Posted on 06/12/2009 3:21:05 PM PDT by appleseed
I think as a boy my favorite stories were always about epic journeys or quests. I always saw myself as the lone hero; bravely making his way through a barren landscape overcoming impossible obstacles and having fantastic adventures along the way. As preppers I think many of us still believe that WTSHTF our trip to “Get out of Dodge” will be an adventure such as those we read in books. I’m afraid however; the reality will be much grimmer than we can imagine. I fear that it will be more like The Road by Cormac McCarthy or the recent novel One Second After by William R. Forstchen , than anything else.
I live in the Chicago metropolitan area, yes far behind enemy lines so to speak, and have been a prepper for most of the last 10 years. Like many of us I must live in a big city because of my job. I need money to survive. Living here is no big deal if you learn to ignore the local politics. My kids are grown and I have no long-term attachments here. If the world falls to pieces I always felt I could leave in an instant. I have the requisite pick-up truck, keep it full of fuel, pre-positioned much of my supplies with my son at a relatively safe location in a small town (population 5,000) about 600 miles from here. I’ve got my G.O.O.D. bag packed and I’m ready to go when ever things go south. Or am I ready?
Let’s review my bug-out plan. Wait a second, I have no plan! This blinding flash of the obvious hit me as I was stuck in rush-hour traffic last Friday evening on my way to my son’s. It took me nearly three hours to get from my apartment on the far north side of the city to I-80 on the far south side. This was the route I assumed I would take to skedaddle. Think about that; I was on Interstate highways the whole time, leaving at 8:00 PM, and it still took me nearly three hours to go less than 80 miles. What’s really scary is that I was thinking all along how light the traffic was. I had no alternative routes in mind. Yikes!
Well, I’ve got to tell you this dear readers, that realization scared the bejeebus out of me. I was so unready to bug out. I had the stuff, the means, the mindset, etc., however, in a meltdown near-panic situation, I would’ve have been just one more member in a stream of hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing the big city. This experience got me off my duff and forced to review what I will do when the next shoe drops in our ongoing economic nightmare.
I drew up a list of what was necessary to implement an action plan to “Escape from Chicago 2009”
1. Have a bug-out kit ready at all times a. No problem I have a bug-out bag packed and ready to go. No last minute packing required. However; I hadn’t checked it in quite some time and when I did I found plenty of things to replace and replenish. Batteries lost their charge. Foods had expired. So did many of the common medications I packed. BTW, I also now have a 72 hour bag with me whenever I leave the house. You can never be sure when the worst thing you can imagine will happen.
2. Bring as much as you can with you. a. Unlike many of you, I am not a man of any particular religious belief system. However, like most of you, I feel what makes us truly human beings is our compassion. I have to say that I don’t think while bugging out, I could look a frightened hungry child in the eyes and say no - nothing for you. Bring more than you need. If you don’t need to share then all the better; there’s more for you when you reach your destination.
3. No stopping to buy last minute items. a. If it’s so bad you need to be bugging-out do you really think others don’t know that and are at that very minute stripping the local Wal-Mart clean? During the Los Angeles riots in 1992 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the grocery stores were near impossible to get to and if you could, it didn't matter; they were closed, or had been looted, and were empty. Also, shop owners, for example, may attempt to defend their stores with firearms (a la the Los Angeles Riots) and you don’t want to be caught in the crossfire. I know, I know, Chicago has very strict gun laws so there won’t be any shooting except by a few gun-toting NRA/survivalist types .
Finally, one interesting image comes to mind when I think of someone “liberating” goods from a Wal-Mart. During the Katrina emergency I recall seeing a video of a very obese woman wading through chest deep flood water, polluted with who knows what, holding a Dyson vacuum cleaner she had “liberated” over her head. No electricity, no home, no floor for that matter, but she had an expensive vacuum cleaner she had probably always wanted. Also, an interesting side note is the lack of bookstores looted.
Read the rest of this letter at http://survivalblog.com/
I work nights and my wife works days. I don't worry about myself getting home. If for some reason, I need to get to her during the day, we have communication and we have a plan. This all may sound crazy to some, but does it hurt anyone to have a plan of action if and when things go south?
