I currently live about 35 miles from my place of work and while my commute is typically uneventful and my vehicle is generally in good working order I've decided to take steps to prepare for a scenario in which I am at work and the worst happens and I must get home ASAP to protect and provide for my family. 

In this scenario I am able to safely evacuate the building I work in and egress to my vehicle but soon after reaching the main highway on my commute home I become trapped in a massive traffic jam. Monitoring public radio frequencies I learn that all available emergency personal are currently engaged dealing with the most seriously impacted areas of "The SHTF Event" and advise all non-essential personal to "Shelter in Place". 

My "Emergency Preparedness Plan" calls for immediate and decisive action in this scenario:

1. Evaluate myself
2. Evaluate my situation
3. Evaluate my options 
4. Determine a course of action 
5. Communicate my plan 
6. Execute

I find myself to be in good health and capable of moving on foot. The situation in my immediate area is rapidly deteriorating as the unprepared people around me start to panic. Most people are still in their vehicles, some have exited trying to get a better view of the road ahead, there are a few minor fender benders that I can see and I can hear horns sounding and sirens in the distance. While relatively safe at the moment, I fully anticipate tensions to escalate rapidly to the point of chaos and violence.

Should I stay or should I go?

I determine that staying in this volatile situation carries far too much risk and doesn't get me any closer to my objective of "getting home" therefore the choice is simple, I must abandon my vehicle and move on foot.​

I do my best to maneuver my vehicle off the road and out of the way as much as possible and I take a moment write a note with my contact information to leave with the vehicle. I also take this opportunity to get word to my family of my intentions, and enact our emergency communication plan leveraging whatever medium is still operational (cell, text message, ham radio..).

This is it, ​the point of no return.

I grab my pack from the trunk of the car, lock the doors and set off on foot towards my objective quickly moving away from unprepared masses. I have confidence that with my knowledge, ability and carefully chosen gear I will get home to my family. I am prepared.