Obviously, if this is Fallout level destruction, you'd pillage and scavenge when possible for supplies.

That can be cleared away overtime, just need to take your time.

It's also in the air though.

Odds are you've got exposure as it is.

The cities remaining would almost certainly fall under martial law.

Personally, I think it makes more sense to memorize the entirety of the Boy Scout Handbook and live in the woods with only a rope, tarp, knife and some canned food than to try and figure out where to find really old cars when you don't even know what kinds of places would be around.

And stockpile essential goods: utility knives, firearms, nonperishable food and water, filter systems and cooking utensils.

The Air itself isn't contaminated, it is the particles and dust that is.

Maybe some general purpose hand tools and a generator too.

That is why we are able to filtrate the air.

OK. But the dust and particles got kicked into the upper atmosphere and are in suspension.

That is why it is best to wait till dust settles first.

filtration only really works if you're in a bunker or something.

If you don't want to wait, use radiation gear.

You gotta do backflips over the particles in the upper atmosphere.

You have radiation gear in your closet?

No... but there will be some in nuclear fallout bunkers.

@Scribblehatch That's the real strat. Just live in space first.

Thus it gives us a chance to prepare.

Explore outside and get a leg up on others.

Alot of those fallout bunkers have their own supplies.

I visit the nuclear fallout shelter during 9/11.

Well what I am saying is the community in the bunker...

Can be the community that I was talking about.

Was this a hardened underground facility or a really rugged building?

I would assume it would be the same community.

I will say that's one big weakness peppers tend to have. You really shouldn't expect to just be able to hold resources on your own. But trust could be difficult.

I am not talking about hoarding resources to the point there is no room to move.

I am working off the knowledge of nuclear cleanup around nuclear reactors and how they do it.

Taking that in mind, restoring the air to somewhat functionality.

Thus giving us a chance to rebuild and create a sustainable resource of food and water.

Fair.

Then using those to trade with neighboring communities.

I've always taken the stance it's better to have a stable sedentary base.

I don't think roving is a sustainable long-term strategy.

I am going to post what I managed to so far.

Step by step guide.

Oh, one big thing I forgot. Telecoms.

Specifically simplex radio.

Of course part of the guide is raiding the local library for books on how to instructions.

People these days assume Cell phones just work. But radio comms are vital for coordination.

Thus giving a point of reference and ability to teach our children.

I know cell phones will not work.

Definitely with the radiation in the upper atmosphere.

So I figured wired communication is best.

I think you could get radios to work.

Simplex atleast.

Actually, I wonder if you could do some kind of signal bounce.

Hand cranky

Cars==alternators==generators.

Something people forget.

Though you have fuel limits to worry about.

Just ride bikes

^

Or have a return of air and water. Mostly water.

The japanese had bicycle divisions in ww2

Or go join the amish

Cars are a huge advantage over bikes. Faster, more range and waaayyy more carryign capacity.

Fuel efficient trucks are actually the real trick.

Well I am trying to come up with an way to build a sustainable community with the resources avaliable in my city.

Finite fuel brah

Diesel is amazing.

Yeah, but you can ride on the pegs of my bike. Does your car have pegs?

Runs on anything.

Though yes, gasoline is a limit.

The average city only have 3 days max of supplies to keep on running in the event of no more trade

Bikes might make sense for short distance runs, but we're talking something more rural. And presumably you'd want to be able to ferry supplies and stuff.

That is why I would send people to surrounding towns that don't have bunkers.

You won't get far fast enough on bikes.

Better than walking

I will not use bikes, only use vehicles as long as they last to get as much resources as I can.

I personally always thought the best depiction of post-apocalypse was Jericho. But I haven't seen enough of the show to really judge.

Alot of that comes down to fights between towns over resources like bullets.

I would limited a vehicle to one tank of gas, depending on the type of vehicle. Dieasal.

Diesel is better because it is really not picky on what you put inside the tank.

Yeah.

I want to be able to get resources from the towns that have no one alive.

In the US ethanol is actually a good choice because we tend to have alot of corn.

If any survives, I might take them in if they are useful.

Depending on if I got enough food to feed them.

Gasoline is strictly better if you can get a supply though (like you're on the coast and the oil suppiles survive)

I will be using pumps connected to solar panels.

I'd avoid getting too complicated.

operations will be done in the day.

Everything shuts off during night to conserve on electricity and fuel.

Right now I am just focusing on building and gathering.

Getting the community together.

Then I will lay down the ground work for rules and conserving.

But there will be a operation going on while it is happening.

Removing the top soil in the surrounding area.

Scrubbing down the houses and stuff.

I have the perspective of a city dweller, I know LA gonna go mad max real quick in a disaster

Basically removing any radiation from the area.

Enjoy cancer

My concerns would be:

Long-term Food supplies (read: farming)
Long-term water supplies (read: rivers, lakes or groundwater)
Community defense (read: guns and ammunition)
Community coordination (read: electricity and radio)
Establishing relationships and resources for other things. Like producing the above.

Actually those who are tasked with that will be wearing radiation suits.

If the cities got hit, I'd probably be running somewhere. Either the armed services or to the Midwest depending on the situation.

One of my first things I will do, is establish homestead in a abandon military base, compound, or bunker.

....radiation suits is hard to get and radioactive particle can be finicky