Region 8 - Utah, Colorado, Wyoming

General information on this region:

o   Utah 2.82 million

o   Colorado 5.12 million

o   Wyoming 0.57 million

o   8.51 million total

·         Major metropolitan centers:

Utah

o   No population densities over 179 thousand (Salt Lake City)

Colorado

o   Aurora – 297 thousand

o   Colorado Springs – 370 thousand

o   Denver – 558 thousand

Wyoming

o   No population densities over 200 thousand

o   1.23 million total

·         Objective: 

o   About 14% of the entire population of region 8 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.

Intermediate Rally Points

Threat areas 1 and 2

Denver (CO) and Aurora (CO)

Route entry point for threat areas 1 and 2 - Due to the proximity of these threat areas to the final rally point, there is no route entry point for Denver and Aurora.

Threat area 3

Colorado Springs (CO)

Route entry point for threat area 3 - Due to the proximity of this threat area to the final rally point, there is no route entry point for Colorado Springs.

Final Rally Point for Threat Areas 1,2 and 3 – White River National Forest, Intersection of US 285 and State Rd. 9 (Main Street), Fairplay, COCoordinates for this location are:  39.221272,  -105.99383