do you want a scenario

[usmc0311]

Well, to start out, the economies of the US and China are so intertwined that if the US economy failed, China's would as well, and they'd be too busy dealing with their own populace to want to nuke us, let alone invade.

But I'll bite anyhow...Being in the People's Republic of Portland, I would hop on my bike and head to the Columbia. From there, about a 20 minute ride, I can grab a sailboat and head straight to the coast. The bike is a dual fixed cross bike, ideal for off-roading and easy maintenance with no derailleurs. A full touring set up will carry all necessary gear on the bike without wearing me out. You can go off road, even if it means pushing the bike a bit, and avoid any ruined roads, bridges.

Heading west automatically will help get me away from any major city, and I don't have to worry about bridges, since I'm on the river. From there, I figure I can head south along the coast, till I find a suitable place to settle down.

Being alone and single, I'm not as much of a threat to locals and the fact that I'm an EMT will provide me with a valuable skill set that will likely make me more accepted. Granted, I may get run out of town, but is seems the better choice, as staying in Portland will make me radioactive toast.

 

[Just Jim]

A+ you passed 100%.

 

[Just Jim]

Not many can think about transportation when the rig doesn't work. The VC during the Vietnam War carried alot on bikes through the hills of Cambodia. When fuel goes and you need to move stuff a bicycle is next best IMO.

If you couldn't find a boat what then?

With civil unrest and people being homeless alot of boats will turn to homes.

jj

edited to add, How are you going to diguise your bike so you don't look like a big "cash cow" as you move around? The China war part was in honor of the new Red Dawn movie.

 

[Just Jim]

Haveing spent a few years on the coast I know the people pretty well. They hate outsiders in general in my opinion unless you have come to spend your money and leave again. All to often I heard "you can't charge me that price damit I live here". They have a good old boy for the neighborhood idea and it would be hard to get into a community.

Plus in time of civil unrest you may be seen as a scout for the BGs. Also the coast hills are some of the hardest to walk in due to heavy brush. How will you navigate roads know you won't be able to drag your stuff through the tangle foot?

jj

 

[Just Jim]

Was the Grants Pass area among the more desirable places?

Yes it was, he set up a ranch in the grants pass medford area. He had the best information ever. He predicted the financial problems of today and told people how to ready themselves. A good gun book was Survival Guns in which he went through all the gun types and what survival use they had.

jj

 

[dario541]

I came to Medford in 1955 at the age of 16. There was no talk about survival and that type of thing in those days, although there was talk of Civil Defense and having a "Bomb Shelter" at you residence. There were even foods made specifically for Civil Defense.
Anyhow, we came here then. While here, I met my wife. When my family moved on a couple of years later, I was 18, so I stayed behind. A few years later, in 1959, my wife and I married. We're still together after 50 years.
I have grown to love this area and will spend my last days here, if possible. The fact that it appears to be a good survival area is a plus. I have a country retreat to go to in the Applegate area that is between Medford and the coast. With the winds blowing eastward, we should be safe from any Nuclear Fallout from the rest of the country. I was here long before Mel Tappan!
I am glad that I am here. A few scattered stashes of equipment and hopefully, my wife and I can last a few more years.
I hope I make sense. It's early, I'm tired, and I have a dentist appointment in 1 and a half hours!

 

[whatzhizname]

I came to Medford in 1955 at the age of 16. There was no talk about survival and that type of thing in those days, although there was talk of Civil Defense and having a "Bomb Shelter" at you residence. There were even foods made specifically for Civil Defense.
Anyhow, we came here then. While here, I met my wife. When my family moved on a couple of years later, I was 18, so I stayed behind. A few years later, in 1959, my wife and I married. We're still together after 50 years.
I have grown to love this area and will spend my last days here, if possible. The fact that it appears to be a good survival area is a plus. I have a country retreat to go to in the Applegate area that is between Medford and the coast. With the winds blowing eastward, we should be safe from any Nuclear Fallout from the rest of the country. I was here long before Mel Tappan!
I am glad that I am here. A few scattered stashes of equipment and hopefully, my wife and I can last a few more years.
I hope I make sense. It's early, I'm tired, and I have a dentist appointment in 1 and a half hours!

I remember back in the 80's that Southern Oregon was supposed to be the best place in the country for those who were into the survivalist movement. Did that factor in at all to your decision to relocate to that area? Where do you think the safest place(s) are these days with the fears of terrorism, natural disaster, and potential shortages of important things like donuts?

 

[Gunner3456]

It's not just safety, because that mostly applies to radioactive fallout. Southern Oregon is deemed to be least likely to get it due to a lack of valuable targets from here to the coast, and winds from the ocean. Our winds are funneled in here through Coast Mountain passes.

We also have much better weather than the Pacific Northwest. I am 30 miles from N. California and we get less than 1/2 the rainfall of PDX, Seattle, etc. We get more than twice as many sunny days. We have warmer weather too. Our growing season is longer.

I didn't move here for safety. My parents moved here many years ago and we're just here. However, 2 years ago when we decided to build a new house I was thinking survival and defense. I didn't really go overboard, but we are better off in that regard than many.

We just did simple things like make the house essentially fireproof with a fireproof roof and Hardy Plank (cement) siding and all steel doors. The doors and strikers are reinforced. We limited first floor windows and all but one are second and third floor to make entrance difficult and our view out excellent. There is an oversized garage for storage and work space. There are two backup water sources. There are no windows on the W. and back sides of the house on the first floor, for defense. There are only steel exit doors. I can survey and defend from above though. I have cleared all of the brush in the woods for at least 100'.

