Relocating for resiliency against long term collapse

[twinfin]

I read a recent article about where would be the best place to live during a prolonged SHTF event. I read through it to see how my decisions back in 2014 about strategically relocating measured up against the authors interpretations.

My criticism of the article is that many of his graphics had missing keys for interpreting the color coding that overlaid his maps but on the other hand, the author raises some excellent points about how to view potential relocation spots around the Country.

Though I consider Joel Skousen's book Strategic Relocation as the gold standard for making such assessments, it was interesting none the less to read this authors ideas.

https://preppgroup.home.blog/2024/02/12/where-to-go-during-the-collapse-the-best-places-in-america-to-go-during-an-apocalypse-this-article-illustrates-each-place-with-a-detailed-image/

...the criteria for the best area to survive in can be broken into three categories:

1. Human factors, 2. Natural factors, and 3. Economic factors

Human Factors:

Low population density (40 people per sq. mile or less)
Distance to major/minor cities (50+ miles away)
Distance to military bases (50+ miles away)
Distance to nuclear power plants (100+ miles away)
Distance to interstate highways
Low poverty rate
Low violent crime rate
Natural Factors:

Easy access to fresh water
Abundance of wild game
Low natural disaster risk
Dense forest cover
Adequate soil textures
Adequate rainfall
Low drought risk
Economic Factors:

Higher job growth
High abundance of non-renewable natural resources available for extraction (coal, oil, natural gas, metals and minerals, lumber, etc.
Higher educated citizens

Most of things in his list were on my list. My PNW bugout location checks most items listed above but not all. In my view, the perfect place will be different for each person due to the variability of individual needs. If you already left for more agreeable surroundings it might be interesting to see how your chosen location measures up. If you are thinking of moving for someplace better, the article points out some good things to take into consideration before making a decision.

[Maltese Falcon]

Thanks.

We are two years out from my lovely wife's retirement. I have places in mind to GTFO (of that there is no question) when the time comes except................I have no idea/clue what the world will look like in two years.

Choices may be: Bad or Real bad.

Not sure if I have enough juice left to move @ 69 but do nothing is a choice too.

.

[Kyle1886]

I would think that somewhere in the list "health care facility" might be a factor for some, especially for the "retiring group".

It doesn't necessarily need to be next door but a reasonable distance. At the least, a "tele-health" clinic/MD that you might contact. Stuff happens...

Respectfully
Kyle

[tomrkba]

I'll probably just go to eastern Europe (Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria) and live in the country. The food is natural and plentiful there. Even if the Russians roll through, they'll just welcome them with a big party and carry on. They know how to handle the Russians.

If I were to stay in the USA, I'd probably have to find some place in the Midwest.

[Kyle1886]

I'll probably just go to eastern Europe (Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria) and live in the country. The food is natural and plentiful there. Even if the Russians roll through, they'll just welcome them with a big party and carry on. They know how to handle the Russians.

If I were to stay in the USA, I'd probably have to find some place in the Midwest.

Our youngest had the same thoughts but he chose St. Croix V.I. for his semi-retirement. They built a nice self sustaining home and bounce between there an Virginia at present until he and his wife retire fully. They both retired before but went back into grind again.

Good luck on what ever you select.

Respectfully
Kyle

[ZapThyCat]

I had a similar list, but the PNW was excluded due to the high natural disaster risk (volcanoes can be a major disaster, but not likely, but the Cascadia fault going, will be catastrophic, along with the tsunami that will inevitably follow). Lower risk is the fact that if a meteor hits anywhere on half the globe (pacific ocean), the megatsunami will wipe out everything on the seaboard.

I personally chose the Missouri Ozarks. About the only "problem" is the poverty rate, which means that people are more resourceful, living off the land and better with stretching resources and DIY repairs. They are also more giving and generous, sometimes to a fault, but definitely with more of a community mindset.

[TheChief]

I had a similar list, but the PNW was excluded due to the high natural disaster risk (volcanoes can be a major disaster, but not likely, but the Cascadia fault going, will be catastrophic, along with the tsunami that will inevitably follow). Lower risk is the fact that if a meteor hits anywhere on half the globe (pacific ocean), the megatsunami will wipe out everything on the seaboard.

I personally chose the Missouri Ozarks. About the only "problem" is the poverty rate, which means that people are more resourceful, living off the land and better with stretching resources and DIY repairs. They are also more giving and generous, sometimes to a fault, but definitely with more of a community mindset.

