TRANSPORTATION
Challenge
While traveling through the Colorado Rockies, you take a wrong turn and become lost. Your car becomes stuck in deep snow on an infrequently traveled mountain pass. Do you know how to free your vehicle? If you can't free your vehicle, how will you call for help? Should you leave your car and hike to safety? If rescuers are unable to find you, are you prepared to survive in your vehicle until weather conditions improve?
Reliable transportation, when coupled with accurate information and navigation, can save your life. Appreciate that, to be effective, they all have to work together. This is easiest to appreciate when you are trying to escape an immediate threat. For example, it would do you little good to hop in your car and race away from an approaching wildfire, only to discover that you have become hopelessly lost (navigation); that the winds had changed direction, putting the fire directly in your path (information); or worse yet, that your car has a leaking radiator (transportation).
Transportation, navigation, and information all offer valuable benefits, but when combined, they form a powerful defense:
• Transportation—keeps you mobile and able to get out of harm's way
• Navigation—allows you to efficiently travel from point A to B, as well as make detours without getting lost
• Information—helps you to avoid hazards that might interfere with your evacuation
More generally, transportation, navigation, and information serve two critical functions in disaster preparedness: (1) they help you to escape a dangerous area, should an evacuation be needed, and (2) they enable you to seek out supplies and assistance when you are unable or unwilling to evacuate.
Many times the best way to survive a disaster is to get away from it. Evacuation is addressed more fully in Chapter 4, but warrants reiteration here. There are four basic steps to prepare for evacuation:
1. Fully fuel your vehicle and any spare gas cans. Store enough fuel to travel at least 500 miles—the specific number of gallons depends on your vehicle's fuel efficiency.
2. Identify multiple escape routes using maps or a GPS. Pick several possible retreat locations in case traffic flow prevents you from traveling to your preferred one.
3. Listen to TV or radio broadcasts to determine the best time to evacuate and the optimal escape routes.
4. Pack your vehicle with supplies, including things you might need for roadside emergencies—see “Roadside Emergency Kit” later in this chapter.
Once you make the decision to leave, take additional steps to prepare your home as outlined in Chapter 4.
To successfully evacuate, you need a reliable vehicle capable of transporting your family, along with necessary emergency supplies, away from the disaster. Of course, not all disasters will require (or even permit) evacuation, but there are many cases when getting out of harm's way is the first and best choice.
Contrary to some suggestions, it is not necessary to have a heavy-duty off-road vehicle capable of climbing rocky ridges. Most of the time, evacuation will force you to vacate one city in favor of another that is less affected by the threat—meaning that a dependable car capable of traveling the roadways is all that is needed. For many threats, having a vehicle with good fuel economy is of primary importance because it allows you to travel further on a given quantity of gas.
When evacuating, fuel efficiency is usually more important than off-road capability.
However, if you have prepared a specific retreat that requires off-road access, such as a cabin up in the mountains, then of course you should only attempt to reach it with a suitable vehicle. Four-wheel drive vehicles may also provide some additional capabilities in wintry conditions, but they are by no means a guarantee of safe travel.
For situations in which you cannot (or choose not to) evacuate a disaster area, a highly fuel-efficient backup method of transportation may prove valuable. It may also serve you well in cases where a collapse in the country's infrastructure has led to a major fuel shortage. Backup transportation might be a bicycle, moped, motorcycle, golf cart, or other fuel-efficient vehicle. Spare parts and maintenance items, such as inner tubes, air pump, batteries, and oil should be stockpiled.
In this modern technological age, it is possible to pinpoint your location nearly anywhere on the planet. The Global Positioning System (GPS) uses overhead satellites to triangulate a user's position. Commercial GPS receivers are available for vehicle-mounting and handheld use. Vehicle-mounted GPS systems provide information more of interest to drivers than those lost in the wilderness. Handheld GPS units, on the other hand, are useful when traipsing around the woods since they frequently provide additional topographical information.
Paper maps are still an excellent navigation tool.
Using a GPS unit requires a fairly clear view of the sky. Systems don't work indoors without an outdoor antenna, and may have only marginal success during overcast conditions. It is worth noting that some disasters, such as a global war or large volcanic eruption, could leave the nation's GPS system inoperable. Finally, GPS systems are not particularly good at planning routes because they typically have very small screens. Old-fashioned paper maps are still the best choice, requiring neither batteries nor satellite signals. For this reason, it's a good idea to keep physical maps of your current location, any possible retreats, and the travel routes between them.
