Scenarios (1) The Bug out bag

[NorthernRaider]

FICTIONAL SCENARIOS
(1)The Bug Out Bag


John Smith the senior manger in a big city company is sat at his desk one late afternoon when suddenly all the lights went out in his office, as he peered over his shoulder out of the window he was taken aback to notice that the lights were going out right across the city like a rolling wave, even the street lights went out. He looked at his self winding watch and noticed the time 4.45 PM

John stood up and turned to view the events unfolding in the world outside, he could see the trains grind to a halt, the guy on the gate of the tube system was using a flashlight to guide out stranded passengers, after he cleared the station he locked the gates and disappeared inside. To his left John could see the main junction that fed traffic out of the city, the traffic lights had failed and a multi vehicle crash had totally blocked the junction. As John observed events unfold around him he could clearly hear the sound of other vehicles crashing into each other as people tried to get through various other traffic light controlled junctions further into the central area of the city.

John returned to his desk and sat down; first he unclipped his key fob from his trouser belt and turned on the tiny single white LED flashlight he normally used to find the door lock on his car in the dark. Peering under his desk he grasped a rather plain looking Uncle Mikes Cordura Attaché case that he always kept at work. Opening the bag he found a small Roberts battery and hand cranked SW radio which he turned on and set on his desk. From the radio he immediately picked up news reports of the total chaos that was affecting the entire region, A total failure of the national grid had caused a cascade failure plunging many towns and cities into the dark, thousands of commuters were trapped on trains and tubes with many more being stuck on buses and in vehicles stuck in ever growing traffic jams.

The police were asking people to remain calm as the 999 and breakdown services were overwhelmed with thousands of calls for help. The fire and rescue services simply could not reach the stranded train and tube passengers because of the gridlocked road network.

John once again dove into his attaché case and produced a bundle of Cyalume chemical light sticks, he opened one and activated it, his office was once again illuminated and as far as he could tell his was the only one in the entire complex.

Clipping his Fenix L2D LED flashlight to his belt, along with his Gerber multi tool he took stock of the contents of his bag, In it he found a pair of broken in walking shoes, a waterproofed fleece jacket, two bottles of water, a Silva type 4 tritium compass and a full sized OS map of his city, He also found four long life food bars and two tins of all day breakfast , soap, hand wipes, cell phone, spare batteries for phone and flashlight, £50 cash, a small medical kit, a sealed packet of five dust masks ( he remembered the images on TV of the dust from the collapsing 911 towers), two Bic lighters, a good quality lock back folding knife and a titanium pry bar, last but not least he had a notebook and pen, a small pair of binoculars, a pair of leather gloves and a spare pair of specs, and a small hexamine camp cooker.

John decided there was no point in hanging around, even if the power came back on it would be tomorrow at the earliest before the transport system could possibly be restarted, besides the office heating had also gone off as it was electrically fired so it was time to leave. On the radio the news reports were coming in of panic and looting along the main city roads that passed through the centre of town and out towards the ring road, John wisely decided that route was no longer suitable.

He changed his shoes and swapped his suit jacket for the fleece, repacking his bag then sliding it over his head cross belt style John headed out of the building, stopping only to use his flashlight to check his route out across the car park and onto the main street. Using his bug out map he selected from one of five pre planned routes marking the best possible way out of town, it was along the old towpath down by the canal.

Access to this old industrial relic which led in an almost straight line out of town towards his semi rural home was gained via a padlocked gate leading down to a water company flow metering station, John reached the gate after a brief walk of about 7 minutes during which time he could hear screaming, shouting and the sound of breaking glass assailing his ears from all directions.

Using the pry bar from his bag John quickly snapped off the elderly brass padlock and slipped through the gate remembering to close it behind him.

As the city descended rapidly into chaos and anarchy John quietly and calmly navigated his way along the canal towpath until it intersected with the ring road, He kept the pry bar in his hand until he was certain he was far enough out of town to not bump into anyone with hostile intent. By now it was 11.25 PM and behind him John could see the flicker of flames from burning buildings, he stopped and heated himself a tin of all day breakfast. John listened to the late night news about the army being called in to restore order and provide help before checking his bearings for one last time then continuing his long walk home

[Skvez]

NR these are all pretty picky things; I hope you view them as constructive criticism.

Having the lights go out a few streets every second is a very effective visual for movies but in reality power goes off in big blocks at a time. A 'big block' can often be as far as the eye can see.

In the UK all commercial premises are required by law to have emergency lighting. This lighting would work in the event of a power failure (perhaps not in the event of an EMP)

Six things can't be "last but not least".

[Terry]

I really love reading all of these scenarios!

Ter

[Kenneth Eames]

So do I. They will be ideal when I'm bugging out, I shall be able to read them while all around me are dying. Whilst reading I will be eating hard tack by dipping it in soup. After which I will go out and tend my crops. It will be a good days work. Tomorrow, a day of fishing and so on. I shall read when I have my meals. Lucky me. Kenneth Eames.

[Tortoise]

In all these senarios, its always a young fit bloke. Its the same on other sites. Nobody ever dose senarios for slow peeple liek me.

[NorthernRaider]

(3 December 2011, 00:30)Tortoise Wrote: In all these senarios, its always a young fit bloke. Its the same on other sites. Nobody ever dose senarios for slow peeple liek me.

No So Sir, EG John Smith in scenario one is based on a chap I've known for years who was a middle manager, and he like most middle managers was in his mid 50s when I set this scene. Equally in the one about Retreats both Steve and his partner were in their fifties when they got the retreat fully established.

[Tortoise]

(3 December 2011, 10:11)NorthernRaider Wrote:

(3 December 2011, 00:30)Tortoise Wrote: In all these senarios, its always a young fit bloke. Its the same on other sites. Nobody ever dose senarios for slow peeple liek me.

No So Sir, EG John Smith in scenario one is based on a chap I've known for years who was a middle manager, and he like most middle managers was in his mid 50s when I set this scene. Equally in the one about Retreats both Steve and his partner were in their fifties when they got the retreat fully established.

Middel fifties is young to me. gess Im toast if shtf?

[Skean Dhude]

Tortoise,

Have a look around there are several people on her a few decades older than that. When it comes down to it knowledge and experience are gained over time so you would expect peoplelike us to be 40s up. Most people being brought up now are sheep and wouldn't think of coming here. those that do either have parents who are into self sufficiency or have wildly differing interests from their peers.

[bigpaul]

(3 December 2011, 11:06)Tortoise Wrote: Middel fifties is young to me. gess Im toast if shtf?

we're not all young fit blokes on here Tortoise, i was born just after the war-1948, i'm sure you can do the maths!!

[Kenneth Eames]

I shall be 80 in January but the will to survive is strong within me. I keep reasonably fit. I walk a great deal on the hills in my area of scotland and look after my own health. Many people say that I look younger than my age. I think there only being nice to me. But who knows? Kenneth Eames.