Self Reliant/Survivalist ping list
Mr. Jefferson would never willingly live in one of those hell-holes but if he had to, you can bet he’d have HIS bag ready to go. He fully understood that when the guano starts to move, it’s going straight into the rotating air handling device.
An astute student of history and human nature, Thomas Jefferson, predicted what we see happening here in America. As ambassador in France, he witnessed the run up to the FIRST socialist/communist revolution there. He penned the following observations concerning what would happen HERE should that socialism come to the United States. He CORRECTLY predicted that we would become an increasingly contentious and litigious people as we shouldered one another out of the way to get OURS from the public trough and the trough would soon be empty.
He also knew where the bulk of the problem would originate.
That whirring noise you may hear coming from that mountain in Charlottesville, Virginia is Mr. Jefferson getting up to around 3600 RPM.
(A 6 minute video with this information may be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypLu49pq3bI)
As I understand it, at the time of the drafting of the Declaration, Mr. Jefferson originally wrote “…Life, Liberty and PROPERTY…” (meaning that one’s right to freely acquire, use and dispose of his property – to the extent doing so did not violate the same to others – was a Creator endowed right. Because slavery viewed humans as property, the phrase “Pursuit of Happiness” was adopted instead to avoid – at least for the time being — the inevitable debate on that subject.
“The mobs of the great cities add just so much to the support of pure government as sores do to the strength of the human body. It is the manners and spirit of a people which preserve a republic in vigor. A degeneracy in these is a canker which soon eats to the heart of its laws and constitution.” —Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Virginia Q.XIX, 1782. ME 2:230
“I think our governments will remain virtuous for many centuries as long as they are chiefly agricultural; and this will be as long as there shall be vacant lands in any part of America. When they get piled upon one another in large cities as in Europe, they will become corrupt as in Europe.” —Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1787. Papers 12:442
“I view great cities as pestilential to the morals, the health and the liberties of man. True, they nourish some of the elegant arts; but the useful ones can thrive elsewhere; and less perfection in the others, with more health, virtue and freedom, would be my choice.” —Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Rush, 1800. ME 10:173
“Our cities... exhibit specimens of London only; our country is a different nation.” —Thomas Jefferson to Andre de Daschkoff, 1809. ME 12:304
“Everyone, by his property or by his satisfactory situation, is interested in the support of law and order. And such men may safely and advantageously reserve to themselves a wholesome control over their public affairs and a degree of freedom which, in the hands of the canaille of the cities of Europe, would be instantly perverted to the demolition and destruction of everything public and private.” —Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 1813. ME 13:401
“An insurrection... of science, talents, and courage, against rank and birth... has failed in its first effort, because the mobs of the cities, the instrument used for its accomplishment, debased by ignorance, poverty, and vice, could not be restrained to rational action. But the world will recover from the panic of this first catastrophe.” —Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 1813. ME 13:402
“I fear nothing for our liberty from the assaults of force; but I have seen and felt much, and fear more from English books, English prejudices, English manners, and the apes, the dupes, and designs among our professional crafts. When I look around me for security against these seductions, I find it in the wide spread of our agricultural citizens, in their unsophisticated minds, their independence and their power, if called on, to crush the Humists of our cities, and to maintain the principles which severed us from England.” —Thomas Jefferson to Horatio G. Spafford, 1814. ME 14:120
ping
I allready live in the mountains of PA. Am well defended and have lots of food and game around.
We have a code word with our daughter who is away at school. If she ever is in danger but is unable to speak freely, she has something she is supposed to say to us that would not sound odd to anyone but us - and she knows we would say goodbye and immediately call her local police. Not a bad idea for all families to have something similar.
He called that one.
Dittos
We always learn the backroads routes when going somewhere. It's so much less aggravation.
I live in the country but work in the city. I'm ex-military. I can appreciate what you say. I've been the fan on a few occassions. I agree with what you say.
I’m going to stay put and just kill and eat whoever comes after me. Any pork recipe will do.