In the case of a widespread disaster, your evacuation routes may become extremely congested. What would normally take two hours to travel might now take a full day. To make matters worse, fuel is likely to be in short supply, leaving motorists stranded and further blocking the escape routes. If possible, before leaving home, you should carefully plan your escape route with consideration given to likely traffic flow and road conditions. Identify alternate routes in the event that your primary one doesn't work out. Finally, be prepared to violate conventional traffic rules in times of emergencies—but never risk endangering yourself or others.
Important travel information could include: condition of the roadways, location of emergency shelters, recommended escape routes, coming weather events, curfews in effect, and availability of gasoline. This type of information may have to be collected from a variety of sources, including the Internet, public broadcasting (TV or radio), emergency services, short-wave radio, and friends/family outside the disaster area. Table 13-1 provides a few information resources relating to travel. Refer to Chapter 11 for a more complete discussion of available information resources.
Table 13-1 Traveler Information Resources
Nationwide Traveler Information (only available in some areas) |
511 |
National Traffic and Road Closure Information Maps and associated links to traffic conditions and road closures across the United States. |
|
Google Maps Provides maps, street views, and driving directions. |
One of the most important things you can do to prepare for a potential evacuation is to put copies of important documents onto a digital memory device, such as a USB flash drive, external hard drive, CD, or DVD.
A brief listing of some of the most important items to consider storing is given below:
• Addresses and phone numbers of points of contact (family, friends, insurer, doctor, etc.)
• Driver's licenses
• Social Security cards
• Birth and death certificates
• Adoption papers
• Insurance cards and policies
• Passports
• Recent photos of family members (suitable for missing person's posters)
• Property deeds
• Automobile titles
• Firearm serial numbers
• Weapon permits
• Marriage license
• Home inventory video or photos
• Bank and investment account information
• Tax records
• Computer account logins and passwords
• Last Will and Testament
A complete listing of all recommended information to store electronically is given in the Appendix. Having an easy to carry collection of important information can serve many purposes, including helping you replace original documents, provide proof of identity and ownership, and assist with insurance claims.
Store your information on password-protected or encrypted memory devices.
Given that the memory device will contain significant personal information, security becomes a major concern. To prevent the information from ever being compromised, you should use password protection, and if possible, data encryption. At a minimum, you can use password protection on zipped folders and individual documents. Password protection will deter the casual criminal but not the sophisticated computer hacker. A vastly more secure method is to store the information on hardware-encrypted USB flash drives (e.g., IRONKEY). These devices are more costly than conventional memory sticks, but they are nearly impossible for anyone short of the National Security Agency to access.
Some people might question the need to be prepared while on the road. After all, what could possibly happen while driving to work or the grocery store? Once again, this is a very rational argument for the typical day. However, remember that being prepared is not about the typical day, it is about the exceptionally bad day. Every year there are reports of people becoming stranded and ultimately perishing from being unprepared while on the roadways.
Consider the following three reasons to be prepared when on the road:
1. People tend to spend a great deal of time in their vehicles, meaning that if you do find yourself in a dangerous situation, there's a reasonable chance that you will be in your car.
Roadside emergencies (Wikimedia Commons/Wing-Chi Poon)
2. Some disasters force you to immediately evacuate the area, leaving you with only the supplies in your automobile.
3. When on the road, you are vulnerable to numerous hazards—especially when traveling in inclement weather. Consider the brief list of threats below:
• Vehicle breakdown, such as a flat tire, dead battery, running out of gas, or mechanical failure
• Dangerous weather events, such as tornados, hail, or heavy snowfall
• Getting stuck in snow or mud
• Auto accident
• Flooded roads or submerged vehicle
• Vehicle fire
• Widespread disaster (e.g., nuclear leak, terrorist attack, volcanic eruption)
The first step to being better prepared on the road is to keep your vehicle in good working order. Reliability, not curb appeal, is what's important when your life is depending on your car. Have your vehicle inspected regularly, and keep up on the routine maintenance items (e.g., tires, oil, radiator fluid, belts).
You should also endeavor to keep your vehicle's fuel tank at least half full at all times. Maintaining a minimum level of fuel gives you the ability to immediately evacuate an area without having to hunt for an open gas station. This obviously requires more frequent trips to the gas station but could give you a life-saving head start over other motorists. Certainly with an imminent threat, such as a dangerous weather event, you should fill your vehicle as one of your readiness steps. Having a tank full of gas also helps you to survive if you ever become stranded in the cold.
