What Now ? Urban Disaster Readiness

Copyright © 2013 by J. Meister  All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any written, electronic, recording, or photocopying without written permission of the publisher or author. The exception would be in the case of brief quotations embodied in the critical articles or reviews and pages where permission is specifically granted by the publisher or author.

Although every reasonable precaution has been taken to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein, the author and publisher assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions. This information is merely provided for entertainment purposes. The author and publisher are in no way responsible for any actions taken on not taken by the reader. No liability is assumed for injuries, damages or deaths that may result from the use of information contained within.

Dedication

This work is dedicated to my family. Everything I do is for them and their well being. The time I have spent studying survival and disaster preparedness is all so that I can keep them safe should an emergency occur.

What Now ?

Urban Disaster Readiness

A ‘Concrete Jungle’ Survival / Preparedness manual

By

J. Meister

Table of Contents

Preface

Part One – Preparations for Independence

1 – Overview

2 – Physical Preparedness

3 – First Aid Training & Supplies

4 – Window / Patio Farming

5 – Self Defense / Weapons

6 – Home Security

7 – Friends & Neighbors

Part Two – Now what do we do?

8 – Overview

9 – Make it home safe

10 – Staying Home

11 – Food Supply

12 – Water

13 – Survival Caches

14 – Health & Hygiene

15 – Bug Out Bag or GOOD Bag

16 – Should I stay or should I go?

17 – Transportation

18 – Things to consider

Recommended Links

About the Author

Preface

You were probably like me at one time, asking yourself, why should you worry about preparing for a disaster? Everything will be ok, right? Surely the government will be ready to help us if a disaster strikes.

Many of us have read the stories on Hurricane Katrina, Super storm Sandy and Typhoon Haiyan. We have seen how the governments have struggled to care for their citizens. You are probably here reading this now because like me you have realized that a disaster can strike at any time and that the government may not be ready to help us as quickly as we thought.

I believe we have all have a watershed moment, an event that happens in our lives or the lives of our loved ones, that causes us to doubt our previously held beliefs.

On Thursday September 8th 2011 the southwestern United States suffered a massive power outage. The blackout left almost 7 million people without power. The outage was the result of over 20 distinct events that occurred in less than 5 minutes. Although power was restored in approximately 24 hours, the event showed me how much my way of life depends on electricity.

Over the next few weeks I begin to think carefully about possible disasters that could affect my family. I also started to look a lot closer at our economy and the very real possibility of an economic collapse. It became clear to me that it was time for our lives to change. In the last few years my family and I have made many changes to our lifestyle to increase our odds of surviving in an emergency.

While, in a disaster situation, it might be ideal to find yourself living on a farm with crops growing and animals for food. The simple truth is that most of us do not live on farms. According to WHO, (World Health Organization) almost 79% of the US population now live in an urban environment. The modern society we live in requires most of us to live in a city in order to work and provide for our families.

This book is my attempt to offer some practical advice on steps you can take to increase your ability to be more self sufficient and survive the aftermath of a disaster situation. It is expected that you will take this book and build on it, making your own unique disaster plan suited for you and the lives of your loved ones.

With that being said it is time to get to work making ourselves a little more independent and free.

Part One

Preparations for Independence

1 – Overview

The time to be ready for a disaster is before it strikes.

In part one of this book, we will look at steps that will improve your level of independence and safety. We will address some basic topics such as improving your physical fitness, tightening up your home security, creating a small garden self defense and more. This is designed to give you a better foundation upon which to make your disaster preparations.

Part two will review actions you can take to increase your comfort and safety in the aftermath of a disaster. Part two will cover many topics including food, water and staying home versus bugging out.

You may be tempted to skip ahead to other chapters, but I urge you to read every chapter in its entirety.

Now if you are ready lets turn the page and begin our journey down the path of preparedness, do not worry I will be with you every step of the way.

2 – Physical Preparedness

"When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless and intelligence cannot be applied." - Herophilus

Our health is perhaps our greatest treasure, more valuable than all the gold or silver in the world. Ask anyone who is, or has been severely ill, and they will tell you that there is nothing that compares with feely healthy and strong. Remember all of the weapons and supplies in the world will not do you any good if you have a heart attack the first time you have to walk up 5 flights of stairs to your apartment.

Consider these statistics: Over 35% of the United States population is considered to be obese. Obesity is defined as someone being over 30 pounds overweight. 79% of the United States population is unable to meet the Physical Activity Guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity. This means that 79% of the US population is not in proper physical condition. How can anyone properly care for themselves or their families in a crisis if they are not in the proper physical condition?

The Cooper Institute of Dallas, Texas created fitness standards that represent minimum levels of fitness that offer protection against the diseases that result from sedentary living. They suggest that every healthy adult should be able to do the following: 

- Run a mile in under 8:30 without stopping

- 24 Curl-ups 

- 18 Push-ups 

- 14 Pull-ups 

- 15 second flexed arm hang 

- Trunk lift of at least 9" 

- Back Saver sit and reach of at least 8"

Obviously this is just one set of recommendations and by no means will it prepare you completely for a disaster scenario, but it does give you a basic idea of the minimum level of fitness necessary to protect your health.

