Bugout Guide

Rendezvous Points

Establish meeting points before disaster strikes. When cell phones don't work and family members are scattered, everyone needs to know where to go.

Plan Before the Emergency

Every family member should memorize these locations. Practice driving to each one. Store copies in go-bags, vehicles, and wallets. If phones are dead and roads are chaos, these predetermined points reunite your family.

How to Use This

  1. Choose locations everyone can reach independently
  2. Pick backup points in case primary is inaccessible
  3. Walk or drive to each location so everyone knows the way
  4. Include an out-of-area contact for message relay
  5. Review and update every 6 months
Point #1
Immediate Rally Point
Within walking distance of home

Use when you can't return home but haven't evacuated the area. Should be visible, safe, and reachable on foot within 15 minutes. Examples: neighbor's house, nearby park, church parking lot.

Location Name
Full Address
Landmarks / How to Find
Contact at Location
Distance from Home
Drive Time
Point #2
Neighborhood Point
1-3 miles from home

Use when the immediate area is dangerous but you're still in the neighborhood. Should be a well-known landmark. Examples: school, community center, shopping center parking lot, fire station.

Location Name
Full Address
Landmarks / How to Find
Contact at Location
Distance from Home
Drive Time
Point #3
Regional Point
10-50 miles from home

Use when evacuating the local area. Pick a location outside your typical evacuation zone. Examples: relative's house, friend in another town, major landmark in a different city.

Location Name
Full Address
Landmarks / How to Find
Contact at Location
Distance from Home
Drive Time
Point #4
Out-of-Area Contact
100+ miles away

Not a meeting point—this is your message relay. Someone far away who can receive calls when local lines are jammed. Everyone calls this person to report their status and location.

Location Name
Full Address
Landmarks / How to Find
Contact at Location
Distance from Home
Drive Time

Key Family Member Locations

Document the locations of family members you might need to reach or evacuate to.

Person #1
Parent, sibling, or child
Name / Relationship
Home Address
Phone
Work Address
Best Route from Home
Person #2
Parent, sibling, or child
Name / Relationship
Home Address
Phone
Work Address
Best Route from Home
Person #3
Extended family or close friend
Name / Relationship
Home Address
Phone
Work Address
Best Route from Home
Person #4
Extended family or close friend
Name / Relationship
Home Address
Phone
Work Address
Best Route from Home

Known Routes

Primary Evacuation Route

Road/Highway
Key Turns / Landmarks
Estimated Time

Alternate Route (if primary blocked)

Road/Highway
Key Turns / Landmarks
Estimated Time

Communication Protocol

When phones work: Call out-of-area contact first to relay your status. Text uses less bandwidth than calls. Try texting if calls don't go through.

Family Code Word (we're safe)
Distress Code Word (we need help)
Designated Check-In Times

Example: Every hour on the hour, or at 8am/12pm/6pm

Need Custom Routes to Reach Family?

Generate detailed evacuation routes to specific family members. Get turn-by-turn directions, alternate routes, and identify safe stops along the way. Know exactly how to reach your parents, adult children, or friends in an emergency.