Urban Survival Tactics

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Survival means more than survival in the country or rural areas that feature relatively easy access to land, livestock (as a food source), and other things that are not typically available in the city.

With a little planning, creativity, and effort, however, it is possible to develop survival skills in an urban environment. Although modifications may be in order, many urban survivalists use similar survival techniques as their counterparts who live in rural area.

A basic goal of urban survival is being prepared and there are many ways to prepare for catastrophic events and disasters in the city.

These days, there are many reasons for a city dweller to adopt basic urban survivalist techniques. Indeed, man-made disasters, acts of terrorism, pandemics, government upheaval, and natural disasters such as tornadoes, flooding, hurricanes, and losing power in the winter for prolonged periods of time due to snow or ice storms are all urban survival considerations.

Water for Urban Survival

There are a number of ways to incorporate survivalist skills into urban living. One of the most important things when doing disaster planning is to make sure there is enough water for drinking, cooking, and for personal hygiene. Perhaps the best way to stockpile water is to fill several plastic containers. Fairly large plastic bleach bottles, milk bottles, and fruit juice bottles are ideal for this. 

Food For Urban Survival

Obviously, having enough food is an issue during a disaster. As a result, start stockpiling canned food in preparation for a possible catastrophic event. And make sure you have two or more manual can openers!

With some planning and creativity, it is possible to stockpile enough food and water to last a person or a family in an urban setting many weeks. For instance, food and water can be stored on closet shelves, under beds, on book shelves, in a garage, in a basement, in a den, in an attic, or put in dresser drawers that are not being used. 

Power For Urban Survival

Power is another thing that is needed to be an urban survivalist. Many small, inexpensive generators are available on the market. Of course, if a person decides to go this route, he or she will have to store enough gas to operate the generator for many hours. Some homeowners might consider retrofitting their house with "off-the-grid" solar panels.

Always keep a number of flashlights, extra batteries, candles, and matches on hard in case your natural gas and electricity are disrupted. If, for example, your house or apartment losses power in the winter, you will need to address the need for heat.

Make sure you have extra winter clothing, heavy blankets, high quality sleeping bags, and enough duct tape to seal off doors and windows in order to reduce heat loss.

An Emergency Survival Kit

Make sure you have an emergency survival kit on hand. Some people call these kits a "Bug Out Bag." These emergency kits contain prepackaged items and are easy to grab at a moment's notice if you or your family needs to leave your home or apartment during a crisis.

Emergency survival kits usually contain food, water, first aid supplies, a flashlight with extra batteries, matches, a can opener, a good utility knife, a map, a radio, water purification supplies, needle and thread, a container that can be used for cooking, a blanket, at least 25 feet of rope, duct tape, and plastic bags.

Such items will come in handy in case you have to leave your residence. Fortunately, there are also specialized kits for tornado, earthquake, flood, and hurricane survival that you can purchase.

Urban Survival: Conclusion

As you can see, with some planning, effort, and creativity you can be relatively well prepared for many man-made and natural disasters in an urban environment.

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