Survival and Emergency Preparedness

I heard about a book called 'Going Home' by A. American. It's book one of The Survivalist Series. It recently came up in my que so I downloaded it from the library. It's about a guy who gets caught out on the road during an EMP and has to walk home from Tallahassee to Lake County Florida. Thought that was interesting considering I have place in the Villages. Thought of you Florida guys. It was written in 2013.

It is interesting in that the guy is a prepper and was completely equipped in his car for whatever. Got about a 60lb pack he intends to carry 230 miles. It includes hatchets, knives, radios, NVGs, batteries, tools and a shit ton of other stuff. Well okay.....we'll see.

The good....
-He is well prepared and equipped
-He knows what he's doing
-He describes everything he has and the reason for it.
-Carries an XD45 (not a bad choice) he also has 3 extra 13 round mags and a couple boxes of ammo
-Very thought provoking.

The bad....
-He's carrying too much stuff
- No fishing gear. Is there places to fish in Florida?
- I'm wondering if a 9mm (availability of ammo) would have been a better choice. Not to mention lighter weight of ammo.
-He's walking. Apparently bicycles don't exist in Florida. Instead of walking 1-2 miles an hour with a 60 lb pack, he could have easily gotten at least 10 miles an hour on a bike. Presumably going 10 times as fast means you won't be out there near as long and don't need as much stuff. It's not hard to ride 20, 30 or even 40 miles a day. I don't think it would be hard to ride 60 miles in 8 hours stopping to rest along the way. Heck, I've ridden 100 miles in 8 hours. Granted I was lightly loaded and in really good shape at the time. On the other hand I was 62 when I did it. A younger person could go faster and farther than that.
-Even if he couldn't find a bike, a garden cart or dolly would have made his journey easier.
-He gets himself into various situations he could have easily avoided (book drama).
- He kills three guys in the first 2 chapters of the book.
-At one point he has access to a running truck and gives it to someone else. He could have easily transported them to where they were going and then used the truck to get home. I don't think he would have trouble siphoning gas from all the abandoned vehicles along the highways. Which brings up another point...
-Most studies of EMPs found that while cars tend to stall out during an EMP, they don't die and can be restarted.

Update: The main character meets/teams up with a college coed going to Gainsville on the road and then a truck driver trying to get home to Tampa.
After 5 chapters the body count is 7
After 7 chapters the body count is now 15+


I'm about 1/3 of the way through it so have a ways to go yet. It does get me thinking about re-evaluating my own get home bag.

took a look sounds good ( best so far has been 1 Min after (IMO)) as I read 1-2 books per week.... But not on Kindle Unlimited , damn it

tom mac wrote: ↑Thu Jun 23, 2022 7:45 am took a look sounds good ( best so far has been 1 Min after (IMO)) as I read 1-2 books per week.... But not on Kindle Unlimited , damn it

I download books, both audio and otherwise through the online library consortium.

Going Home is interesting in that it's based on traveling home instead of being community based like One Minute After and some of the other TEOTWAWKI books (Alas Babylon etc)

I'm at a point in the book where the main characters hook up with a veteran who is the ultimate super prepper. The story then kinda falls off the rails after that with a govt conspiracy plot.

However, it is thought provoking in that it makes you think about what you would have in your get home bag including what kind of guns. The main character doesn't have/use a long gun until Super Prepper gives him an M1 Carbine.

That begs the question...Should you have a long gun in your vehicle for getting home? I carry a 12 ga shotgun and a box of shells in my truck. Is that enough gun/ammo? Would a 10/22 with a couple hundred rounds be better? How about an AR15? Will I ever walk* 200 miles to get home?

*Probably not. I'm beginning to think that the ultimate bug out vehicle is a old school motorcycle, moped/scooter, mini bike or gas/motorized bicycle. There are several instances where the main characters are attacked by guys on motorcycles and ATVs. They kill their attackers but they never think to pick up the machines for themselves.

Presumably in a SHTF situation there will be plenty of abandoned vehicles to siphon gas from. Something the characters in the book never consider.

Then there is the bicycle issue. Even an old person on a bike can ride 5 miles an hour. Beats the hell out of walking.

I was listening the The Stand by Stephan King awhile back. It's about a flu/bio weapon pandemic that wipes out 3/4 of the country. The main characters take to the road. Since the author isn't a prepper most of them are unarmed and clueless. It started off pretty good but then delved off into the super natural and I stopped listening.

Sounds like a good book. Provides a LOT to discuss as it would relate to real world situations.

Mac66 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 21, 2022 3:02 pm It's about a guy who gets caught out on the road during an EMP and has to walk home from Tallahassee to Lake County Florida. Thought that was interesting considering I have place in the Villages. Thought of you Florida guys. It was written in 2013.

