Fight Weekend...Some Considerations

It's Las Vegas and it's fight weekend.  While most (all, now that I think about it) of the people I know will refrain from attending said event (at $3500 for the cheap seats at least all of the people I know have some common sense!), 16,000+ die hard fight fans will make the trek to Vegas to watch Paquiao and Mayweather fight in person.  Here's some things to consider:

• You will get a better view on pay per view.  I've been to a few fights at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and while the view isn't terrible, I spent more time looking at the overhead screen so I could better see the action.  An even better view can be had from my own sofa.  Which is where I will be on Saturday evening.
• Do a bit of recon first.  I've been to many arenas, some with better access than others.  This arena has only a couple of ways in and out and both can easily become clogged with people.  I like arenas with lots of entrances and exits which makes it more difficult and expensive for crowd control but easier to get into and out of for attendees.
• Get there early and leave earlier or later than the crowds.  The last fight I attended there had me leaving at the final bell.  I went down through the convention center and out to the parking garage, I got into my vehicle and out of the parking lot before most people had even left their seats.  I'm not one for crowds.
• Be prepared to spend money.  These big fights are all about making money.  From the sports books to the valets to the waitresses to the big prize purses...you will be spending money left and right at these kinds of events.  Hotel rooms are jacked up, ticket prices are (really) jacked up...basically everything you will pay for will come at a premium because the event is so popular.
• Security will be beefed up.  Vegas is no stranger to big crowds and big events and both the security you see and the security you don't see will be beefed up for the weekend.
• Nevertheless, you are still responsible for your own safety.  There are a number of safety tips for dealing with big crowds, namely: secure your valuables from pickpockets, know where the exits are, don't get into the middle of the crowd but stay on the edge, watch the overall crowd for signs of problems, be patients and chill instead of tense and hostile, set a meet up spot in case you lose your group (cell phone lines may be overloaded at the venue), curtail any drug use or excessive alcohol until you are in a neutral place, don't get dehydrated (this is the desert after all), wear comfortable shoes.
• In the event of a major problem (stampede, shooting, etc) go for cover and concealment until you can make your escape.  Duck and hide and/or duck and run depending on the situation.
• Come prepared as much as possible.  While my idea of being prepared is a bottle of water, a few granola bars, and a concealed weapon, some or all of these items may be refused entry at the door.  Most big events will include a bag search (all bottled beverages are usually not allowed in) and a metal detector screening (all weapons, even will a permit, are generally banned).  

Happy New Year, Yes I Survived, and Yes 2012 Is Going to Be a Kick-Ass Year for Preparedness

First, here is a picture from the Las Vegas Strip Las Night--before it got busy.
Everyone was pretty cool, law enforcement was very visible, and there was only a bit of pushing and shoving as the entire crowd tried to move at once after the end of the fireworks (which necessitated a jump over a fence by the spouse and I to get to less claustrophobic ground).  Note: my fence jumping skills need a bit of work.  Second note: if I am going to do the Warrior Dash or Tough Mudder this year I better get busy preparing for it!
So what do you think 2012 will bring? TEOTWAWKI? A non-event similar to Y2K?  Something in between--not horrible, not pleasant?  Whatever happens, the goal of this blog will be to make sure you are prepared for ANY eventuality.  There won't be an assumption that you will run for the hills when things get testy--but some of the challenges will ensure that your outdoor skills are up to par.  There won't be an assumption that nothing will happen at the end of the year so you can kick back (mostly because it is a good bet that some sort of disaster--major or minor--will land on your doorstep at some time in the future so your preparations won't be for naught).
It's time to get busy and get prepared...for any eventuality.

