retreat, bugging out, bug out, evacuation, SHTF, preparedness
Preparedness

Retreat Arrival Checklist

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I’ve been asked several times about when something happens and people first arrive at a retreat location. Questions usually come up regarding who does what and when. Granted situation details will dictate quite a bit but having some form of checklist will help remember things, decrease stress, and allow people to use their brains for thinking.

Here is one example that is broken up into days for the first week or so.

Day 1 Checklist – first 24 hours upon arrival:

  • Injuries? Check and treat.
  • Gather facts from all group members
    • What has been seen and where?
    • What has been heard? Source?
    • Make sure everyone is informed and educated on all information.
    • Notes should be taken to reference later rather than relying on memory.
  • Determine potential threats if any? If so set up security watch right away.
  • Get someone on commo to gain intelligence/information. This includes internet/radio/TV/social media/Ham/CB
  • Inventory all supplies brought to retreat by members to add to inventory lists
  • How much combined cash/silver/gold is on hand?
  • If safe – formulate a supply run(s) to purchase additional supplies while the ability still exists(see “Supply Run Checklist” – coming soon)
  • Get an inventory of all fuel.
    • How much is in each vehicle in gallons?
    • How much is currently stored?
    • Is it safe to go out for more? If so go get some. Get back quickly.
    • How much propane?
    • How much charcoal?
  • If electricity is still on get all rechargeable batteries into a charger.
  • Water running? If so fill all available containers.
  • Set up sleeping arrangements at a minimum on a temporary basis.
  • Cook a large, filling dinner – important for moral

 

Day 2-3 Checklist:

  • House rules – all determined by property owner
  • Get pet’s situated that were brought to the retreat
  • Everyone has communication methods on their body if they venture away from retreat more than “normal voice distance”
  • Set up Security/Patrol schedules
  • Get solar systems set up and running
  • Set up potable water dispenser
  • Based on current condition install light and sound discipline
  • Set up water filtration methods
  • Set up alternative bathroom facilities
  • Set up bathroom/sanitation schedule
  • Camouflage driveway entrance  
  • Set up medical station for self-treatment of minor cuts, burns, and scrapes
  • Determine any specific projects that need attention and seek volunteers/assign duties
  • Reach out to family and friends  – OPSEC!!!!

 

Day 3-7 Checklist:

  • Determine outward patrol location and schedule
  • Set up LPOP areas
  • Set up defensive position and assign members to areas
  • Review communication protocols between members in defensive situations
  • Determine procedure for dealing with strangers/approaching people
  • Gather and set up rain gear/clothing
  • Doublecheck food inventory to determine how many days available for group

 

Any other suggestions? Thoughts?

Rourke

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25 Comments

  1. goingray58 says:

    Not a bad list..
    Set procedures before you need them. Have a copy on hand at retreat for common access. Get all the discussion out of the way early. Agreement is not easily reached unders stress. Time is important.
    It isn’t likely that all members will arrive at once… so prioritize an activity list.. begin work on the list as soon as first arrives. There is no guarantee everyone will arrive, and the work still has to be done. It’s important to stay busy ..
    At least the operational up and running aspects initially.
    Daily meeting, for all hands except Those on watch. Information, not speculation.
    hardline phone to LPOP.
    GG58

    Reply
    1. Clark says:

      I respectfully disagree goinggray, most people will be in a state of shock when they arrive, all will be focused on getting information, rather than doing task, or planning, rourke is spot on when focused on marrow with a large meal and getting information the first day, even if you tried to delegate, it would fall on deaf ears I believe, coping with any kind of SHTF scenario will be tradmatic to say the very least, I’d be shocked to see any group start to function before three days, even military branches that have beat the think out of its solders would find this challenging, I would imagine you would take this time to find out as much as you can, be simathetic to all situations your group members are facing (remembering all there family friends and many of their loved ones are dying) console them the best you can and try to help them realize your no good to them dead… yes staying busy will help, but trust me when I say, when you start losing people that you love, life sometimes falls to the wayside, it’s very difficult to function when this happens, sometimes you get to the point where you don’t care about your own survival as much as you once thought without these loved ones in your life, this is why The first three days is more about evaluating your group members and trying to build marrow than any other thing. Short of Red Dawn, first three days in a bug out retreat there will be very little danger, mostly you will sit back and watch the world destroy itself… take ”tis time and build upon the bond of your group, in the end, it’s all you will need. Kinda like a “survival” situation… the will to survive is THE greatest tool in you could have, a group that has truly bonded and is as one won’t need ALL the gear… if they pull together, completely work as one, I believe they will be survivors… but what do I know, I’m just a guy trying to build a boat ⛵️

      Reply
      1. Steven Featherkile says:

        Clark, what you say is all true. It’s going to be upsetting, for everyone. That said, you haven’t given us your thoughts on how to get organized.

        If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. Dunno who said that first,but it is as true, today, as it was then.