To be better prepared for roadside emergencies, every prepper should keep some basic supplies in their vehicle. The recommended supplies are divided into two kits: the “Just the Basics” kit (things that everyone should keep in their car), and the “Kitchen Sink” kit (less critical items that might be useful when dangers are more likely, such as when traveling on a long trip).
Table 13-2 “Just the Basics” Roadside Emergency Kit
A more thorough roadside emergency kit can be stored in a large duffle bag. Having it in a bag allows you to quickly load or unload it. Ideally, the duffle should have shoulder straps, enabling you to easily carry it should you be forced to abandon your vehicle. Below is a general list of emergency supplies. You should review the list and tailor it to your specific needs and any likely threats for your area.
Table 13-3 “Kitchen Sink” Roadside Emergency Kit
Just as with the bucket survival kit described in Chapter 1, most retail roadside emergency kits are grossly inadequate. It is much better to assemble your own kit with quality, hand-picked supplies that will adequately meet your needs.
Roadside emergency kit (courtesy of Michigan Industrial Tools)
Many travel-related tragedies begin when a vehicle becomes stuck in the mud or snow. If you travel with a well-stocked roadside emergency kit, you will have either a tow strap or what is known as a “come-along.” In which case, freeing the vehicle requires that you either attach the come-along to a solid object, such as a tree or pole, or have another vehicle use the tow strap to pull you free. If you don't have either item, then you will have to free your automobile the hard way (i.e., pushing and rocking).
There are two cases to consider:
• Help is available—perhaps there is an adult passenger in your car, or a good Samaritan stops to render aid, or you can easily ask for help from someone nearby
• Help is not available—perhaps you are alone on a road that is not well-traveled, and you have no way to call for assistance
In the first case, take the help. Freeing a stuck vehicle is much easier to do with a few extra hands to push. Try following the steps outlined below to free your vehicle:
1. Put your hazard lights on. This warns other drivers to be careful when passing you.
2. Use a shovel or other stiff object to remove snow, mud, or obstructions from in front of the wheels (or behind it if going in reverse).
3. Determine which wheel is slipping and put sand, cat litter, an old piece of carpet, or a board in front of the wheel (or behind it if reversing). In a pinch, you can use your car's floor mats for traction. Regardless of what you use, warn everyone to be careful about the items dislodging and flying out from under the wheels.
4. If your car is an automatic, put the transmission into Low gear or Reverse (depending on which way you are trying to pull out). If the car is a manual, put the transmission into 1st or Reverse. These low gears give you the most torque at the wheels. If you have a four-wheel drive vehicle, enable that feature.
5. Gently drive forward or backward, having everyone push in the direction of travel. Try not to spin the tires. Slow and easy wins the day.
If help isn't available, try the same procedure listed above on your own. If this doesn't work, try rocking the vehicle back and forth by shifting from Low to Reverse repeatedly. The secret to being successful is to time the oscillation of the vehicle with the gear changing, rocking the vehicle further and further out of the ruts with each cycle.
If you are unable to free your vehicle, don't hesitate to call for help. If you have a cell phone, contact family or friends, or call for a tow truck. If the situation is serious, such as in very cold weather, call 911 for emergency assistance. If you are on an interstate, you can also put on your emergency flashers and wait for a state trooper to stop and assist you, although there is no guarantee as to how long it will take for you to get noticed—perhaps a minute, an hour, or longer.
If you can't call for help, consider waving down a passing motorist. Be aware of the risk in doing this. You are introducing an unknown person into a compromising situation and that can be dangerous—especially if you are a woman or appear to be wealthy. Proceed with caution and follow your instincts. It is usually a better idea to ask a good Samaratin to drive up the road a bit (perhaps where cell coverage is better) and relay your request for help to family or friends. Do not accept a ride from someone you don't know unless the situation is so dire that you feel that your survival depends on it. If you do accept a ride, leave a detailed note on your vehicle's dashboard describing where you went, along with a description of the person, their car, and the tag number.
Freeing a stuck vehicle (Wikimedia Commons/AgnosticPreachersKid)
Never accept a ride from a stranger unless the situation is so dire that your survival depends on it.