Improving your health

What should you do to get yourself in the best shape you can before it is to late? First you must consider what type of activity you may be engaged in if a disaster strikes. Do you live in an apartment building? Will you be forced to walk up and down 5 flights of stairs multiple times each day? Will you have to carry food and water up those stairs? If you have to travel 5 miles to a relief station can you walk or ride a bicycle that distance? Are you capable of carrying 20 pounds from a relief station back to your home?

These are the type of questions you will need to ask yourself as you begin down the path to your fitness goals. Remember we are striving to attain a 'survival level' of fitness, which is to say that we are seeking a level of fitness that will enable us to perform the tasks necessary for our survival after a disaster.

Now that you have had a chance to consider what type of activity you might have to perform for your survival, your next step should be to set yourself some minimum fitness goals. Try to keep your goals to small bite sized pieces. For example if you wanted to run for 30 minutes non-stop, your first goal might be to run for 5 minutes and walk for 10 minutes and repeat. Once your first goal was completed, you would increase it to run for 8 minutes and walk for 7 minutes and repeat. Every few days you can continue to increase the running time until you have reached your large goal of a non-stop 30 minute run.

*** Warning - See a Doctor – You should not begin any diet or exercise program without first seeing a medical professional. ***

Here are some ideas to get you started on the path to a stronger more fit you.

Fitness Center 

Purchasing a membership at the local fitness center is a wonderful way to get access to the equipment needed to get yourself into better physical condition.

Advantages: The wide array of equipment available at a fitness center can give you a huge advantage in your quest for physical fitness. There are treadmills, stair climbers, rowing machines and stationary bicycles for your aerobic exercise. There are free weights and weight machines for improving strength and many even have swimming pools for overall conditioning.

Disadvantages: The cost of joining a fitness center is a very real concern and a major drawback for many people. Many fitness memberships can cost $50 - $100 dollars per month. Another disadvantage is that you must travel to and from the gym. This necessity to drive back and forth requires more time and inconvenience. One final disadvantage is lack of privacy, at a gym you are forced to work out with many other people next to you. This could make some people feel uncomfortable. As useful as it can be, many people purchase a membership and then rarely go to use it.

Home gym / equipment

The home fitness equipment market has greatly expanded in recent years. The Soloflex, Bowflex treadmills, rowing machines and the Norditrack are just a few examples of equipment you can buy. These machines will help you build a firm fitness foundation.

Advantages: Variety is a great advantage, there are many different types of machines, this variety allows you to purchase the one best suited for your individual fitness goals. Since it is a home gym you will be able to work out on your own schedule with no need to drive to the local fitness center. It is inside your house so no matter what the weather is like outside you are free to workout in the relative comfort of your home.    

Disadvantages: The cost of many home gyms can be a huge disadvantage. Many of the machines will cost over $1000. Another drawback is space, many of the home fitness machines need 6 – 8 square feet of space. The large footprint of some home fitness equipment will make it impossible for some people to fit them in their apartment or condominium. One exception is the rowing machine, I have one that cost only $150 and it fits under my bed when not in use.

Swimming

Swimming is a popular, fun and a great form of exercise. Swimming can strengthen the cardiovascular system, improve flexibility and strengthens muscles.  Since there is little ground contact while swimming there is little to no stress put on the knee and ankle joints. Swimming is so beneficial that even the Arthritis foundation sponsors swim classes.

Advantages: Swimming is easier on the joints then many other forms of exercise. Swimming is a great way to get your aerobic exercise and improve the overall condition of your body. Perhaps the biggest advantage of swimming is that it can be enjoyed by almost everyone, young or old. This makes it a great family activity.     

Disadvantages: The biggest disadvantage in choosing swimming as a part of your exercise program is, that you must have access to a swimming pool. Most people who live in a building in the larger cities do not have a pool readily available. The lack of having a swimming pool to use, forces most people to join a gym, in order to add swimming to their exercise program. Another disadvantage for some is that you must first know how to swim. Approximately 37% of the US population does not know how to swim. So if swimming sounds like a good option for you first make sure that you and all of your loved ones attend swimming lessons or a water safety course prior to going swimming.

Jumping rope

We have all seen the children on the play ground jumping rope and making silly rhymes. But can a jump rope be a good piece of exercise equipment? Jumping rope is a great way to burn calories, it improves cardiovascular fitness and tones muscle. 15 minutes of jumping rope is comparable to running a mile.

Advantages: A jump rope may be one of the least expensive pieces of exercise equipment you can purchase. A common jump rope can be bought for about $10 at a local retail store. You can jump rope almost anywhere indoors or outdoors. All you need to exercise is a jump rope and about 10 square feet of empty space.

