Tag: driving

Maryland’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Maryland, Maryland Preppers, Maryland's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

Maryland’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster (And How to Survive Them)
By a Well-Traveled Survivalist Who’s Seen More Than One Apocalypse Coming Over the Horizon

Disasters don’t wait for the weather to clear, the traffic to thin, or your gas tank to fill up. Whether it’s a hurricane bearing down on the Chesapeake, a Nor’easter crashing across the Appalachians, or a cascade of man-made chaos clogging the I-95 corridor, Maryland has more than its fair share of roads that’ll turn a bad day into a nightmare.

I’ve driven the swampy logging routes of the Deep South, carved wheel paths through the deserts of New Mexico, and braved snow-walled passes in the Rockies. But few places test your mettle like Maryland in a full-blown disaster. It’s a mix of suburban sprawl, tight mountain roads, waterfront lowlands, and decades-old infrastructure built for a population half its current size.

Here’s my take on Maryland’s worst roads during a disaster—and more importantly, how to survive them.

The Roads You Should Avoid Unless You’re Desperate—or Skilled

1. I-95 Through Baltimore
This beast is always congested. In a disaster, it’s the first to jam up with panicked drivers. Bridges, tunnels, and limited exits make it a trap if you don’t know your detours.

2. Route 50 Eastbound to the Bay Bridge
On a holiday weekend, this stretch looks like a parking lot. Add a hurricane evacuation and you’ve got a recipe for gridlock from Annapolis to Queenstown.

3. I-270 Corridor Between Frederick and the D.C. Beltway
A death funnel of commuter traffic. During an emergency, the already-bottlenecked lanes become impassable. Back roads may be your only option.

4. Route 1 Through College Park
Choked with lights, pedestrians, and poor drainage. Avoid it when the rain starts falling—flooding is a real problem here.

5. I-70 Near Ellicott City
Heavy truck traffic and tight turns combine with steep elevation. Add snow or flooding and it’s game over.

6. Route 2 (Ritchie Hwy) Through Glen Burnie
Urban sprawl, constant commercial traffic, and confusing side streets make this a slow death in any emergency scenario.

7. MD-140 Between Westminster and Reisterstown
Hilly terrain and a lack of shoulder space turn minor accidents into massive pileups.

8. MD-32 Between Columbia and Annapolis
Known for fast-moving traffic and sudden slowdowns. In a bug-out scenario, the margin for error disappears.

9. I-83 Jones Falls Expressway
A concrete chute through Baltimore prone to accidents and flooding. No shoulders mean no mercy.

10. US-301 South of Waldorf
A long, flat corridor that bottlenecks at every town along the way. One wreck and you’re stuck behind miles of brake lights.

15 Survival Driving Skills That’ll Keep You Alive

You don’t need to be a stunt driver to survive a disaster—but you do need to think like one. Here are 15 hard-earned skills every survivalist driver should master:

  1. Reverse Driving at Speed – Learn to back up quickly and in control. Sometimes there’s no room to turn around.
  2. Tactical U-Turns – Not all U-turns are legal or easy. Know how to execute a quick 3-point or bootleg turn under pressure.
  3. Driving Without Headlights – Essential for stealth at night. Learn to use peripheral lighting and ambient glow to see without being seen.
  4. Engine Braking – In rough terrain, using gears to slow the vehicle prevents brake failure and loss of control.
  5. Emergency Lane Changes – Quick, controlled swerves to avoid obstacles or evade threats.
  6. Skid Recovery on Ice or Wet Pavement – Practice counter-steering and throttle control until it’s instinct.
  7. Off-Road Navigation Without GPS – Know how to read terrain and follow utility lines, ridgelines, or watercourses.
  8. Water Crossing Techniques – Know your vehicle’s wading depth and never cross fast-moving water. Walk it first if unsure.
  9. Driving with Damaged Tires – A tire plug kit, compressor, and knowing how to drive on a flat can keep you moving.
  10. Spotting Ambush Points – Pay attention to chokepoints, overpasses, or blind curves—classic ambush zones.
  11. Using Vehicles as Cover – In active threat situations, park at angles to create visual and ballistic cover.
  12. Silent Parking & Idling – Practice arriving undetected: lights off, coast in, engine kill, brake gently.
  13. Urban Evacuation Tactics – Don’t follow traffic. Use alleys, sidewalks, and parking structures if needed.
  14. Fuel Rationing While Driving – Maintain constant speed, limit acceleration, and coast when possible.
  15. Using a Manual Transmission When Power Fails – Know how to clutch start a manual if your battery’s dead.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You Run Out of Gas

