No GHB this trip

For several reasons, I could not bring my GHB with me. I am presently sitting in my steel floating self propelled box on the downstream side of NOLA w/my EDC and very little other gear of my own.

EDC: SAK, Bic lighters, bandanna's, multi tool, flashlights, magnesium bar w/flint & striker, P-38, 2 spare AA batteries, smart phone, NukAlert, button compass, ink pen, some cash, a medium size Polish Army pouch, carabiners, 55gal trash bag, 1qt canteen, 16' of paracord, an Israeli Messenger Bag, appropriate clothing, & a small pocket flask.

This boat has comforters (bedding), 12'x12' blue tarps (shelter), fire axes (weapon & tool), all types of food, bottled water, a spool of 3/8th's inch nylon rope, 3inch lines, a small boat w/5gals of gas, kitchen cookware & utensils, 55gal & 35gal trash bags, 1qt & 1gal ziplock bags, toilet paper, several cases of bottled water, & a road map Atlas of the USA.

The only reason I would have to leave the boat would be in the event of an EMP. The Messenger bag and Polish Army pouch can hold a bit of supplies/equipment. I can make a bedroll from the comforter, tarp, & rope onboard. I can make a paracord from the strands of the 3" lines.I can easily make it to the West Bank. Then I would follow the levee up the west bank (thru the NOLA Metropolitan area), to the Hwy 190 bridge in Baton Rouge (includes cutting across the points and around the various oxbows to maintain a straight line), then west on Hwy 190 to get home north of the Atchafalaya Swamp.

Anybody have suggestions on what other resources I may have overlooked or routing suggestions?

You are the expert here and I know I am not, but I would also consider that you might have to leave the boat due to a sufficiently-serious mechanical failure, hole in the hull, or fire.

In your shoes I would add a locking folder, a way to charge my phone, and some snacks to my EDC. A PLB would not be a bad idea either.

Do you have a route that does not go through the metropolitan area, in case that became important?

Not sure how long your get home trip would be, but considering the noted terrain, I'd make sure I have:
- Machete
- Wilderness FAK (bites, trauma)
- Bug net
- Sturdy waterproof sack (can be used as a floating aid, I don't trust garbage bags on that)
- Water filter (Sawyer - my choice)
- Dust mask (or even a gas mask, as an EMP will create some radioactive waste in the air anyway, so if you are serious about that some iodine supplement is also a must)
- A better spirit compass to work with the map
- Spare prescription glasses/lenses
- Fishing supplies?
- A gun?

For the routing, I'm not local, but perhaps that smaller boat could be re-rigged for paddling or even basic sailing as a need arises to cut the land trip a little? Then some arrangements to speed up the transformation could be made in advance.

Originally Posted By: wildman800
The only reason I would have to leave the boat would be in the event of an EMP.


You are the expert here and I know I am not, but I would also consider that you might have to leave the boat due to a sufficiently-serious mechanical failure, hole in the hull, or fire.

[/color] Damage or failures have other procedures in place to follow and rescue would be available.

In your shoes I would add a locking folder, a way to charge my phone, and some snacks to my EDC. A PLB would not be a bad idea either.

[color:#FF9900] I have the SAK which locks, and heavy butcher knives, I doubt if a smart phone/cell system will work after an EMP. I would be taking snacks, food, & water with me. If they appear to work (less than 10" antennas), I would take a hand held VHF-FM Radio.

Do you have a route that does not go through the metropolitan area, in case that became important?

[color:#FF9900][/color] NOLA is surrounded by swamps and lakes with very limited routes in and out. The route I am looking at minimizes exposure to hostile areas. It also is the shortest distance to higher ground that allows greater directional options.

We do have gas masks and dust masks. Gas masks are for short duration use. They cannot be worn very long before one has to remove them and rest awhile.

The rest is what is currently available with me or on the boat. Yes, there are large FAK's onboard that smaller FAK's could be made up from! I forgot about a FAK! We do have some fishing gear onboard also. That would be very useful. Guns are not allowed onboard. We do have some heavy but her knives that can be useful.

Any EMP protected (Night Vision) NV kit available on board to move at night through a blacked out urban NOLA?

The steel box (ship) may provide pretty good EMP protection depending on lots of unknowns. We pretty much know what will happen if an EMP hits the electric grid because those long transmission lines make excellent antennas and feed lines to transformers and customers.

But a steel box sitting in muddy water may do just fine. Radios on the bridge may pop, expecially any with long whip antennas, but equipment inside the hull may survive ... or not. Do not assume gear will be safe or will burn out. Propulsion and steerage may function fine despite the electronic navigation and comm systems dying. Regardless of all the theories, there is little empirical evidence either way. IMO

Here's a thought. Put a Marine VHF handheld and a GPS rcvr in an ammo can as low in the ship as possible, isolated from the hull. Essentially a small faraday cage.

