Prepping For City Dwellers?

[Ursus Minor]

Many people giving advice about preparedness regarding possible future calamities are seeing the world from their rural properties.
Readers following their well-meant suggestions are being told about diesel generators, ammunition depots, water wells, chopped wood, animal husbandry and the like.

The message for people living in conurbations usually is 'Get out of the cities'...

Well, many individuals will not be able to and I'm not totally convinced that rural life can be peaceful when hungry city folks - as long as they are able to fill up - will be descending on the country looking for food. (Perhaps that's when the ammunition depots come into play)

Coming back to preparedness in the city there's only so much you can stock up on while living in a small apartment.

I'm actually 'hording' canned organic food, supplements, batteries, butane gas cans, tea lights and miscellaneous stuff.
Frankly most of the stuff will be running out in mid 2022.

I would very much like to hear from other city dwellers how their own preparations are getting along and what they think they can exclude from the whole array of advices we're being given.

 

[Yupo]

Here's a good book:

Amazon.com

 

[herondancer]

You might find this one helpful too. Tom Brown has written many books on survival for different situations.

Amazon.com

 

[Dreamweaver]

I have a bit of bulk foods, rice, flour,pasta, oats, try to keep extra water on hand, I have camping gear, warm clothes, some heirloom seeds,fishing gear, a bow I need more practice with and I need a couple rat traps as they may work for catching squirrels idk never tried ahaha.
I also have a bicycle for transportation and a small inflatable raft. Most important is the off the cuff problem solving skills and my circle of friends/family.

skills and group skills are key, Buddy knows welding another knows vehicles, bam let's try to make a gasifier to run this vehicle, the list goes on and on.

Too much reliance on a fixed location with tons of gear and supplies possibly makes you less flexible and mobile depending on the circumstances.

Great topic Btw, cities are already pretty chaotic even without the possibilities of carnage/mayhem.

 

[Alejo]

Not looking to stay where I am, a major city, but seeing how rapid things are moving, it might be difficult to move just yet.

I think the links above are a great resource, another thing I've thought about, which is mentioned in several of these topics, is getting to know your neighbors. Living in a city it's almost a custom to not know who lives next to you, everyone's always so busy going from one place to the other.

So, investing some time to getting to know your neighbors is a good practice, they may not share everything you think of, but they may help you out when needed. So having a reciprocal relationship with those around you might go a long way.

Another thing I read about is storing up on items you may be able to trade, I even heard about having female hygiene products, the economy might stop but nature and physiology carries on. Some of these items might become a rarity and quite valuable.

On my end I have been stocking up on canned meats and vegetables, salt, rice, and things as such.

Another item that might go a long way is a decent first aid kit, with some extra medicine, if you can get antibiotics and pain killers, that might make a huge difference. I got myself something similar to this, it's a flash light, radio, USB charger and there's no need for batteries, it charges up solar and with a crank lever.

Another thing that comes to mind is to live beneath your means, this serves the purpose of saving money but also, you'll call less attention upon yourself if it looks like you're not dressed up in expensive clothes and it'll help you to lay low if you need to.

 

[XPan]

You might find this one helpful too. Tom Brown has written many books on survival for different situations.

Amazon.com

Thank you for the reference, Herondancer. I got hold of one via Germany.

 

[cinnamon]

Oh boy... Current preps list - I'm in a 1200 sq ft apartment - more than slightly embarrassed by this:

Water:

• 30 gallons in 5 gallon jugs + water dispenser
• 3x 5 gallon water containers
• Miscellaneous bottled/canned beverages
• 2x Sawyer water filter
• Steripen - handheld UV to kill nasties in water
• Countertop ice maker
• Might get a countertop reverse osmosis machine, still figuring that one out

Power / Fuel:

• GoalZero Yeti 500x Battery
• GoalZero Boulder 100 Panel
• Camping propane grill
• Propane tank
• 5 gallon gasoline tank
• Outstanding - probably need to go find a rocket stove

Food:

• Approximately 4 months' worth of freeze dried meats, assuming full carnivore (keto prepping means you can rapidly extend supplies with rice/beans when you start to 'feel' the panic pick up and front run it)
• Pantry items to extend above, freeze dried veg, etc.
• Freezer is still full of delicious meat
• 2 cases MREs
• Salt, spices, condiments, etc.