Having all the requisite bug-out tools is no good if you can't escape.
If I’m at my real house (and not down where I work) my first indication of any problem would be FR anyway. JimRob starts posting “John has a long mustache” and I’m gonna know I got houseguests on the way. Eat up the froze food first and then start on the venison. Note to self: stock up on beer.
IF I have to evacuate San Jose, it wont be pretty. I’m planning on going up through the mountains,,, dont know where , but away from the savages.
Don't eat the tattooed pork rinds....
Just a note, if it’s venison or meat only, difficulty with #2 may be a bit tough. Just speaking from experience. Maybe a laxitive on hand or if possible greens as in lettuce will help. Just an opinion - but pickled green tomato’s works great for me. Fried green tomato’s and fried morrels loosen a guy up better than ex-lax.
Just sayin.
Katrina made it obvious that the feds intend to corral (and disarm) people into holding areas in the event of an emergency.
The government would likely confiscate and redistribute private stockpiles. This will be unproductive but blaming “the rich” who “hoarded” necessities will make the masses feel better. More important the government will be seen as “doing something because doing nothing is not an option.”
“I’m going to stay put...”
Bingo. If there is an EMP blast when the SHTF no one is going anywhere - don’t challenge me on that because I know very little about EMP and you will win the debate.
My son talks about buying some acreage for somewhere to go. I argue it would be more effective to organize a neighborhood defense/support group make sure everyone stocks necessities, start a shooting club and spend more time at the range.
Being “out” will probably mean not immediately having the defensive structures one would want to have.
We’re staying put too. EMP, economic collapse, etc.. Doesn’t matter what the trigger, best advice is be prepared. We have made pacts with some in our area. Easy for us because we live in the country and are friends with farmers and land owners. Best advice is, be prepared and be aware of your surroundings.
Thankfully we work at home here, but in the vehicle I have what I call a “Get home bag” It can last the wife and I a good day or two to get us home if we are away.. and the only real reason would be visiting someone in a nearby state or a vacation... in our vehicle.
In the home, in my store room I have 2 other BOBS packed as well as food and supplies in Rubbermaid tubs. It will ALL fit into my vehicle. We also store gas and keep the vehicle topped off most of the time.
Its easy once you make a plan.. now that said, I would ONLY bug out in extreme emergency.. I am pretty well isolated out here in Pahrump Nevada (and no.. I am not Art Bell.. lol) so I tend to think about getting HOME to my supplies and not bugging out to who knows where.
Remember if you plan to bug out PLAN alternate routes, and have a place to go.
You may think that place that “no one knows about in the woods” is a good place.. but trust me.. so do about 200 other people. Stake your Bug out location out well.. know its surroundings and plan everything you can. No one wants to plan while TSHTF
Yup, it makes much more sense to stay put and fortify your AO rather then to run to an unknown location.
"Kenya"
Good advice, but I hate thinking about it because the worst enemy when the SHTF will be the unlawful citizens, like in Katrina, that will use the event to murder, rape, rob, etc.
Haha - too obvious
Right on, right on.
I’ve warned family members to flat out refuse to ‘get on the bus’, and to head for the hills when it rolls through town to ‘rescue’ people.
I’ll take my chances in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains over a jam-packed stadium or dome any day of the week.
I have a packed BOB/72 Hour Kit that I keep in the back of our Tahoe all the time. As much driving around that I do with the kids, anything could happen at any time, and I want to be at least minimally prepared.
I think people underestimate the difficulty of getting out of a city. Picture the traffic jam after a large concert or sporting event, multiply that by ten (at least) and you get a pretty good idea. The thought of trying to get out of the Phoenix area scares the crap out of me. If such an evacuation happened in the summer, there would be an enormous number of casualties just from heat exposure.
For this reason alone I’d love to be living in Texas. Have you seen their road system? It’s incredible. Hundreds of roads leading to just about every nook and cranny.
I do have an article about the Vehicle 72 Hour Kit on my blog, which I think is helpful. thesurvivalmom.com
for later
bflr
ty for the pin as!