Disadvantages: Jumping rope can be difficult for some individuals, the constant jumping puts a large amount of stress on the knees, ankles and hips.

Biking

Biking is an excellent aerobic exercise. It has the added benefit that it is less likely to cause injury to the knees and ankles when compared to running, jogging or jumping rope. Bicycle riding can be a great and fun family activity.

Advantages: Bicycling is a great aerobic workout and gets you out in the fresh air and sunshine. Bicycles are great for simple errands. The next time you need something small from the grocery store don’t drive use your bicycle. Although a decent bicycle can cost you a couple of hundred dollars, once you have purchased it there is very little maintenance cost. A bicycle will also give you much more flexibility to get around in a disaster situation.

Disadvantages: If you have an accident while riding you can be severely injured, especially if you are struck be a motor vehicle. If your building does not have a safe storage area at ground level, you may have to store your bicycle in your own home. In the city there are so many cars that you will be exposed to the exhaust and pollution if you are riding on a main road.

Additional idea; If you choose a bicycle, consider purchasing a basket for your bicycle. Another useful idea is to purchase a small trailer to pull behind your bicycle. This trailer could be useful for hauling supplies from a relief station to your home.

Walking

Walking is one of the most natural and best exercises you can do. A good plan is to begin with a 20 minute walk three times a week. As time goes on slowly increase your pace until you are walking at a very fast pace for example 4 miles per hour. You can also increase the difficulty of your walks by carrying a 10 or 20 pound backpack. Having the Backpack on gives you added benefit of simulating a Bug Out scenario. I recommend doing the practice Bug Out walk at least twice a month.

Advantages: Walking has a low impact on the joints and muscles. Almost anyone can take a walk for fun and physical fitness. The fresh air and sunshine can be a great way to calm the mind after a stressful day.   

Disadvantages: One possible disadvantage of walking is that you are exposed to any bad weather conditions. Crime may be a disadvantage as well, be sure that you are living in a safe neighborhood prior to going out for a long walk. It is best to take your walks in a well known area close to your home or the general public. 

Martial arts

The name Martial arts, is a broad term that is most commonly used for the self-defense and fighting systems originating from Asia. Karate and Kung fu are perhaps two of the most well known styles of Martial arts.

Karate originated from Japan sometime in the 1300’s. As trade with China increased a vast variety of different styles emerged throughout the Japanese landscape. Over the course of hundreds of years it settled into the common styles we know today.

Kung Fu is the name given to the popularized self defense style originating in China. The earliest records of martial arts in China, is in 5th century BC. However the popular Shaolin style made famous by the monks living in the Shaolin temples did not make an appearance in any historical documents until the 7th century.

There are many more styles both historical and modern. One of the most effective modern styles is the Israeli Krav Maga. Krav Maga is known for focusing on real world combat situations and is known for having swift brutal counter attacks.

Each fighting style has its own unique advantages and challenges to the student. I would recommend that a person take an introductory lesson in two or three styles prior to signing up for long term training. Martial arts may be the most important choice you can make for a physical fitness program, but it is imperative that you choose a style that feels right for you and your body.

Advantages: One key advantage in choosing Martial arts as a fitness regime, is that you get the physical exercise you need, while learning to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Disadvantages: There are two disadvantages to learning Martial arts. One is the time required, it can takes years to learn an art properly. The second disadvantage is the money needed to take lessons from a qualified professional.

Despite these drawbacks there is no disputing that being trained in a form of self defense such as the Martial arts can be an important part of being prepared to for any potential conflict after a crises situation.

The most important assets you have are your body and mind. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to keep yourself in the best physical shape possible.

Remember no matter how little you exercise or how slow you are moving you are still lapping the ones sitting on the couch.

3 – First Aid Training & Supplies

In a disaster scenario, the help you need may not be available for hours or even days. This means that if you or those around you are injured you may be forced to treat them with little or no outside assistance.

For the purposes of this book I have split this chapter into 3 parts. Part 1 is a list of some basic methods to treat some common injuries. Part 2 is advice on where to find training. Part 3 is a basic list of first aid supplies to have on hand.

Please remember that you should receive proper training from a certified instructor prior to attempting to render first aid to anyone.

Common Injuries

Below I have listed some common injuries you might encounter after a disaster strikes. I have listed some basic treatments you can administer for the injured individual. This advice is by no means meant to supersede professional help. Always seek the help of competent professionals in an emergency.

Shock

A person experiencing shock may exhibit various signs and symptoms. The skin may be cool and clammy, they may appear pale or gray. Their pulse could be weak and rapid. Their breathing may become slow and shallow, or they could start to hyperventilate. The person may become nauseated or even vomit.

If you suspect shock, or even if a person seems normal after an injury,

Call 911 immediately.

Treatment

If possible, have them lie down with the feet elevated above the head. Make sure to keep the person warm and comfortable. Loosen any belts or tight clothing and cover the person with a blanket or coat, until help arrives.

Cuts

Minor to severe lacerations (cuts) are a common injury after a disaster. Some basic steps to treating a laceration are listed below.

