Prepping for shtf incidents while traveling
Posted by alessaria@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 46 comments
This question is for the road warriors out there. My job now requires frequent air travel for 1-3 weeks at a time. About 60% of that travel is to states that have more restrictive ccw laws. Given everything happening in the world, I feel very exposed from both shtf and personal protection standpoints. How do frequently traveling preppers handle this? Do you have a mini get home kit you take with you? Do you spend any time sketching out a shtf plan for where you are going, or is that overkill? Any and all pointers appreciated.
Wooden_Ad171@reddit
I mean a good chunk of the country now has national reciprocity for CC. A good rule of thumb double check carry laws pertaining to whichever state you may be visiting. Just because you may be headed to a state that may accept the national reciprocity doesn’t mean the LEOs of that state are aware of this. So you could get yourself hemmed up by carrying a firearm. Verify capacity restrictions, prepare accordingly. As for like bug out bags and other misc. supplies you will look mighty suspicious flying with them. So like one of the other responses check weather, other current events/ conditions to the state/ area you will be visiting. Now driving to an another state is a different story what’s in your vehicle is no one’s business.
DevGn0me@reddit
One thing that really helped me: I keep a small note on my phone with the address of the nearest hospital, embassy/consulate (if abroad), and 2-3 route options from my hotel to the airport. Takes 5 minutes when you check in and gives you a lot of peace of mind.
AK-Kidx39@reddit
Pick up boxing and lift weights. Your confidence in yourself and your boundaries will help make up for the restriction on tools.
Eeyor-90@reddit
I fly nearly every week and often have to drive a couple of hours from the airport to the towns I need to work in.
I have a bunch of tools and things that I can't carry into the cabin, so I end up checking one or two bags each trip. Because I check bags, I pack a few things to make me feel a bit more secure and to make life on the road more comfortable. I also carry some weather-specific emergency gear in case I get stranded in a car for a few hours.
My emergency "get home" kit consists of:
--$200 cash --a personal credit card with a fairly low limit and no balance --a list of critical phone numbers (including banks, insurance, my boss, coworkers, friends, and family) --passport and wallet --battery for phone(s) --charging cables / charging brick --water bottle with filter (Epic) --at least 1 change of clothes in my backpack (carried on the plane) --toiletries in the backpack --good walking shoes (always wear good shoes on the plane) --sleep kit: mask, earplugs, sleep ear buds, camping CO detector --seasonal outerwear --boo-boo kit --small sewing kit --meds --paper maps of areas I frequent plus a good understanding of how the interstate highways run --a small compass --several quart size freezer Ziploc bags (use to make ice packs or store things) --several gallon size freezer Ziploc bags
It is extremely unlikely that I will ever need to walk home and that would be an absolute last resort. If it comes to that, I will aquire supplies as needed, or I won't make it home: I don't pack for that.
I do have a plan for renting a car and staying at hotels along the way using my personal funds if needed (I never rely completely on the company credit card). If I need stuff while traveling home, I will buy it. The most critical things are my ID, phone, credit card, cash, and phone numbers.
When I rent a car, I try to get something boring, reliable, and not flashy. Something like a Corolla. When I was in highschool, a friend of mine lost his dad when his dad was killed in a car-jacking while on a business trip. I don't want to tempt people with a fancy car, I want a car that blends in almost everywhere, and I don't want to look like I have a lot of money.
In the hotel, i stay on the 3rd - 6th floors when I can. I like the rooms near the stairs. The floor is high enough that you don't have to worry about someone trying to get in the window (very unlikely, anyway at most places), but not too high if you need to walk down the stairs to get out. I like to pack a big rubber doorstop to wedge under the door. It isn't likely that someone will try to break in, but sometimes the front desk will accidentally give out a key to a room that is already occupied thinking that it is empty.
The best "prep" is probably situational awareness and avoiding confrontation. Be polite and friendly to people. Trust your instincts: if an area doesn't feel safe, you should probably leave, if folks are getting drunk and rowdy, you should probably leave, if heated arguments start, you should probably leave.
linniex@reddit
I also travel a lot for work. My big fear is to be somewhere (like Vegas) and the SHTF - there will be a run to the rental cars. I probably should pick up some Hotwire skills for cars or something.
Eeyor-90@reddit
I always have a rental car when I travel, so I would just have to extend the rental and pay the extra fees for one-way. It could be a problem if I already returned the car and my flight was cancelled, or something happened during a connection. I don't worry too much about that, though.
