Urban Challenge Discussion thread

[RWT]

Personally I am more concerned with a Natural Disaster or some moron doing something to disrupt the transportation grid. As long as I can make it home to the family I can handle 99% of any situation. IMO My trek could be as much as 1500 miles depending on the week. Seattle or D.C. to Austin is not a fun trip in a vehcile much less "working" your way back to the house in business attire.

 

[Moosez45]

Some scenario's to consider

-Natural Disaster
-Pandemic
-Human created disaster i.e. biological weapons, EMP, Nuclear weapons

Most of those seem plausible to me. Most major cities represent some significant target for human created disasters, but say, St. Louis might not want to look at a flood prep as much as say, San Diego.

I have recently been looking into seismic disasters, as, we've been having more and more earthquakes here. Seems to be getting larger as we go.

Moose

 

[FAL'ER]

Even though I won’t participate in the contest I have still been thinking about it. And this one point really bugs me. I can easily think of different routes to get out of the city, but I simply can’t think of a reason why I should get out of the city in the first place. People always say "When shit hits the fan", but what does that really mean? The only rapid developing catastrophe I can think of that would force me to leave the city in a hurry is either war or a zombie apocalypse. If war breaks out I’ll simply have to report to the nearest military base, so bugging out isn’t that much of an option unless I want to suffer the consequences for desertion later. And a zombie apocalypse isn’t a very likely event.

What other scenarios are you guys thinking about? Could you make a list?

Say it's a flood, if your house is halfway underwater don't talk to me about bugging in.

 

[Skystorm]

Here is one point to consider for those that 'bug in', I went through the LA riots and Katrina both and if there is one thing rioting fools love to do it is burn stuff down. You can board yourself up however you want and have 2 months of food and 50k of ammo after you have picked off a few they will burn you down just for fun.
The only things I don't take with me everywhere are a rifle and bow, Everything else I need is in my pack which goes everywhere I go (lesson learned) and my truck has another just in case and a couple jerry cans that will get me where I want to go. If I have to walk, which I expect I will, I know how to get there. I can make a bow when needed but the one thing I need to pick up is that new ruger take down .22 and stow it in the truck.
Stores and fuel stations clear out in hours, a week or two with no trucks running and society would implode. For those who have never experienced anything like it, You would be surprised at how fast people turn to desperate animals when you tell them they can't buy gas and the grocery store is closed.

 

[Arkanian]

To be honest, I think there are only a couple of people here from NYC and some in SF, however SF is more a town than a city...

Bugging in is the only realistic possibility for me and everything I have planned will have to be euphamized here on BF.

Staten Island and Manhattan are islands, and Brooklyn & Queens are on Long Island so bridges/tunnels are going to be pure (literal) chaos. Escaping the city in a car will be almost literally impossible. The silver lining (for my family and I) would be that most people here would simply perish, and in regards to personal security, numerous homes have already been built to defend against looting/thieves. Most people would think it's living hell to be trapped here in the event of disaster, but in all honesty it depends upon the disaster.

I will update later when I have more time, I also don't want all my plans just "out here" for everyone to possibly screw me out of if/when the SHTF. The difference between wilderness survival skills and urban survival is that sometimes, sharing is not always a good thing. General information is good to share, specific plans - not so much.

As people are listing what they've been through, I've been through 9/11.

 

[gmoneyluv]

Hey Arkanian,

I'm very interested in what you have to share. We live right in downtown Toronto - largest city in Canada and North America's 5th-largest city after Mexico City, New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago. Getting out of here by car will be impossible once its obvious that the SHTF.

I've been giving this serious thought over the last few days and driving out will only work if we sense that something is building up and we react before things get desperate. This pretty much rules out any natural and unforeseen catastrophes. Walking and bike riding seem like viable options. On bikes we could cover close to 100 km a day even at a very slow pace and would get us out to some more isolated areas in about 2 days. Still not a great option.

On foot, things would be more desperate. There are 2 major ravine/river systems (Humber and Don Valley) that we could follow north out of the city. In the ravines we would have access to water (once treated) but we would have cover serious distance (50 km) to get to less populated territory.

Not impossible but definitely not easy.

Have to give the hunkering down option more thought.

 

[KP]

I work in NYC but live in NJ so while hunkering down for things to settle is probably wise, I would have to fight an irresistible urge to get back home to protect my family. These plans get complicated when you work on an island with around 10 million people in the region.

 

[DerekH]

I have to agree with Ark on the specificity of the info delivered. My entry will be "a plan" and not MY plan. While I fully intend for it to be a valid plan, I have no desire to go broadcasting my intentions should things ever head south in the metaphorical sense.

 

[Chameleonbear]

Moose, actually St. Louis is in a REALLY bad flood plain. In the early 90's it was hit with one of the worst floods EVER in America. I believe it is now only second to what happened with Katrina, but I'm not positive about that.

For me, bugging in is easier in my apartment in Chicago mainly cause I already have my security in place there. In St. Louis I don't have my video security in place. Be that as it may, I am working on getting that remedied.

 

[tradewater]

I don't know if I should share the specifics either but here's plan B for me...

