I was watching a Sci-Fi movie on Amazon Prime last night. It was about a major and long-term power outage and the people living and/or passing through this little town. It was so memorable, I can’t even remember the name, but there were several scenes where (I’m sure it was in the script but…) the actors were supposed to be hiding, yet they were making enough noise to wake the dead.
I’ve heard a lot of homesteaders talk about how they are not going to bug-out. I can’t blame them for having a goal of not having to bug-out, but the reality of a SHTF situation is, there are both natural and man-made things that can happen that will force you to make the decision to bug-out or die.
No mater how far out in the middle of no-where you are, a fast-moving wild fire is a leave or die situation. A group of raging marauders like the ones in the movie last night could be another, especially if there are several women in your group (these guys where 100% kill the men immediately, pass the women around, then kill them too.)
We all hope we will never have to bug-out, but no-one can be 100% sure.
I bet I can move quieter with disabilities than most can without
I don’t plan on bugging out because with my physical limitations, the chances of making it very far are slim. But I have taught myself how to move around SLOWLY, using the natural terrain to help hide me. My physical limitations might mean I will have to often go out of my way to get around land features most people could climb over but being closer to the ground only hinders speed. It helps keep you out of the line site much better than simply walking.
Don't get me wrong, I have not given up. I keep my ear to the ground on a regular basis and can hopefully get out while it is still possible to get on via vehicles. I simply know my limitations and am prepared to shelter in place till the worst of the initial phase is over.
Obvious things that should be thought about. (but most don’t)
• Learn to communicate without talking. Your voice carries further than you think.
• Stay calm. When you are upset or scared, you tend to make more noises such as yelling ouch for minor injuries, remembering something and talking to another person without thinking, etc. Plus, voices tend to be calmer and at a lower volume when you are calm.
• Try to stay away from areas with leaf litter, sticks, loose gravel, or wooden walkways. These tend to make more noise than soft sand, hard packed dirt or grassy areas.
• Pay attention to the area both near and far from you. You want to stay quiet, but you also want to be on the look-out for other people so you can duck down to prevent them from seeing you. Of course, you are also looking for uncommon things that may be in your path that could make noise. Bugging out is not the time to play kick the can if you find one in your path.
• Walk slowly and allow your toes to touch down first. Your weight should be resting on the opposite leg. This allows you to lower your front foot and “feel” what is beneath before putting your weight on it and possibly breaking a twig or causing a stone to slide.
• Dress correctly if possible. Tighter clothing makes less noise than looser. Snug shoes are less apt to make sounds. They don’t rub on your feet and are less apt to allow sweat or wet shoes to squeak when you walk. As little clothing as possible is advised. If you are not wearing it, it can’t make noise or brush against something.
• Control your breathing. If you are not use to exerting yourself, your breathing can become short causing you to inhale deeply too often. It is better to move slower (unless someone is close behind and chasing you) and keep your breath even than to move faster and breathe loudly.
• Try to wear clothing in the colors of your surroundings. Unless you are in a snowy area, white is out as well as all the neon colors. They can be seen from much further away than more earthy colors.
• Learn to move the way animals move. Most scurry little creatures move a short distance then stop to sniff for smells of food and/or any larger animals that could eat them. By doing the same, your little sounds are less apt to be taken to be something other than a wild animal.
• Listen for other sounds around you. Look for sounds that repeat occasionally and use them by moving when you hear them. Thunder can be a great sound cover but be careful if lightening and thunder happen close together. A lightening flash can allow you to be seen, especially when moving. Properly timed, thunder can allow you to get far away from someone that has no idea you were around.
• If you see signs that others could be nearby (tracks, trash and such), you can use the cover of bushes around trees or rock outcroppings to hide you while looking for movements. Once you know where they are, you can head out in another direction and move away from them.
• Try to suppress coughs or to somehow “bury” the sound. A cough into your jacket will not travel as far as a cough out in the open. The same for sniffles. They are both sounds we rarely think about in a safe environment but in a SHTF situation, the sound can carry for a few hundred yards and alert the very people you are trying to hide from.
• Wear the softest footwear possible. Stay away from hard soled shoes or boots as they make the most noise. Sneakers with softer soles are next. Leather bottomed socks or a moccasin type, well-fitting shoe are best.
• Remove all jewelry especially if it moves as you move. It can make sounds others may hear, and light could glint off the jewelry and make it easier for someone to spot you. Rings can click on hand-holds. Bracelets and necklaces can swing or get caught on twigs or sticks. If you have a tool on a string around your neck and use it often, try tucking it in your shirt to decrease sounds.
• Learn how to mimic the sounds of common animals in your area. (think bird chirps, squirrel chatter, etc.) If you find yourself in a situation where you know your next step is going to make a noise, but there truly is no other place to step, you can use the sound that is already being heard in other nearby places to cover the sound your step will make. But don’t use this trick too often. If someone is hungry enough, they could be trying to track the animal you are imitating and you will lead them directly to you. Knowing multiple sounds and using them randomly “might” help prevent this.
• If you think people are nearby, try to stay down wind of them. In a SHTF situation, bathing is not as regular as it normally is and people can (and will) start to develop body odor. The longer the situation lasts, the sharper people’s senses will become and someone could smell you before they see you.
• If there are bushes or underbrush between you and your destination, it is almost always best to go around, rather than try to go through or under them. They do it all the time in the movies, but in real life it is almost impossible to do so without making a lot of noise.
I hope you have found this useful. Always remember, it is always better to know a skill and never need it, then to need a skill and not know it.
Resources:
tacticalogy.com
sympathink.com