It's the first of the month, have you...
Test run your generator?
Rotated you gasoline stores?
Tested your smoke and/or carbon monoxide detectors?
Checked your household and vehicle fire extinguishers?
Given your dog his heart worm pill and flea/tick treatment?
Changed your HVAC filters?
Test run all your small engine equipment?
Checked your tires, belts, hoses and filters on your vehicles?
Get Home Project
Reading some of the feedback from you all last week about motorcycles as BOVs got me to thinking about how I would get home from work if the main thoroughfares were blocked. I've long had alternate routes planned for getting home, but they all involved different main drags. I've started mapping out some alternate routes. The city where I work is long and skinny, and bordered by a major river. I think I got a side route to the end of the city planned where I'll go 90% through residential areas and come out near where I normally get on the interstate. It also comes out near where a prepper friend lives and could provide shelter if needed. I'll test it out later this week and see if my theory holds true. Do you have alternate ways home that bypass major roads? Alternate routes are easy... back ways can be challenging.
I've got 1 major alternate route available as well as a couple routes similar to my primary. I've got to cross a major river to get home so that's my primary issue.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if I head in the opposite direction from home, my father's place is roughly an hour away.
Regardless, everyone should keep a good area map in their vehicle so you can adjust on the fly. I like DeLorme's Gazateer (sp?) For this as they seem to have every back road in the State.
Steelheart
Test run your generator? yeah, unfortunately. For about 8 hours last week - cloudy/rainy and we're offgrid.
ReplyDeleteRotated you gasoline stores? Routinely for the small cans, but need to do the big tank next, that's expensive.
Tested your smoke and/or carbon monoxide detectors? No, and they need checking.
Checked your household and vehicle fire extinguishers? Just added ones to the vehicle recently actually.
Given your dog his heart worm pill and flea/tick treatment? yep, marked on the calendar.
Changed your HVAC filters? Don't use them, wood heat.
Test run all your small engine equipment? No, but I found that damn ethanol will clog the carb if there's any gas in it when you store it. I run 'em all dry now, then pull the plug and put a squirt of oil in the cylinder and on the threads, replace plug, and pull a couple times with the gas off to coat the cylinder and rings. Works pretty well.
Checked your tires, belts, hoses and filters on your vehicles? No, and they need checking.
RE: getting home
If there's a city park along the way, take a hike and note where the unlocked gates/thin gauge fencing to private property are. Half kidding.
I do like the TerraFlex rear / Dunlop D606 front tire combo on my DRZ (http://www.mandhtires.com/store.php?crn=68&rn=285&action=show_detail / http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/tirecatalog_tire.asp?id=14), but I never used it for commuting either. Both are DOT street legal, but get real squirrelly above about 45mph on pavement. Heading east or west at a
moment's notice off a north/southbound road isn't a problem however.
Since you mentioned "river"... One huge concern on my bug-out plan, truck or bike, was a major river I had to cross. Scouting on both banks revealed a state police dept office on one bank, and a national guard post on the other. Both almost in the shadow of the huge interstate bridge that crossed the river. Coincidence? I didn't count on that bridge being open if I really needed it to be. Best plan I could come up with if all routes over it were blocked was to pick a small crossing, get to the front line by any means, and give the JBT's my sob story (and some credentials showing my supposed worth as a human being), and a couple gold coins to let us pass. Just saw you've got the same problem Steelheart, any thoughts?
Gazateer is the stuff. I've got one for Wyoming and I think I have one for Virginia. I need to pick up another. Thanks for reminding me!
ReplyDeleteWhen the time comes, don't hesitate to drive on the sidewalk, on bike paths and across lawns if & when necessary.
ReplyDelete