There are numerous ways that you can become stranded in your vehicle, such as your vehicle breaking down, becoming stuck in snow or mud, being trapped by impassible roadways (perhaps due to snow or f lood-water), or losing control of your vehicle and sliding off the roadway. All of these scenarios (and many others) could leave you vulnerable, miles from home, and with limited options.
Taking unnecessary risks can leave you stranded (FEMA photo/Walter Jennings)
If you should ever become stranded, your automobile may save your life. A vehicle offers many benefits, and you should take full advantage of them. Consider the list of benefits that your car can provide:
1. It functions as an excellent shelter, keeping you dry, out of the wind, and off the cold ground.
2. If your car still runs and has fuel, it will help you stay warm for several hours.
3. It offers useful supplies:
a) fuel for a fire (gasoline, oil, tires)
b) a method of starting a fire (cigarette lighter, sparking across the battery, focusing with a headlamp reflector)
c) a method of signaling for help (horn, headlights, emergency flashers)
d) a radio for keeping up to date on emergency events
e) a way to recharge your cell phone (cigarette lighter)
f) a high-power two-way emergency radio (if equipped with Onstar)
g) traction for getting a stuck vehicle free (floor mats placed under the wheels)
h) lights to help you function at night (overhead light, headlights)
4. It is much more visible—generally, you are easier for rescue services to find if you remain with your vehicle.
If things turn desperate, don't hesitate to scavenge from your vehicle. Use anything that will help you survive, even if it means damaging your vehicle. For example, people who have been stranded in very cold weather have discovered that burning the tires not only provides warmth, but also acts as a smoky signal fire.
If you should become stranded and can access a phone to call for help, there is a very good chance that the situation will be resolved within a couple of hours. For these less serious circumstances, your priorities are to stay comfortable and remain safe. The biggest threat you face is a collision with another motorist, especially during inclement weather with hazardous road conditions or limited visibility. If you have flares or other warning triangles, space them along the roadway behind your vehicle. Beyond that precaution, put your hazard lights on and wait for assistance to arrive.
To conserve battery power, turn off everything else that uses electrical power that isn't absolutely necessary, including headlights, overhead lights, heating/cooling blower motor, and the radio.
Establish a routine of starting, heating, and then shutting off your car.
If the weather is very cold, you may need to establish a routine that carefully balances conserving fuel, maintaining your battery power, and staying comfortable. Follow a regimen of starting the vehicle, warming the vehicle thoroughly (perhaps for five– ten minutes with the heater blowing wide open), and then shutting it back off until it becomes cold again. Continue this routine until you determine that the battery is getting weak, at which time allow the vehicle to run twenty to thirty minutes to recharge the battery before returning to the regimen. Limit getting in and out of the vehicle to preserve the heat contained within. However, do open at least one window a small amount to introduce fresh air into the car. Also, be sure to check that the exhaust pipe is clear before starting your routine. If it becomes blocked, deadly carbon monoxide gas can back up into the vehicle's cabin.
In warmer weather, you will probably be fine shutting off your vehicle and opening all the doors, or finding shade nearby. Obviously, don't remain in a hot vehicle with the doors closed and windows rolled up. It is better to open the doors rather than rolling down the windows because if your battery fails, it may be impossible to roll back up the windows—leaving you exposed should the weather turn colder. Opening the doors also signals others that you are having difficulties and require assistance. In very hot weather, you may wish to follow a regimen of turning the engine on and running the air conditioner for a brief time (as described above), although it is usually better just to rest in a shady area.
If you should become stranded in a remote region, or in conditions that make your discovery unlikely, the situation can go from simple annoyance to something truly life-threatening. The biggest dangers are hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning in cold weather, and dehydration in hot weather. Make every effort to address these three dangers, and you will go a long way to ensuring your survival.
Hypothermia is a condition in which your body gets too cold to regulate its temperature. Symptoms may include gradual loss of motor skills and mental acuity, fatigue, mumbling, slowed breathing, slurred speech, and cold pale skin. Hypothermia is best avoided by prior planning—packing warm blankets and spare clothing as part of your roadside emergency kit. Pay special attention to your hands and feet since they are often the first body parts affected by the cold.
Stay in your car to avoid exposure to cold winds, as well as to help conserve your body heat. Depending on how much fuel you have in the vehicle, you may get several hours of heat by cycling the vehicle on and off, running the heater for a few minutes each time (as discussed previously).
