I want to circle back to Josh & Henry’s live stream, this video is longer, nearly two hours so be certain you have a moment to sit and listen. Vlad Onokoy, a notable Russian in firearm circles, joins the team to talk about the embassy evacuation problem.
I discussed my thoughts here. The Personal Security Detail evacuation plan.
This is the most real world relevant scenario I’ve seen come across the ‘Pick One’ format. While the format is for fun and educational purposes, it spurs discussion and gets the wheels turning, this particular scenario has real world applications for the average viewer, even if the level of firearms experience you currently have is limited to your concealed carry class and relevant range time.
Why?
Evacuating a VIP, or VIP’s, doesn’t change much tactically from evacuating your family. Taking into consideration that you are (probably) the only shooter and the one for whom the burden of making those life or death calls may rely on, this is an important thought exercise in its modified format.
How would you evacuate your family/those you are responsible for, from a violent and hostile environment?
If you’re thinking riots, so am I. 2020 was a banner year for them and you don’t know where the next “Autonomous Zone” is going to pop into existence. Having a plan to move your people, and logistically support that move, is a good thing. Having plans for both short term and long term moves is a good thing.
Are you getting your mother out of down town because things are getting hot in her neighborhood for a night or two? Or is this something where mom and dad are essentially moving somewhere else? Maybe you’re going in to get your sister and her young kids and she doesn’t believe in all this tactical Timmy stuff you do and think about and watch videos on, but here we are now. Husband has a J-Frame in the sock drawer lock-box, “for protection” since you two talked about it but he never took steps following the safety trail into competence, magic talisman theory, so he’s about useless for protection in a scenario as scary as civil chaos.
After the year 2020, and as we look to a troubling 2021, these are more than just thought experiments to flex the fat between your ears. These may be plans you have to implement because someone you care for, that you are responsible for, needs to be removed from somewhere bad.
This could be any number of reasons, and it might not (hopefully won’t) be “13 Hours, Heavily Armed Group of ‘Operators’ ” type of moving your family/friends so much as a “Let’s go, get in the van/truck/SUV” and the stuff for more hostile social interactions stays tucked away safely while your people ride with you to a safe location. Hell, young kids might never know if you pull it off right. Imagine pulling them out late at night to get away from whatever but safe locations are next to a waterpark, you just covered an escape as a surprise vacation and kept mental health (especially for the kids) in proper order.
The “3-Day” Evac Plan
If you are looking for a place to start, start here.
The most useful variation on this theme is the short-term evacuation. You leave the area for a few days and will return. You can also stretch 3 days worth of clothing very easily with wash facilities.
- Encourage your important people to keep a ‘3-Day‘ bag packed.
- Clothes for 3 days, double up on socks/undies
- At least one good layer of environmental protection
- Hot/Cold
- Wet/Dry
- Hygiene
- Spare durable footwear
- Power considerations: Cords & Chargers
- Have this list handy (even if just in memory) so you can help pack it with them, because some aren’t going to listen. You can’t predict who this will be relevant with or when.
- Know that you are going to be herding lost scared puppies, even if they were formally adults
- You are now responsible for checking everything
- One of the easiest ways to check is have the list and make everyone show you. Ye Old Military Inspection style.
- Keep calm, heard the puppies
- High likelihood that adults will be more scared than the kids, the adults have a grasp of what is happening and are not prepared. The kids are blissfully ignorant. You can use both to your advantage to herd your folks out.
- Calm efficient movement is always faster than loud, excited, or panicky fearful. Excitement overwhelms and overwhelmed people make mistakes, often
- If this sounds like packing for a generic vacation minus the swimsuits… it is, basically. Heck, pack the swimsuits
- We are talking about moving people out of a localized problem spot to a safe place with modernized resources
- They will have power, food, communication, maybe even room service and distractions for the good of their mental state
- With what they brought with them they should be able to sustain 3-Days will minimal additional effort and upwards of a few weeks with laundry service and modern resources.
I double up my use of my 3-Day bag as my generic travel bag. When I go somewhere, it is already packed to come with me with almost everything I need.
Going for business? Add appropriate suit.
Going for class? Add the range bags.
Last second adventure or casual trip to anywhere for just about any reason? Grab and go. It’s not just an “incase of emergency bugout” item, it is a practical piece of consistently used gear. Plus that keeps the clothes inside it constantly checked on and clean after each trip. It’s something I see in rotation so it gets checked and updated.