Even the best-prepared can run dry. Here’s how to cheat the system when the pumps are down:

1. Siphon from Lawn Equipment and Abandoned Vehicles
Keep a siphon pump or tubing in your emergency kit. Don’t forget to check boats, motorcycles, RVs—anything with a tank.

2. Emergency Fuel from Alcohol-Based Products
Gasoline engines can sometimes run short-term on denatured alcohol or ethanol-heavy fuels (like E85), though it’s hard on the engine. Use only in desperation. Make sure to filter first.

3. Gravity-Feed Jerry Can Setup
If your fuel pump dies, rig a gravity feed system using a jerry can strapped above the engine line. Run a fuel-safe hose directly to the carburetor or intake line.

Tactical Advice: Maryland Edition

Now let’s bring it home to Maryland. The Chesapeake region is a hotbed of natural and manmade threats: hurricanes, coastal flooding, chemical spills, even cyberattacks disrupting traffic signals. If you’re caught in a disaster, every second counts. Don’t follow the herd. Most evac plans will funnel everyone onto a few major arteries, and those are the first to fail.

Instead:

  • Know your county’s emergency routes. Memorize them—not just the map, but the feel of the road at night, in rain, under stress.
  • Use railroad access roads, utility trails, and undeveloped fire lanes. They often run parallel to major roads but are less traveled.
  • Scout in advance. Take day trips to explore backwoods passes across Harford, Carroll, and Garrett Counties—places where traffic can’t follow.
  • Keep a bug-out vehicle that isn’t flashy. Something with 4WD, good clearance, and preferably without fancy electronics that can fail under EMP or flood conditions.

Parting Thoughts from the Driver’s Seat

I’ve spent nights under the stars in a Humvee outside Kandahar, and I’ve crawled through DC traffic with a Geiger counter on the dash during a drill that got way too real. If there’s one truth that crosses all terrain and all threat levels, it’s this:

The road to survival isn’t the fastest. It’s the one only a few know.

Don’t wait until the sky turns green or the sirens wail. Know your routes, tune your ride, and drive like your life depends on it—because one day, it just might.

Louisiana’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Louisiana, Louisiana Preppers, Louisiana's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

I’ve driven through war zones in the Middle East, flash floods in Indonesia, and blackouts in California, but let me tell you something straight—Louisiana’s roads during a disaster? They’ll test every ounce of grit, patience, and tactical skill you’ve got behind the wheel.

The roads here aren’t just roads—they’re trapdoors waiting to open. Bayous overflow, pavement buckles, potholes morph into craters, and if you’re not paying attention, you might just end up swallowed by a backwater swamp or stuck on a bridge that’s now a boat ramp. Hurricanes, flash floods, tornadoes, and heat waves? The Bayou State gets them all. And when it hits the fan, knowing which roads to avoid and how to maneuver becomes the line between making it out or becoming part of the debris.

The Louisiana Gauntlet: Roads to Avoid When It All Goes South

Here are some of the worst roads in Louisiana during a disaster—routes you should avoid like a rattlesnake in your boot:

  1. I-10 between Baton Rouge and Lafayette
    Flood-prone and prone to traffic bottlenecks, especially around the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. If the water doesn’t get you, the stalled traffic will.
  2. I-610 in New Orleans
    A deathtrap during hurricanes. Low elevation, lots of exits prone to flooding, and traffic that grinds to a halt fast.
  3. US-90 near Morgan City
    This area’s like a sponge—it soaks up floodwaters and keeps them. Debris, broken asphalt, and submerged stretches are common.
  4. LA-1 South to Grand Isle
    Beautiful under normal skies, but it’s a one-way ticket to being stranded when the Gulf decides to rage.
  5. I-20 near Shreveport
    During tornado season, it turns into a wind tunnel. Add low visibility from storms, and it’s a high-speed hazard.
  6. Airline Highway (US-61)
    Passes through flood-prone and urban zones. Infrastructure’s outdated, and during a crisis, it’s a twisted mess.
  7. Causeway Bridge over Lake Pontchartrain
    Don’t let its beauty fool you. High winds, zero shelter, and panic drivers make it lethal in a storm.
  8. LA-70 through Assumption Parish
    A scenic drive turned swampy rollercoaster when the water rises.
  9. Chef Menteur Highway
    Long, flat, and exposed—especially dangerous during storm surge conditions.
  10. River Road in Baton Rouge
    Flirts with the Mississippi. One good surge and the whole route can disappear.

Now that you know what roads to think twice about, let’s get into how you survive them when you don’t have a choice.

15 Survival Driving Skills That’ll Keep You Alive in a Disaster

  1. Situational Awareness
    Scan the road, your mirrors, the skies, and even other drivers. Awareness keeps you ahead of danger by minutes, which is a lifetime in a disaster.
  2. Off-Road Maneuvering
    Learn how to navigate mud, gravel, or grassy terrain. Sometimes the ditch is the road when the pavement’s gone.
  3. Water Wading Judgment
    Know how deep your vehicle can go. Six inches of water can cause loss of control. A foot? You’re floating.
  4. Brake Feathering
    Feather your brakes when you need control on slick roads—especially during heavy rain or floods.
  5. Throttle Control
    Smooth inputs save lives. Gunning it gets you stuck or sliding. Know when to creep and when to charge.
  6. Evasive Maneuvering
    Can you dodge a falling tree or swerving semi at 60 mph? Practice J-turns, quick swerves, and emergency braking.
  7. Map Mastery
    GPS may die. Paper maps don’t. Keep one in your glovebox with disaster escape routes marked in red.
  8. Driving Without Headlights
    Sometimes stealth matters. Know how to move silently and unseen—especially in looting-prone zones.
  9. Mechanical Literacy
    Know your vehicle. Change a tire blindfolded. Patch a radiator. Rig a fan belt with paracord if needed.
  10. Fuel Economy Driving
    No jackrabbit starts. Coast on declines. Save every drop because the next station might be 100 miles of chaos away.
  11. Convoy Driving
    If you’re with a group, learn to drive in formation. Keep spacing, use signals, and maintain visual contact.
  12. Bridge & Overpass Assessment
    Some look solid but are structurally weak after quakes or flooding. Don’t be the tester.
  13. Night Vision Discipline
    Use red light inside the vehicle. Don’t blind yourself or others with high beams when stealth or night travel’s essential.
  14. Wind Awareness
    Crosswinds can flip box trucks—and your SUV if it’s loaded top-heavy. Stay low-profile and move cautiously.
  15. Urban Escape Routes
    Study back alleys, industrial roads, and railway access paths. Cities will lock down fast—know the ratlines out.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You Run Out of Gas

Let’s say you’ve run out of fuel and you’re miles from help. Here’s how to MacGyver your way to another few miles or stay put safely:

1. The Campfire Fuel Extractor

If stranded with access to old vehicles or lawn equipment, siphon gas using a piece of hose and gravity. No hose? Melt a piece of hard plastic into a funnel and drain the fuel tank manually.

2. The Ethanol Boost

Got alcohol-based hand sanitizer, vodka, or even mouthwash? In small quantities, these can supplement gasoline in a pinch—IF your engine can handle it (older engines or multi-fuel vehicles only). Add no more than 10% volume and run gently.

3. Solar Battery Starter

No jump cables? Rig up solar lights or panels (many people have cheap solar garden lights) to trickle-charge your battery. Strip the wires, connect carefully to terminals, and give it time. It won’t start the car immediately, but over time can give you enough juice to crank once.

Final Thoughts from the Road

In Louisiana, roads are as wild as the swamps they cut through. When a disaster strikes, they morph into battlegrounds—where skill, preparation, and grit will mean more than any four-wheel drive badge on your bumper. You don’t rise to the occasion, you fall to your level of training. So, train now. Drive smart. Map your exits. Keep your gear close and your instincts sharper.