The steel box (ship) may provide pretty good EMP protection depending on lots of unknowns. We pretty much know what will happen if an EMP hits the electric grid because those long transmission lines make excellent antennas and feed lines to transformers and customers.

A very good point I hadn't considered.

A boat (especially w/zinc plates) discharges static electricity into the water very efficiently. A large charge can be discharged through the hull very quickly. Radios, RADAR's, and other pieces with external antennas may be fried but the internal computer monitors and generators may be very well protected!!!

I'm doubtful of those vessels equipped with CAPAC Systems as they are proven lightening attractors with the subsequent electronic damages well documented. Those vessels don 't lose internal control systems though, to the best of my knowledge and experience.

Not familiar with the CAPAC system -- but that system may aid in the lightning coupling to the onboard electrical system. It's all about how the EMP or lightning strike couples to the electronics; CAPAC may provide an easy path. Even if computer systems die, a disconnected laptop (inside the hull but physically isolated) may be a good back-up.

If you can make your ship more survivable to an EMP so that propulsion and steerage are still operational, then it's a matter of navigation and staying in the channel. In that case, staying with the ship may be your best option. At least you should be able to get yourself to a better location North of NOLA before disembarking for the hike home.

The idea is to stay with the vessel which is thoroughly computer controlled on every major system.

Losing the primary radio sets (3), RADAR, electronic navigation systems & computers are a minor issue.

Whether we would lose the generators, main switch board, electrical motors on critical subsystems, and onboard control circuits/ modules (engines and steering) would be the only reason to secure the vessel and disembark.

The zincs may very well protect everything inside that isn't connected to an external antenna....

I was under the impression (ie., from school in the '70's), that the zincs protected the steel hull from galvanic corrosion. I don't understand how they would actively protect internal systems. Since they are not active they wouldn't contribute to the EMP coupling issue, but I don't understand how they would protect those systems. Obviously I don't know how your ship works, much more modern than anything I've been on.

The zincs discharge static electricity back into the water to prevent the corrosion. The static electricity accumulates from the water flowing past the hull. This makes the boat a very large Faraday Cage grounded via water rather than a long rod stuck into the ground.

You may have to leave the boat in the event you are boarded.

Grab some electrical wire if you can on the way out. Lots of uses besides being a conductor.

Bottles for Molotov's as a weapon? Fire bombs can be a good deterrent.

Just trying to think outside of the box.

Interesting scenario. I think gear wise, what is available on the boat is more then enough to put together a well rounded GHB bag.

While others have mentioned some good ideas, a few more suggestions would be a good water filter, some decent running style shoes or lightweight trail shoes, a couple of pairs of good quality synthetic sport socks, some food such as freeze dried meals, snack bars etc that the boat may not always have on hand.

As for your route, I went on Google Maps and did some street view driving up around the Hwy 190 bridge and west. That is flat and wide open country. Not my real desired terrain in this type of scenario. And in the near Baton Rouge vicinity I am sure that Hwy 190 would have a lot of other people in the same situation looking for a way home...and probably less prepared then you. This to me is a security concern and I would be looking at a different route to bypass much of the Baton Rouge area....so back to Google Maps and it's street view.

You know the area much better then I do but here is my best armchair attempt at the route I might take:

Hwy 10 (west side of the bridge) west to 76
North 415/76
West on Hwy 76/ Rosedale
North on Hwy 413 to Hwy 190 then west to home.

Total walking distance from the west side of Hwy 10 bridge to Hwy 190 bridge crossing at the Atchafalaya river: 37 miles.

That route suggestion is an option and would sidestep Port Allen greatly. Going up to the Hwy 190 bridge, via the levee is another option. It would depend on what would look best at the time. Westward is the Morganza Spillway Access. It's very flat but does have a decent amount of trees for semi-cover. It's all being used as grazing land for cattle. There are a lot of wildlife in this area.

What's on the boat is what is on the boat. Unusual supply requests will be rejected and questions will be asked that I wouldn't want to answer. In the absence of hard intel prior to an event, it just wouldn't wash.

That southern route (I-49 Corridor) is a safe route but is mostly through swamps. It is elevated over the swamps, but those bridges make for some rough shelter except under the exits. The skeeters are Baaad! Most of the high ground between bridges have sparse tree groupings. Clean water sources would be scarce or non existant. All local water is easily treatable though. The natives are non hostile but not overly friendly to strangers. My Parisian French is not Cajun enough to pass the locals but sufficient to communicate accurately.

I believe following the Levee northward to Hwy 190 is the preferred option but the I-49 Corridor is an option.

Thanks for reminding me to get bug spray if I had to leave!

It just occurred to me that we have a coil of mechanic's wire onboard. I've added that to the list of boat items that can be made use of. We also have plenty of wire ties and bungee cords of different lengths.

carry more cash and a paper list of contact info (Phone numbers, passwords, etc)