Medications:

• Extra year of prescriptions (grey market)
• Extra eyeglasses
• Liposomal Vit C, misc. others commonly mentioned around here
• Still shopping around for a good first aid kit and extended training

Defense:

• ~1k rounds 5.56x45
• ~1k rounds 9mm
• AR-15, magazines, optic, etc.
• 2x Beretta 92X, weapon mounted light, etc.
• Usual eye and ear protection, holster, etc.

Hardware:

• Misc. screws
• Duct tape
• Tool kit
• Spool of nylon rope
• Large tarps
• Ladder

Misc:

• Crank / solar radio
• Solar recharging flashlight
• ~$5k in cash
• Extra fire extinguisher
• Books books books!

Plan for August is to assemble a proper "bug out bag" and test drive it with some light backpacking! "Hygiene preps" are a big oversight here - camp shower, washing board, washing basin, clothespins, dishwashing basins, preventing sewage backflow, and extended emergency waste disposal were things I ignored and neglecting them is a bit of a bee in my bonnet - I didn't think that losing all power and water for more than a week was likely.

Scenarios I was preparing for and considered most likely in the intermediate term:

1. Extended food shortage (6 months?) due to poor harvests / PTB agricultural shenanigans, some food still available but pricey, massive uptick in violence
2. "Cyberpandemic" - utilities go offline for a week, all sorts of chaos breaks loose, complete supply chain failure, needs months to recover
3. Partial supply chain failure due to experimental injection induced plague.

The "increased military intervention at all levels" is something that I didn't fully comprehend the implications of until the latest session - going to guess if a civil war happens, supply chains will be a total disaster for 5 years or so. Updating preps with that in mind while availability lasts.

 

[XPan]

Cinnamon, you are incredible

 

[Candice]

Plan for August is to assemble a proper "bug out bag" and test drive it with some light backpacking!

Great list @cinnamon! Thank you for sharing.

I think it’s important for all to have some sort of portable “bug out bag” ready to go. Especially looking at these crazy floods happening worldwide, we may not have the luxury of staying put. We need to be flexible and ready to go at any moment.

I’m still working on this. Initially I was focused on food but my next focus is water. I like that you have different options there but I’m not sure how much the reverse osmosis machine will be helpful. Is there a reason you’re looking at that as an option? I’m contemplating getting a Berkey water filter for a bug in situation and some portable filters (straw/pump) for bug out.

For anyone interested I found the following site helpful:

Best portable survival water filters

Prepping experts spent 48 hours reviewing the top portable survival water filters for emergencies (like the popular LifeStraw and Sawyer Mini). See our choices for your bug out bag, virus protection, and more!

theprepared.com

 

[Yupo]

Great list @cinnamon! Thank you for sharing.

I think it’s important for all to have some sort of portable “bug out bag” ready to go. Especially looking at these crazy floods happening worldwide, we may not have the luxury of staying put. We need to be flexible and ready to go at any moment.

I’m still working on this. Initially I was focused on food but my next focus is water. I like that you have different options there but I’m not sure how much the reverse osmosis machine will be helpful. Is there a reason you’re looking at that as an option? I’m contemplating getting a Berkey water filter for a bug in situation and some portable filters (straw/pump) for bug out.

For anyone interested I found the following site helpful:

Best portable survival water filters

Prepping experts spent 48 hours reviewing the top portable survival water filters for emergencies (like the popular LifeStraw and Sawyer Mini). See our choices for your bug out bag, virus protection, and more!

theprepared.com

Berkey systems don't need electricity. The smaller ones are very portable.

 

[Candice]

Berkey systems don't need electricity. The smaller ones are very portable.

Hi @Yupo, thank you for the advice.

I agree the Berkey is great as it doesn’t need electricity and it’s portable enough if one can still use a car. However what I meant by “portable” was something small/light enough to carry in a backpack/bugout bag in case one doesn’t have access to a car and needs to go by foot. Thus I’m looking to get a Berkey and a straw or inline type of filter to cover as many situations as possible.

For me this is important as I live in an area prone to earthquakes and typhoons. Either of which could lead to an event where I need to be highly mobile.

