staying in dodge!

"And so, to my question -- how smart would it be to network with other people in the lower mainland to pre-plan some sort of group bug-in somewhere *local*? "

It would be very smart to network with as many people as possible. Not all "serious preppers" will have the same plans, or ideas as you do. But there are some out there, who are very serious, who for whatever reason believe it is best to hunker down.
Tonight there was a 5thmeeting from members on this forum, the first that I myself was able to attend. I suggest you try to attend the next one. Just talk to everybody there and they will gve you ideas.

Good luck.

After having lived in Vancouver for over 25 years before I finally made the move to leave, I believe that Vancouver would be a living hell if the SHTF.

As far as having a Bug Out location on the Island, maybe as a secondary location but I would not count on BC Ferries to save my butt.
Starting at Hope and moving north to north/east you have an enormous area to choose for your Bug Out home and I would highly recommend that rather than using Vancouver Island.

Networking with other people can provide you with valuable information and give you access to people with in demand skills.

But, that is just my personal opinion, which along with another $3.00 will get you a Latte at Starbucks.

No matter what you choose I wish you nothing but the best.

Captain Ahab -- agreed about the living hell part. I don't have any friends or family in the interior though, and I really don't want to bug out solo. Giving serious consideration to moving to Vancouver Island for that reason. My career would make that a bit difficult at the moment, but I'm taking steps to try to get a job doing what I do on the island. I plan on retiring early, but that's still 15 years away at this point.

Thanks both of you for your input. I'm trying to limit the amount of folks in "real life" that know how much prepping I've done, so it's nice to be able to sound some of this stuff out.

I'm of the mindset that the farther away from Vancouver the better for a SHTF scenario, especially if bugging in. I've lived in Surrey and Coquitlam for many years and couldn't imagine staying there if things got bad. I moved out of Coquitlam for that very reason and am currently living in the Fraser Valley, but I still plan to move farther out.

As for the island, and I know there are a few islanders here so no offense, but I would feel far too vulnerable being there permanently, even with a network of people. I had seriously looked into moving there, and some family members and I were moving forward with plans to do so, but we changed our minds when we weighed the pros against the cons. One major con for us was how badly the island will be affected in a major earthquake. One pro for us was the seclusion that an island would give us with a limited population, but that also rates up there as a con (not being able to get on or off if ferries are down).

I understand that many of us have to make do with what we've got, and if that means bugging in in the city then that's what you've got to do. I would do my best to network with people locally who are also in the same position.

Good luck to you, whichever path you go with!

First and foremost, consider having supplies for where you are now. Depending on what happens, you may find that travel is restricted or not possible at all for a period of time.

There's the potential that the area you plan to bug out to is not immediately accessible. There could be flooding, landslides, or any number of things preventing you from getting to your planned destination. Look for places you would consider safe or at least safer, if you had to leave your residence but couldn't get to where you intend to go.

Also consider more than one final bug-out area. If one site can't be reached, you can go to another.

Someone from Vancouver Island could better go into this, but I would be wary of being on an island when the food trucks stopped making their regular supply runs. I know from living in the interior for many years that if you get into the smaller communities, you'll find people a lot more helpful to strangers.

Networking with local preppers could help you a lot. I think if the proverbial fecal matter impaled the atmospheric displacement unit, aka SHTF, it would mostly be a matter of being with people you trust. Don't discount people who don't necessarily fall into the prepper category. People can have resources/skills of value in a time of need.

That just my 2 cents + HST.

Good advice OutandAbout, here is my 2 cents.

If I was on the mainland I think the island would not be a first destination for me. Unlike many of us that live here, as soon as you arrive you could be just bugging out into a different kind of problem. I really don't expect as much mayhem in our area as there would be in the city the but the possibility of being supplied from the mainland would be unlikely. I think we would really be on our own here and one of the last places to get help . So unless you are already on the island and supplied you could be in big trouble here.
The BC Ferry employees will not be around to transport anyone and the airports may be unreliable. Depending on the time of year, weather of course , would be your biggest enemy and more than likely take your life if you dared to risk it. A south east wind in the Strait of Georgia is nothing to mess with. Even a larger vessel with an experienced skipper it is a risk.
There will be yacht owners on the island that if it comes to it would be willing to barter for passage back and forth and help to resupply anyway we could. Hell, if people were suffering most of us would spring into action and do it for free. In fact I think I may check with some of the yacht clubs on the island to see if their skippers have considered such a scenario and could it be quickly organized through each club if the time came.
If I were you I may consider traveling up the coast by car with an inflatable rib and a solid outboard and seek shelter near the inlet or on Bowen island and then work my way up the sunshine coast, weather permiting. Then, if you still wanted to come to the island you may have a shot with some of the locals. You would be close enough to get back to Vancouver if things cooled off for supplies. Maybe do some scouting ahead of time for a bugout spot.
There are often really good buys on inflatables in your area on Craigs List. I have seen boat, motor and trailer for under $3000.00. And heck in the mean time they are lots of fun to explore out of. A good ocean kayak would not be a bad option.
Thanks for the good post Urbanprepper. You have created a good thought starter for me.
Zz

A few things that come to mind from Zzulu's post ...