Attempt to stop the bleeding by applying direct pressure on the area.

Clean the wound with warm water

Apply an antibiotic ointment to the wound

Place a sterile bandage of the appropriate size over the wound to prevent infection.

If the wound is deep, continues to bleed, is from an animal bite or over a joint be sure to seek medical attention.

If no help is available you may find yourself forced to attempt to stitch a wound yourself. The steps below are just a basic stitching method.

First – Clean the wound thoroughly. If possible wash it with either boiled water or disinfectant.

Make sure you have sterile supplies including needles and thread.

Hold the cut so that the edges of the wound are barely touching.

Make your stitches about ½ CM or ¼ inch from the wounds edge and about the same distance apart.

Tie the end of the string carefully.

Cover the wound with antibiotic ointment, Cover with a clean bandage.

Seek professional help immediately.

Broken bones

For a simple clean injury such as a broken arm or finger you may be able to apply basic first aid. However if the break is very severe, such as a broken hip or broken back, you should seek help prior to attempting any first aid.

I will use a broken bone in the foot for this example of treatment.

The person should stay off the foot if possible.

Avoid any movement or pressure that causes pain

Keep the injured area elevated to reduce swelling

You may wrap ice in a towel and apply to the area for up to 20 minutes at a time

The person could possibly take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for any pain

Remember to seek help at the earliest opportunity.

Burns

In a disaster situation burns can be a common injury. Houses or apartment building may catch on fire either from the disaster or from people burning materials to stay warm or cook. Burns can be extremely painful for the victim and very difficult to treat.

The 3 most common types of burns are. First degree (Affecting Top Layer of Skin), Second degree (Affecting Top 2 Layers of Skin) and Third degree burns.

The information listed below will give you a few basic steps for treating common burns.

First Degree Burns

If possible hold the burned area under cold running water. Cover the area with a clean bandage. Have the individual take a pain reliever such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol), or naproxen (Aleve) for the pain

Second Degree Burns

Immerse the burned area in cool water for 15 minutes.

Attempt not to damage or pop any blisters.

Apply a loose, sterile, nonstick bandage to the burned area.

Have the person lie down and elevate the feet to help reduce the risk of shock.

Seek professional help at the earliest opportunity.

Third Degree Burns

For a severe burn please seek help immediately.

Possible treatment until help arrives.

Apply a loose, sterile, nonstick bandage to the burned area.

Do not use cold water or any ointments, which can cause infection.

If possible have the person lie down and elevate the feet to help reduce the risk of shock.

Note: if the burn is on the face or head, have the person sit up.

Monitor the injured person closely until help arrives.

Electric Shock

The risk of electric shock is especially high in a disaster scenario. Earthquakes or severe weather can topple buildings and expose power lines. Some extra caution is needed when attempting to help someone who has been shocked.

Your first priority is to check to see if the person is safely away from the electrical source. You will not be able to offer assistance if you get yourself electrocuted.

Check the injured person for signs of breathing and a pulse. If necessary begin CPR until help arrives.

If possible have the person lie down and elevate the feet to help reduce the risk of shock.

Treat any visible injuries, cuts, burns etc.

Seek medical attention immediately.

Heart Attack

A heart attack is one of the most common causes of death in America. In a crisis situation the added stress, tension and physical activity can increase the risk of heart attack for some individuals.

Some of the common symptoms of a Heart Attack can include:

About 2/3 of heart attack victims feel a discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts, or comes and goes away.

Pain, discomfort or tingling in the left arm.

The person may experience Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.

Other symptoms could include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

If you witness someone having an apparent heart attack here are some steps you can take to be of assistance.

First and foremost Call 911 or your local emergency numbers

If necessary you can perform CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) to keep the victim alive until help arrives. CPR is used to maintain blood flowing through the body manually until further measures can be taken to restart the heart. It is indicated in those who are unresponsive with no breathing or pulse.

CPR is performed by using chest compressions about 5 cm deep at a rate of about 80 – 100 per minute. Mouth to mouth resuscitation may be used in conjunction with CPR.

Another possible way to provide assistance to a heart attack victim is through the use of an AED. Many public areas such as shopping malls and movie theaters have an AED device on hand. Quick defibrillation (delivery of an electrical shock) is sometimes necessary to return the heart rhythm to a normal heartbeat. Be sure to read the instructions to avoid misusing the device.

Above all the victim of a heart attack needs professional medical care immediately.

First Aid Training

There are many resources available in almost every city for basic first aid training. The Red Cross offers very good CPR and first aid courses. This basic training will provide a good firm foundation for you to build upon. http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class. I would also recommend that at least two people in you family take a course in basic EMT skills.

In addition to taking training courses I would recommend you read a few manuals on basic first aid practices. Below is a list of some basic skills you should try to acquire.