Tactical Thoughts on New Years Eve

The fact that I will be spending my New Year's Eve on the Las Vegas Strip with hundreds of thousands of other people is pretty much a given...unfortunately.  I would rather be home in front of the TV.  But the spouse is fairly insistent since it is a "once in a lifetime event" and also because in our 25+ years of marriage it is just part of the deal that if something is super important to one of us, the other will go along with it whether they are actually thrilled about the prospect or not (such as when I decided that we should sell everything we own and travel for the last year--the spouse was less than inspired but it was very important to me...so I guess this is payback).  Anyway...  Since I get to be one of the civilians thrown into the mess instead of one of the planners of how to coral the mess (although visions of disaster mitigation are still dancing in my head, retired or not), here's some of my thoughts on our upcoming adventure:

• We will park off the Strip and walk to our destination since driving anywhere near there will be a disaster in and of itself.  Plus I would like to be home sometime before 4am and that involves getting away from the traffic as quickly as possible even if it includes walking a mile or so.
• We will of course dress for the occasion.  I've seen the news clips of scantily clad females in spike heeled shoes walking down the Strip celebrating New Years but that seems insane.  Walking shoes, check.  Jacket, check. Maybe even gloves--it gets cold in the desert at night.
• Any important items that we carry will be zippered into the inside pockets of our jackets.  A crowd that big is a pickpocket's dream so carrying your wallet in your back pocket is out, along with any other item that you could be relieved of quickly.
• I will also carry a small backpack (on my front, not on my back where again, thieve could get at its contents) which will contain: a bottle of water, a small first aid kit, a knife, a bandanna, goggles, a square of fluorescent fabric, a couple of granola bars, a flashlight, matches, para cord, zip ties, packet of tissue, and large garbage bag.
• Carrying a firearm is, well, still something I will do but I don't recommend it for the partying masses.  First, someone who is drunk shouldn't be in control of a firearm.  Second, although an active shooter scenario is always a possibility, our plan would be to duck, cover, and get the Hell out of there in such an instance.  NO ONE wants to find themselves in a situation where you are returning fire with a crowd behind your target (if you can even find your target, as hearing shots from the crowd as opposed to standing right next to the shooter makes it difficult to identify your target in the first place).  So concealed carry is OK but actually using your firearm in a crowd is definitely not.
• We will stay on the fringes of the crowd, not in the middle of the swarming masses.  And also check and re-check for exits to use in the event of a crisis.  In a set venue this is simple but in a large outdoor venue exits can move (as people move, barricades are moved, etc).  I will also be keeping an eye on visible security (which also moves in such a venue), the crowd overall (you can generally tell when something is about to happen by looking at the overall pattern of the crowd), and any other things that have the potential to turn into a threat.
• We have a plan for when and where to meet if we get separated.  Even though we each have a phone, there are a number of reasons that we may not be able to contact each other this way (the circuits may be overloaded, we may not be able to hear over the roar of the crowd, and texting is difficult if you are crowded up against people).  Of course the plan is multi-faceted with three different places to meet, in order, and three different times to meet (in case we can't get to location one, for example).
• Of course I will check for dangers as we go through the event.  Generally in large crowds you want to avoid bad weather like thunder and lightening (shouldn't happen here), the crush of the crowd (such as a stampede which could lead to being crushed or trampled), and other obvious dangers (fire, fights, getting between law enforcement and whatever group they are trying to control), etc.
• We will be on our best behaviour, as usual.  In other words we won't be drunk, belligerent, or looking for a brawl which can quickly get out of hand in a crowd situation.  That's basically how melees start.  If you can tell there may be a problem, your best bet is to diffuse the situation as quickly as possible then leave the area as quickly as possible. 
• We will be responsible for our own safety.  Although I am assuming there will be plenty of security at the event (an added bonus is the large number of security personnel in the casinos and a military base near by...otherwise the nearest reinforcements are five hours away), in these types of situations, taking care of each individual in the crowd is not at the top of law enforcement's priority list.  Such a thing would be impossible of course, due to the number of law enforcement versus the number of people in the crowd, plus LE is there for over all crowd control and major disaster mitigation.
• Finally, I hope to get in and get out as quickly as possible.  We plan to arrive sometime past 10pm and leave shortly after midnight while the crowd parties on. 

I hope you all have a safe and pleasant New Year's Eve.