over 260 pages)
Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the list and most popular titles.

SEARCH Family Disaster Dogs 260+ pages

Monday, August 19, 2019

What is Evacuate, Shelter-in-Place, Bug-out ?

Do you ever wonder? 



What are we actually suppose to know or do when the media or police tell us to stay home and shelter-in-place, evacuate or bug-out?



All Rights Reserved Photo by Amber Higgins
Ready to Go!

What does evacuate mean?

"Bug-out" means what?

It has nothing to do with bugs !

What does Shelter-in-Place mean? Really what do you do?

Where is this shelter you're supposed to put where? :)

We are hearing more often of large cities residents told to "shelter-in-place" during power blackouts and I wonder how many people ask someone- "Do you know how to do this or what do they meant?"

Every city and town in America, and most of the world, no matter how large or small, has plans for handling emergencies and many offer classes for the public to learn more about evacuation and sheltering-in-place but that does not mean everyone attends the class or knows what to do.

So let's go over what these and other words or phrases mean during emergencies.


Evacuate


Sometimes you are given time or notice ahead of time...other times you have no choice but to evacuate now!! 

Especial in wildfires and tsunami...Now means to evacuate right then and there without time to grab much at all in the way of personal belongings or survival gear. Every year people lose everything due to unexpected disasters.

Evacuate means to run! Run or drive fast away from impending death or threat.

Get the hell out of the way!

Go to safety! ASAP

Here is a picture of Daisy with her evacuation saddlebag...she is ready to "Bug-out" !





"Wrinkledpups Daisy Mayham" founder of Family Disaster Dogs



"Bug-out" means to Evacuate

Bug-out is a military phrase used for the same meaning.

Learn what to pack in a carry bag to survival evacuation and how to be ready to evacuate with and without a dog on the Bug-out page. The long list on the Bug-out page is also what is needed to store at home for sheltering in place too, along with stocking up on extra food and water.

Having a bag packed for each family member and ready to grab when you are ordered to evacuate saves critical time. Keep in mind, if you wait and try to pack at that moment, the danger might reach you as you scrabble to find everything and put your family's life in danger.




You do not need a dog to be ready but if you have a dog then preparing with your dog makes sense.

Read my Evacuate with Your Dog's Help book (Free to Read here) to learn how a dog can help.

Preparing in advance will save time which is critical in emergency evacuation.




Shelter-in-Place


Means the opposite of Evacuation or Bugging-out

When you are told to shelter-in-place this means to stay put for your safety. Or get to the safest nearby location and stay put.

Do not go outside because danger awaits. 

Do not move but do sit-stay!

Hopefully, you are at home when told to shelter-in-place where you have everything you need for a few days or until the emergency is over. Food and water are critical for survival and in a major emergency the shelter-in-place order may last days or longer. It's best to stock up on food, bottled water and medicine, just in case.

If you are not at home, maybe you are at work or school, you will have to stay there until the emergency is over.

Again the evacuation bag comes in handy because if you grabbed the "bug-out bag" on the way out the door to work, school or you keep one in your vehicle for traveling (recommended to do so) you will have food, water, medicine and supplies no matter where you are when emergency strikes. You would be more comfortable and sustainable while you are more or less locked up shelter-in-place not allowed to go anywhere for food or supplies.

Be prepared to shelter-in-place at work, home or in public places.

In an active shooter event, yes, sadly this emergency event is becoming more common in the USA so I should mention;

In the event of an active shooter, everyone is told to Shelter-in-Place. In other words find a safe spot, a room if at all possible or hit the floor. Do not move and make yourself a target.

Hide (shelter) or Run (bug-out)

Another good idea is to look around when you first arrive at events or public places and mentally take note of a safe place to shelter-in-place or run to.

It's always best to be safe than sorry.

Go the Free Lesson Links Page 



photo credit FEMA

Visit READY.gov  for more info on how to shelter in place 


Author Amber Higgins

Author Amber Higgins
Click Pic to Visit my author page

Welcome UK and Worldwide Visitors

Welcome UK and worldwide visitors and friends to Family Disaster Dogs online! Although I'm an American author and dog professional the worldwide web has given me the opportunity to connect with some wonderful folks who have contributed pictures for my books. The "Start Mantrailing" book features RRI K9 North Scotland trained Search and Rescue Dog "Amber" on the cover and her teammates training in the book, plus American dogs using my training methods. A portion of sales of the Start Mantrailing book or copies were donated to RRI North Scotland. The children's picture book "My Puppy Can Find Me" has my daughter and bloodhound as illustrations by UK cartoonist Scotty King. You can find the books on Amazon UK or use the contact page to order from me. When you click the links will take you to your own county pages of this site.

Start Mantrailing Free Preview on Audible, Kindle and Paperback

Featured Lesson

My Dog is Prepared Are You ?

How are you Prepared?  Post answers in the comments...we'd love to hear from you! Be ready for pet medical emergencies with one of these...

Popular Posts

My Children's Picture Book

My Children's Picture Book
Click the Image to see the Book

Past Posts and Lessons

To see all the lessons and dog care articles on this site:

Look at the dates listed below and click one date to bring up all the articles and lessons published at this site in one page for each date.

There are well over 200 pages that have been published here at Family Disaster Dogs since 2011.

New lessons or dog care articles continue to be posted weekly.

The list below is the easiest way to find all the information here.

Enjoy the search and follow that dog!

Blog Archive

Let's Share on Social Media !

Let's enable each family to respond

and do something while waiting for help

during neighborhood emergency and disaster incidents,

extreme weather and terrorist attacks.


Good Luck and Be Safe !

Read a Free Preview or Buy !

Help Keep Free Books Free for everyone-Donate Today!

Dog Bug-out Bag book

Free Preview

Read and Review my books on Goodreads

Family Disaster Dogs

Advertising Disclosure

Disclosure: Some of the links on this site are affiliate links that I have reviewed and approved. Additionally links to products such as at Amazon are products I have personally used. Affiliate links means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. The proceeds earned are not much and used to keep this Family Disaster Dogs website free to the public. Thank you for your support.

Purchases from affiliate links help Keep Family Disaster Dogs Site Free!

Check this deal out and support us! Thanks

Sign up for Audible Plus, an all-you-can-listen membership that offers access to thousands of titles, including the Family Disaster Dogs audiobooks and a vast array of other audiobooks, podcasts and originals that span genres, lengths, and formats.