As I mentioned all the way back in my first post, I have had occasions to “Escape from New York”. On a normal day, New York City is a nuisance to enter, and a nuisance to leave, not quite as bad as the Kurt Russell movie, but close. 😊
Commutes are generally by trains, busses, ferries, and if you are a real glutton for punishment, cars. I like cars to get to most locations, but getting in and out of New York City with a car is painful, driving in the city is painful, and once you get where you are going, parking the car will cost you a fortune. Oh yeah, you can’t get gas in Manhattan. ☹ Therefore, cars are not advised.
Manhattan, New York City, New York
Note that when I speak of “New York”, I am referring to Manhattan, which is where the jobs are. Manhattan is an island, in addition to being quite crowded during the work day. To leave in any direction, you need to cross a river. The bulk of the island is covered with high rise buildings, allowing millions of people to live and work in an area 13 miles long and about 2 miles wide at its widest point.
Trains
In my case, I prefer the trains for comfort while commuting, and I generally take the train. Everything is crowded, but the trains seem to have at least anticipated normal sized derrieres when the seats were designed. Generally, you will need another subway ride, or a walk, once you are actually in the city, regardless of which mode you took to get there.
The Security Search
The People’s Republic of New York essentially bans concealed carry. Furthermore, the 4th amendment has been set aside in the interests of security. You can be searched anytime, anywhere, in New York City. The most likely places to get searched are the major transit connection points, and as you enter any significant building.
Yes, I know this is unconstitutional, but who told you the Constitution applies in New York? It doesn’t. Get used to it. As a result, you will not be carrying a weapon, so what do you every day carry (EDC)?
Every Day in Your Desk
Since we don’t have a car in which we can just leave a Get Home Bag (GHB), our concerns are what we can carry on our persons, and what we can store in a desk drawer at the office. Remember the Cheap BOBs? Well, your desk is a great location for a cache, and the draw string bags work great as well. Your desk costs nothing, and you’ll be there for a good portion of every day. In addition, I recommend wearing some comfortable shoes for the commute, and leaving a nice pair of dress shoes in the office.
On the other hand, if you have to leave New York, and cannot get to your desk before leaving, the worst you can lose is a cheap BOB and a pair of shoes. Be prepared to abandon your belongings. I knew one woman who left her cell phone at her desk when the World Trade Center was hit. She decided to go back in to retrieve her phone. She died. Be prepared to abandon everything if you must.
What goes in the bag at your desk? I recommend 2 bottles of water, local maps, a couple May Day bars, some paracord, a small LED flashlight, a small first aid kit, a pair of gloves and watch cap, a handkerchief or bandana, a couple of large trash bags, and a travel size package of TP. The same desk drawer is where you will place the shoes that are not on your feet. In a grab and go situation, toss the shoes in the drawstring bag and go. You can change shoes later.
Everyday carry while commuting
In New York you will see many people with backpacks, but backpacks are simply an invitation to search you, which I would prefer to avoid. Being searched is an unpleasant experience, not to mention a waste of time, and a reminder of your lost rights.
There is no way to insure you won’t be illegally searched, but you can tilt the odds by having as little as possible on your person, and avoiding backpacks. However, having actually escaped from New York a couple times, I know I want to have a few things on my person if possible, especially water.
As a result, I have slowly evolved to the point where I carry a Maxpedition water bottle carrier. This is much smaller than a pack and with a strap can be slung over one shoulder. The main compartment can carry a large Kleen Kanteen and the pouch on the side can carry whatever you think most important.
For me, that is a couple MayDay bars and a small Sony Radio that picks up AM/FM and Weather bands. If you do carry a backpack, make sure you put your lunch on top. Anybody carrying lunch in a Tupperware container is not a threat. 😊 A phone battery supplement is not a bad idea.
This bag will be with you when you are in transit and will be supplemented by the drawstring bag if an evacuation from your office becomes necessary.
Everyday carry on your person
Even after all that preparation, you can easily be in a meeting on a different floor, away from your desk, when the airplane comes through the window, or some other reason to evacuate occurs. You’ll be leaving with what is in your pockets. You’ll probably have your wallet, phone, and keys. Ladies will have what is in their purse.
The key ring above is what I carry, albeit small changes occur over time. The key ring has a light, a Victorinox Classic knife, too small to be perceived as a weapon by anyone smarter than TSA, but capable of opening boxes, cutting a piece of paracord, and other uses, and a miniscule lighter. It is held together with a small carabiner. The last item is a little rubber doohickey that will hold the neck of a disposable water bottle. If you can acquire a bottle of water, you can now hang it from your belt.
I have removed the compass since the photo was taken. The steel in New York buildings make it useless and you can figure out direction from any street corner due to New York’s grid layout. The compass may be more useful in other cities.
If I have to escape again, I have three layers of preparation, depending on where I am when disaster strikes, at my desk, on my commute, or away from my desk while at work.
The next installment will describe my experiences Escaping from New York.
Looking forward to part 2