Hi Everyone :)

[HomeHardener]

Hi and welcome!

As others have said, try not to bug out unless you really have to. If bugging out becomes your only choice, how many exits does your building have, is there a service entrance (just thinking of a way out that has less footfall)

Again as others have said, Use google maps or your current daily exercise allowance to spend a little time having a discrete look about for exit paths off the main strips.

Where exactly would you bug out too, Is there access to a woods or farmland near you. You can shape your b.o.b once you know where your going.

Personally if I was on the 5th floor, I’d spend 60% of my time preparing to bug in, only one entrance in or out (i.e your door) upgrade the screws in the locks and hinges to longer ones if you can, fit a safety chain or something similar. The door should already be a fire door so it’ll be stronger to start with.

[cbp125]

I didn't mean to scare you, sorry - and it sounds like what you can see from your windows is pretty bad too, sometimes. Just remember, just because you're preparing, doesn't mean its going to happen, it really doesn't. For instance, yes, during the Brixton riots in the 1980s, the shopkeepers near me, in NW London, boarded up their shops: but nothing happened, nothing at all, and they took the boards down a week later. Preparation, thats all.

cbp is spot on when he says not to bug out till you're driven out - since you've only just moved and don't know anyone, your target to but out to might be a hotel - in fact we don't call "bug out bags" by that name on here, we often call them "hotel bags". Because you might end up at a hotel for a little while. Think of the terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena - it was very serious, and the hotels round about opened up their lobbies to all the teenagers and twenties and their parents and friends trying to find one another. Think of half a million people right now volunteering to help in the face of the coronavirus pandemic: a lot of people are good, and want to help. Check people out, by all means, but don't discount them.

By the way, I've enrolled on the Essex ham radio course its a good skill! Apparently, you can take the exam online when you're ready, and the practical is being waived right now.

Super news about enrolling on Essex ham radio course and I'm glad they are doing online tests, Put up a post or PM me if you get stuck or confused I am a M0/advanced so I can help. We could end up talking on air if your in the South East. I can get into Danbury repeater which is where Essex ham's hold their Monday night net/chat. Just a quick tip don't give out your full callsign on the internet as it links to your home address, it's def not the time to be advertising where preppers live...
And ps I'm a she I should have put it in my username lol
Chat soon

[Arzosah]

Super news about enrolling on Essex ham radio course and I'm glad they are doing online tests, Put up a post or PM me if you get stuck or confused I am a M0/advanced so I can help. We could end up talking on air if your in the South East. I can get into Danbury repeater which is where Essex ham's hold their Monday night net/chat. Just a quick tip don't give out your full callsign on the internet as it links to your home address, it's def not the time to be advertising where preppers live...
And ps I'm a she I should have put it in my username lol
Chat soon

Thanks for this, cbp! It's starting today, so I'll go onto it about midday. And thanks for the advice on the full callsign, yikes. I'm in SE England, yes, erm, I have a teensy little hand held that I've never used we'll have to see about the practicalities.
I'm a she too - Miss Ing, there are more women preppers than you might think, you're not alone on here. Hope the hijack is okay, and it all helps, it really does.

[cbp125]

Super news about enrolling on Essex ham radio course and I'm glad they are doing online tests, Put up a post or PM me if you get stuck or confused I am a M0/advanced so I can help. We could end up talking on air if your in the South East. I can get into Danbury repeater which is where Essex ham's hold their Monday night net/chat. Just a quick tip don't give out your full callsign on the internet as it links to your home address, it's def not the time to be advertising where preppers live...
And ps I'm a she I should have put it in my username lol
Chat soon

Thanks for this, cbp! It's starting today, so I'll go onto it about midday. And thanks for the advice on the full callsign, yikes. I'm in SE England, yes, erm, I have a teensy little hand held that I've never used we'll have to see about the practicalities.
I'm a she too - Miss Ing, there are more women preppers than you might think, you're not alone on here. Hope the hijack is okay, and it all helps, it really does.

Super, let me know how you get on, as I say any advice ask, if I don't know I know lots who would. What handheld do you have? Dover Amatuer radio club has code plugs for most radios, and covers most of the south east. If not I can give you a list of south east repeaters with all the various codes you would need. The biggest repeaters down here are Hastings, Worthing, Charing, Danbury, Rochester and Margate. All are quite busy. You can also listen online to most of them. Another good place to listen is HatGreen Web SDR. They cover most of the hf bands.
Chat soon 73's

[ForgeCorvus]

First off, don't panic.
Second, Breathe.
Third, remember the only stupid question is the one you don't ask..... I'm amazed at the depth and breadth of the knowledge these folks have

You're here, that puts you ahead of a lot of people.