Many Freepers live in rural areas. You might want to check and see who’s already in the direction you’re planning to head in advance.
All you city folks who think that escape into the countryside is a good survival plan should think about what those already living in the country will be doing in anticipation of the hordes of looters from the cities coming in.
I can assure you that those already living in the back woods will be far better prepared to fend you off than you will be to trespass on their properties.
Even in civil times, city folk don’t have much success in dealing with the challenges of the woods.
Example: we had a city guy come visit our farm to deliver some building supplies.
After he unloaded the truck, he decided to take a walk in the woods around our home.
Three hours later, a neighbor called and asked if we knew anything about the crazy naked guy in their tool shed pouring gasoline over his body.
Seems like the city guy had never heard of ticks or chiggers and during his little stroll through the woods he became covered with them.
His solution - run to the closest farm, strip off his clothes and pour gasoline on his body to rid himself of the ticks.
Our neighbor normally would have shot a trespasser breaking into his barn - but in this case, he called the sheriff and then called other neighbors to see if they knew who the guy was.
If you live in the city, don’t assume those who live in the country or woods will welcome you with open arms.
Most won’t.
PING
Great post appleseed!
If the SHTF, the cities and suburbs would become one giant Charlie Foxtrot.
IMHO, the optimal situation would be to already be living at the bug out location. If the SHTF, traveling would be extremely dangerous.
What I’m trying to figure out is how to transition from currently living in a city, working at a 9 to 5 job, to moving to a rural area off the grid.
“Three hours later, a neighbor called and asked if we knew anything about the crazy naked guy in their tool shed pouring gasoline over his body.”
LOLOLOL!
Got my copy of Enemies Foreign and Domestic yesterday via UPS. Can’t wait to dig into it. Thanks for the heads up.
Once you start reading, you won’t be able to put it down! Also, be warned... your paranoia is going to be elevated. :-)
Over a decade ago when my oldest son was 10 we visited Boston. At the end of the afternoon we were sitting on a bench at some marketplace somewhere and he said to me, “The smell of cities makes me sick and gives me a headache. Can we go now?”
Sometimes I pity people who have to live in the parasite nests (”cities”) but then I remember what they elect and how they vote and I just want them to stay there, sitting crosslegged in their own urine and feces. Please, just stay there where you belong.
I just added your survivalmom.com link to my favorites, and will be adding it to the blogroll on my page. Thanks for doing this!
My wife already thinks I'm nuts. To her credit, she has been through the wringer just as I have been. I guess I'm lucky as far as the wife is concerned. She sees things as I do to a point, only my way of thinking is a little more radical than hers.
One useful item to have is a GPS unit. On mine, I can tell it to plan a route that does not use highways. Every once in a while, it seems like it would be a good idea to see how you would be able to get out of Dodge using obscure back roads.
I can’t imagine my wife not being “aligned” with me. I filled an info-warfare role courtesy of DoD for a number of years, so we’ve had elevated paranoia for a long time anyway. :-) Here lately though, I do believe she has surpassed me in her viewpoints!
Also, if you have a large dog or two, do not hesitate to take them along. Find backpacks for them. They are good hunters, good watchdogs, and good sources of warmth.
GPS (more importantly, the internal map feature) could be useful in discovering back-road routes, which could then be marked on paper maps.
google maps also has a nice feature, where you can tell it to map a route from A to B, and tell it to avoid highways. You can also click on a point in the route, and drag it so as to avoid a particular road, and it re-figures the route.
I don't care who you are, that's funny right there.
Amazingly what I learned...
If everyone keeps their cool...stores will be giving away their meats, milks, eggs, water etc. It will be thrown away anyway. Even the last of their ice...they gave away.
Neighbors ...funny....I met more people that night on the front porch of my house than in the last 10 years living here. And those introductions...have held up. We may not get together and chat, but we all wave at each other as we pass in cars or on evening walks.
We held an impromptu block party the second night.
We all gave fuel for the generator to keep the old man's oxygen running...
Sometimes, the survival groundwork starts with laying down the relationships.
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