Interesting outlook on poverty. My experiences in Los Angeles, Washington, Louisiana, and Maryland are that poverty leads to high crime and less value on human life, and lots of other consistent bad decision making. Not saying I have the whole picture or that the bad apples ruin it for all the other caring folk, but those bad apples have enough impact to make it wise to leave those areas far in the rear view mirror.

[user120312]

Where I chose to die we locals live a pretty much subsistence economy and I would ascribe the low to non-existent crime rate to low population density and an unattractive location for criminals, along with vast stretches of forest and ocean and pretty much everyone being armed.

When I can place my camera in the bathroom window and video a neighbor ringing steel with their rifles and handguns, and do the same myself, any criminal who has designs on us likely gets a clear picture of what can happen if they aren't successful. It's a big forest and ocean and, well, loggers have chain saws.

Peace through strength.

I was stocking up on selected survival items this month and it looks like my total household expenses will run just under 700 bucks for the month. I call it profitable poverty. No regrets.

[twinfin]

...I would ascribe the low to non-existent crime rate to low population density and an unattractive location for criminals, along with vast stretches of forest and ocean and pretty much everyone being armed...

Low population density solves a lot of problems and is a feature worth keeping near the top of one's list.

[ChuckD]

I would also consider 2 more factors that could be critical: Climate (Chicago in the winter is every bit as deadly as the Mohave desert in the summer) and rainfall (enough rain to grow food without irrigation, but not so much that the result is a swamp).

I would also add that you need to live there in the here & now as well. While I agree with avoiding urban areas, crime, etc - I also want to live in a place with a comfortable climate and I want to have a Costco, Home Depot, & Walmart within about 1/2 - 3/4 hour

[the86d]

It's nice here, in East Texas.
Enough rain where you don't have to water anything,
but summers can be a bit warm, and Winters in January can kill citrus/avocado.

With black pickle barrels w/fish tank warmers, and mini green houses around them,
I hope that helps until they are larger.

No ammo, or firearm laws to speak of, no waiting periods,
walk out in 10 minutes with new toys with no background check either, if you've got an LTC, it's a pre-BG check.

[Wil-c]

It's nice here, in East Texas.
Enough rain where you don't have to water anything,
but summers can be a bit warm, and Winters in January can kill citrus/avocado.

With black pickle barrels w/fish tank warmers, and mini green houses around them,
I hope that helps until they are larger.

No ammo, or firearm laws to speak of, no waiting periods,
walk out in 10 minutes with new toys with no background check either, if you've got an LTC, it's a pre-BG check.

depending on the time of year, E. Tx has several natural defenses: chiggers being one example. How many folks know what poison ivy or oak looks like? etc.

[Wil-c]

I read a recent article about where would be the best place to live during a prolonged SHTF event. I read through it to see how my decisions back in 2014 about strategically relocating measured up against the authors interpretations.

My criticism of the article is that many of his graphics had missing keys for interpreting the color coding that overlaid his maps but on the other hand, the author raises some excellent points about how to view potential relocation spots around the Country.

Though I consider Joel Skousen's book Strategic Relocation as the gold standard for making such assessments, it was interesting none the less to read this authors ideas.

https://preppgroup.home.blog/2024/02/12/where-to-go-during-the-collapse-the-best-places-in-america-to-go-during-an-apocalypse-this-article-illustrates-each-place-with-a-detailed-image/

Most of things in his list were on my list. My PNW bugout location checks most items listed above but not all. In my view, the perfect place will be different for each person due to the variability of individual needs. If you already left for more agreeable surroundings it might be interesting to see how your chosen location measures up. If you are thinking of moving for someplace better, the article points out some good things to take into consideration before making a decision.

most of this would likely help in terms of dealing with ordinary types attempting to raid. Biggest threat an individual would likely face in an event of the magnitude contemplated here would be government.

Chicoms pull the plug on our grid as an example of an extreme event. It's a safe bet first thing government would do would implement COG 'laws' and start confiscating people's personal property, ie: supplies. This would be applied all the way down to LEO at the local level. "Confiscate to prevent hoarding and enable law enforcement'.

[ZapThyCat]

E. Tx has several natural defenses: chiggers being one example. How many folks know what poison ivy or oak looks like? etc.

Poison ivy isn't a concern, not nearly as much as, say, fire ants or africanized honeybees, or the occasional hurricane.

[Wil-c]

Poison ivy isn't a concern, not nearly as much as, say, fire ants or africanized honeybees, or the occasional hurricane.

between poison ivy and/or chiggers, it'll matter when they scratch themselves bloody with dirty hands & those wounds become infected.
doubt they'll have any topical antibiotics on hand or know how to use them.

not to mention they go crawling through poison ivy and it won't be long before 'raiding' someone is going to be the last thing on their mind.