Before casting blanket derision on the TEOTWAWKI, head for the hills types it's important to understand the basis of their thinking. During the Cold War, when large population centers were likely targets, you basically had 3 choices: a bomb shelter, a retreat, or do nothing and let the government take care of me. Some folks took option A or B but the vast majority, as today, fell into the last group. If you were a retreatist then stashing supplies along your route made perfect sense.

The retreat philosophy was the basis for the Carter administrations infamous Crisis Relocation Plan. Instead of cabins in Idaho you simply retreated to a "host community" where, presumably, the population will break out the bbq and gleefully welcome you in.

Folks still routinely evacuate in the face of a major coastal storm. Fires still force the clearing of towns in the west. And people still obviously believe that any distruption of the norm might lead to riots or social disorder. If not, then why the collective sigh of relief when riots didn't break out during the recent blackout? Any of the above scenarios could benefit from having a cache or two along your preplanned evac route.

Quite a few folks on this forum talk about having their BOB stocked and ready to go. Where? Whether across town to a friends or a bunker in the Rockies, bugging out is bugging out. What's the difference between a large BOB that will get you all of the way to your evac point and a smaller BOB with a cache or two along the way that achieves the same result? I grant you that the threats have changed since the sixties but that doesn't mean that the need for an evac or retreat plan has been eliminated.

I don't want to come across like I've got a problem with sticking around and being part of the solution. I don't. If the situation warrants it, fine. But if I decide it's better to pull chocks and launch, well I've got that covered too.

When I lived in the county I was a volunteer firefighter and EMT. I'm currently studying for my first ham license. I maintain a year's supply in the basement. If I feel that I can afford to share or help out, ok. But this ant and grasshopper mentality that I've got some obligation to the masses simply because I had the foresight that they lacked, that gives me a twist.

Just my $.02

Ed

BTW, couldn't that guy have at least folded his spare skivvies for the picture <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />