Letter Re: Constructing Roadblocks for Retreats?

Hi Jim:
Will your book “Rawles on Retreats and Relocation” contain any information on blocking roadways/driveways etc?

One of the retreats I plan to use (disaster dependant) has a single roadway access that would easily be block with a landslide. Do you have any suggestions on the best ways to cause landslips to block roads? Regards, – Jeremy in New Zealand

JWR Replies: That was not an issue that I had intended to discuss in my upcoming book, but perhaps I should.

Unless you are facing an absolute-worst-case-mutant-zombie-bikers-are-painting-themselves-and-eating-your-neighbors situation, then I don’t recommend anything so drastic as blocking a road with a landslide. Roadblocks work both ways–they also block you in. I generally favor mobile roadblocks. A Caterpillar D4 (or larger) tractor parked crossways with the blade dropped usually works great for blocking a single lane roadway, at least in hilly country. A large truck or car parked similarly works nearly as well. Removing the tire stems makes the roadblock even more effective, but of course takes longer for “friendly forces” to get the vehicle ready to move. One important proviso: If you use a vehicle, be sure to disable the ignition system by removing a key part, since ignition switches can be bypassed.(“Hot wired”.) With diesel-powered heavy equipment , this is particularly easy, since many Cat keys interchange, or even a screwdriver can be used to engage the starter.

Some situations such as plains and prairie lands–where a locked gate can be easily be bypassed by cutting a fence–present unique challenges. Constructing long stretches of anti-vehicular ditches is very labor intensive if you don’t have access to earth moving equipment.

Also don’t overlook the advantage of a series of small obstructions on a road, versus one big one. For example, a series four or five locked steel cables stretched across road at 50 to 100 foot intervals may slow down a group of marauders more than just one custom-built extra-heavy pipe gate. You can use just one of the cables in “peacetime”, but then put them all up if and when things get unpleasant.

Lastly, as mentioned previously in this blog, no obstruction is truly effective unless it is under the gaze of alert riflemen.