BatemansChainsaw@reddit
I used to travel for work to a regular rotation of cities around the US so I set up a storage unit in each one with a lot of the needs and wants if something ever happened. The location depended on what went into each in terms of extra clothes (not going to need a winter parka in Florida for example). I've only had to use them once but imho it was worth the price.
Ancient-Bat8274@reddit
My husband is in your shoes as he travels every week for work. We have a loose plan for this and yes he packs extra cash supplies and good shoes. Essentially I board up the house and scope anything coming near it and wait for a certain amount of time to hear from him. Depending on severity he might still have access to a phone but we also have backup radios. After our set deadline has passed if I don’t hear from him then I pack up and move to our safe spot and hold out some more. Rinse repeat. It’s not the best plan but it’s a plan
LakeAdventurous7161@reddit
Regarding good shoes: Not only pack them, wear them. Can be very helpful in case of an evacuation or emergency landing. (Also, I tend to whenever possible always wear comfortable but sturdy shoes. Something I could walk away with _right now_.)
Cloud2987@reddit
I always carry a metal pen when I’m traveling since I can’t bring my firearm or knife. I’ve heard some knives could be brought on a plane, but I rather not risk trying it.
LakeAdventurous7161@reddit
Your keys or a keychain trinket can also be useful in an emergency.
Internal_Time7941@reddit
Been traveling for 20+ years. Be a grey man blend in stay away from trouble, don’t get drunk and don’t leave your valuables in your vehicle. Never felt I needed my personal pistol at anytime during my travels. I also visit many federal agencies so I can’t bring it on the premises anyhow.
LakeAdventurous7161@reddit
Very good advise. For the same reason, I would for sure not travel with that Rolex (mentioned in somebody's posting) on the wrist. A seasoned traveler, and in my 40's, but dressing simple and looking younger (nothing I brag about - it is just that people who are shorter are often seen as younger, and always having avoided smoking and alcohol helps), I might be mistaken for somebody not having traveled much, maybe even college kid. Nothing bad about that.
Travel for me is mostly: airplane, train, intercity bus, sometimes taxi, shuttle bus. I do not own a car and I drive so rarely that I would not take a rental whenever possible.
Capstonelock@reddit
I mean this in the nicest possible way (I have a background in risk assessment): you should probably try to be a little less paranoid in this particular circumstance. The likelihood of needing a weapon while travelling for work is awfully slim, unless like me you're travelling to survey the rainforest and need a machete.
I'd be worried about things like (and some of these only really apply to international travel): - flight delays or lost luggage meaning you didn't have your essential prescription medication - global events like covid or Iran causing airport/border closures - viruses and nasty gut bacteria - avoiding countries with high sovereign risk - being adequately vaccinated for things that are a risk in that country - losing your passport, phone or bank cards
I travel a lot for work and my biggest concerns are things like reading glasses, a pen, medication (I once got put in quarantine on a work trip but my prep ensured I had adequate medication for both my regular meds and also to get me through the virus), chargers and a powerbank, and the assorted things you need occasionally but when you need them, you really need them. One example is that I travel with a silicone funnel so I can fill my water bottle using a mug if my water bottle won't fit under the tap in the hotel hand basin.
I also travel with a plastic spork and always have a collapsible container I can eat out of. They're simple preps but they are far more likely to be needed. Tiles or Airtags can also be useful preps.
One time I had a medical episode and had to be evacuated from an island. I had to go straight from the hospital to the plane. My coworker had to pack up all my stuff to return to the mainland. Now one of my preps is to make sure my room is tidy! I use packing cubes and keep all my gear corralled so that no one needs to go hunting to find all my stuff. I also use a laundry bag so there's no dirty underwear lying on the floor.
I have an extensive medical history so I have prepped a document in OneDrive that summaries it. ER doctors love it and always ask me to email it to them. It has bullet points in date order with each procedure, doctor and outcome, a list of vaccinations, prescription medications and my latest blood test date and location (so they can call and get the results sent through).
LakeAdventurous7161@reddit
"flight delays or lost luggage meaning you didn't have your essential prescription medication"
They should go in carry-on. Of course, also this could be stolen, but at least no issues with flight delays or lost checked luggage. (Or is there any reason I'm not aware of that prevents you from putting these in your carry-on?)
(I do travel a lot for work and do all the above you describe, minus the medication as luckily I do not depend on any.)
Capstonelock@reddit
No, of course, and I always put them in my carry on. But I've travelled with someone who didn't and he wound up with no blood pressure medication when we arrived. He was a seasoned traveller as well but still made the mistake.