I have to proclaim ignorance because I've driven the island from Nanaimo to Victoria but never really explored the island. I'm assuming there are fishing villages around, so making friends with the captain of a fishing boat would be helpful I would think. Maybe check out for private pilots with float planes as well, providing the ability to fly. I'm thinking back to 9-11 when all planes, private and commercial were grounded in BC.

In the event of a natural disaster, I could see the ferries running as an essential service, but in another 9-11 type event, I could see the runs being terminated for an indefinite period of time.

And as crazy as it may sound, I've gone through a few cold winter nights in my vehicle with a propane camp stove I keep in there along with a couple portable propane bottles for camping purposes.

Hi from the island. I like the island as a bug out place, only because I'm prepped for it. I have supplies to last long enough to get me through and earthquake disaster. And if something did happen here and I had to get my family off the island , I'm a marine mechanic and I can operate sail and power boats. But when the trucks stop coming to the island would be chaos, but hey, trucks stop coming anywhere there would be chaos.
Vancouver would be crazy to get out of if things got bad. How many roads lead out north/east? I think 2? They would be jammed up. If you could get on the water you could go anytime and launch almost anywhere, depending what kind of boat. A small soft bottom zodiac with an outboard is compact enough to fit in you trunk. I just sold my 10' West for $200.00! (had some holes)
But having a back up plan in place in case the ferries stop running would be wise. Keep networking!

Ok lets think about bugging out.
Where are you going to go?
When are you going to go there?
How are you going to get there?
What will you have when we get there?
How will you get through the first winter?
Should you survive the first winter then what?

There are a lot of variables to think about here. The average person will last about a week in the bush if they are lucky. Unless they have a pre stocked (thats food , water, clothing, medical supplies, a sourse of heat and defence) and a hidden building or cave. I'm not talking about a tent in the woods here. Joe average city boy doesn't know that you don't wipe your arse with stinging nettle lets alone know what it looks like. One run in with Devils club and you could have an infected arm and leg then you are in trouble, no care clinics, no hospitals, no antibiotics.
I've been building my last chance hotel for three years. It's not big (16' x 32') but will sleep 12 people in single and double bunks. It's got a metal roof so it won't rot and it's insulated and has shutters on the windows. a Small wood stove heats it to hot for last winter.
And I have at least three years stock pile of fire wood. Waters not a problem got a creek within 50 meters and a lake 300 meters away (fish). Foods not a problem, good for three years for my immediat family of 8 with spares just in case. Stocked it with the best sleeping bags and blanket you can buy from Vallue Village almost every thing is from garage sales and thrift shops.
The best part it's only an hour and a half away from home (Maple Ridge).
Knowledge, planning and pracitice will make your bug out a lot easier.
As always BE PREPARED

urbanprepper,

In theory, you have a chance. If everyone is running to the hills, then stay put and avoid the chaos. Go counter to the main stream. In theory it could work. In many scenario's it may just be the best plan. But.........

And it is a big BUT. But if the scenario deals with water and lots of it in the confines of the Fraser Valley, you are going to need more than a dingy to save your arse. That is probably why you hear the "serious" prepper saying they will be hauling ass out of the Valley. If you get a big earthquake that will be bad, but if there is a tsunami attached to that earthquake. It will be like flushing the toilet for the Lower Mainland and the Island.

Now I agree with you, the roads will be hell. I have suggested before that those in the Fraser Valley start to investigate the viability of traveling the irrigation canals and other minor waterways with small craft. Folding kayaks or even inflatibles. Waterways in the early stages may be the safest routes to travel, but later they too may be filled with pirates.

You say you have a secure locale to hunker down that is walking distance to your current residence. If your secure location is not on the Northside of the Fraser River, I suggest you get some gear stashed somewhere on the Northside of the river. At the very least the Northside of the Fraser offers you the slim hope of being able to withdrawl into the high ground if you need to escape rising water. Of course, a tsunami wave, will be a wall of water moving faster than a locamotive.

I was recently in your area and I have to say I was impressed with the country up around Pemberton, but the commute to Van would be killer.

I wish you all the luck. Keep posting and you will learn more and begin to build a network of contacts.

Cheers,

Mountainman.

Hey, Old Scout! I'm in The Ridge also 😉

I just wanted to quickly say thank you to everyone for answering! I am mulling over your responses, and some feedback from my family. I'll probably respond to this thread with something more detailed, but I'm on my way in to work now and can't really do it right now.

I'm low tech at home - no internet, no cable, so anyone who has PM'd me or is thinking of it, please don't expect a speedy response.

Thanks again. Y'all are great.

Someone
Good to hear some day we will have to meet up and have talk.