10 Reasons You Need a Bug Out Bag

Whether it's a go bag or a more comprehensive bug out bag (BOB), you NEED to have one of these (or maybe both).  Some people have said they don't need a bug out bag because they won't flee their home and will bug in no matter what, however there are several circumstances where it doesn't matter what one thinks, as leaving your home--AKA bugging out--may be your only option.  Case(s) in point...

1. Evacuating neighborhoods due to an active shooter situation is becoming fairly common in my city...and many other places.  The evacuation might last for an hour or it may last for days so you might as well have everything you need with you to be comfortable while you wait out the situation away from your home.
2. Of course there are several other reasons you may need to evacuate including chemical spills, bomb threats, and other man-made disasters which can happen at any time.
   
3. And for those who say they won't evacuate no matter what, wildfires and Katrina-esque floods usually change their minds pretty quickly.
4. One of the most common reasons people are forced to involuntarily leave their homes is due to a medical emergency.  Whether it is a loved one or yourself, ending up in the hospital due to a medical emergency means you need to have basic emergency supplies with you to pass the hours--or days or weeks--in marginal comfort.
5. Relationship issues can force a person to bug out, often at the last minute, and often as surreptitiously as possible.  It may be a stalker, a violent SO, or a lunatic neighbor that causes a sudden and urgent need to evacuate.
6. Your house is destroyed by fire.  This too is surprisingly common in my city and pretty much elsewhere else.
7. War lands on your doorstep.  I was rather astounded that even on the eve of Russia invading Ukraine, many Ukrainians were on social media saying they didn't believe Russia would really invade their country.  Obviously they should have seen the warning signs (like troops massing on their border) and bugged out post-haste.
8. A deadly pandemic is a good reason to bug out to somewhere more isolated.  So called 'escape communities' are a good example of getting away from the masses to avoid the spread of viral disease. 
   
9. Then there is massive civil unrest/martial law/foreign invasion which would force the logical person to bug out in order to live to fight another day (I'd like to think this is so unlikely to happen that I shouldn't even include it here but...you never know). 
   
10. Finally, some people choose to bug out...and never be found again.  It's an issue not uncommon in Japan and, checking out the multi-millions of views videos on the topic of 'how to disappear completely' get on YouTube, this seem to be top of mind for many people.