LakeAdventurous7161@reddit
Thanks for explaining! Yes, mistakes happen. Hopefully it did not cause too big issues and it was possible to get some, or get the luggage, soon enough.
Personally, for things that _must_ go in my carry-on, I always write them separately on my packing list. Like: spare glasses - I depend on my glasses, of course I wear my glasses, but them being damaged and then the spare ones lost would be a real issue for me. Also, medication if I would need some would go on this list.
(Same I do with items not allowed in carry-on: separately marked on my packing list.)
Apprehensive_Pie_897@reddit
Always carry a dozen silver rounds and tenth ounce gold pieces.
Research Bike stores everyplace you go. (Since there aren’t any yellow pages at pay phones anymore, you’ll need an idea where the bike stores are located). Print a rudimentary map from your working place to several of the bike stores.
Look at “rail bike” setups and get a route map of all railroads.
Take a water filter.
Ride a bike at least a continuous hour every weekend. (You’ll need to get your butt used to pedaling).
When SHTF, pick up a can of Hornet & Wasp spray as everyone is still wandering around lost. It’ll spray out to 25’.
FreeReason@reddit
Over 1500 nights in hotels and I travelled for a couple of decades, so I consider myself in the road warrior category. Mainly US travel, some overseas. My backpack was my life. My luggage was for extras and backups. Never took a gun, never needed one. I'm also an old ... so I remember flying with pocket knives and smoking on planes. 9/11 stopped the knives, and common sense stopped the smoking. If I were checking a bag for a long trip or multi-hop, I would usually toss in a pocket knife, but I always took direct if possible.
Still remember what I kept in each pocket of my backpack:
- laptop/power cable (work)
- ipad (personal)
- phone
- Bose Headphones (great for plane noise and universal sign for don't talk to me).
- battery backup (recommend nitecore gen 3+ nb10000 or nb20000)
- charging cables/usb drive
- all necessary meds for the trip (duplicated extras in luggage)
- common meds (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, loperamide, Alka-Seltzer)
- lock pick set (used a few times)
- bic lighter wrapped with duct tape (used the tape more than the lighter)
- passport, driver's license in wallet, passport card in luggage
- mini flashlight on carabiner (cheap/free one from harbor freight)
- pen/pad (mostly for note taking at work, never bought a tactical pen, seemed a waste)
- water bottle ... or ... buy bottled water in the terminal
- Some food ... usually a couple of granola bars or jerky
I've been stranded a few times, but was always able to get alternate transportation (rental car or train), or if I was too far from home just wait it out in a hotel. Mostly major storms, especially in winter, that would delay hubs or cause cancellations. Best recommendation is if there's a major storm and you're cancelled, get a hotel room before you deal with your flight. If shtf, like 9/11, rent a car immediately.
Never worried much about protection. Tried to steer clear of shady places, and am a larger man with training. A few bar skirmishes and on the sidelines of others fighting, usually drunken foolishness, was the most I've experienced. I find that most folks, regardless of location, are good people willing to help others.
Unusual_Specialist@reddit
Buy a Rolex. It’s a form of wearable insurance. If the financial system falters, liquidity dries up, country fails, or you need to a negotiate safety, a high demand luxury watch acts as a universal currency that can be traded for survival essentials.
LakeAdventurous7161@reddit
But it also makes you more vulnerable.
(If you like to wear such a watch, no issue. But I personally would not buy a watch I do not like to wear and which makes me more vulnerable, just because I might be able to trade it.)
karmarequiresgrpthnk@reddit
Have some cash and good walking shoes with you. If you have a family to get home to then you’re going to need to find a way home.
Fortunately the likelihood of a true collapse event where you won’t even be able to get home to is basically zero. Other than that it’s just natural disasters to prepare for, check the weather before you go somewhere and stay on top of the news when you’re away.
I travel some for work, I don’t really prepare much. Most of my preps are focused on my family’s safety, not mine, I can handle myself.
dawn_thesis@reddit
I (and many others) were stuck in other countries for months during the first covid lockdowns
karmarequiresgrpthnk@reddit
Not much you can do to prepare for that. Just have to figure out how to make the most of your circumstances.
monty845@reddit
There were thing you could do, but I think it highlights one of the really big challenges with prepping: In many situations that are developing over days (or even just hours), there may be opportunities available to those that act early. However, it may not be clear yet what you should do, and these decisions very much do have opportunity costs.
