I have just put into place the final part of my zed outbreak plan, and would welcome comments/criticisms about it. This plan is actually being implemented, and My plan is actually design to be used, due to my location and experience (see the intro below)

Plan Intro:
Due to my location East Houston Tx, I have actually had to ride out quite a few natural disasters in the last few years (Hurricanes Rita, and Hurricanes Ike) Both incidents left conditions similar to a zed outbreak. After having to deal with two major disasters in a 3 year time span, I decided it was time to create a insurance policy or sorts.

My recent disaster Examples:

Hurricane Rita:
A large number (3+million, the largest evac in USA History) of the population tried to evac at the same time, which lead to gridlock. (like in many apocalypse movies, the great panic in World War Z , etc. there were fights over fuel, place in line, and all kinds of other BS) I was one of the evacuees. A typical trip that would have taken me two hours, took 14.
References:
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/facts-about-hurricane-rita.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Rita

Hurricane Ike:
During this Hurricane, I decided to bunker in place at home, after the disastrous nightmare experience of evac during Hurricane Rita. I rode out the Hurricane (think of it as a mini initial Zed outbreak), after boarding up the glass windows and doors. (Home fortress in a ZED outbreak anyone!) After the Hurricane passed, (Zed Aftermath), I went outside to do a preliminary damaged survey. I decided to bunker in place for a while, because I thought infrastructure would be back up quickly. Two weeks later, I still had no power, and water flow went out after the Hurricane. There were also incidents of gas stations opening, and being totally swamped by people who had not prepared, and used up all of the gasoline in their cars.

FEMA rolled into town fairly quickly, but it was still 72 hours before FEMA really got its act together. I finally decided to evac, after everyone who left began coming back to the destruction. I knew things would get worse when they all came back to no power, and spoiled food. This time the two hour trip took two hours.

Recent Real world experience has taught me that one needs to be prepared, and not depend on the Federal Government in a pinch.


Part 1: Bugging In

I intend to bunker in place for two weeks, by reinforcing the structure of my home now, by putting in impact resistant, energy-efficient green/insulated windows and doors(subsidized by the federal government, thank you very much)
I have already secured three weeks of MREs, purchased a HAND-PUMPED! water filter, and keep in storage a estimated 3 weeks of drinking water. I have also built a couple of generators from power inverters, car alternators, small diesel engines, large fuel storage containers, and parts and pieces. (Learn to love CRAIGSLIST, and disregard all of the negative news about CRAIGSLIST,(which is because Craig will not sell his site to the same parent companies of the news outlets.) I have gotten some great deals,(even free!) from the site.)

I already have for weaponry:
1. Mossberg 500 shotgun
2. Saiga 12 shotgun
3. 2 AK47 with folding stock
4. 2 1911 .45

I am planning on buying a few Mosin Nagant rifles for sniper use, since they are currently on sale for $79 each. I am stockpiling ammo for each, with a goal of 1000 rounds each. ( I was in the military for 7 years, so I have training on all of them, and try to stay current).


Part 2: Bugging Out
After two weeks I expect everything to have calmed down, from a survivor standpoint. I do expect major problems from ZED(there being 4 million people in the Houston Metro Area. So I have purchased a DIESEL powered off road crew cab truck(dodge ram). It is designed for heavy duty work, and has fittings for a snow plow, which I also have, (dirt cheap here in Houston, where we get 1/2 inch of snow every 4-5 years)a cb radio, and a ham radio.. I can use the truck with my current business, so I can write it off on taxes. (Thanks Uncle Sam)

I plan to evac after two weeks to a close rendevous point, (about 10 miles away, but fairly rural.) I will live from the truck for three days, while I wait for my pre-approved Bail out Buddies.(we individually have jokingly made arrangements already.)

After three days, whoever has made it by then will travel with me to our BOL.

Part 3: Digging In
After searching for a few years for a good location for a BOL. (from Hurricanes, and a possible ZED outbreak) I have found a pretty good spot, I believe. After leaving the rendevous spot, I will go to my BOL (backroads).

MY BOL Property Features

* Farm/Ranch Property
*Exterior construction: Pier & Beam Foundation
* Horse(s) allowed
* View: Fields, Panoramic
* Waterfront property
* Waterfront features: Creek/Stream
* Lot features: Fenced, Public Maintained Road
* Approximately 273 acre(s)
* two oil wells currently producing (mineral rights will transfer)
* within 1 mile of a military training reservation, with a material storage depot, but a small security detail.
* frontage to a fairly major high way

I will close on the property in about a week. I will build a fortified residence there, in addition to the one that is already there (2 bed/ 3bath farmhouse), and later expand it to include underground facilities. I will stock it additional weapons, and ammo, and enough food (MRE) for about a year. By then I hope to have producing agriculture/crops.

I will have a family member live on the property (she has expressed a interest in running a farm), and I will get revenue from the oil wells, maybe running the fortified residence as a bed and breakfast, and a country restaurant that she will build on the major highway frontage.(she has experience in running a restaurant, and that will give me access to wholesale food companies). That revenue should pay for the property. I also hope to put in a grass runway later.

