Do any of the rest of you have similar situations or similar thoughts?
Some would call it paranoid, I call it prudent planning. I've done a lot of moving around in the military and spent a fair amount of time in different countries. It's a force of habit for me to map my surrounding area, identify alternate routes home and to work, identify choke points or restrictive areas (bridges, etc) as well as knowing the peak traffic times. Knowing the potential threats is essential as well. When we lived in GA, there was as severe chemical spill just over in SC which paralyzed that area; we too had a nuclear power plant nearby. There are always "bad parts" to every large town and cities. In east-side of Washington where I spent a lot of time, we always had the threat of wild-fires and knowing your area will help you avoid getting trapped. Here in central Texas, we are always in a fire-ban; dry and windy conditions are always a potential threat. During the "wet season", certain areas can become instant death traps due to flooding...down-town areas can be the worst; know the flood plains in your areas! We have lost Soldiers in Bradley fighting vehicles AND Abrams Tanks when they were crossing a river with flood conditions...these massive vehicles were completely rolled over
When I was in Kansas/Missouri, there was always the threat of flooding in several areas. Another challenge in areas where they get significant snow fall is which roads are cleared...that will cut off any alternative routes as some smaller roads don't get cleared quickly and you may find yourself in a worse situation.
Another note on traffic (which I truly hate!); we have a medium sized town but the road structure doesn't really support it...basically a single highway that most use. I see a car wreck either on the way to work in the morning or on the way home in the evening...I often work a little later to avoid the mad dash home. It's a large military town and as large units return home, the driving threat goes up. I often take alternate routes that take a few minutes longer to avoid the main highway. Another key is to always keep you gas tank half full...if the gas stations are crowded, most likely tempers will be up and the threat of confrontation is significant...avoid that by always having more than enough fuel to get home or your destination without having to fuel up (carry a little spare container if you can as well).
Another good reason to know the back roads and other alternative routes is avoiding the mass-exodus during hurricane threats. I've been through a few and if plan to vacate the area, be ready to go quickly and know the back roads!
Crime areas are something that always worries me. My wife had a friend that used a big map of the town and plotted any significant crime activity (newspaper and police scanner)...it was her hobby, but it was pretty scary to see how much criminal activity was in the area (and where it was concentrated). Knowing your neighbors and setting up even an informal watch is something worth considering.
Lastly, you mention carrying some essentials in your vehicle. I've had my truck broken into once...fortunately I didn't have a fully loaded bag, but I still lost some high-dollar items
Regardless, a simple gym bag with inexpensive essentials (based on your area and seasons)...trash bags, water, blanket, signal kit, etc. will make life easier during a bag situation. If I travel longer distances, I'll pack more.
If you do travel a lot, make sure you at least pick up maps of the cities or places you visit...I always do a simple "map recon" before arriving or venturing out; in foreign countries, this is truly essential for safety and survival. Also, dont make yourself a target; keep a low profile and try to blend in a little without drawing attention to yourself.
Im heading back over to another combat zone, but the same methods apply. Pay attention to your surrounding areas, observe and identify possible threats or danger areas; know multiple routes including their advantages and disadvantages.
Good topic. Having situational awareness and being observant of your surrounding area is as important in the urban area as it is in the more remote outdoors.
ROCK6