How To Get Home When You Are A Long Ways Away: A Comprehensive Guide
In today’s unpredictable world, ensuring your safety during travel is paramount. Whether you’re traveling domestically, internationally, or facing emergency situations, being prepared can make all the difference. Here’s a detailed guide on how to ensure your safety and make your way home, no matter how far you are.
Travel Safety & Security Components
- General
- International
- Domestic
- Austere or Emergency Conditions
- Contingencies
General Safety Tips
- Mind Over Matter: The most crucial tool you possess is your mind. Cultivate:
- Situational Awareness: Always be aware of your surroundings. Notice any changes and the people around you.
- Positional Awareness: Identify all entrances & exits. When driving, ensure you have an escape route. Avoid tailgating and leave space at stops.
- Relational Awareness: Know your position in relation to drivers, embassies, and exits.
- Trust Your Gut: If something feels off, it probably is.
- Appear Confident: Look like you know what you’re doing and avoid appearing vulnerable.
- Be Resourceful: Familiarize yourself with items that can be used for self-defense, like a sturdy mechanical pencil.
International Travel Tips
- Stay Informed: Before traveling, check www.state.gov for reliable travel information about your destination.
- Know Your Embassy: Familiarize yourself with the location of the US Embassy in relation to your accommodation.
- Register Your Trip: Register with the state department to be on the evacuation list in emergencies.
- Backup Your Passport: Keep a paper copy of your passport hidden in your luggage.
- Seek Expert Advice: If unsure, call experts like Dave for international travel advice.
Domestic Travel Tips
- Vehicle Safety: Most domestic travel is by car. Be cautious when entering or exiting your vehicle. Approach laterally and inspect the surroundings and backseat.
- Travel in Pairs: It’s safer than traveling alone.
- Be Prepared: Always have items that can be used for self-defense or to make noise.
- Drive Safely: If you have a flat tire, drive until you reach a safe area. Be cautious around underpasses and overpasses.
- Plan Ahead: Always know your destination and have backup plans.
- Essentials: Always have water, a water purification method, and comfortable shoes. Ensure your gas tank is at least half full and consider carrying extra fuel.
- Vehicle Choice: Trucks or 4WD vehicles with good ground clearance are ideal for escape routes.
- Financial Safety: Consider having a separate ATM account just for traveling.
Austere and Emergency Situations
In extreme situations, such as riots, government collapses, financial crises, internet shutdowns, electromagnetic events, vehicle malfunctions, or severe weather, be prepared for a lack of basic amenities.
EMP Events: Whether natural (solar flares) or manmade (directed energy weapon attacks), EMP events can disrupt electronics. If driving during an EMP event, try restarting your car or disconnecting the battery. Cars with fewer electronic components are more likely to survive such events.
Contingencies: Preparing for the Worst
- Be Ready to Walk: Depending on your location, reaching home might take hours or even days. For instance:
- From Bee Cave HEB: 3 hours
- From ABIA airport: 12 hours
- From Amarillo: 20 days (assuming 8 hours of walking per day)
- Essentials: Always have sturdy hiking shoes, wool socks, water, a map, cash, and a weapon in your car.
- Plan Ahead: Understand that it might take people a couple of days to realize the severity of a situation.
- Distract Assailants: Consider carrying a “fake” wallet or a bunch of $1 bills to distract potential threats.
More Information/Reads/Rabbit Holes:
- Lights Out – David Crawford
- Disaster Preparedness (Series) – Arthur T. Bradley
- Going Home (Series) – A. American
- Military Survival Guides
- After Dunkirk (Series) – Lee Jackson
In conclusion, while we hope you never find yourself in a dire situation, being prepared can make all the difference. Safe travels!
Gear to Consider Carrying (In No Particular Order)
Item |
---|
Bottled Water |
Jumper cables |
Tow Rope |
Basic tool kit |
Large, medium and small flat and Phillips screw drivers |
Wrench set |
Hammer |
Pry bar |
Rope |
Hydro pack |
MREs |
Wallet Sized Photo of your Hunny |
Trauma kit |
Instant coffee |
Camp shovel |
Hand gun |
Rifle |
Spare magazines |
Ammunition |
Field gun cleaning and lube kit |
Sleeping bag |
Tarp |
TP |
Sun screen |
Hard Copy – 1984 – George Orwell |
Lip balm |
Hat |
First aid supplies |
Stitching kit |
Tourniquet |
Leather Work Gloves |
Mess Kit |
Small Back Pack |
Medium Tactical Back Pack |
Full Size Back Pack |
Axe or Hatchet |
Enough fuel to get home |
All weather clothing |
Multi tool (Leatherman) |
Extra wool socks |
Night vision |
Compass |
Thymaster |
Good flashlight |
Magnesium fire starter |
Poncho |
Water filter |
Water purification tablets |
Small burner |
Cooking Grate |
Good knife |
Paper road maps |
Good jacket |
Good (Really good) shoes or boots |
Solar charger |
USB battery |
USB lighter |
Freeze dried food packets |
Vitamins |
Faraday bags |
Waterproof paper |
Pen |
Pencil |
Pedometer (Hint – 1 mile = 5,280’) |
Small Hand Held Radio(s) FRS, GMGS, MURS, HAM |
Ham Radio |
AM Radio |
(Pick you Military Branch) Survival Guide |
Wind Breaker |
Portable Game Console |
R.E.M. CD (End of the World as we Know It) |
Hard Copy of this List |