Remember, survival driving isn’t about speed—it’s about making decisions that keep you rolling when others are stuck, submerged, or stranded. From the Spanish moss-covered bridges near Slidell to the cracked pavement outside of Lake Charles, every inch of this land has a story. Make sure yours doesn’t end in the ditch.

Nebraska’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Nebraska, Nebraska's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

Nebraska’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster: A Survivalist’s Hard-Learned Lessons

I’ve driven across deserts where the air could melt rubber, crossed frozen mountain passes where one wrong turn meant an icy death, and crawled through swamps that swallowed tires whole. But nowhere tests your nerves in a disaster like the flat, deceivingly gentle landscapes of Nebraska. It’s a land that hides danger in its simplicity. When the storm hits or the grid goes down, the Cornhusker State becomes a maze of impassable roads, blackouts, and waterlogged ditches.

I’ve spent years on the move, teaching myself how to survive behind the wheel. So take it from someone who’s had a few too many close calls—if you’re trying to get out of Dodge when all hell breaks loose in Nebraska, there are certain roads you’d do best to avoid. But even more importantly, you need to know how to drive when the rules no longer apply.

Let’s dig into the worst roads in Nebraska to be caught on during a crisis, then I’ll walk you through 15 survival driving skills to keep you alive, and 3 emergency hacks when the gas runs dry.

Nebraska’s Disaster-Prone Roads to Avoid

These roads might seem fine under clear skies, but when things turn south—floods, storms, civil unrest, or fuel shortages—they become traps.

1. Highway 275 (Between Norfolk and Fremont)

Flood-prone with poor drainage and aging bridges. One good storm and you’ll find yourself in a watery grave or stuck in an endless reroute.

2. Interstate 80 (Especially Omaha to Lincoln)

It’s a straight shot through the state, and that’s the problem. In a disaster, it’s a magnet for traffic jams, accidents, and panicked evacuees. You’ll be a sitting duck.

3. Highway 6

This two-lane route clogs quickly in emergencies and floods in spring storms. Visibility drops, and the ditch depth can flip your vehicle if you’re not careful.

4. Highway 20 (The Bridges to Nowhere)

In northern Nebraska, the infrastructure can’t handle a deluge. Rural bridges get washed out, and there’s nobody coming to fix them during a statewide disaster.

5. Highway 2 through the Sandhills

Beautiful terrain but treacherous when wet or snowy. No cell service for miles, and breakdowns here mean you’re truly alone.

6. Loup River Valley Roads

These scenic byways turn into mud pits. You’ll sink before you see a soul. Not worth the risk unless you’re packing a winch and 72-hour rations.

15 Survival Driving Skills That Can Save Your Life

If you’ve ever driven in chaos—roads crumbling, people panicking—you know it takes more than guts. It takes skill. These are the moves that have saved me time and again.

1. Threshold Braking

Keep your tires just at the edge of locking. Perfect for wet, icy, or loose gravel situations.

2. Skid Recovery

Turn into the skid, don’t fight it. Let the tires catch naturally. Fighting it just sends you sideways into a ditch.

3. Situational Awareness

Constantly scan your environment. Don’t fixate. One eye on the road, the other on potential threats or alternate exits.

4. Low-Speed Maneuvering

When debris or stalled cars block your path, crawling through tight spaces with precision becomes your ticket out.

5. Hand Signals for Low Visibility

When tail lights are useless in smoke or blackout conditions, knowing and using hand signals for convoy communication is vital.

6. Driving Without Headlights (Stealth Mode)

You don’t always want to be seen. Learn to drive with just enough dash light and moonlight when needed.

7. River Crossing Assessment

If you have to ford water, check depth with a stick and look for current. Never cross a flowing stream above your axle unless it’s life or death.

8. Run-Flat Tire Management

Learn how to keep rolling on compromised tires, and pack tire sealant and an air compressor.

9. High-Centering Recovery

Get off the hump by letting air out of your tires slightly and using traction aids like sand ladders or even floor mats.

