Ukraine Refugees Flee

My heart goes out to the Ukrainian people. The news stories about the people fleeing the cities to an uncertain destination carrying almost nothing. Some people say that can't happen here. Well, maybe not because of war, but it's already happened here many times. We have evacuations of coastal areas for every bad hurricane. No, it's not quite the same, but the vast majority of the people evacuating are not prepared to evacuate. They have very little food, not enough gas in their car, little or no cash, don't have copies of important documents, and don't know what to do with their pets. Most don't know where they will stay that night or where their final destination is. This is when panic and desperation takes hold. People do risky and stupid things when they panic. Being a prepper means having a plan and being prepared. One of the basic prepper items is to have a Go Bag or Bug Out Bag (BOB). This is typically a backpack filled with things to assist in a journey like a water filter, dehydrated food, fire starters, a medical kit, and many other things. Don't buy cheap Chinese crap that may not work or breaks on 1st use, your life may depend on this equipment. We sell name brand stuff and most everything you need to create a BOB customized for your needs. We don't sell them premade because your needs are specific to you and where you live. Most premade kits contain poor quality items, are too heavy, and include things you don't need. So you end up throwing stuff out and making it yourself anyway. You can find equipment lists everywhere. Everyone has a different option on what you need. This is where you come in. Make your own plan. Know your physical abilities and limitations. Can you walk 30 miles a day with a 50-pound pack on your back? I can't. Can you do that for 3-5 days? My pack is about 26-pounds and designed for a 3-day trip. I expect to walk 10-15 per day. Sounds like a short distance? My location can be 96 degrees in the summer and is not flat land. Also, remember we are looking out for human predators. You say I can go 500 miles in my car. That's true on a normal day, but an evacuation is not a normal day. Remember the hurricane evacuation from New Orleans? People were stuck in their cars for days. Motorcycles or bicycles are viable options to cover more ground in a day. The key is to have a plan, a destination, and a BOB ready to go. The faster you bug out the easier it will be. You don't want to be stuck on the highway or end up in a refugee or FEMA camp.