You are stuck in a city

[Sentry18]

You suddenly find yourself in the middle of a large city. The largest city in the state you reside. There is no power, all municipal services have stopped, people have been actively fleeing or sheltering in place for a couple days, and you are on the 4th floor of an old abandoned apartment building. All you have is the clothes on your back, a backpack which was laying on the floor of the same room, and either A or B. Now you have to decide if you are going to get out of Dodge or if you are going to hunker down. Either way you are going to need more resources.

A: 20ga shotgun, 5 shells of bird shot, 7 shells of 00 Buck, large flat head screwdriver, Bic lighter, multi-tool, and a candle.

B: Beretta 22lr, spare mag, 100 rounds of ammo, LED flashlight, folding knife, bump key, handcuff key, and safety matches.

 

[The Lazy L]

B and getting out of Dodge.

 

[SheepDog]

You put me back in Seattle not too far from where I was raised. I would take B and head east across the I-90 bridge. I can get on the lower level and get across the lake and headed for the mountains. It is only about 30 miles (two days) of walking and I have a high likelihood of finding a vehicle, food and water.
Plan B would be to get to the sound (Puget Sound) and acquire a boat. Get out of the sound and head south to the Columbia River. I can go up the river to the first set of locks and go the rest of the way on foot. Either way I can avoid dense population centers and find food and water.

 

[jimLE]

That'd put me 150 to 160 miles from home and in houston.id pick b and head home.while hopeing for the best.not only when it comes the trip.but my home as well.on account chance's are.it wont be here once i arrived.

 

[backlash]

B because more ammo is a good thing, and get out of Dodge as fast as I could.
The city would be Seattle and that would not be a good place to be stranded.
Very few people would be prepared to survive and civil order will end fast.
I would not try crossing the I90 bridge. There are a limited number of ways to drive or walk out of Seattle and all of them would be gridlocked in about 30 minutes. Get a boat and head North towards the San Juan Islands.
I can live very well on the saltwater creatures. Abundant fish, clams, crabs, and birds. There are also a lot of deer on those islands. Water wouldn't be a huge problem with the amount of rain. Find shelter and hunker down and start scavenging for useful items. The amount of useful stuff that you can find on a beach is amazing.

 

[Caribou]

You placed me in Anchorage and about an hour drive from home. B and get home. The pistol would be for getting away from trouble and for trading. I'd gladly swap the .22 for a ride home. I always have a 9MM with a spare mag so trading off my .22 wouldn't be a big deal. A concealed firearm will make it easier to hitchhike than packing a long gun.

It would be at least a five day walk for me and if I made it at least three of those days would be sleeping outside. I have two places along the way to seek shelter and get food.

 

[dademoss]

You stuck me in Columbus Ohio. Now, I'll take B and start looking for a decent bike, and hit the mostly completed bike trails that run from Columbus to my neck of the woods. I have to say I wish I had the stuff in my car, I'd be way ahead on getting home, but it "Suddenly disappeared"

 

[hiwall]

B and getting out of Dodge.

I'm with LL

 

[Bacpacker]

Well that puts me in Nashville and between 150-200 miles from home. I'd take B for sure. Spend some time trying to salvage anything usable in the building and watching around for traffic patterns and people in the area. Pick the best time, load up and head north of the river and try to find a boat to travel up the river to the east for a ways. Finally take to the back country and walk. Having to vary my path to avoid towns along the way I would think it would take up to 2 months to get home assuming no problems other than finding some food hear and there.
I would look very heard for a cup or can to boil water in. A fire steel would be nice to. I carry one with me along with my phone, knife, and pistol. But those weren't mentioned in the OP.

 

[Amish Heart]

Puts me in Albuquerque, which is where I don't want to be, but I can get home. I pick B. I dislike large cities. Normally stay away from them.

 

[hiwall]

I'd be 200 miles from home in Phoenix. It would be a tough walk.

 

[DrPrepper]

Well, Hiwall, I'd be right there with ya, so we could all walk together- only 187 miles to my place so you and Mrs. Hiwall could rest up here before heading home! Except, we probably wouldn't have to walk if we could catch a couple of the wild horses that hang out off of the beeline!

 

[Supervisor42]

I'm going to pick A.
You stranded me in New Orleans.
What little I know about school buses, they are always gassed up before they are parked so there is no line at the pump when they need to head out.
They carry more than 60 gallons and will go hundreds of miles on the highway.
The 20-gauge would unlock the chain link gate to the parking lot with one shot (even though they don't make 20ga 00buckshot). I did an article on why.
Once inside, the screwdriver would be all I need to open the door on the bus.
The multi-tool would be more than adequate to get the bus running.
Cops never pull over a school bus.
And I would arrive back home with my pockets full of cash picking up other people that were stranded like me.
After dropping people off, I'd wipe down the steering wheel and park the bus in a remote area and walk a couple miles home.