10. Using Terrain for Cover

Avoid ambushes or flying debris by hugging terrain contours or parking behind natural barriers.

11. Rearview Bluff

Make your vehicle look like it’s been stripped or burned to deter looters—blackened windows, fake smoke damage, or broken glass on the dash.

12. Car Barricade Breaching

Know how to slowly push aside a stalled vehicle (or other obstruction) without damaging your radiator. Go low, push near the rear quarter panel.

13. Fuel Conservation Driving

Drive in high gear, avoid rapid acceleration, and coast when possible. Every drop counts when the pumps are dry.

14. Defensive Driving Under Fire

Not metaphorical—real bullets. Zigzag, use obstacles as shields, and never stop in the open. Reverse can be just as fast as drive.

15. Escape Route Mapping

Always know three ways out: one obvious, one hidden, one crazy. Think fences you can smash, alleys, or even train tracks.

3 DIY Driving Hacks When You’re Out of Gas

Now let’s talk worst-case: you’re stranded. No gas, no AAA, just a quiet Nebraska road and a long night ahead. Here are three bushcraft-meets-automotive tricks I’ve used in the field.

1. Siphon Every Drop (Even From Yourself)

Keep a siphon hose and fuel-safe container. You’d be shocked how much fuel’s left in “dead” cars, lawn equipment, even abandoned tractors. Pro tip: rural properties often keep fuel tanks near barns. Respect private property, but survival is survival.

2. DIY Ethanol Booster

Corn country, right? If you’re desperate, ethanol or moonshine can work in small doses for older vehicles (pre-2001). Never run it straight, but you can mix it 10–20% with existing gasoline to eke out a few miles. Don’t try this in modern fuel-injected vehicles with sensors—they’ll hate it.

3. Roll and Glide Technique

Find a decline and coast. Seriously. Every foot helps. Push the vehicle onto a slope, shift into neutral, and use that to gain distance or even line of sight to rescue or fuel. Gravity never runs out.

Final Thoughts from a Road-Hardened Nomad

Nebraska’s beauty is deceptive. It looks like open country, a straight shot to safety. But under the pressure of disaster, those long roads twist into traps. With water rushing over bridges, winds flattening fields, and desperate people doing desperate things—you need more than horsepower. You need skill, planning, and a cool head.

I’ve driven out of wildfires, riots, and once, a Category 4 hurricane. But the loneliest and scariest escape I ever made was in the Nebraska Sandhills, with only a half tank of gas, a busted alternator, and the radio dead from EMP interference. I made it out by knowing when to drive, when to hide, and when to ditch the road entirely.

So next time you’re topping off your tank or checking your map, ask yourself: If the world went dark today, would I know how to drive my way out?

If you’re not sure, start practicing. Because in a real disaster, Google Maps won’t save you. But your skills just might.

Oregon’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Oregon, Oregon Emergency Preparedness, Oregon's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

Let me tell you something—Oregon is a beautiful place, but when the world starts to fall apart, beauty becomes a liability. Towering Douglas firs turn into roadblocks, winding coastal highways become landslide alleyways, and mountain passes? Death traps wrapped in ice and fog. I’ve driven through everything from flash floods in Mississippi to sandstorms in the Mojave, and if there’s one state where road conditions can shift faster than a rattlesnake’s mood—it’s Oregon.

When disaster strikes—whether it’s the Cascadia Subduction Zone finally letting loose, a wildfire tearing through the forest, or even just a good old-fashioned storm—you better know the lay of the land and how to drive your way out of it. That means knowing which roads to avoid, what skills to have under your belt, and what tricks you can pull when gas stations are out, GPS is dead, and the only thing keeping you alive is your vehicle and your grit.

Oregon’s Most Dangerous Roads During a Disaster

Let’s start with the roads. I’ve driven ‘em. I’ve cursed ‘em. And I sure as hell don’t want to be caught on them when the SHTF.