        A Plan Of Action and Milestones (POA&M) is always a good thing, especially when the SHTF.

        Reply
      1. GotUR6 says:

        Rourke, really like your list. Any way to post this in a PDF or some other printable format? Trying to take a screen shot resulted in an unreadable printout. Thanks for all you do for us!

        Reply
  2. Clark says:

    Sounds well thought out… what if bug out location has been compromised? Say major disaster or outbreak? Your supplies are gone at this location, there under water, or tornadoe tore through the area, or even earthquake, what’s your long term survival back up plan?

    Reply
    1. JR says:

      Clark – I cannot imagine a scenario where the retreat could be compromised so quickly. If a natural disaster such as tornado occurred and effected retreat our homes would likely be fine and our supplies there. All eggs not on one basket.

      Earthquake – while not likely if covered our entire area and all supplies destroyed we would likely all be dead – or at least screwed. Feel pretty confident based on our bug out plans that when “IT” happens we can all arrive to retreat safely and in an expedient manner – then see what happens.

      Reply
      1. D. says:

        JR….I can imagine one! I just spent over 2 weeks in one, effectively an EMP strike (no power, water, comms, fuel service, food service) and a unexpected flood! It was necessary for me to evacuate for 3 days prior and during. I then got back in to be trapped by rising water that flooded half of the house and made leaving for supplies impossible until I had a friend come in with a F800 and bash thru trees and my rear fence to make a dry road out. I quickly set up power, toilets, fans and a kitchen….but every day was an ordeal to improve the situation. I plan on a major article addressing all this and have a video journal on YouTube of the 2+ weeks recorded live. Learned a few new tricks.

        Reply
      2. Illini Warrior says:

        I can see one without any problem – if your BOL has been your weekend retreat for years – the local yokels seeing you building resources and using your toys … the serious SHTF – enough for you to bug out – is going to kick some people into WROL mode – like picking the “weekenders” place clean of whatever they find …

        Reply
  3. Capt.Michael says:

    One of few top 3 things I’ve found out deploying here to Florida was so simple, but had a huge impact. Mentally and practically. Area and recon. Finding my way around a place I have No idea was the first pressure. Finding what I needed in this area was the next challenge. It only took me a week of uncertainty and a car to find my way around and familiarize myself with resources I needed. All the while scooping out the people and the caliber of people I was dealing with.

    The peace that followed once I started recognizing places while going to new locations. It was then, I realized what an impact knowing my area was and how important it is. I mean, Really knowing which direction was which, what location took me to where, how to get from point A to point B including the short cuts. Again in a car. Now apply that to a bug out situation, with/without roads, or a car, and you can hopefully see what kind of challenges your going to need to prepare for in route to your bug out location.

    That confidence of direction and familiarity will lift you, your group, and give you a huge boost mentally and tactically. So the next question. How truly prepared are those of you who will be bugging out, in multiple directions and the area your going to?

    Reply
  4. Oldalaskan says:

    Day 3 or 4 – CHORES, food propagation, garden work, animal husbandry. What reproducing food animals do you have? Poultry, Chickens, ducks, Turkeys? What meat and fur bearing animals do you have, Rabbits, Goats, Sheep, Cows, Horses. How much acreage do you have? How is your food preserving supplies, Canning jars & lids, dehydrating equipment and WHO knows how to do this? I would prefer 10 acers or more for feed for both human and animals. It’s nice to have a deep food stock but it must be replaced and that might mean growing what you eat and for barter for years.

    Reply
  6. Illini Warrior says:

    Expand that very first line “injuries” to include “sickness” – doubly important if there’s any chance whatever of a pandemic aspect to the SHTF – it will only be a matter of 1 1/2 – 2 weeks and grid down sanitation diseases will become apparent among the sheeple types ….

    Reply
  10. jh says:

    Thanks for the pdf of this, printed out a half dozen copies to keep on hand. While this is just a basic checklist a whole book could be written on this topic alone by expanding each topic of suggestions that fall under that catagory. A group I was with years ago had a checklist but it was nothing like this. It basically was a list of things to do to get it activated per member. For example, did you close the gate (put initials next to it), did you check in with at least two other people (jh), set up your camp (jh), put perishable foods into kitchen (jh). Then that checklist had to be handed into whomever was in charge at the time.

    Reply
  12. Robert McGlade says:

    It is important to choose a location that is conducive to inner reflection, and different enough from your every day life that your normal routine is broken. Breaking that routine so that you can look at the larger picture of your life is what taking a retreat is really all about. Ask lots of questions about the qualifications and background of the facilitator. A great question to ask is “What did you do before you started facilitating retreats.

    Reply
  13. John Martin says:

    Some retreats expect you to take part in the daily running of the centre, such as, being asked to help prepare meals, wash up, and clean the shower area or garden duty. It all depends on the ethos and types of retreat you choose. Other places will cater for your every need. So, when looking for a retreat make sure you check what is on offer and, expectations.

    Reply

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