Exactly.
Roads out of cities would be impassable.
Heck, people complain about commuting times when things are good, and their gas tanks are full!
That’s something that always in a way irritated me about people planning for some kind of “bug out” scenario.
Unless you can get out a good three days or so before SHTF, “bug out” is suicide.
If you are trapped on the road in your rig during the collapse, you are a sitting duck.
I would love a piece of property out in the mountains but I’m not convinced it would be any safer than the suburbs. It all depends on what happens.
that is why for worst case planning you need good maps, good shoes, and lightweight survival supplies (make temp shelter, stay warm, purify water, sustain calorie intake) - and a place to try to get to
I have these visions sometimes of my family walking over the mountains, like my ancestors did 250 years ago
One word: backroads.
My evacuation plans ALWAYS avoided the interstates.
There’s another problem with the bug out scenario. Even if you make it out of town the locals at the end of the highway won’t be happy to see you.
I agree completely.
I live in one of the collar counties of Washington DC. We were close enough here to see the smoke rising from the Pentagon. There are military and intelligence installations here. This county may not be a target per se, but DC is, and some of the major escape routes run through this region. These roads are hideous on the average sunny Friday afternoon. They are worse than you can imagine in the rain or snow. They'd be functionally useless during an emergency, unless you're a bad guy and want to just walk up to helpless drivers and hold them up.
Until recently I had a horse. I trained her for cross-country riding and jumping so that I could ride her through the countryside without bothering with roads. The idea was to join up with a girlfriend who also has a very durable horse and ride to a place deep in the country where we could shelter for a bit. From there we worked out alternative plans for places to go, depending on what the emergency is.
However, I ran out of money and don't have my horse anymore. :-((Guess I'll be doing this on foot, if the worst happens (unless a miracle happens and I can figure out a way to make enough money again). If you are trapped on the road in your rig during the collapse, you are a sitting duck.