- Rourke: What do you think is the biggest myth associated with “bugging out”?
There’s a difference in becoming a refuge at the mercy of everyone you encounter and having the skills, equipment and advance plans already worked out as to how and where you will bug out. Bugging out is not the answer for every situation, but to answer the question, I think this is the biggest myth – that you can’t do it and that you can’t survive in the wilderness. I am always amazed by those who say that a well-prepared and experienced person cannot survive on the land. I know plenty who can, and they don’t even consider themselves to be survivalists in any shape or form. Keep in mind that this does not always imply TEOTWAWKI, and in most cases you won’t have to live off the land for extended periods of time. It’s just that knowing how to travel and live in the wild opens up a lot of options that you otherwise would not have, and it could save your life.
- Rourke: I have just started reading Bug Out, and was really taken with your background – specifically your immense traveling. What was your most difficult situation you found yourself in?
- Rourke: I see survival & preparedness more and more in mainstream media. From television shows such as Dual Survival, to news reports on urban families that are storing food “just in case”. Why do you think survival is becoming so popular?
- Rourke: When considering a Bug Out Vehicle (BOV) - what are the top characteristics that should be considered in its selection?
- Rourke: One of the categories of survival & preparedness supplies that I think are often overlooked in survival planning is communication. What kind of equipment do you recommend for bugging out?
- Rourke: You favor a machete over a knife – can you explain the reasoning for this?
- Rourke: One of the most talked about aspects of survivalism are firearms with a tremendous amount of varying opinions – What role do firearms play in bugging out?
- Rourke: If you had to choose one firearm to Bug Out with – what would your choice be?
- Rourke: What are the Top 5 items that should be included in Bug Out supplies?
- Clothing and shelter for the expected conditions in the region and the season.
- A reliable means of making fire, long-term, for example Fire Steel.
- A reliable means of carrying water and purifying water found, for example, sturdy Nalgene bottles and Polar Pure water treatment.
- A machete if no other cutting tool, but a fixed blade knife, folder or multi-tool would be nice to have as well.
- A metal pot, as described in my book. A metal pot that can withstand cooking in a fire will enable you to utilize all sorts of wild foods that must be boiled, for example, a variety of roots, inner bark, leafy greens, etc.
- Rourke: Is there a particular part of the country that you consider vastly superior than others for bugging out?
- Rourke: From your viewpoint on the world today – what is the likelihood that there could be a major disaster that could create populations to be involved in a mass exodus from heavily populated areas? What might that disaster be in your estimation?
- Rourke: I see you have a new book coming out – Would You Survive? Please tell us about it.
- Rourke: Any other new projects on the horizon you would like to tell my readers?
- Rourke: Thank you.