 

[Spikedriver]

You put me in Des Moines, about 50-55 miles from home. I choose B and I'm hoofing it north/west on Highway 141, or alternatively I'm headed toward Ankeny and the Trestle Trail, or Waukee and the major bike trail going west from there. Hopefully I could aquire a bike and ride toward home. If not, I would expect the bike trails to be relatively empty, as recreation would be low on the pecking order at such a time. The trails are relatively flat and drinking water would be available at the fountains unless water services were completely compromised. It would be the easiest way home on foot as well, but the last 20 miles could get rough. I'd take dirt roads on foot, or two lane back roads on a bike...and if conditions were particularly dangerous, i.e. two legged predators, I'd travel through the cornfields. They almost always run directly north/south or directly East/west in my area so navigation is no problem...

 

[Tank-Girl]

B and walk home along the railway line.

 

[lonewolf]

I don't go into cities, no need to, I avoid them like the plague, too many sheeple all in one place.

 

[backlash]

I'm going to pick A.
You stranded me in New Orleans.
What little I know about school buses, they are always gassed up before they are parked so there is no line at the pump when they need to head out.
They carry more than 60 gallons and will go hundreds of miles on the highway.
The 20-gauge would unlock the chain link gate to the parking lot with one shot (even though they don't make 20ga 00buckshot). I did an article on why.
Once inside, the screwdriver would be all I need to open the door on the bus.
The multi-tool would be more than adequate to get the bus running.
Cops never pull over a school bus.
And I would arrive back home with my pockets full of cash picking up other people that were stranded like me.
After dropping people off, I'd wipe down the steering wheel and park the bus in a remote area and walk a couple miles home.

Better update your article.
http://wolfhillammo.com/shotgun-ammo.aspx
Didn't some people commander school buses to get out of New Orleans during the hurricane?

Hey Sentry where are your answers to these great questions?

 

[Sentry18]

Hey Sentry where are your answers to these great questions?

Well that's a good question! First I would want to assess how many people fled. Does the city seem empty or full? Presuming some left and some stayed I would go with A. Yes B is easier to conceal and is more portable, but at this point it is clearly about survival & supplies. We are either still holding onto some semblance or societal norms or we're not. I would likely move from location to location slowly making my way out of the city and gathering additional or improved supplies as I went. Since my state is pro-gun and pro-hunting, I really cannot imagine having any issues finding more 20 gauge ammo or a more capable firearm or both. Until then I think the long gun would give me defensive edge over the mouse gun. Even if I am loading one shell at a time. The multi-tool and the screwdriver should be able to assist me with a variety of tasks, including burglary. I want to leave the city with at least some kind of potable water, some food, a bigger pack, perhaps some basic medical supplies, and a knife. No I don't see me killing someone over a bag of mini-Snickers, but if I can get into abandoned business, houses, apartments, vehicles, etc. and kit up; I am going to.

 

[hiwall]

Why would I ever be in any city without my gear?
And why would I go to any big city? I agree with lonewolf.

 

[Sentry18]

Why would I ever be in any city without my gear?
And why would I go to any big city? I agree with lonewolf.

I put some GHB in your night cap and kidnapped you. I then took all your gear, drove you to the city, drug you up to the 4th floor, and left you there in the midst of urban chaos. It started out as a preparedness drill but then things got real.

 

[jimLE]

Don't forget.you left him his undies only.

 

[Supervisor42]

...Didn't some people commander school buses to get out of New Orleans during the hurricane?

If they did, it wasn't very many.
You decide:

And since I have driven a school bus before; every one you see, guaranteed full of gas.
I don't think they would miss just one.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Please don't stick me in Detroit..............but if so, B and get out of there as expeditiously as possible.

 

[fteter]

Puts me in downtown Salt Lake City. And my choice between A and B would depend upon my perception of how many people had fled. I'll take B for concealment's sake if I see many people around, A if the city is relatively empty.

 

[The Lazy L]

I'd have 200 miles to get home. Slow and Gray. If I'd had to use it a 22 is quieter (IMHO) then a shotgun.

 

[Sentry18]

I'd have 200 miles to get home. Slow and Gray. If I'd had to use it a 22 is quieter (IMHO) then a shotgun.

That made me think of something. I bet the shotgun would be easier to create a make-shift suppressor for. If that was something a survivor would want to put time and effort into.

 

[hiwall]

I put some GHB in your night cap and kidnapped you. I then took all your gear, drove you to the city, drug you up to the 4th floor, and left you there in the midst of urban chaos. It started out as a preparedness drill but then things got real.

I hate it when stuff like that happens to me!