Minimum Skills

Clean and Dress a wound

Stitch a wound

CPR

Heimlich Maneuver

Mouth to mouth

Make a sling

Make a splint for a broken bone

Treat electric shock

Proper burn treatment

In order to be able to provide assistance to any injured person you will need to have the best first aid supplies on hand. Below is a list of some items you will want to have on hand.

Basic Supplies

One of the best ways to store your first aid supplies is in a large first aid kit. You can purchase a good standard large first aid kit on Amazon. After you purchase the kit, then do a complete inventory of the items and add or remove items to suit your own personal needs. Below is a list of a few items I recommend you add to your first aid kit.

First Aid Manual

Adhesive Band-Aids various sizes and shapes

Cloth Bandages

Safety pins in assorted sizes

Gauze pads

Medical tape

Antibiotic ointments

Antiseptics

Burn Creams

Cotton balls and cotton-tipped swabs

Heat packs

Cold packs

Hand sanitizer

Latex gloves

Sterile eyewash

Thermometer

Medications

Scissors

Tweezers

Anti-diarrhea medication

Antihistamines  Claritin , Allegra or Benadryl

Aspirin

Tylenol

Ibuprofen

Calamine lotion

EpiPen

Syringes

Emergency space blanket

Now that you have some basic training and the minimum supplies on hand it is time to practice. Just as every family should have a fire drill; it is also a good idea to have a first aid drill. You can turn the drills into good family time. Your whole family can take turns playing the wounded patient and the others get to be the medics caring for that individual. Turning it into a game is a great way to help younger kids gain basic knowledge without getting bored.

4 – Window / Patio Farming

If someone were to ask you, would you like your family to eat healthier and feel better? Would you like to have a good emergency food source?  I am sure you would answer yes. However if you live in an apartment building in the middle of the city, the idea of growing your own food may seem impossible. Well I am here to show you a few ways that you can start to grow your own food even in your fifth floor apartment. It will not be easy but the pay off of eating healthier and having a continuous food supply is well worth the work.

In the next few pages I will give you a few ideas of ways to grow your own food in a very limited space. Once you have read this information you will then be able to start measuring your own windows and balconies to design you very own miniature farm. So, let’s begin growing our own food.

Window gardens             

Do you have a nice sunny window in your home? Surely at least one or two of your windows get a few hours of sunlight each day. If so why not put that window to use by adding a nice window garden.

There are a number of different ways to create a window garden. I prefer to reuse plastic bottles. You can either use the whole bottle with a hole cut in the side or you can cut the bottle in half and use both the top and the bottom. You simply hang the bottles from the top of your window sill and connect the bottles together one beneath the next.

Below are a few images of a window garden.

A number of small to medium vegetables will grow very well in a simple window garden. Here are a few items I grow in my window garden.

Carrots are a good source of a variety of vitamins, minerals such as vitamins B6, A, C, and K, they are also very good for your eyes. Plant the seeds one inch apart. If you are using a 2 liter plastic bottle you can probably grow 4 or 5 per bottle. Keep the soil moist, but not soaking wet. The carrots will be ready for harvest when they have grown to about ¾ of an inch across the top.

Green Onions contain chromium, vitamin C and flavonoids. Green Onions can support heart health, aid in lowering blood sugar and may fight off certain types of cancer. Plant seeds about 1 inch deep. Harvest after about 80 days or when the stalks have reached 7 inches tall.

Spinach & Lettuce

Leafy greens such as spinach and lettuce may contain vitamins A, C, and K, and also contain iron. Plant 1 or 2 lettuce plants per bottle and 4 – 6 spinach plants per bottle. Water the soil daily, making sure that it always remains moist to the touch. Frequently you will be able to pull off only the outer leaves and allow the plants to keep growing.

Balcony Garden

Many apartments and condominiums have a private balcony for each unit. While the balconies are not large, they can still make an ideal place to have a nice small garden. You can grow a large variety of vegetables is a very small space through the use of containers and trellises.

Below are some images of how you might lay out a balcony garden.

Using Pots for your plants

Tower garden                      Wall Garden

Pallet Garden                     Climbing beans

Many common items can be grown on a balcony. You could grow Spinach, Beans, Peas, Onions, Strawberries, Lettuce, Cucumbers, Tomatoes and even lemons or mandarin oranges. A small Lemon, Orange or even Avocado tree will grow very well on the corner of your balcony.

Avocados

Avocados contain vitamins A, E, B6 and carotenoids. They are also very rich in healthy fats. Simply purchase a dwarf avocado tree and place the tree into a 10 or 15 gallon planter. Water the tree regularly to keep soil moist, but do not over water.

Lemons

Lemons contain a high amount of vitamin C and antioxidants which could help decrease heart disease risk and fight some cancers. Purchase dwarf lemon tree and place the tree into a 10 or 15 gallon planter. Water the tree regularly to keep soil moist, but do not over water.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain lycopene, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and they may help prevent heart disease. I use a 6 - 9 inch pot for each tomato plant. Remember to rotate your planting so that you can have a continuous supply of tomatoes. Keep the soil moist by watering daily. When the fruits are red and firm, they are ready to eat.