  1. U.S. Route 101 – Oregon Coast Highway
    Beautiful? Sure. But come a tsunami warning or a landslide, and you’re boxed in between cliffs and ocean. Frequent landslides, narrow lanes, and no quick inland access make this road a death trap.
  2. Highway 242 – McKenzie Highway
    It winds through lava fields like some kind of Tolkien nightmare. It’s closed in winter and often blocked by downed trees during storms. One wrong turn and you’re driving into Mordor.
  3. Highway 58 – Willamette Pass
    Ice, fog, and remote as hell. The Willamette Pass is a long, lonely drive that becomes impassable during snowstorms or if a wildfire jumps the road.
  4. I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge
    Winds strong enough to tip a semi. Rockslides? Regular. If you’re lucky, you’ll just get stalled behind a wreck. If you’re not, you’re under a pile of basalt.
  5. Forest Service Roads in the Mount Hood National Forest
    Beautiful and off-grid—but that’s a double-edged sword. No cell service, no rescue, and all it takes is a fallen tree or flood to strand you for days.
  6. Lolo Pass Road
    Tight turns, steep grades, and limited visibility. During winter, it’s a skating rink. During fire season, it’s your one-way ticket to toastville.
  7. US-26 through Warm Springs Reservation
    Long stretches without services. Fires here move fast. And when evacuations start, this road gets choked up quickly with traffic and poor visibility from smoke.
  8. Highway 138 through Umpqua National Forest
    Narrow, winding, and isolated. Perfect for getting lost or trapped by a fire moving faster than your vehicle can escape.
  9. Crater Lake Rim Drive
    Don’t even think about it in winter. Volcanic terrain, snowfall measured in feet, and sheer drop-offs. This is the kind of place helicopters rescue you from—if they can find you.
  10. OR-66 – Ashland to Klamath Falls
    It’s called the Green Springs Highway, but in a wildfire it’s just a green hell. Sharp curves, little shoulder space, and too many blind corners.

15 Survival Driving Skills You Better Master

You can have the best bug-out vehicle in the world, but if you can’t drive like your life depends on it—well, it won’t matter. These are survival skills I’ve used in hurricanes, riots, and wildfire zones, and if you want a chance of making it out alive, learn them.

  1. Situational Awareness Driving – Don’t just drive—scan. Watch every mirror, road shoulder, and overpass. Know what’s around and what’s behind.
  2. Evasive Maneuvering – Learn how to swerve safely at high speed. Practice J-turns and quick braking in controlled environments.
  3. Driving Without GPS – Learn to read paper maps, landmarks, and follow the sun if needed.
  4. High-Clearance Navigation – Know how to handle boulders, logs, and debris. Don’t get your oil pan torn open miles from help.
  5. Throttle and Brake Control on Slippery Surfaces – Whether it’s ice or mud, smoothness is survival. Slam on the brakes and you’re spinning.
  6. Water Crossing Techniques – Don’t charge through water unless you’ve judged its depth and current. Use a stick or walk it first if needed.
  7. Off-Road Trail Recovery – Know how to winch, tow, and use traction boards. When stuck, you need to be your own tow truck.
  8. Driving with Blown Tires or Limited Visibility – Practice limping on a flat. Tape the side mirror if it’s busted. Improvise and move.
  9. Engine Overheat Management – Know how to manage a temp gauge climbing fast. Turn on the heater, ease the throttle, and coast downhill.
  10. Fuel Management and Efficiency Driving – Coasting, idling wisely, and using gravity when you can will stretch every drop.
  11. Driving in a Smoke or Dust Cloud – Windows up, lights on low beam, stay to the right, and sound your horn regularly.
  12. Silent Night Driving – At times, noise discipline matters. Learn how to coast and minimize your engine sound during covert escapes.
  13. Manual Transmission Know-How – If you can’t drive stick, you’re cutting your options in half. Many old rigs and military surplus vehicles are manual.
  14. Changing a Tire Under Pressure – Practice doing it in the dark, in the rain, fast. Because that’s how it’ll happen.
  15. Using a Car as a Shield or Tool – In riots or ambushes, your vehicle is cover and battering ram. Know its limits and use it accordingly.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You Run Out of Gas

Gas stations? In a disaster, they’re either bone dry or burned to the ground. Here are three field-tested tricks to stretch what you’ve got or go without.

