Author of Be Ready for Anything and Bloom Where You’re Planted online course
If you missed the previous challenges, you can catch up here:
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4
- Day 5
- Day 6
- Day 7
- Day 8
- Day 9
- Day 10
- Day 11
- Day 12
- Day 13
- Day 14
- Day 15
- Day 16
Today’s Challenge
Do you have the maps that you need in physical format? You might not always be able to rely on Google maps or Garmin. As well, some maps can be an absolute wealth of information if you are searching for specific resources after the SHTF.
For today’s challenge, buy or print off local maps. As well, if you are planning to bug out, print off or purchase maps of that area too. Topography maps can help you locate things like bodies of water and can assist you in navigating if you’re on foot.
This article will help you locate the maps that you need.
This article will help you find resources near you.
It’s a good idea to have more than one copy of these kinds of maps. I keep them at home, in my car, and in my backpack. The one in my backpack is in a waterproof folder. (These folders are good for all sorts of things. I use them for all my important documents even inside my safe.)
Let’s talk about it.
What maps do you keep on hand? Did you locate some maps that might be useful to you? Do you have any suggestions for other maps preppers might want to keep on hand in physical format? Share your thoughts in the comments.
AAA members can get maps of all kinds for free. There are atlases that you can purchase that are topographic. As hikers we find those useful. Then there are the Thomas Bros. street maps for just
about anywhere. Better to have actual maps than anything virtual. No record of any area you may
be looking over.
When I first put together my 100 mile BOB, I copied topo maps of my state from my parents’ home 200 miles away to my home and put in ziplock bags since the atmosphere is what fades printer ink over time. I took screen shots of Google earth to map my route home that would follow the state river system but over more challenging routes instead of major roads to decrease detection. Also printed topo maps of the route from home to a BOL so that I would recognize forest svce roads, canyons and dry washes to avoid during a thunderstorm. I dont see me getting much farther without a horse, so have not mapped other state routes.
I have AAA maps and atlases. Route maps and topographical maps are together in a Ziploc bag in each vehicle in the driver’s door pocket. Foot routes are packed in Ziploc bags and are in each BOB.
I don’t want to forget them if we have to leave in a hurry. Copys of the foot route maps are in the passenger door pockets along with the the first aid kits.
Also in the BOB’s are topographical maps to local areas on the mountain we could get to quickly that would provide water, good cover, and quick shelter.
Civil chaos: 5 miles away on good rock bed dirt road and streambed. I could actually drive the motorhome there and hide it and only need to cover about 60 feet of tracks. All the comforts of home.
Wild fire: we’d take the truck and head to a friends home an hour away by the interstate.
Ordered out of the area: I’d head to a sons home an hour away in the edge of a city or the little town west of us; then probably work on a way to get back to the mountain. I don’t want to be part of a shelter or a camp. The low lands are actually high mountain desert. A rather inhospitable place to live with little food, water, or shelter. Mostly very open rocky country with Arroyos that carry flash flood waters from higher areas with little warming of what is coming. Summer’s hot with frequent scattered thunderstorms. and winter’s bitter cold and windy. Not a great place to be or have to cross for days on foot if you can avoid it. Arroyos can be a few feet deep or worn into the rock and very deep and you’d have to go up or down stream hunting for a possible crossing. A week or two is a reasonable guess at walking time. I’d rather find a nearer place if allowed to. We dont have a group to meet up with unless my middle son and his family are back home. Then we would go together. And aim for the mountain together.
We’re in a rural unincorporated community. Preps are here except for a few caches on the mountain.
Glad to have BOB’s and maps ready if needed.
Have three sets of maps in water proof bags 2 in bob’s and one in a secure lock box in my vehicle.
Have an atlas of the US on order, and I have local maps, but I need to replace those.
If you have a BOL, you should have a map of that area as well, and several alternative routes to get there and back home. Make a point of mapping these out and driving/walking them all at least once. Take notes – what turned out to be a dead-end street, what route went through a bad neighborhood, what bridges are apt to be closed or washed out in bad weather.
On your personal copy, highlighting your route is great for ease of reference, but it also makes it easier for other people to find you. Personal decision.
My husband bought CDs of National Geographic maps for our state and a couple of neighboring states. We’re rock hounds so we need maps for all types of boondock places – as we’re often out in the middle of nowhere.
already have multiple copies of our official state highway maps. I also have copies of the 911 maps for my county and all the adjacent counties to the one in which I live. These maps show ALL the county roads and the private drives, etc. People traveling on foot to migrate should consider pipeline routes and railroad tracks because most roads will be too dangerous to travel because of other people.
I have physical copies of my main and alternate maps, a USA Atlas”, a topography atlas.
Duplicates in every vehicle and a bag. Then in a notebook in my daily backpack I have a regional map showing all roads including gravel and dirt and a topographical map of the same area.
It could be back up or a get home helper.