If someone crashed into the front door or window he would get confused because there is a formal entry, a hallway, stairs, the door to the garage, and rooms in the back. If he came up the stairs he would have to defend to his right and left at the top of the stairs. From there, there is another maze of stairs and hallways and rooms. The defender would have all of the advantages. I have plywood ready to put over that one 1st floor window.

There is no perfect solution. There is only reasonable preparation.

$.02

 

[bugeye]

I'm heading toward the nearest Walmart, there is no way China is going to nuke one of them places!

 

[dario541]

Hi, whatzhizname: I lived here long before the "Survivalist" movement started in the 1970's. Prior to coming here, I lived in Colorado for seven years. Now, don't get me wrong. I love Colorado. But, I DID NOT KNOW how bad the winters were there until I spent a few here in Oregon! I have had enough snow and temperatures of 30 - 40 below to last me for a lifetime!
Although I agree with the late Mel Tappan that this is a very good location for survival living, there are possibly a few better places. To start with, Meford has around 80,000 people and there are thousands more living in the vicinity. It might be getting a little too crowded. Being so close to the Kalifornia Soviet Socialist Republik is another drawback. But the Applegate River region does have a lot to offer.
There are other parts of Oregon-possibly Burns or the northeast part such as Pendleton or Le grande-which might be good survival places. Astoria could be considered. I like Tillamook, but that lovely little town is only a couple of gallons of gas from Portland. Newport-Toledo are just a short hop from Corvallis. Florence is a lovely city but just a short drive from Eugene. The southern coast might be a place to consider-Gold Beach or Brookings, but again you're getting close to Kalifornia.
I guess that you could also consider Montana, Idaho, Colorado or Wyoming (All of these states-brrrrrrr!) as possibilities. But for now, I'll stay right here!

 

[Gunner3456]

Hi, whatzhizname: I lived here long before the "Survivalist" movement started in the 1970's. Prior to coming here, I lived in Colorado for seven years. Now, don't get me wrong. I love Colorado. But, I DID NOT KNOW how bad the winters were there until I spent a few here in Oregon! I have had enough snow and temperatures of 30 - 40 below to last me for a lifetime!
Although I agree with the late Mel Tappan that this is a very good location for survival living, there are possibly a few better places. To start with, Meford has around 80,000 people and there are thousands more living in the vicinity. It might be getting a little too crowded. Being so close to the Kalifornia Soviet Socialist Republik is another drawback. But the Applegate River region does have a lot to offer.
There are other parts of Oregon-possibly Burns or the northeast part such as Pendleton or Le grande-which might be good survival places. Astoria could be considered. I like Tillamook, but that lovely little town is only a couple of gallons of gas from Portland. Newport-Toledo are just a short hop from Corvallis. Florence is a lovely city but just a short drive from Eugene. The southern coast might be a place to consider-Gold Beach or Brookings, but again you're getting close to Kalifornia.
I guess that you could also consider Montana, Idaho, Colorado or Wyoming (All of these states-brrrrrrr!) as possibilities. But for now, I'll stay right here!

OK, all of the places you mentioned in Oregon are either E. of areas which might get nuked and the winds are in that direction, and they have very cold winters. The others are near the coast which might get devastated by an earthquake and tsunami. or flooding. All but Brookings/Gold Beach get too much rain.

As you mentioned, the other states are cold and at best have a very short growing season. In Medford you could even bundle up and do without heat in the house.

Imho you will be a lot better off in that Applegate Valley.

$.02

PS I-5 will get blocked by accidents, people running out of gas, residents deliberately blocking it and any other thing you can think of.

 

[dario541]

Hi, Gunner: I agree that the Rogue valley appears to me to be that best part of America to live in at this time. I am very familiar with the wilderness that is west of Medford. I have been over many old logging roads and deer trails throughout that area. I know where there are springs that have NEVER been dry in my lifetime. I have seen old cabins, mines (I avoid most of those, they look like they could crumble too easily) and other old momentos of an earlier generation. I know where there is true wilderness that still looks like it did in the days of the Indians. I think that if neccessary, I could find a place to hide. However, my age is beginning to slow me down and, where I once could walk all over those areas, I am now finding it more dificult. But, you are correct-we do have a wonderful area to live in!

 

[usmc0311]

Not many can think about transportation when the rig doesn't work. The VC during the Vietnam War carried alot on bikes through the hills of Cambodia. When fuel goes and you need to move stuff a bicycle is next best IMO.

If you couldn't find a boat what then?

With civil unrest and people being homeless alot of boats will turn to homes.

jj

edited to add, How are you going to diguise your bike so you don't look like a big "cash cow" as you move around? The China war part was in honor of the new Red Dawn movie.

I forgot they were remaking that movie, kind of a shame in my opinion..love the original.

Anyhow, with no boat, I'd have to bike to the coast I suppose. It would only take a couple days, a week if it was cross country. It actually might be a better idea anyhow, since I could go cross country and the Columbia would surely be a target point for all kinds of nastiness with civil unrest and whatnot.

The bike I have now is custom built and cost around $1600, but it doesn't look like it. Flat black paint, nothing shiny. Looks like it cost a couple hundred, unless you really know components.

But yeah, I love the idea of bicycle transport. Simple, yet efficient! I'm actually planning on testing out my bike bug-out setup on a trip from Portland to Idaho this coming summer!