One additional idea for your indoor garden is to grow Mushrooms.

Mushrooms are a good source of fiber and vitamin C as well as antioxidants and cancer-fighting compounds. The safest and easiest way to grow mushrooms indoors is to purchase a mushroom growing kit.

I personally have 2 window gardens, each containing 24 containers. I also have almost 40 plants growing on my balcony. This should give you an idea of how much food can be grown in a very small space. 

Now that you have some basic information it is time for you to get out there and start growing your own money.

5 – Self Defense / Weapons

There is no doubt that living in a large city can be a wonderful and rewarding experience. Whether you choose to live there for the vast career opportunities, the access to arts and cultural entertainment or you just love to be a part of the vast network of people, you are in good company. The majority of Americans now live in an urban environment.

While city life can be exciting and interesting it is not without some challenges, and crime / violence is one of the biggest risk factors when living in a large city. For an example of the potential dangers of city life, all one has to do is look at Chicago, in 2012 there were an estimated 506 murders and over 20,000 burglaries. This statistic alone demonstrates the importance of being trained in self defense and weapons.

Now just let’s consider one very possible scenario. If the economy continues to decline or if we face another recession, unemployment could increase to 20% the government would not be able to support or help everyone. If people are unable to get help, they could become desperate as they struggle to feed themselves and pay their bills. As a result of increased unemployment and poverty crime would increase rapidly especially in an urban environment. It is really simple, you have food and they need it. Although this may not happen, it is your job to be ready for this possibility.

In this chapter we will review some basic methods you can use to protect yourself and your loved ones. We will also review various weapons that may be useful to have in an urban environment.

Self Defense

Self defense, the ability to take action to defend yourself or your loved ones, is a basic human right.

Your Mind

Your mind is the most powerful tool you have in any crisis. The ability to stay calm and focus on the problem at hand can mean the difference between life and death. Situational awareness can give you the precious seconds you need to be ready to defend yourself against an attack. Practice paying extra attention to the environment around you. When you take a walk pay attention to the people around you, notice what they are doing, what they are wearing etc... At home try to notice the sounds of your building, so that your mind will be able to catch the unusual sounds, if they occur. It may seem a little paranoid, but practicing these exercises will help you to stay aware of your environment.

Your Body

By far the greatest assets you have in any emergency are your body and mind. It is imperative that you keep your body in the best physical condition possible, not only for your health but also so that you will be ready should you be forced to fight to protect yourself in a crisis. I highly recommend that you and every member of your family pursue various types of self defense training.

Based on my personal experience, one of the best forms of self defense is the Israeli art of Krav Maga. The fighting style focuses on the most useful and practical solutions in a conflict. You could also consider the standard martial arts such as Kung Fu or Karate but it will take a longer amount of time to become effective in these styles. Many martial artists must study for a year or more before they are able to effectively defend themselves. Given the time required to learn self defense, you should start training immediately. Not only will you be able to defend yourself but the added exercise will help keep you in the best shape possible.

One thing you should be aware of if you are considering taking lessons, is the cost. Martial arts training can cost uppity $75 per week. So be sure that you shop around and find an art and class that fits you and your budget.

Weapons

The use of weapons has always been a controversial topic, especially in the past few years. The recent mass shootings in the USA have put the subject of gun ownership and gun rights, in the forefront of most people’s minds.

No matter why you are starting your preparations, whether you are preparing for the EOTWAWKI (end of the world as we know it) or you just want to prepare for basic home defense, weapons are a key part of your preparations.

Let’s just consider one very simple basic scenario. If the economy were to continue on its present course we could be in for another recession/depression. If unemployment were to increase to 20% the government would not be able to support or help everyone. People could become desperate and struggle very hard to feed themselves or their loved ones. As a result of the increased poverty, crime could increase rapidly and anyone who did not keep their preparations a secret would be a prime target. It is really simple, you have food and they need it. It is your job to be ready for this possibility.

Now let’s look at some basic weapon types and their possible uses in an urban environment. We will review Tasers, Stun guns, Collapsible Batons, Pepper Spray, Knives, Bow, Handguns and Long guns.

Taser / Stun Gun

Tasers and Stun Guns can be a very effective non lethal self defense tool if used properly.

A Taser looks a lot like a large handgun, it works by shooting two darts that are attached by writes to the gun. The two wire leads attached to the target can deliver 50,000 volts, or more, of electricity. This electrical discharge causes the muscles to seize up and short circuits the nervous system, temporarily disabling a person. However in order for it to work properly the two wire leads must attach to the target.

A Stun gun is hand held, typically larger than a cell phone, a standard size might be 1" X 3" X 6". The Stun gun has two metal points at the top. The two points are held against the target as the on button is pushed, this will deliver an electric charge into the target. While the Stun gun is smaller than a Taser the disadvantage is that it must be held against the target in order to properly work. This means that you must be within arms reach of the intended target, and if you are wrestling with the target, you might stun yourself as well.

