Well, THAT post blew up!
I figured I might get 10 comments, not 50+! Thanks to all who commented and it also started quite an email back and forth with some folks…
Which leads me to today’s post-
Four options have come out of the comments & emails from the earlier post-
Run early, run when you can, walk/bike out, or fort up…
It’s ALWAYS timing… If you have ‘enough’ lead time, you can make a break early…
While not my ‘primary’ route out of Dodge, one I’ve actually driven a few times-
For example, Fairfax to Front Royal- 58 miles, 53 minutes in ‘normal’ traffic…
Nice little run out I-66, no fuss no muss… Probably something 95% of the people would try to do, regardless…
Let’s say you aren’t able to beat the rush, but you’re still determined to drive as far as you can. You ‘have’ mapped out alternate routes, right?
Same trek, Fairfax to Front Royal- 78 miles, 1.5 hours in ‘normal’ traffic…
Same start and finish, but over 50% longer both in distance and time (lots of 2 lane roads, not much connectivity out in the woods either), but I’m doubtful if many people even know there IS an alternative route between the two…
Now the crux of the matter- Have you actually driven your alternate route? Do you know what to expect in various locations???
I snuck out a couple of days ago and had lunch with Jay G, and no I don’t know what the new S&W toy is… But, we got to talking about bugging out and discussing bug out routes and he came up with a wrinkle ‘I’ didn’t think of…
Have you driven your alternate route at the WORST time? E.g. rush hour traffic? Or coming back from (fill in the blank) holiday?
And he indicated they will have an article coming on this soon!
Honestly, no I haven’t driven either of my alternates during worst case times… But I do know from past experience coming back into DC on I-66 during the holiday season that 58 miles can (and has) taken THREE @%& hours on I-66 due to idjits…
And I need to go buy a bike, not only can I use the exercise, that is one of the excellent points raised in the previous post about ways to ‘carry’ things like a back pack (pushing it on the bike is a LOT easier than humping it on the back), especially for us old farts.
Thanks again to all those who commented and emailed!!!
Fort up…at least for me living in South Florida and applied to hurricanes. Very little on the way to evacuate as the only options would be I-95, I-75, Florida Turnpike and maybe US-27 and all heading north. One single accident can reduce by 30% the flow of traffic and you really do not want to get caught outside during an event that can cover 200 miles.
https://www.ultimatechase.com/chase_accounts/Images/Hurricane_Wilma/Hurricane_Wilma_Location.jpg
That was Hurricane Wilma. By the time it hit us, it had went down from a Cat 5 to a “weak” Cat 3 and still manage to do damage. Being trapped inside your car being buffeted by 110mph winds is rather silly.
Several hurricane evacs have taught me to leave early. If you are wrong, then you’ve had a nice drive and a visit to a nearby city. Take a paper app (called a map) and learn the secondary highways. The best route may not be the most direct. Find a radio station with traffic information and listen to it. Jumping off of I-10 before hitting the scrum in Baton Rouge was priceless. Be armed and arm your passengers.
Fifty mile would put me in the boonies in any direction but due south (Nashville) and would take me 90 minutes on good country roads.
Fact is I would probably have to fort up due to some issues on the home front.
Fort up. There are simply not enough alternate routes in the DC commuting area for all the people who will want to be using them. The first two days will be people just sitting out there in the sun idling their engines wondering if anyone will care if their kids pee on the side of the road.
Get home and stay there until things settle.
I live in the Los Angeles Area urban hell.
Traffic is bad every day. If the trolly jumped the tracks here for any reason, roads are useless. When I used to commute, I carried a “walking kit” in my trunk, because I knew that I would have to walk home.
So food was a minor consideration, water, ammunition and camo were of greater concern – and naturally firearms. I drew a 40 mile circle around the house and decided that any walk would be about that far, two days given that I expected trouble.
.45 handgun and an M-4. 100 rounds for the .45, 500 rounds for the M-4. Ballistic armor (it’s LA), boots and a net/guillie poncho for laying up if it became necessary. Water and half a dozen energy bars. I told the family that if there was trouble, they should lay up at the house and expect me within 48 hours. If I didn’t make it then, I never would and they were on their own.
I practiced that discipline every single day in terms of what-if route planning. then again, you’d expect that of me, right?
600 rounds meant that I’d leave no fewer than 550 corpses given my parsimonious nature when it comes to a round a target with the occasional double-tap.
One more amplification. There will be no police. They will be headed home too if it’s bad enough – screw the job.
Yep, remember Watts riots and New Orleans during last hurricane. LE is under NO obligation to protect you or provided security, regardless of what is painted on the side of their cruisers.
A bike could also work a rifle rest. After reconsidering I’d have to go with the SCAR, don’t want to lose it and it’s pretty light for a .308.
I got mine as an all-arounder rifle, may as well take it and use it if the situation happens.
As you know, with only two roads in/out of Anchorage, we’re prepared to hunker in place. Our house commands a decent view of the approaches; might as well use that to our advantage.
Hunker down in place if possible here. Phoenix is another metropolitan area with few alternative roads, chances are slim that any would not be gridlocked. I have possibles mapped (the Rand McNally Easyfinder laminated maps are the best I’ve found), and have travelled them, but expect to be on the side of the road hoofing it. That would mean leaving family behind, so not going there unless it is the only alternative.
My next purchase (researching makes and models) is a folding bicycle that will fit in a trunk.
You’re a target on a bicycle.
