The East Coast Retreat Dilemma By Joel M. Skousen,

[livingston]

The East Coast Retreat Dilemma
The East Coast Retreat Dilemma

 

[Foxtrapper]

I don't see it. There are advantages in staying within an area you know. Home field advantage does have perks. I also don't believe people will be moving west. South where the weather is more stable would be a better bet. South west, yes, due west, probably not. The trick for surviving this movement of people is to be in an area that people heading south won't stumble through. So, if you don't mind the cold, there are plenty of areas in the northeast that will be as safe or safer than points south or south west of here..just my .02 cents worth...

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

The East Coast Retreat Dilemma
The East Coast Retreat Dilemma

Thanks for posting. Tgus is definitely a topic I'm interested in.

I want to move West but it's not realistic at this point for me so I need to consider other options.

 

[Airborneguy]

I'll say it again, as i always do. City folk especially have been conditioned by pop culture to "GTFO" in the event of a catastrophe. In real life we see it every time there is an impending disaster on a city.

Should SHTF happen, I'm collecting up my kids and heading home, where I will stay put as the neighborhood clears out and everyone kills each other at the bridges and on 95 and 80. I can almost guarantee that anyone else who stays won't be as well armed or prepared as me.

 

[GOPerfect]

I'll say it again, as i always do. City folk especially have been conditioned by pop culture to "GTFO" in the event of a catastrophe. In real life we see it every time there is an impending disaster on a city.

Should SHTF happen, I'm collecting up my kids and heading home, where I will stay put as the neighborhood clears out and everyone kills each other at the bridges and on 95 and 80. I can almost guarantee that anyone else who stays won't be as well armed or prepared as me.

Home is where most people have all of their stuff.

I do not understand the Get Out as quickly as possible thought. Hold out as long as possible, defend in place.

 

[Airborneguy]

Yeah even those with "retreats" will be putting themselves in the least safe position possible when traveling to their personal "redoubt". I have friends with cabins and land who constantly talk about heading there in the event of shtf. If there is enough warning to head their prior, fine, but if there isn't, they are worse off while travelling than if they just stayed put. Not to mention they may not be the first one to get there anyway...

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

Yeah even those with "retreats" will be putting themselves in the least safe position possible when traveling to their personal "redoubt". I have friends with cabins and land who constantly talk about heading there in the event of shtf. If there is enough warning to head their prior, fine, but if there isn't, they are worse off while travelling than if they just stayed put. Not to mention they may not be the first one to get there anyway...

This is all my speculation and rambling....
But,
If you cannot get to your remote retreat immediately before shtf or recognize shtf before the masses and get out of town first you will be in peril trying to reach your retreat.

Example, from your house you are 3 hours drive (call it 120ish miles, which while in your planning phase seemed close enough) from your retreat. An emp hits. 90% of vehicles are fried and roads are grid locked. It may take you and your family a week to walk the distance in good conditions, longer in bad conditions. Some of the roads and towns between you are your bug out location may set up roadblocks, block your travels, Rob you, etc... What if someone loots your bug out property before you can reach it? Most locals would know who lives around and what places are likely to be unoccupied, let alone a transient guy traveling through near your bug out who is stranded and desperate looking for resources.

Ideally if you can swing it, making your permenant residence your bug out locale is the way to go.

If it was me, and you are buying bug out property I would try to keep it within maybe 100 miles from home. Any farther and depending on what the cause of shtf is, you risk not making it to you bug out location. For me, I love in the suburbs south of buffalo. I'm looking into somewhere in the NY southern tier or the PA northern tier in the Allegany plateau region. Its close enough, remote, has resources and low population density.

Things to consider....

 

[pjzwtl]

I have to agree with the last 3 comments. If you have plenty of warning signs to get to a retreat great however a SHTF scenario can come out of the blue and the last place I want to be is stuck on a highway with my family and only some of my stuff.

Plan is to stay put unless staying would become suicide and in such a case we have a few local bug out locations were terrain and stashes would be our friends.

God imagine being stuck on a roadway that has become impassable surrounded by strangers in unfamiliar territory? No thanks

 

[Robin]

My plan is to live or die in place, don't fuck with old if you want to get there.
Robin

 

[carpediem]

I too plan to stand fast to my piece of ground as long as it is possible. There is little need to bug out. Realistically, as I mentioned in my thread about bug out vehicles (at least I think I mentioned it), it isn't a bad idea to have a powered method of rapid transport available. Events can render even the most fortified position a deathtrap. A well set up vehicle could also breach a thinly established perimeter to egress your position should someone attempt to lay siege to you. As far as long distance retreat, that is so fraught with danger that it wouldn't even be something I would look at for some time after a SHTF event.

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

I too plan to stand fast to my piece of ground as long as it is possible. There is little need to bug out. Realistically, as I mentioned in my thread about bug out vehicles (at least I think I mentioned it), it isn't a bad idea to have a powered method of rapid transport available. Events can render even the most fortified position a deathtrap. A well set up vehicle could also breach a thinly established perimeter to egress your position should someone attempt to lay siege to you. As far as long distance retreat, that is so fraught with danger that it wouldn't even be something I would look at for some time after a SHTF event.

In the patriots book series (don't worry I won't give spoilers) the main story line is most of the characters are in the Chicago area trying to get to their bug out location........in Idaho. Not close.

In real life I do not think that is remotely realistic.

 

[Phazer]

I don't see it. There are advantages in staying within an area you know. Home field advantage does have perks. I also don't believe people will be moving west. South where the weather is more stable would be a better bet. South west, yes, due west, probably not. The trick for surviving this movement of people is to be in an area that people heading south won't stumble through. So, if you don't mind the cold, there are plenty of areas in the northeast that will be as safe or safer than points south or south west of here..just my .02 cents worth...

Well...in World War Z, those that went north did much better over time than those who headed south.

 

[carpediem]

Well...in World War Z, those that went north did much better over time than those who headed south.

Zombies aren't stupid! They went where it was warm!!