I will also add Solar, wind, and water power to give us electricity. I have found a natural hollow, depression to dam the stream that flows through the property, and will add hydro power to a sluice gate. Once the water builds up a lake behind the dam, I will add fish to the lake. The farm only has perimeter fencing designed to keep cows in. All 273 acres are fenced. I was thinking of adding walls/fencing around the 2-3 existing cleared acres surrounding the future reinforced building, and clearing out more on the outside of that perimeter.

The idea of "burning the original dwelling to give the impression that you have already been raided and there is nothing on the land worth scavenging?"(sugessted by another poster) is a great idea. As for the refining of the oil, One of my Bug Out Buddies (we actually have a group of us who are thinking of ways to survive future hurricanes) is a Chemical Engineer who works at one of the large refineries in the Houston area.

He is working with me on setting up a small refining system. (probably with centrifuges, not a cracking tower(too dangerous))


Part 4: Living
I plan to expand the agriculture of the BOL site, and possibly add livestock,(cattle, chickens, and fish). Defense will be done by watches, and everyone will be assigned battle stations.(sniper locations, defense posts, etc.) everyone will be drilled on fall back procedures, and evac procedure from the BOL. (which would include a rendevous point, and in the future, a secondary BOL in west texas.)

I will plan on stocking dvd movies, cd/hard drives of music, and other entertainment(music instruments, etc.) to keep us from going crazy. I also will initiate a re-population plan where women would be highly encouraged to have many children, and older non-child bearing children, and others, would be tasked with helping to raise them. Children will have to be highly educated in all areas, including the arts.(I think cutting arts programs is a big mistake, because a person with education in the arts bring creativity and joi de vivre.)

We will send out scouts every day to gauge the environment, and find supplies,(including as many books/info as possible)

We will not implement a quarantine program until after the first 18 months. Anyone who approaches the BOL before then will be turned away.(unless they are someone who didn't get to the rendezvous point in time, and shot if they try to force their way in) Any one who survives after 18 months on the outside will be quarantined for 3 weeks, and then put on probation for one year. Access to weapons will be highly restricted to those on probation, and they will not be allowed to leave the BOL until they are off probation.

Plan Updates:

May 15, 2010

Began researching European castle defense weapons, and construction.

May 20, 2010
Ordered 2 Mosin Nagants rifles at a cost of $120 each(from www.GunsAmerica.com). Sometimes these can be found in excellent original condition for as low as $79.00. Gander Mountain has them sometimes for as low as $99.00. Most of the ones on sale are in new arsenal condition, having never really been used. (the Russian built millions of them, and put a a lot of them in storage for a long time, then sold them dirt cheap to various importers. Although already covered, here is some info on the Mosin Nagant.

Some of the best snipers of WWII, the russian snipers, including Ivan Nikolayevich Kulbertinov (-499 kills) Fyodor Matveyevich Ohlopkov (424 kills) Vasiliy Zaitsev(242 verified kills) Ludmila Mihaylovna Pavlichenko (309 kills), and others, used Mosin Nagant. As a front-line rifle, the Mosin–Nagant served in various forms from 1891 until the 1960s in many Eastern European nations, when the sniper rifle variant was replaced by the Dragunov sniper rifle , and because of its ruggedness and the vast number produced is still in use in many conflicts.

Virtually every country that received military aid from the Soviet Union, China, and Eastern Europe during the Cold War used Mosin–Nagants at various times. Middle Eastern countries within the sphere of Soviet influence—Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestinian fighters—have received them in addition to other more modern arms. Mosin–Nagants have also seen action in the hands of the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan during the Soviet Union's occupation of the country during the 1970s and the 1980s. Their use in Afghanistan continued on well into the 1990s and the early 21st century by Northern Alliance forces. Even after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Mosin–Nagants are still commonly found on modern battlefields around the world. They are being used by insurgent forces in the Iraq War and the current war in Afghanistan. Separatists have also used the rifles alongside more modern Russian firearms in the Second war in Chechnya.

I also have picked up a few used machetes, pitchforks, and baseball bats/sporting equipment for free on Craigslist.(I do not care what the mainstream media likes to say about Craigslist. I have gotten, and continue to get, great deals(mostly free) from the site. )

June 11, 2010
I have started growing wine grapes, peaches, and pears at my primary home, just to relearn, and practice. farming skills that I picked up as a child on my grandmother's small farm. I particularly plan to grow and cultivate the wine grapes, and then plant acres of them at my BOL later. The state of Texas is actively encouraging vineyard development in the state, and I plan to hop on that bandwagon of funding, and support.(plus in case SHTF, wine should be a high value product, (alcoholic beverages would be a welcome diversion for many, and for turning into vinegar(preservative, seasoning, and cleansing/slight antiseptic agent.)) The peaches and pears are from existing trees at my primary home, so they are quite mature. I may try my hand at seed propogation, and maybe include fruit wines(Peach wine, and Pear wine) at my BOL.

I will also include other types of crops, such as corn, peas and beans, rice etc. at my BOL. The variety should provide us with most of our vegetable needs, and hopefully, a surplus to preserve, and barter with.

June 28, 2010
Grapes seem to take a lot of water in this area of the country. I started watering them twice a week, and they survived, but did not thrive. i increased watering to once a day for 4 hours at a time, then reduced that to thirty minutes per (four hours completely soaked the roots, and began wasting water. 30 minutes seems to be a good length of time.) I also added a automatic irrigation system , and modified it to run from solar power.(solar charges the batteries, and the batteries power the system.