Rethink that one. If it’s just a flood or something more benign, the bike is fine. If people are panicking, you’re screwed. You can’t take cover and fire effectively while you’re peddling. I understand movement and time are important but better to arrive than not.
I have no alternate route unless I want to use the backroads, I guess. One road in, one road out. Who chose this place to live in, anyway? That was not a prepper for sure. LOL. I do have a fort at home. I loved playing fort as a kid. Never out grew it.
Swiss Army bicycles (they really exist!) have a machine gun mount…
To my way of thinking, a bicycle gives me options. It can carry my BOB while I walk along with it, saving my knees. I can ride it in areas I deem less dangerous, speeding my journey. I can stash or dump it if needed, and continue on foot
Tt makes you more of a target, very true. I’ll take the trade-off, everything has upsides and downsides. I work 40 miles from home, that distance can double if I have to avoid main roads and such. My first possible BOL is the same approximate distance further away.
Will my knees take 160 miles with a heavy pack at all, will the pain slow and distract me enough to lower my survival chances? For me, that’s where it is. I tried walking 14 miles with a 56 lb. pack two years ago and could not wear pants the next day due to knee swelling. Again, YMMV.
Miguel- Excellent point- Having lived in Jax, yeah, pretty much screwed…
PE- Yep! My family all went to the old home place. Nice reunion if nothing else!
Gerry- Understood, for some that really IS the best choice!
Prof- Honestly, I’m of two minds- I ‘think’ if had ANY warning, I’d run… But if I didn’t, I’d probably try to ride it out for three-four days, then head out.
LL- Heard ALL that… And hopefully you’ll never ‘need’ that, but good planning is worth it’s weight in gold!
TheAxe- Yep, that is on my purchase list too!
Rev- You might want to do some pre-ranging… Just sayin… 🙂
Tweell- I have that same Altas, LOVE IT!
LL- Not so much for riding as for pushing, but you DO have a point…
Momma- If it works… 🙂
Frank- Oh now THAT would be neat… Impractical but neat!!!
Tweell- Concur, it IS all about tradeoffs… And making good decisions on the fly. If one has at least made a plan, it makes diversions easier/smarter… IF YOU HAVE A PLAN…
Very hard to adequately watch your 6 on a bicycle.
Heard it said that planning is essential but no plan survives first contact…but you -need- a plan.
Forting Up. Mom and Dad sold their little Farm in Southern Ohio last year, and moved to the City for their Health care needs.
HOWEVER, since my “Dust Up” with “Those People” on my Street, if it gets REALLY BAD, there will be a “New Sheriff in Town,” and if those who don’t follow the Rules….
Since I’m doing the road warrior thing much of the time, the car stays stocked (water, shelter, food,first aid, etc.). Will need to adapt to the situation at hand. At the local level, have about ten miles to a relative’s place. Not wanting to give anything away, will only say most adults who will be there have “experience”.
We already live in the country so we would hunker down in place. Our neighborhood is easily defended and most everyone have guns. Mostly military and retired military. I have discussed the SHTF situation and with some neighbors and they have similar plans. If anyone comes to my house they better watch for crossfire from next door and across the street.
LL- Yep
Les- Understood
WSF- 🙂 Yep, you ‘know’ the ropes…
TOL- That’s great! And having neighbors you can trust is worth it’s weight in gold (as my cousins found out during Katrina).
I’ve live in northern VA since 1960. Fort-Up is the only option for us.
Been through:
The Blizzard of ’66 (and too many others to count)
Various hurricanes. (Missed Agnes. Was in FLL for Andrew)
Traffic jams caused by:
Toxic spills.
Overturned explosive trucks.
Frozen fish … yes, fish.
Holiday traffic.
$*(@)@*! ASSHOLES!!
There is NO WAY to drive out of the area unless you’ve advance notice that (damn) few others have.
Walking/biking to Dad’s (prime fall back point) is impossible due to Smarter Half’s medical issues.
Neighbors and I have discussed:
Fields of fire.
Ammo compatibility.
“Disposal” issues.
I’ve never understood how you wouldn’t have alternate routes…
I was taught a game though, that I still play whenever possible, when going from point X to Y to take different possible routes each time, the only rules being that a turn 180 degrees away from the destination wasn’t permitted and certain time limits were set.
Consequently, I can confidently say that I know the majority of the roads (excluding modern interior subdivision roads) in the corner of my state, most of the major roads elsewhere in my state, and any number of possible routes between CT and Vermont, Montreal, and Boston. My car doesn’t have GPS.
Seeing as I live in a pretty rural area my goal is always home. I literally know every road within 40 miles of here. This area is blessed in that we don’t have hurricanes, tornadoes, or wild fires. Even though I live along a river and it can (and does occasionally) flood, the potential damage is minor. The only real dangers here are volcanoes (Mt. Baker) and earthquakes. If Baker blew and the ash did happen to come this way (not likely) and I needed to leave, I’d hook up to the RV and go. Earthquake?…..I just want to get home. I can always live in the RV if the house is damaged…..
Stretch- Understood.
Acair- “Some” folks never even consider a different route, either through complacency or neglect…
Rick- Yep, good plan. Much like LL.
Duck. E-mail incoming.
Should also get a photo.
Bikes! I need to get some racks so we can transport the load on our mountain bikes. I doubt The Bride will go for a 50# sack on her back, possibly not on her bike either…
A lot of “Pick One or Two” BOB-questions/situations are solo choices, but when escaping in twos it’s a whole ‘nother matter…
ORT- Rgr…
NC- Excellent point, I didn’t go down that road, since I’m not worrying about it (right now)…