[FlagDayNCO]

Great topic and some real nice advice/ thoughts bouncing back and forth.

We live in a rural area, but with numerous developments in the region, plus some major highways to cross when we move further away from Filthadelphia. In a SHTF scenario, we expect the city dwellers to fan out into the suburbs, and the suburbs to dig in. Some will E&E.

Our region is open farmland and rolling forested hills. Movement to a 100 mile line would include major river corssings in any direction, so I have planned routes to avoid those crossings.

As we think about E&E, so will many others. State sponsered forces or local groups may take control of key choke points and crossings. One may be a source of additional supplies and ammo, while the other may look to tax yours. Or trade you in if captured.

We have small children that are all elementary school age. This complicates the movement, as they are not Ranger school grads, so we think about where and how to move. Extra weight in bringing items to keep them quiet may be as simple as hard candy, stuffed animals, and maybe some small toys.

The oldest has his own Ruger 10-22, which becomes our game gun. We have several AR types, all same caliber. Spouse and I would take one each, plus I have equipped them with suppressors. Red dots and iron sights. Except for 10-22, all carbines share same ammo and mags for their type. Common operating charecteristics, repairs, parts, etc. Same for pistols.

Go bags with ammo are in vehicles, plus in home. Bicycles can be set to go in a few minutes.

I thought about fully loaded kit, but that may have to be ditched for long range movement. Simple chest harnesses will suffice, plus they can be concealed under a shirt.

Cell phones may go, but inside signal proof bags. We also have an external drive dowloaded with maps from Delorma Gazeteer, plus two paper versions. Can be connected to iPad. These are great, as they show terrain features and other data. Silva compasses in everyone's bags. The boys have "played Army" many times and learned how to navigate. Solar recharge system that can lay on rucksack while we move, or on ground. If hostile force is State sponsored, all the cell devices get left behind.

We have a hand crank radio, so we can gather some type of news about what is happening.

Water bottles and filter systems to gather water on the route. Various candy and protein bars such as Snickers and Cliff. Trial with the boys has learned what they will and will not eat. Convincing a four year old that he must eat something he doesn't like is not to be tested during E&E. Know before you go.

Though we have a couple of ponchos, everyone carries at least one very large, heavy duty contractor type trash bag. The boys have learned to make a shelter and sleeping bags with these.

Several headlamps, first aid to include childrens cold medicine, fire starters and Bic lighters, small axe for firewood/ shelter.

Each boy has his own mini rucksack to carry extra socks and shirts. Nothing to wear them down, plus the real possibility that we may have to carry the two smallest boys. We still have the cloth baby carriers that are essentially long clothes to wrap the child in and front carry them.

We do have friends in the immediate area, plus locations we will go to farther away.

Cash in US currency, plus coins of silver and gold in the event the cash is useless.

In the past, we had ideas we could make it all the way into the mountains of Central PA or down into South West VA. Reality may be that is a bridge too far, so we have developed routes with alternate destinations.

With us, key is to keep the boys healthy and safe. Sick or screaming children can lead the bad guys to us.

I will not go into every item we will carry, as we want to follow the KISS plan and move out.