Region 1 – New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Maine

General information on this region:

·         Population by state:

o   New York - 19.47 million

o   Pennsylvania - 12.74 million

o   Connecticut - 3.58 million

o   Massachusetts - 6.7 million

o   Vermont - 0.63 million

o   New Hampshire - 1.32 million

o   Rhode Island - 1.05

o   Maine - 1.33

o   New Jersey - 8.89

o   55.71 million total

·         Major metropolitan centers (cities at or above 200 thousand):

New York

o   New York City - 8.34 million

o   Rochester – 212 thousand

o   Buffalo – 280 thousand

Pennsylvania

o   Philadelphia – 1.46 million

o   Pittsburgh – 316 thousand

Connecticut

o   No population densities over 139 thousand (Bridgeport)

Rhode Island

o   No population densities over 177 thousand (Providence)

Massachusetts

o   Boston – 559 thousand

Vermont

o   No population densities over 44 thousand (Burlington)

New Hampshire

o   No population densities over 110 thousand (Manchester)

New Jersey

o   Jersey City – 240 thousand

o   Newark – 281 thousand

Maine

o   No population densities over 66 thousand (Portland)

o   11.69 million total

·         Objective: 

o   About 20% of the entire population of region 1 live in high density areas of 200 thousand or more.  These population densities are referred to as “threat areas” and are identified in FIG 1 as threat rings around those areas.  The red rings are the high threat areas (25 mile radius around city centers) while the larger outer yellow rings (50 mile radius around city centers) are medium threat areas.  It isn’t until you move outside of the threat areas that you can consider your environment relatively safe again.  Even then, you must remain vigilant and be aware that a threat can present itself anywhere at any time.  The objective of this rally point plan is to move people out of chaotic high population density areas through initial rally points (user-selected points within the threat area) in route to intermediate rally points on public land (local, state or national parks and recreation areas, etc.).  Such areas will generally be within 5 days walk from threat areas centers.   Intermediate rally points will be outside of populated areas so that the survivors can take more time to prepare for their movement toward their respective final points which are all well outside threat areas. 

Initial Rally Points

Initial rally points are inside of the threat areas and are chosen to allow for quick stops for getting organized and as reference points for getting oriented.  They are selected by the members that live in that area.  The reason for this approach is because people who live and work in the area are going to know it better than any outside planner, what will or will not work as a staging area for their movement through, and eventually away from threat areas.  This is a simple matter of looking around the area in advance where you live and do two things:

1-      Select a location or locations that meet the description for an initial rally point in this plan

2-      Communicate this with individuals that you want to include in your plan and potentially have with you during your movement.  Selection of these points is based upon predictable local social reactions under emergency conditions as well as ease of access to allow for temporary safety and short term stops for members to check in, become organized and get any necessary medical attention, and / or distribution of supplies amongst persons in the group.  

.  When selecting these initial rally points, consider the following:

·         Should be public property but can also be private land owned by someone you are familiar with provided you have made prior arrangements to use the property

·         Preferred to be near main roads or highways maintaining easy access to egress route(s)

·         A potential source for shelter, food and water if necessary

·         If public or commercial property consider the following:

o   Church parking lots

o   Convention center parking lots

o   School / sport venue parking lots

·         Avoid using any of the following:

o   Liquor store parking lots

o   Grocery store parking lots

o   Convenience store parking lots

o   Drug store parking lots

o   Sporting goods store lots

o   Any area where there may be an increased incidence of looting, robbery, or loitering concentration of dangerous individuals or groups

o   Tunnels / underpasses

Initial rally points may or may not be used and can be bypassed to go directly to the intermediate rally points if conditions dictate and resources allow.

Route Entry Points

Route entry points are rally points established outside of the red zones with many outside of the yellow zones.  These rally points are established for larger numbers of members to use and to provide the first geographic location where members can expect to link up with others from their threat area.

Threat areas 1 and 3

Rochester (NY), Buffalo (NY)

Threat Area 1 – Rochester

Rochester is geographically restricted to the north by Lake Ontario and, for the most part, to the west due to lack of usable land area and an international border with Canada.  Interstate highways running to the east and south will be useful in movement toward final points to the south.  With a population of 212 thousand, the traffic leaving the threat area will be relatively low as long as the decision to move is made well enough in advance of the masses.  Planning to egress to Canada might seem attractive to some, but there is no way to predict what restrictions will be present at the border crossing point or if the border will be open at all.

Threat area 3 – Buffalo

Buffalo is geographically restricted to the north by Lake Ontario and, for the most part, to the west due to an international border with Canada and also to the south by Lake Erie.  Major highways running to the east will be useful in movement toward final points to the southeast.  With a population of 280 thousand, and the fact that the city is geographically restricted to much of the north and west, the traffic leaving the threat area could be heavy going east.  Have a backup plan for movement without a vehicle.

Route Entry Point for Rochester and Buffalo - Stoney Brook State Park - Coordinates for the park are: Lat 42.526417, Long -77.696533   Intersection of State Rd 36 and Stoney Brook State Park Rd, Dansville, NY

Final Rally Point for Rochester and Buffalo – Mt Pisgah State Park - Coordinates for the park are: Lat 41.772858, Long -76.631342

Threat area 2

Boston (MA)

Threat Area 2 – Boston

Boston is geographically restricted to the east by the Atlantic Ocean and movement to the north and south would be counterproductive for survival and security.  For these reasons alone, the only direction to egress Boston is to the west.  Major highways running to the west will be useful in movement toward final points to the west and south.  With a population of 559 thousand, and the fact that the city is geographically restricted to the east and much of the north and south, combined with other restrictions such as the Charles River and Boston Harbor, the traffic leaving the threat area will encounter numerous choke points (mainly bridges) that can seriously hinder movement away from the threat area.    