That's a pretty good walk. That part of Florida has a lot of rural and wooded areas. Not as built up as father south (Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Sarasota, Naples etc). Still resources but fewer and farther between. However, also a plus because there would be less people to encounter along the way than in the bigger cities. Of course the roads can be quite busy, particularly I-75 on that side of the state as well as I-10.

Mac66 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 21, 2022 3:02 pm Got about a 60lb pack he intends to carry 230 miles. It includes hatchets, knives, radios, NVGs, batteries, tools and a shit ton of other stuff. Well okay.....we'll see.

Yep, that's going to get real old, real quick. Probably some stuff he really doesn't need.

Mac66 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 21, 2022 3:02 pm - No fishing gear. Is there places to fish in Florida?

And some stuff he probably would have found useful. A fishing kit doesn't have to be big or bulky. Bob used a 'credit card' fishing kit on one of our SEP gatherings a few years ago and yes, he did catch a fish or two. That demonstrated itself to be a handy piece of gear that takes up practically no space/weight in a pack. Shane and I had the Popeil Pocket Fisherman and though it's bigger than what Bob had, still smaller than a rod and real. And they actually worked well. We caught fish as well. And Florida really has no shortage of fresh water practically everywhere. You'd generally be better off fishing for survival than hunting unless it's squirrels and such you're hunting. Fishing is stationary and takes little in the way of calorie expenditure. And you could have multiple lines in the water in close proximity for an increased change of catching calories.

Mac66 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 21, 2022 3:02 pm Carries an XD45 (not a bad choice) he also has 3 extra 13 round mags and a couple boxes of ammo

No, not a bad choice. Not the best choice either. A good 45acp always makes a decent option but that ammo is heavy compared to other service calibers. Three mags and a couple of extra boxes is some poundage that has to be lugged around. My thoughts would be a Glock in 9mm. That isn't brand-loyalty, just practicality. Glock has proven itself as a battlefield capable weapon which means sweat, hot, cold, grime, dust, snow and wet. And 9mm simply because it's the most used caliber (service caliber) thus probably a lot easier to find/scrounge.

Actually, my own thoughts are a Glock 35 with 40S&W, 357sig and 9mm barrels. I don't have a 357sig barrel (yet) for mine but it's not a pressing concern because the caliber isn't really all that popular (in terms of being easily available). But nice to have and a barrel takes up little space/weight and uses the same mag as 40S&W. And although 40's have fallen from on high, they are still out there and second only to the 9mm generally in availability. So I'd rather have three possible calibers in one platform than one option only.

Mac66 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 23, 2022 8:28 am However, it is thought provoking in that it makes you think about what you would have in your get home bag including what kind of guns. The main character doesn't have/use a long gun until Super Prepper gives him an M1 Carbine.

That begs the question...Should you have a long gun in your vehicle for getting home? I carry a 12 ga shotgun and a box of shells in my truck. Is that enough gun/ammo? Would a 10/22 with a couple hundred rounds be better? How about an AR15? Will I ever walk* 200 miles to get home?

So keeping with my line of thinking on the G35 above, my choice is a Sub 2k in 9mm. Uses the same mags as Glock plus it folds up small to fit in a pack or sling bag so you can remain gray man and not attract attention.

A SG isn't a bad choice either. Positives are that ammo can be used from birds to bears as well as defense. A pump or even single-shot isn't a bad choice and you've got some nice setups. Is it an AR-15 to deal with the roving hoards that roam the pages of paperbacks? No. But it has some practical options. Downside is size/weight of the ammo that has to be lugged around.

I really like my Sub 2K plan.

Mac66 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 21, 2022 3:02 pm He's walking. Apparently bicycles don't exist in Florida. Instead of walking 1-2 miles an hour with a 60 lb pack, he could have easily gotten at least 10 miles an hour on a bike. Presumably going 10 times as fast means you won't be out there near as long and don't need as much stuff. It's not hard to ride 20, 30 or even 40 miles a day. I don't think it would be hard to ride 60 miles in 8 hours stopping to rest along the way. Heck, I've ridden 100 miles in 8 hours. Granted I was lightly loaded and in really good shape at the time. On the other hand I was 62 when I did it. A younger person could go faster and farther than that.
-Even if he couldn't find a bike, a garden cart or dolly would have made his journey easier.

A bike is always a good option. Fairly quiet and can get you there quicker than the shoe leather express. And they make folding bikes that I've looked at before. Even considered a scooter (the kind you push with one foot or gas/electric). Folks use them to commute all the time and lots of folks feel they work well. If it's motorized it can keep going even if you're tired. Drawbacks of course but offers positives as well and can fold up a bit for vehicle storage.

Mac66 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 21, 2022 3:02 pm I'm about 1/3 of the way through it so have a ways to go yet. It does get me thinking about re-evaluating my own get home bag.