Collapsible Baton

Whether you call them a collapsible baton, telescopic baton or security baton they are essentially the same non-lethal defensive weapon used by police and military the world over.

They can be used to strike, block or hit an attacker. The solid intimidating appearance, will typical cause an aggressor to hesitate giving the defender room to move or run. A collapsible baton typically will consist of a 6 to 8 inch handle with a couple of sections hidden in the handle. You usually can open it with a flick of the wrist, swing it down and the two sections extend, making it anywhere from 16 - 21 inches long. You close it by simply pushing the end against a hard surface.

In addition to being an intimidating weapon the collapsible baton can be used to break windows, break the safety glass surrounding fire extinguishers, or pry open doors to gain entry. The small size, light weight and versatility of this item makes it a must have for anyone wanting to be better prepared.

Pepper Spray

Pepper spray is a chemical spray compound used by police and military for crowd control in riots and can also be used by civilians for personal self defense against people or animal attacks.

The primary active ingredient in pepper spray is usually capsaicin, which comes from chili plants. When sprayed in the face and eyes of an attacker it can cause a burning sensation, difficulty breathing and temporary blindness. The effects can last 15 - 30 minutes or longer.

Pepper spray can be purchased at most gun stores as well as online through sites such as Amazon. The typical spray unit is small (5 inches), light weight and can easily fit in your pocket. The low price, effectiveness and ease of use make this a great self defense tool. I highly recommend purchasing several units.

Knives

While it may not seem to be very important in an urban environment, a good knife can be very valuable in a disaster situation. I would recommend having multiple utility knives on hand for various uses, such as cutting rope to tie a sling, cutting a seat belt to escape a car or cutting towels to make emergency bandages.

However as a self defense tool the knife is not a wise choice. Knife fighting requires you to be very close to your opponent and a person could be stabbed multiple times and still continue fighting. Unless you are professionally trained the knife is likely to be taken from you and used against you. You would only want to use a knife for defense as a last resort.

Bow

While the bow has been popularized as a weapon in movies such as Rambo and The Hunger Games, it is my opinion that it is not a practical defensive weapon. In the time it takes to shoot two arrows at an opponent he will have shot five bullets at you. However, for hunting, a bow can be a great asset. The silence of the bow is one of its best features. You can take down your target without alerting any animals or humans that you have just caught your dinner.

Unfortunately in an urban environment there would be almost no opportunity to hunt so a bow will probably be of little to no practical use.

However, if you insist on owning a bow or if you are considering bugging out to the country, I personally recommend the following. Compound bows – Darton DS3900 or the Quest Hammer are both good models. Recurve bows The Martin Jaguar or the Martin Saber.  Crossbows – try the SA Sports Fever Crossbow.

Keep in mind that to attain any level of skill on a bow will take quite some time. It is possible that you may have to practice for a year or more before you will be able to hit your target accurately and consistently.

Handguns

First and foremost I can not stress the importance of having every member of your household take a firearms safety training course. Safety is the first step before owning any firearm. In addition to safety it is also imperative that you check with your local authorities, some cities are beginning to outlaw firearms, or have very strict firearm ownership policies. Always remember to stay within the confines of the laws in your local area or any area you may visit.

Choosing the right firearm is a very personal decision. The feel, look, caliber, who will be using it and price are just a few things to consider. People will also debate which style is better a revolver or a semi automatic, this too is a personal decision, I have owned a revolver and a semi automatic for years and love both.

While I will recommend a few items here, please remember these recommendations are based solely on my own personal opinions and experiences. It is important that you talk to a professional to get more detailed information prior to making your purchase.

Here are a few recommendations I have –

Sig Sauer P238 – It is a lightweight piece only 15.2 ounces and small enough to fit into your pocket. Despite shooting a .380 round the P238 has a very light recoil. The Sig Sauer is an all around nice weapon. I find this weapon a joy to shoot and have never had a negative experience with it.

Walther P22 – This is an all around well made piece. There is plenty of light between the sights and they are easily adjusted. The 22 caliber has a very low recoil. The light recoil makes it a good choice for training a smaller person on the basics of proper shooting. I have never had it jam on me even after shooting thousands of rounds.

Glock19. – This model is very solid and well constructed. I especially like the rough sandpaper feel to the grip, this decreases any chance of it slipping in wet or sweaty palms. It is a solid weapon, weighing in at 21 ounces. The recoil is surprisingly small considering it 9mm ammunition.

Long Guns

A long gun such as a rifle, shotgun or assault rifle can be very useful to have for hunting in the mountains. If you live in the mountains or countryside they are a must have survival item. However when you live in a larger city there is no opportunity to hunt.

For an urban dweller there are two main reasons for owning a long gun. 1 - If you are planning to bug out to a rural area you will need to have rifles for hunting. 2 – For home defense.

I will list a few recommendations below, but please remember the information I provide below is based solely on my own personal opinions and experiences. It is important that you pick the correct long gun for you and your family. I encourage you to talk to a professional to get more detailed information prior to making your purchase.