  1. Siphon Like a Pro
    Get a clear plastic tube (6-8 feet). Gravity is your friend. Find abandoned vehicles, lawnmowers, even boats—many have usable fuel. Always filter through a coffee filter or sock to catch debris. Gas can degrade, but in a pinch, even old stuff can be better than nothing.
  2. Alcohol-Based Emergency Fuel
    Camp stove alcohol, isopropyl alcohol (90%+), and even Everclear can burn in small engines or mixed carefully with gasoline. Don’t try this in modern fuel-injected vehicles without research. But old carbureted engines? You’d be surprised.
  3. Fuel-Saving Mod: Remove Roof Rack and Excess Gear
    That roof rack might look cool with your gear, but it’s tanking your fuel economy by up to 15%. Ditch it and stash gear inside if possible. Also, reduce weight. Every 100 pounds means fewer miles per gallon. Tighten tire pressure to the high end of safe range to reduce rolling resistance.

Closing Thoughts from the Road

Disaster doesn’t wait. When the earth shakes or flames come down the mountain, you’ve got one chance to get it right. That means knowing your routes, keeping your ride in top shape, and having the skills to keep moving no matter what’s in your way.

The roads I’ve mentioned aren’t just dangerous because of terrain—they’re dangerous because they isolate you. Because they can trap you in a box canyon of fire, water, or rock. Avoid them if you can. And if you have to use them? Go prepared, drive smart, and trust your instincts.

The rule of thumb? When in doubt, get out. Early. Delay by an hour, and you might be stuck for a week—or worse, not make it out at all. Practice your escape. Pack your rig. And when that siren wails or that first tremor hits, remember: survival favors the prepared.

Wisconsin’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Wisconsin, Wisconsin survival prepper, Wisconsin's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

Wisconsin’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster: A Survivalist’s Guide

When you’ve spent as much time behind the wheel as I have, clocking miles through backwoods, city chaos, and unforgiving terrain, you learn a few things the hard way. One of the golden rules of survival driving? Don’t trust the road just because it’s paved. And in Wisconsin, when the skies open up or disaster strikes, there are a few roads that go from challenging to downright deadly. I’ve driven them all—through snow squalls, floods, tornado warnings, and fire evacuations. Trust me when I say these roads demand respect.

Before I tell you which roads to avoid, let’s talk about the skills that can keep you alive behind the wheel. Because in a true disaster, your engine and your instincts are your best friends.

15 Survival Driving Skills to Help You Escape a Disaster Scenario

  1. Situational Awareness
    Don’t just drive—observe. Note exit routes, traffic flow, weather patterns, and people’s behavior. Disasters evolve quickly, and awareness gives you the edge.
  2. Low-Visibility Navigation
    Learn how to drive with limited sight. Whether it’s smoke from a wildfire or blinding snow, keeping your wheels straight and slow might be your only ticket out.
  3. Flood Driving Tactics
    Never drive through water you can’t see the bottom of. But if you must, go slow, stay in the middle of the road, and keep the revs up to avoid stalling.
  4. Off-Road Readiness
    Your car doesn’t have to be a 4×4 to survive a backroad escape. Drop tire pressure slightly, steer steady, and avoid sudden turns to handle loose gravel or mud.
  5. Escape Planning Under Duress
    Know multiple escape routes from any given location. GPS is nice—until the signal’s gone. Paper maps save lives.
  6. Panic Braking Control
    Train yourself not to slam the brakes. In a crisis, pumping the brakes or using threshold braking can prevent skidding or a full loss of control.
  7. Tactical U-Turns
    Practice tight 3-point and J-turns. If you’re blocked in or ambushed, knowing how to turn around in limited space could be life-saving.
  8. Drive-by Fire Awareness
    Wildfires are fast. Heat can burst tires, and smoke kills visibility. Keep windows up, air on recirculate, and avoid stopping near dry brush.
  9. Engine Preservation in Crisis
    Avoid overheating in slow-moving traffic by switching off the A/C, shifting to neutral when stopped, and staying off the gas.
  10. Fuel Conservation Driving
    Smooth acceleration, low RPMs, and coasting when safe can stretch a nearly empty tank farther than you’d think.
  11. Driving with a Damaged Vehicle
    Know how to handle a car with a blown tire, dragging bumper, or broken windshield. Sometimes crawling forward is better than walking.
  12. Crowd & Riot Navigation
    Stay calm, avoid eye contact, and never accelerate through crowds. If blocked in, reverse slowly or reroute altogether.
  13. No-Lights Driving
    Practice stealth driving at night without headlights. Use the moonlight and follow painted lines or the road edge if it’s safe to do so.
  14. Signal Use & Communication
    Hand signals, hazard lights, and honking rhythms can warn others of danger or show intent when electronic systems fail.
  15. Escape on Empty
    Learn to coast in neutral, avoid idling, and use gravity. Don’t burn precious fuel unless it gets you closer to safety.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You Run Out of Gas