Something to hold and filter water. Something to start a fire. Something to shed the rain or give relief from the sun. Something to replace spent calories. A boo-boo kit.

Things to consider in Florida is the weather. Yes, it gets hot and humid. Today as an example it was in the 90's with a heat index of 105 with 65% humidity. That is NOT going to be fun walking in with a pack on your back. And if it's spring/summer you're likely to get rained on in the afternoon. Often a downpour. Staying dry will be a big consideration.

Let us know how the book continues

I finished the book. I won't say what happens other than there are a lot of run ins with people who want to take the main characters stuff.

I've lost track of the body count.

The book is based in the winter with temps at night in the 40s & 50s so sleeping bags and hypothermia are a concern.

I do think a 9mm would be a better idea than a 45, even though I like 45s more. I do like the idea of a sub2k and glock combo.

I don't have a sub2k but I do have a su16 which Is light weight, folds and takes ar mags. I still think a 10/22 would be a good choice. Its light, relatively accurate and you can carry a lot of ammo with it. Pretty versatile as well. One with a folding stock or takedown would be pretty discreet. I may add one to my truck stuff. It would be good as a backup (for the wife) long gun.

I'm re-evaluating my get home bag. The guy in the book had a lot of stuff. I tend to be a minimalist and that includes food. I know I can live on a minimum of calories for a long time so water is a bigger concern. I do have a couple water filters so that shouldn't be a problem.

I will say one thing...I ain't walking home. The first thing I going to do if stuck somewhere is buy, beg, borrow or steal a bicycle to get home.

Mac66 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 24, 2022 7:25 pm The book is based in the winter with temps at night in the 40s & 50s so sleeping bags and hypothermia are a concern.

Winter time in northern Florida is no stranger to temps in the 20's or colder. Folks don't usually consider Florida as a cold state, but it does occasionally snow in northern Florida. Not the snow drifts you guys have to content with, but sometimes more than a light dusting. Even here mid-state I've seen temps in the teens. So yes, hypothermia would be a real concern. A space blanket/bivvy would be just the ticket.

Mac66 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 24, 2022 7:25 pm I do think a 9mm would be a better idea than a 45, even though I like 45s more. I do like the idea of a sub2k and glock combo.

It makes sense to me as a good combo. They compliment each other as far as caliber and mags. While the 9mm PCC isn't the equal of an AR/AK for this scenario it doesn't need to be. We're not going to war and avoidance would be the thing to strive for overall. The PCC would provide reach and longer range accuracy if needed.

A 10/22 is a good idea as well. Or even one of those breakdown survival .22's. AR7 or something like that. Allows for some longer range while inexpensive ammo that weighs a lot less.

Mac66 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 24, 2022 7:25 pm I do have a couple water filters so that shouldn't be a problem.

In addition to the lifestraw style of filters, I have a Berkey and a Sawyer water bottle filter. That way you can can scoop up a liter on the go to sip along the way.

I have several life staws, Grayls and a pump type filter i don't remember the make. I keepthe life straws in my vehicles and the Grayls in my GHBs.

I had forgotten about my Ar7. Take it out of its very bulky stock and put it into aftermarket tele stock and it is very light an stealthy. As such mine breaks down and can be carried in a tube sock.

More thoughts on the book...

It would suck getting caught away from home. The main character (MC) has to negotiate gangs and road blocks, hippies, rednecks, militia guys and black helocopters. He does run across some communities that have their shit together and were helping refugees along the way.

I still think some basic gear and a bicycle would be the best thing to do.

I've been spending 4 days a week up at the woods house trying to get it up to speed. Now that some of my siblings have houses near the woods house there is some talk of moving my 95 year old mother up here. Then all of us could move up here.

Interestingly, my flaming liberal sister has been talking about stocking food and being more self reliant and prepared. She's been coming over to the woods house and I've been showing her stuff. She even wants to learn to shoot. There's hope for her yet.

I have a propane generator and am debating going solar as well. In a SHTF situation the propane will eventually run out (although I could add another tank). Our current 500 lb tank lasts about 8 months. Another one would give us a year and a half. Solar requires batteries and panels which eventually need to be replaced.

I'm building a storage building to store the toys and equipment. Debating putting in an underground bunker/shelter/storage for other "stuff". Right now our preps are divided between our suburban house and the woods house. Eventually everything will be consolidated at the woods house.

Mac66 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 25, 2022 1:25 pm I have several life staws, Grayls and a pump type filter i don't remember the make. I keepthe life straws in my vehicles and the Grayls in my GHBs.

I had forgotten about my Ar7. Take it out of its very bulky stock and put it into aftermarket tele stock and it is very light an stealthy. As such mine breaks down and can be carried in a tube sock.

Went to put my Ar7 in my truck. Now if I could just remember what I did with it/where it is.

It’s in stealth mode