As I’m once again sitting in an airport lounge waiting for my flight (home thankfully) I’m forced to wonder what if the SHTF right now? I’m over 2000 miles from home and thus my family, supplies, and group are not able to help me and in many SHTF scenarios I wouldn’t even have a way to contact them. According to Google Maps walking directions it would take 677 hours (28 days) to walk home and that’s if I didn’t have to sleep and could walk 24 hours a day along the best possible route (which crosses two mountain ranges to boot). Not good…
While many of us would just assume move to a secluded area and not have to rely on a “regular job”, that’s just not a near-term reality for many of us so what are we to do if our job requires travel? What you need to do to be prepared is similar to your home location, but does require a little more effort. Here are some thoughts which might help you out
Tip One: Maintain Situational Awareness
I think this is a given, but many people do make the mistake that wherever you’re going is probably just like home. Clearly you need to know the weather for where you are going and pack appropriately. This includes bringing some of your more protective/rugged clothing which you might not need for your job. You need to understand what is going on politically where you are going. Are there likely to be strikes or protests in the area? Thanks to the internet you can read some of the local papers before you go and can keep tabs on current events that way too. There are lots of traveler service sites to where you can register your trip and they will provide this information and even “flash” important updates to you. This can be critical especially if you’re having to travel outside of the country. I’m fortunate that my company actually provides one of these services for me, but there are plenty of programs out there you can sign up for.
Tip Two: What to do with gear?
This depends a lot on your method of travel…unfortunately the TSA will frown on many of the items in a “proper” bug out bag. If you do get to travel by car you have the option to bring a lot more gear with you. Of course you should have your normal Auto Kit with you, but also consider bringing along a larger “full” 72-hour bag or similar setup depending on how far from home you have to travel.
For air travel this gets tricky. If you’re like most business travelers you have mastered the art of packing everything needed for two weeks of customer meetings in a single carry-on and will avoid checking a bag like the plague. Which of course means no tools (even a simple multi-tool will get you a more “personal” inspection from someone in Homeland Security), no water (can’t live long on 3.4 oz), and certainly no self-defense items. The only real option here is to check a bag. I know it sucks, but if you want some actual useful gear, it’s not going to be in your carry-on. Since you’re flying, you’re probably a long way from home and have a long journey ahead of you if SHTF so pack smart…water filters, not bulk water…cook in the pouch food, fire starters, etc. Make sure you have the land navigation SKILLS and tools (Compass…not GPS) you will need to find your way home. And of course have some cash (and better yet small amounts of silver) to hopefully be able to trade for things you need along the way.
Tip Three: Know the area
Ok this is probably an extension on Tip One, but it’s pretty important. I think the most important advice I can give here is get a copy of local maps on PAPER. The GPS on your phone and in your rental car are great, but EMPs, prolonged power outages, etc will cause you grief and if you don’t even know how to get home you are in for trouble. When you are not in customer meetings, get out and understand the lay of the land. This is especially important if it’s a city you will be visiting a lot.
Tip Four: Know the weapon laws
Sadly every state is different here and in many states it even varies by county and city. First if you have a concealed carry permit, make sure you know if the state you are visiting will recognize it. There is a great site for that here. Second, if you are traveling by plane, you need to check with your airline about the rules. Clearly you have to check it in your bag and (at least in the US) it must be in a locked case and unloaded. Again check with your airline because they each have their own rules. Lastly, you need to know the laws around transporting a gun/knife/whatever for where you are going. Some states (and sadly some counties) require a permit just to transport a weapon. Checking with the local authorities’ website can usually get the info you need, but you might actually need to call and check.
Tip Five: A local cache?
If you have to frequent a specific location a lot, you should consider creating a local cache of supplies which you can use to get home. Clearly this helps with the TSA issues, but it can be difficult to setup. You can hide/bury supplies in public areas (which may be illegal depending on where you are so check into that first). You could also rent a storage space, but this comes with its own challenges (not the least of which is cost).
Do you travel a lot? Are you prepared if the SHTF while you are away? Let us know what you do to keep ready on the road…