 

[KP]

Haha, that's hilarious!

 

[Mistwalker]

You mean a case of beer and a bottle of Jack won't be enough to bring?

In the early stages probably not...lol, anybody it is enough for on day one is a questionable ally...but now three months into it a scenario of Apocalyptic proportions it may make you a friend for life...or at the very least a friend for a day or two

Seriously, though; good point, and an extension of what i meant; if you can team up with 1-2 other people (keeping it small) and each bring a unique set of skills and supplies, the effect is synergestic. My hunting buddy and I are like that when we go on a hunting trip. We each try to outdo each other with gadgets and gear, bringing enough foodand supplies for not only ourself but each other and the result is if some piece of kit/equipment gets left behind, breaks, whatever, we are always able to cover for each other. We also dont run out of Brats and beer. It always evens out, also. I left my GPS in the truck, but have spare batteries for his GPS which just died. Shoot a large critter like an elk; with 2 of you, you can watch each others' backs, transport the meat at once, etc. Substitute roaming gangs of hungry sheeple for the wolf/bear threat, and there ya have it. Too many in the group starts to be a crowd, though. The most I've hunted with without getting in each other's way was 3. Even that was iffy if the 3rd was a tool like the neighbor you describe above. The 4th always added more stress to the woods than benefits, inmy limited experience, and then we end up splitting into two 2-ships anyway.

Very good points, the larger the team the better you will need to be able to work together and respect is going to be a major factor. Small teams are much more mobile, require less area and supplies, leave a smaller footprint, and have less reasons to encounter friction.

 

[RWT]

Based on the photo above ... I see crop circles in the NE corner. Heck damn Aliens will be raiding your stash. Worse yet the "A" probe by Aliens drunk on your cache of beer and whiskey. Sounds like a weekend I had in Juarez a few years ago. That donkey still can't look me in the eye.

More to come as this thread became more interesting with the different natural disaster to consider.

 

[Mistwalker]

I think I am going to do some of the photos explaining my plan on the way to Blade Then I think I need to pick up another BK-11 at Blade because I really just don't want to be beating up on the BK-11CSM that I currently carry just for a discussion thread There will be so much urban that I will definitely go with a BK-11 if I can only use one knife. Or maybe a 13 and a 16 if multiple knives are doable.

 

[K9-Handler]

Bugging in is the only realistic possibility for me and everything I have planned will have to be euphamized here on BF.

There ya go using them big words again...

Well, Arkanian, when you get to Westchester keep heading north to Brewster. Hang a right, go another 23 miles and you can hang out with us. Just yell "BECKERHEAD!" as you're coming in the driveway, or expect a few rounds to come your way...

 

[K9-Handler]

You mean a case of beer and a bottle of Jack won't be enough to bring?

LMAO. Members of my SAR group (me included) responded across the country to Waveland, MS, after Katrina to do recoveries with our cadaver dogs. We were assigned to a strike team from the Tupalo Fire Department who was there on mutual aide. Waveland experienced a 28-foot storm surge -- sea water over the top of two-story houses. A couple of days after they arrived, the FD guys found a guy living in a wrecked van. He had sent his family north, but decided to ride it out. When the water got higher and higher in his house he put on two life vests and grabbed a hunk of rope and climbed onto his roof and tied off to his chimney. At the height of the storm, waves would sweep him off the roof, he'd go hand-over-hand along the rope back to the roof -- until the next wave. Now, almost two weeks later, he hadn't been able to contact his family and was still living in his same shorts.
The firefighters dug up some of their t-shirts for him, and asked him what else they could get for him.
"I really need a beer!!!" was his reply! So they found that for him, too!

 

[gutsy]

hey mistwalker ! if it aint too much trouble pick me up a bk11 too while you're down there !

 

[RRR1977]

The issue I am running in to, is a lack of scenario. We need to know the event that triggers the bug in, or bug out. Obviously, a colapse of our currency will require a different strategy than say..........zombies (please oh please let it be zombies), or even a natural disaster that decimates our power grid. The event will cause you neighbors, or as I call them, my 50m targets, are going to act differently in each situation, which would drive my decision making process. What are all your thoughs on this?

 

[gutsy]

i share the same problem as some others on here . i live in the country but work long hours in the city and have a very long drive . once i'm at work i'm out on the road all day and could be anywhere . i keep a bugout bag with me at all times at work but regardless , getting home would be a nightmare on foot . mistwalker,lowery and moose know roughly what side of town i work on and know how bad it is on any given day (without a crisis). i think we have a really good thread here .

 

[Mistwalker]

hey mistwalker ! if it aint too much trouble pick me up a bk11 too while you're down there !

Seriously, or are you just joking around?

i share the same problem as some others on here . i live in the country but work long hours in the city and have a very long drive . once i'm at work i'm out on the road all day and could be anywhere . i keep a bugout bag with me at all times at work but regardless , getting home would be a nightmare on foot . mistwalker,lowery and moose know roughly what side of town i work on and know how bad it is on any given day (without a crisis). i think we have a really good thread here .

Yeah, you have the same possible issues to deal with that I do. I was looking at a truck at wal mart a few days ago to see if I would see you on the job.