When do you decide its time to cancel that vacation, and eat a big chunk that isn't refundable? Or if already away from home, when do you decide its time to drop whatever you are doing, (work/vacation/whatever) to pay whatever its cost to get on the next flight home?
Those that where in tune with pandemic risk knew things were getting concerning the middle of January. I ordered some respirator filters Jan 23, the same day Wuhan went on lock down. Anyone who decided that day to get home, and wasn't in Wuhan, would have made it home well before the lockdowns would strand them abroad.
But, maybe China was overreacting, maybe its just SARS 2.0, and it will never be a big thing... That is the problem. By the time you know for sure that action is required, your options may already be limited.
LakeAdventurous7161@reddit
"When do you decide its time to cancel that vacation, and eat a big chunk that isn't refundable? Or if already away from home, when do you decide its time to drop whatever you are doing, (work/vacation/whatever) to pay whatever its cost to get on the next flight home?"
It happened to us (married couple) almost while we were abroad for visa renewal. Luckily got it the day before the last day it was possible to leave. Booked a new flight immediately, was the first time traveling 1st class because that was the only thing available...(We did live in the US, on work visas. Citizenship from a European country and we were there for renewal.)
If we had been stuck, we could have stayed with our in-laws in Europe. What also had helped in the case of being stuck in Europe is knowing people at the place we did live (in the US) well enough to take care of things if necessary, e.g. to trust them to enter our apartment, to retrieve and ship things, to take a photo of things if necessary in order to e-mail them to us. What also had helped to a great amount is having copies of everything in electronic form and with us when traveling.
As I work abroad for the past 15 years, in different countries, things I make sure are:
- always electronic copies of documents
- whenever possible, trustworthy person close to the place where I stay (might take a while to know somebody; I also have a key hidden at my workplace)
- whenever possible, keep connections to trustworthy people in the country of your citizenship
- if earning some money, always keep some emergency money - rather less "fun money" than no "emergency money".
dawn_thesis@reddit
u/alessaria r/TwoXPreppers might be helpful too
roberttheiii@reddit
Agree with all this and I'd add, pay attention. Be the first guy to rent a car. If you're in the continental US the longest drive is about 50 hours. So you either find a friendly person headed where you are and share the driving or split it up into 4 ~12 hour sessions. Point is, be the first to move. Don't wait.
slogive1@reddit
Agreed 100%. The sky won't fall unless it's nukes.
BillyCorndog@reddit
NAL At a certain point you’ll likely have to weigh your personal safety against maybe catching a charge. Get a TSA approved lock box and keep your pistol in your stowed luggage. Keep the box in a shoulder bag maybe?
justasque@reddit
Catching a charge could mean losing your freedom. Which is pretty much the polar opposite of being well prepared to handle major emergencies. Cant bug out if you’re locked up.
BillyCorndog@reddit
Yup, exactly. But also, can’t always protect yourself the way you want if you’re always following the rules. I’m sure at least one person on this sub has carried in a “gun-free” zone.
I_VAPE_CAT_PISS@reddit
I travel for work maybe 8 weeks a year and keep a small kit in my checked bag. Nothing fancy. Water purification tabs, a headlamp, some paracord, a couple cliff bars, a USB battery pack, and a paper map of whatever metro area I'm heading to. The map is the one thing most people skip but if cell towers go down you're not navigating anything on your phone. I also always note the closest hospital and interstate on-ramp to my hotel. Takes 5 minutes on arrival and gives you a mental exit plan without being weird about it.
funnysasquatch@reddit
When the world shutdown during Covid - Eva zu Beck was filming a show on an island off the coast of Saudi Arabia. Can you imagine the difficulty of an attractive single woman on a desert island faced to get home in Poland?
She did it. I can't remember how she got to the port. But she hopped a freighter and got home.
I've seen her get stuck in the Moroccan desert in her Land Rover and get help.
I have confidence in you that you'll get home without too much trouble after a disaster short of a nuclear war.
Mysterious_Touch_454@reddit
I dont travel much, but those few times i always bring only so much i can easily carry. So no luggage, only backpack. I also use that thing that i buy everything i use from the location i go to.
Underwear, shirts etc, easily abandoned in the emergency.
AlphaDisconnect@reddit
Combo jump box air compressor. The mead acid ones. Bonus if it has USB. Double bonus if it has 120v. Tire plug kit.
A towel. A towel can be anything. Wet. Now you are dry. Leaking. Now you leak less. Broken. Cut into strips. Now you have a splint or something.