 

[Ca.]

Still shopping around for a good first aid kit and extended training

First aid

Find out what to do in emergency situations such as anaphylaxis, bleeding, burns and scalds, choking, drowning, electrocution, fractures, heart attacks, poisoning, shock and stroke.

www.nhs.uk

Advanced First Aid Kit: 12 Essential Items
Nov 8, 2020 RT / 0:30:33

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9 Survival Items Everyone Needs But NO ONE Has

Jul 25, 2021

Caring for animals in natural disasters | Business Queensland

www.business.qld.gov.au

 

[Lucius]

For my part:
- 30 kg of natural, frozen, vacuum-packed meat
- 300k of groats, vacuum-packed ric
- lots of canned goods,
- sleeping bags down to minus 20 degrees,
- stun gun, map, compass (it may be useless),
- lots of books
- board games, candles, kerosene lamps plus fuel to them,
- medicines, vitamins,
- fire extinguishers, equipment for opening doors and windows (as if I could not get into my car or my house),
- commercial items: 25 kg of natural vacuum-packed tobacco, wooden pipes, multitools, headlamps.

I have it in 3 places (Cities) because I prepared it for my family in my family home, in my girlfriend's house, and in my place where I live, so 3 places. All packed and prepared.

We plan to buy 20kg nuts and more canned food (fish) plus more things for the Ice Age, ie. thermal underwear, shoes, jacket. Walki takie radio, solar panel batteries and wood stove.

I have already spent PLN 30k on the whole. I still have cash to invest and watch what is happening at stock makret plus I buy lots of books. I don't know if it will be useful, but by doing it I learn new things, plus myself, I'm open to the future because I know that nothing is certain.

I'm only worried that I live in the city, but I do what I can, keeping calm and optimism, it would be best if I bought a land and built an aframe house, in the Polish mountains closer to 49 parallels. Or in France, near the village FOTCM.

If it is given to me, it will happen, I will be ok in the Polish mountains, if I will be in city, well, apparently that is how it should be, no matter where you are but who you are and what you see, see invisible. From the perspective of the changes that are already taking place and to come, for the whole earth and space.

 

[cinnamon]

Great list @cinnamon! Thank you for sharing.

I think it’s important for all to have some sort of portable “bug out bag” ready to go. Especially looking at these crazy floods happening worldwide, we may not have the luxury of staying put. We need to be flexible and ready to go at any moment.

I’m still working on this. Initially I was focused on food but my next focus is water. I like that you have different options there but I’m not sure how much the reverse osmosis machine will be helpful. Is there a reason you’re looking at that as an option? I’m contemplating getting a Berkey water filter for a bug in situation and some portable filters (straw/pump) for bug out.

For anyone interested I found the following site helpful:

Best portable survival water filters

Prepping experts spent 48 hours reviewing the top portable survival water filters for emergencies (like the popular LifeStraw and Sawyer Mini). See our choices for your bug out bag, virus protection, and more!

theprepared.com

The Sawyer filters get down to 0.1 micron - which gets rid of a lot of things floating around - but they don't remove chemical contaminants or salt. Reverse osmosis does. Agreed about uncertainty of how helpful it might be.

 

[Lucius]

Great list @cinnamon! Thank you for sharing.

I think it’s important for all to have some sort of portable “bug out bag” ready to go. Especially looking at these crazy floods happening worldwide, we may not have the luxury of staying put. We need to be flexible and ready to go at any moment.

I’m still working on this. Initially I was focused on food but my next focus is water. I like that you have different options there but I’m not sure how much the reverse osmosis machine will be helpful. Is there a reason you’re looking at that as an option? I’m contemplating getting a Berkey water filter for a bug in situation and some portable filters (straw/pump) for bug out.

For anyone interested I found the following site helpful:

Best portable survival water filters

Prepping experts spent 48 hours reviewing the top portable survival water filters for emergencies (like the popular LifeStraw and Sawyer Mini). See our choices for your bug out bag, virus protection, and more!

theprepared.com

There should be no shortage of water, just to be able to melt the snow. So in my opinion, water filters are unnecessary. Just like worrying about refrigerators, etc. Outside the window it will be so cold that you can easily put the meat out and it will be like in a freezer.