Know your area's resources

[Huwie73]

Firstly I would like to add that I'm a law abiding citizen and have only done the following research for 'extreme' events....

We are all aware of where we can source our normal supplies from:
Food -Supermarkets, corner shops, etc
Fuel -local garages, supermarket forecourts, etc.

It may be worth knowing alternative sources for your much needed supplies in your surrounding area in SHTF situations.


Here are a few areas of interest which you may be able to utilise if you are really in a crisis situation?
I haven't explicitly discussed their importance in a SHTF scenario but I'm sure you can figure out why they are listed. It is not an exhaustive list but hopefully it may prompt others to look at their own locations and follow the same type of exercise. For example, a Hairdressers could prove useful. Need to disinfect a wound? Hydrogen peroxide is useful for this task and is sometimes used to bleach hair........sometimes you have to think abstract!

Essential -get a good OS map that covers your surrounding area and also a good street map for your nearest major towns / cities and a good quality compass. Learning basic navigation skills is also a must.

Farms
Farm types

Food:
Shops
Restaurants
Supermarket distribution centres

Hardware:
Iron mongers
DIY stores

Gardening:
Outdoor supplies
Plant seeds

Water Source:
River
Canal
Lake
Stream
NB: Do you know the level of the water table in your area? Its easier to dig a hole in the back yard that lug barrels over long distances.

Fuel:
Bottled gas
Coal
Oil
Wooded areas

Medical Supplies:
Pharmacies
Hospitals
Veterinary

Gunsmiths:

Military installations:

Scouts & Guides

Potential staging areas (to be embraced or avoided?):
Schools
Village halls
Sports complexes

Alternative transport / networks:
Boat -rivers, canals, etc.
Public footpaths
Rail lines -can be followed to areas of civilisation and are more likely to be less congested than the road network.
Electrical pylons -can be followed to major areas of civilisation if you're completely lost. If you understand the grid network, the pylon markers can be used as a form of road marker to find your location. Sub stations will normally indicate the circuit ID which can include the destination place names.
NB: know the main flow direction of your local rivers if river travel is an option -especially is you intend to power the boat yourself.

Miscellaneous:
Self-storage yards
Scrap yards
Recycling areas

NB: Maintain and print an up-to-date list of all the relevant addresses/locations and keep them with your maps. It may not be prudent to mark all locations directly onto your maps as the map will soon become congested and will obscure map details.
Another worthwhile tip is to mark a radius of travel from your current location. I normally mark out a distance of approximately 10 miles from my present location, which is a distance I should be able to comfortable traverse within a day (12 hrs) on foot (10 miles out and 10 miles back). This gives me a good indication on how far I can travel before it gets dark, etc, but daylight hours obviously vary with the seasons. Your own radius of travel will alter depending on your mode of transport or fitness levels. Anything superior to 'hoofing-it' is a bonus but I like to plan for worst case.

Another important activity that would prove essential is to understand what natural food resources you have in your area. Local hedgerow trees and plants, crops that are grown locally (the crop types are normally rotated annually to reduce crop disease), fishing areas, favourite migration ponds / lakes for ducks & geese in your area, areas populated by hares / rabbits, etc. Do you know your edible wild plants??

It may not prove useful to many but at least it might spark some debate amongst yourselves and improve your overall prepping.

[bulldogeagle]

have done this a long time ago, have a "bug out" map with all the relevant unoccupied property and all the "stuff" available, i draw 2 circles on the map around my location, 5 miles and 10 miles radius and when i find any resourses i mark them on the map.

[pseudonym]

have done this a long time ago, have a "bug out" map with all the relevant unoccupied property and all the "stuff" available, i draw 2 circles on the map around my location, 5 miles and 10 miles radius and when i find any resourses i mark them on the map.

I do this but on plastic overlays - they are marked so you need to know where to put them on the relevant map.

[Huwie73]

I do this but on plastic overlays - they are marked so you need to know where to put them on the relevant map. [/quote]


That is a very good point indeed. I like your thinking.

[gary5wift]

I see lots of people with an Area code, e.g. Area 6 in their signatures? What does this refer to and how do you know what area you are in?

Cheers
Gary

[jansman]

Didn't we have a thread like this last year? Ish

[preppingsu]

I see lots of people with an Area code, e.g. Area 6 in their signatures? What does this refer to and how do you know what area you are in?

Cheers
Gary

Hi Gary,
welcome to the forum. Please pop over to the new members section and post an intro about yourself.

As regards the areas, follow the links that psuedonym has in his signature line (see above post). Hope that helps.

Didn't we have a thread like this last year? Ish

yes, yes we did. We seem to be repeating ourselves a lot at the moment. If only people took the time to read what has already been posted on this site. They might be pleasantly surprised by the wealth of information and experience on here!

[Reservior]

Don't forget the obvious too, keep a current copy of your local Yellow Pages at home . Probably a bit bulky for a BOB but worth keeping one at home and/or at your intended bug out location.

[gary5wift]

Thanks Preppingsue - will do

[Arzosah]

Oh rats - Reservior, thats a really good point. And since I chucked it in the recycling bin yesterday, I've now got to go fish it out! Thank you