Phone that supports emergency sat com.
Trioxane fuel tabs. Great fire starter.
A 6 shot revolver. I would say 6 inch 357 magnum. But chefs choice.
Many-Health-1673@reddit
If you check your bags, keep a couple of pocket knifes in the checked luggage for you to carry if needed if something happens.
If I have a backpack, I am always going to carry water, ssome bleed stop, a tourniquet, an Israeli bandage, a medicine travel container, a water filter, pepper spray, and a lighter.
Pando5280@reddit
Water bottle, rechargeable flashlight, battery bank, couple of Clif bars, drink mix (Gatorade etc in single serve pouches). If Im in a sketchy country / area I buy a cheap but easy to open 3" pocket knife and give them away or just toss them when I get to the airport. I just see it as a 10 or 20 dollar disposable safety item. Always have some extra cash in smaller bills (ie $200 in 10s 20s) and I always wear good walking shoes in the airport.
Zpoc9@reddit
I was in a foreign country when an earthquake struck, ruining pretty much everything I brought with me. Going home would be strapping on swimming fins more than walking shoes. So what to do? Roll up those sleeves and pitch in. Had food provided to me and many offers of a place to sleep.
twig1107@reddit
Lots of practical advise here already. Would add: - paper atlas - good shoes/belt/clothing - Sturdy pack and a fitness regimen to support 15-20 miles if rucking
I also take my SBR most places and have a dedicated pack for that + supporting gear. I pre-fill interstate travel forms each year for the states I visit and carry paper approvals with me.
ratbikerich@reddit
I’m right there with you. I have to frequently travel via airplane (often to places like IL, NJ, etc) where not only is my CCW permit not valid but my edc firearm choice isn’t either. Frankly, given TSA’s track record of “losing” guns along with overactive airport PD I made the choice to not check one in my luggage each trip. I carry a good flashlight and first aid kit… it sucks
No-Inflation5483@reddit
If your travel is regular to certain locations, i.e. same trips every month, make friends with people at the locations you travel to. Might be helpful in a large scale emergency scenario. Also, plot out on a map if there's friends, relatives etc, along the way to and from. In case you can't travel by air back home, you could stop along the route home with known residents. To add to this, learn about the areas you are traveling to. Know roads, high crime areas, etc. Carry some cash with you and some things to barter with if you can. Always carry multi use items on your trips. A personal located beacon is also great for emergencies. The best defense is a good offense.
Jolopy4099@reddit
I never had to plan for this but thinking off the top of my head.
If you're able to i would continue to bring your handgun with you at the bare minimum. Even if you lock it in a hotel room safe if you can bring it with you to the work you're doing atleast it will be close by.
Pre plan the area looking for stores that would have supplies if you needed to grab some.
If its long distance I'd think you would be pretty stuck there unless you rented a vehicle for while you are in that area.
DeFiClark@reddit
Been through many disasters and lived in a couple failed states and not once have I needed any weapon to get home. Don’t sweat it.
I carry what I need to be comfortable with an unexpected overnight and extended stays in airports with limited resources. 9 Clif bars, shemagh that works as a head cover and neck pillow for sleeping in a chair,travel towel, collapsing 2 liter water bottles. Power adapters. At least a couple power banks. Airline blanket. Cards, candy, a book.
Note that if you ever have to go to the roof of a hotel, bring your sheets and as much water as you can carry. It gets hot up there really fast most places once the sun comes up.
ilreppans@reddit
I don’t travel for business anymore, but am a multimodal UL camper and often EDC/travel with multitasking camping gear (most of my UL backpacking kit in a 12L bag) that’s useful day-to-day. For another 10L add compact/efficient wheels (~equiv to 2/3rds a folding bike for 1/10th the size) that would be useful for errands, exercise, sightseeing the local area, but of course would be have to be combine with other transport to make it back home. That’s ~22L out of a ~55-60L carry-on allowance. Forget the self defense stuff.
Icy-Medicine-495@reddit
AAA and basic car repair stuff like jumper cables, spare tire, air compressor, plug kit, and fluids if your car burns any.
Next a good blanket or sleeping bag during the winter. A charging cable for your phone and cash (enough to refill your tank and buy you a meal).
I advise a light pack that emphasize speed in order to get home. I have a 30 liter pack in my truck with enough food for a couple days and water. The plain is to run home as quick as possible.
I have seen people pack a folding scooter in their trunk to get home faster.