  1. DIY Fuel from Lawn Equipment (Gas Siphoning)
    If you’re stranded near a residential area, check garages or sheds for lawnmowers or chainsaws. These often have a small stash of gasoline. Use clear tubing and gravity to siphon into a bottle—do it safely and always check for contamination.
  2. Alcohol-Based Fuel Substitutes
    In an absolute pinch, small amounts of isopropyl alcohol or denatured alcohol (from first-aid kits or stove fuel) can be mixed with the remaining gas. Don’t make a habit of it—it’s hard on your engine—but it might get you a mile or two closer to help.
  3. Portable Solar Charger for Navigation Devices
    Out of fuel but not out of options? A small solar panel charger can keep your GPS or phone alive long enough to find help. Mount it to the roof or dashboard and let it trickle charge while you assess your surroundings or prepare to walk.

Wisconsin’s Worst Roads During a Disaster

Now let’s talk Wisconsin. Most people know it for cheese and Packers, but during a flood, blizzard, or blackout, the roads here can turn lethal. Based on my experience and reports from emergency responders, here are the worst offenders:

1. I-94 Between Milwaukee and Madison

This high-volume artery gets jammed fast during an evacuation. Add a snowstorm or a wreck, and you’re parked for hours with nowhere to go.

2. Highway 35 Along the Mississippi River

Scenic? Sure. But during floods or spring thaws, this road gets washed out. It’s also narrow with few escape routes up the bluffs.

3. I-41 Through the Fox Valley

Too many drivers and too few exits. In a fire or chemical spill scenario, you could get trapped quickly between Appleton and Green Bay.

4. County Trunk Highway A in Door County

Tourist traffic clogs this scenic stretch, especially during summer. One accident and you’re stuck on a narrow peninsula with no alternate roads.

5. US-2 Through Northern Wisconsin

Isolated and poorly maintained in winter, this road turns treacherous fast. Cell service is spotty, and gas stations are miles apart.

6. Highway 29 West of Wausau

Crosswinds and black ice make this route a nightmare in winter storms. Combine that with low visibility and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

7. I-43 Between Sheboygan and Milwaukee

Slick with freezing rain and overburdened with big rigs, this stretch bottlenecks in storms. Add panic evac traffic, and you’re going nowhere.

8. Highway 13 in the Wisconsin Dells

Tourist central. If disaster strikes in peak season, traffic grinds to a halt. Narrow side roads aren’t meant for mass evacuation.

9. State Highway 23 Through the Driftless Region

Beautiful hills, winding curves—but landslides and fallen trees after heavy rain can block entire sections with no warning.

10. Beltline Highway (US-12/18) in Madison

A short but crucial urban connector that becomes gridlocked even on a normal day. A disaster here would trap thousands between city zones.

Final Thoughts from the Road

I’ve broken axles in potholes, coasted on fumes through blizzards, and navigated washed-out backroads with nothing but a compass and instinct. Surviving on Wisconsin’s worst roads during a disaster isn’t about luck—it’s about preparation, improvisation, and guts.

Don’t wait until you’re stuck on I-94 behind a jackknifed semi to figure this stuff out. Train now. Practice these skills. Stock your car with a get-home bag, paper maps, snacks, water, and a portable battery bank. Remember, your vehicle is your first line of defense—and possibly your last chance at escape.

And above all, don’t assume the fastest route on your GPS is the safest. Sometimes, the long way through the woods is the only way home.