Route Entry Point for Boston – Ashland State Park - Coordinates for the park are:

Lat 42.246499, Long -71.475516    Intersection of State Rd 135 and State Park Rd, Ashland, MA

Final Rally Point for Rochester and Buffalo – Mt Pisgah State Park - Coordinates for the park are:                   Lat 41.772858, Long -76.631342

Threat areas 4, 5 and 6

New York City (NY), Jersey City (NJ), Newark (NJ)

Threat Area 4 – New York City

New York is geographically restricted to the east by the Atlantic Ocean and movement to the north and south would be counterproductive for survival and security.  For these reasons, the only sensible direction to egress New York is to the west.  Major highways and rail systems running to the west will be useful in movement toward final points to the west. 

With a population density of 8.34 million, New York City is a major threat area that must be negotiated with extreme caution.  If at all possible, it is highly recommended that initial rally points be bypassed and movement be made toward an intermediate rally point directly.  The main complication to movement away from this area is the population from New York / Long Island and the bottle necks that will ensue at the main bridges over the Hudson River and upper and lower bays.  (Tappan Zee Bridge, US Route 1 Bridge, and Verrazano Narrows Bridge)

Movement by vehicle – All movement will be generally in a westerly direction off of Long Island and across the Hudson River or upper / lower bay areas.  This can only be accomplished by using one of the bridges spanning these bodies of water.  The best way to maximize safe passage using any of these routes is to make the choice to move as far in advance of the masses as possible.  Have your vehicle checklists and personal checklists done and all your gear packed and ready in advance.  Plan your drive and drive your plan.  Do each route as a practice run in the daytime, at night and, if possible, in inclement weather.  Have a primary route and at least two additional routs as backup to the primary.  If you are planning on having another adult with you, have them navigate or switch seats and have them drive while you navigate.  Try doing it without the use of electronic aids (GPS) and just use maps.

Movement by foot – If moving by foot you need to consider picking up a railroad and follow that out of the threat area.  This will take much longer than by vehicle if the roads and highways are clear.  If the roads are blocked, moving by foot may have an advantage over vehicle movement. 

Threat area 5 - Jersey City and threat area 6 Newark

 Both high threat areas but relatively, not as high as New York City.  Jersey City and Newark are in the egress path of New York City making them both a high threat area, and since Jersey City and Newark are in the egress path of New York City, they will all be treated as one threat area and their egress plans will essentially be the same.  Three advantages over New York City to consider while egressing from Newark and Jersey City:

1-      Both are located to the west of the bays and river that are major obstacles to egressing New York

2-      Combined population is 521 thousand

3-      Both have a selection of major highway and rail systems running near or through them running both north / south and east / west

You should consider using initial rally points when planning an egress from threat areas 5 and 6.  The best areas for initial rally points relative to these two threat areas is to the north and west.  This is the direction you will need to travel to move toward your intermediate rally point at Hopatcong State Park, and final point at Mount Pisgah State Park.

Routes out of threat area 4 are complicated due to choke points and other threat areas along the egress routes.  Additionally, movement from Long Island will be very difficult if not impossible if movement isn’t planned and executed in a timely manner.  Use any one of a number of routes to egress Long Island such as I 495 and the POW/MIA Memorial Parkway with the objective of using either the Verrazano or Rte. 1 bridges.  The three main bridges that can be used to egress threat area 4 are:

-          Verrazano Narrows Bridge to the south

-          US Route 1 Bridge north of that point

-          Tappan Zee Bridge which is northern most

There are two main tunnels (Lincoln and Holland) as well but should never be considered as a safe route to follow.  DO NOT USE TUNNELS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!

Route Entry Point for New York City, Jersey City, Newark – Hopatcong State Park - Coordinates for the park are:  Lat 40.917366, Long -74.665709   Intersection of State Rd 602 and Lakeside Blvd, Stanhope, NJ

Final Rally Point for Rochester and Buffalo – Mt Pisgah State Park - Coordinates for the park are: Lat 41.772858,  Long -76.631342

Threat area 7

Pittsburgh (PA)  

Threat Area 7 – Pittsburgh

There are no significant geographic restrictions out of Pittsburgh.  Primary route out of this threat area is to the northeast toward the northern PA border and Mount Pisgah State Park.  Alternative routes can be taken if the desire or the situation dictates to move to the west into Region 4 but the final rally point for that region is in southern Indiana in the Hoosier National Forest

Route Entry Point for Pittsburgh – Crooked Creek State Park - Coordinates for the park are: Lat 40.711811, Long -79.525452 Intersection of State Rd 66 and County Rd 2019, Ford City, PA 

Final Rally Point for Rochester and Buffalo – Mt Pisgah State Park - Coordinates for the park are: Lat 41.772858, Long -76.631342

Threat area 8

Philadelphia (PA)

Threat Area 8 – Philadelphia

Philadelphia is restricted to the North and South by larger threat areas and to the East by the Atlantic coast.  Travel out of this area should be in a general Northwestern direction, however, the route entry point for Philadelphia is more to the West at Ridley Creek State Park toward the outskirts of the yellow zone for this threat area. 

Route Entry Point for Pittsburgh – Ridley Creek State Park - Coordinates for the park are: Lat 39.929532, Long -75.427036 Intersection of Barren Rd and Painter Rd, Media, PA 

Final Rally Point for Rochester and Buffalo – Mt Pisgah State Park - Coordinates for the park are:                  Lat 41.772858, Long -76.631342