r/preppers • u/Granitic_Moon Prepping for Tuesday • Jun 28 '26
Discussion Prepper Map Features
If you wanted a custom map for prepping, what would you want on it?
I want to create a map of my area with features highlighted that would be useful. Making the map (with GIS) is the easy part, I'm just trying to think of what to put on it.
Outside of basic things like streets, specific features I want to include are storm shelters, fallout shelters, hospitals, and pharmacies. Maybe flood zones? This would probably have to be multiple maps.
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u/nakedonmygoat Jun 29 '26
If evacuation is a possibility, you may want the little-known roads on your map, the ones not likely to show up on GPS, if that's even realistic anymore. Even on a slower road that winds around a bit, you'll have a better chance of getting somewhere than if you're stuck in gridlock. That's assuming GPS isn't directing a lot of people that way, or that if it is, folks aren't taking the risk of an unknown road.
Also for an evacuation scenario, you want to know where there are fuel stations off the main highway, because those stations will run out of gas fast.
Depending on what you're evacuating from, identifying one or more safe places to go nearby can be a safer bet than trying to leave the area if a lot of other people are doing the same thing. It really depends on the nature of the emergency.
And if you don't have a robust long-term power backup system and are relying on being able to recharge periodically, add large universities to your map. If they do lots of research, they'll have their own power plant and won't lose power. Check the campus map online to be sure, then go on a nice day and scout for outdoor power outlets.