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can occur when the vehicle's exhaust pipe becomes blocked or clogged, most likely from snow, causing CO gas to back up into the cabin. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, fatigue, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness. Before running your vehicle, check that the exhaust pipe is clear. If there is a possibility that melting or falling snow might cause a subsequent blockage, re-check and clear the pipe periodically.
Dehydration can occur at any temperature but happens most quickly during hot weather when you sweat. Once again, dehydration is best avoided by prior planning—packing supplies of water in your roadside emergency kit. In hot weather, your car can act as an oven, so it is better to seek shade from a nearby tree.
Your primary goal when stranded in a remote location is to get noticed, ideally leading to your rescue. Open all your car doors and the hood to signal to any potential motorists that you are in distress. Also, if another car (or a rescue helicopter) approaches, do everything possible to get their attention—honking the horn, flashing your headlights, waving your arms, etc. Don't let vanity or pride kill you. If you are stranded in the vehicle with someone else, take turns sleeping so that one person is always on the lookout for potential rescuers.
If rescue is slow in coming, perhaps requiring you to spend one or more nights in your vehicle, you will have to weigh staying put and waiting for help against abandoning your vehicle and seeking help.
All too often there are accounts of families stranded in their cars for days or even weeks. Many end tragically, usually because one or more family members leave the vehicle in search of help. Remember the order of needs discussed early in the book: shelter, water, and then food. Your stranded automobile can serve as a very good shelter, and leaving it should only be done when you determine that the danger of staying is greater than the danger of leaving.
How do you make this assessment? Ask yourself a few questions:
• Can you call for help using a cell phone, CB radio, position locator beacon, or OnStar?
• If you don't have cell coverage, is it possible to get to higher ground and call for help?
• How long will it take for someone to notice that you are missing? Do they know the route you are traveling?
• How likely is it that you will be discovered by a passerby?
• Can you signal for help?
• Are you properly equipped to weather it out for a few days?
• Do you know which direction to go for safety? Are you sure?
• Can you reach safety without getting lost or injured? Again, are you sure?
In most cases, the decision should be to stay with your vehicle. Of course there are exceptions—perhaps your vehicle has been submerged in water, or you have run so far off the roadway that it would be difficult for anyone to spot you, or you recall passing a gas station just a quarter of a mile back.
If you decide to leave your vehicle, consider taking the following precautions:
• Leave your vehicle only during the daytime. Wandering around at night is far too dangerous.
• Initially venture only to a distance such that you can still see your vehicle. This distance may be adequate for you to spot a gas station, house, or large road with passing traffic.
• If you expand your search further, take supplies with you. Assume that you will get lost and be unable to return to your vehicle. Be prepared to spend a cold night sleeping under the stars.
• Leave a clear, descriptive note on the vehicle's dashboard detailing who you are, where you went, as well as contact information for people who might be looking for you (see Appendix for note).
• Take the obvious path out, staying on the roadways if possible. If you have to make a turn at an intersection, clearly mark the way back to your vehicle.
• If the route is complicated, or you feel forced to explore, leave a trail of “breadcrumbs.” One way to do this is to cut up strips of colorful cloth, string, or duct tape and hang them along your path.
Safely escaping a disaster area requires transportation, navigation, and information, all of which must work together.
Use a reliable vehicle capable of taking your family out of harm's way. For most situations, fuel efficiency is more important than off-road capability.
Try to keep your vehicle at least half full of fuel at all times.
Prior to departure, stock your vehicle with emergency supplies.
Store enough fuel to travel a minimum of 500 miles.
Stay abreast of emergency information so that you can properly time your escape and choose the correct evacuation route.
Keep a roadside emergency kit in your car. More exhaustive supplies can be added to the kit when you are traveling long distances or through dangerous regions.
Keep electronic copies of important papers on encrypted memory devices. Electronic copies can help when requesting replacement documents, as well as prove ownership and identity.
When stranded, try to stay comfortable and out of harm's way while awaiting assistance. For more serious situations, you may have to scavenge supplies from your car, take more drastic measures to get noticed, or evacuate to safety.
Your vehicle can serve as an excellent shelter. Under most circumstances, you are more likely to survive if you stay with your vehicle rather than abandon it.
If you must abandon your vehicle, take every precaution, including venturing only a short distance, taking supplies with you, leaving a clearly written note behind, and marking your path with “breadcrumbs.”
Reliable vehicle capable of transporting your entire family plus emergency supplies