AR15 – This is a good all around assault rifle. The AR- family has a long and impressive record of military service. There are many accessories you can purchase to customize this weapon to suit your personal needs. They are smooth firing and rarely jam. I recommend that you keep a minimum of 1,000 rounds on hand.

30.06 - This is a perfect caliber for large game. This weapon could easily take down a deer, wild dog or even a human sized target. You will need many hours of practice to achieve a reliable level of accuracy for hunting. Make sure to get a good scope. Remember this will be your long range hunting weapon. I recommend that you keep 2,000 rounds minimum on hand.

22LR – In a rural setting the 22 is an ideal weapon to have on hand for hunting small game and ridding your property of scavengers. The Ruger 10/22 is a good all around rifle. I recommend that you keep 2000 rounds minimum on hand.

In an urban environment the 22 will not be very practical for home defense. The caliber is too small to stop an intruder or attacker. While it is possible to kill or gravely injure a human, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to use the 22 effectively in a combat scenario. I have personally witnessed a person walking around and yelling after being shot twice with a 22. Keep in mind the 22 is only truly useful against small animals.

Shotgun – The shotgun is an excellent weapon for basic home defense. It only takes one well placed shot to stop or fatally wound a human.

The power and effectiveness of a shotgun makes it a wise choice for home protection however it can be very difficult for a smaller individual to fire safely.

For home protection any basic pump action model would probably suffice but consider a Mossberg 500. I recommend that you keep 200 rounds minimum on hand. There are different types of shotgun ammo. You should consider having both buckshot and game load ammunition for your shotgun.

Final Thoughts

Above all remember that any weapon is only as good as the training you have. You should only use a gun for self defense and then only as a last resort. A gun in the hands of an amateur is likely to get innocent people hurt or killed. Knowledge and awareness of your surroundings are your most powerful weapons.

6 – Home Security

One of the consequences of a large scale disaster is the large number of people that require assistance. Frequently the emergency services that are still available after a disaster can not handle assist everyone in a timely manner. It is up to the individual to do everything possible to help themselves and their neighbors through any minor emergency.

When you think of your home what are the thoughts that come to mind? For many of us our home is the place where we gather with our loved ones at the end of our day, our sanctuary from the dreary working world. Your home is the one place you always feel safe.

One of the first steps to home safety and security is to thoroughly examine your home. If you wanted to break into your house could you do it? What are the weakest points of access to your home, condominium or apartment? What can you do to increase your odds of remaining safe after a disaster? Let’s take some time to examine simple steps you can take to make your house, apartment or condominium (hereafter I will simply say home) a safer place for you and the ones you love.

Fire extinguishers

In a long term Grid down situation you and others may be forced to use flashlights and candles for lighting in the evening. You may also find yourself forced to use cans of Sterno or other similar methods to heat your food. With so many people using candles for lighting and fires for warmth, there will be a high risk of accidental fires. A small fire can spread quickly and destroy your entire home or even burn down the building you live in. It is imperative that you plan for the possibility of either you or one of your neighbors having a fire breakout in their home.

It is always advisable to have a good working fire extinguisher in every room in your home. Make sure to check the function and expiration dates of each extinguisher regularly. Every family member must be trained on the location and proper usage of the fire extinguishers.

There are three main fire classifications. Class A: Fires with trash, wood, paper or other combustible materials. Class B: Fires with flammable or combustible liquids. Class C:  Fires involving electrical equipment.

Make sure that the fire extinguishers you purchase are rated for Class A, B, C This will allow you to use them on all three main fire types.

Windows

How many windows do you have in your home? Have you taken the windows into consideration while making your disaster preparations? What steps can you take to secure your windows after a disaster? Let’s review a few steps you should take for window security.

Broken windows

During a disaster your windows may be broken in a number of ways. For example, a minor earthquake could cause your windows to shatter. One solution: Measure all or your windows. Go to a home supply store such as Home Depot. Have boards cut to fit over every window in your home. The boards can be stored in a closet or even under a bed. Be sure to have a good solid hammer and nails stored with the wood.

Fire escape

Many buildings have exterior fire escapes. If you have a window leading to a fire escape you will need to secure it. Can you install bars on the window? Speak with the manager of your building or the HOA. The best type of bars to install would be the ones with a quick release latch inside of the window. This release will allow your family to escape in times of fire or other emergencies. An example of swing away bars can be found at this website goodbarsecurity.com. If you do install bars on your windows be sure to test the release latch regularly to ensure proper use. 

Some people may consider using the roll down steel storm shutters. This could be a good method to secure the window facing the fire escape. The shutter will help to prevent unwanted entry into your home and will still allow you to roll it up again should you need to exit out of the window.

Install good thick curtains on every window. I would not recommend using the curtains on a regular basis but in a blackout or grid down situation you do not want others to see any lights you have in your home. The thick curtains will help prevent any light from being seen outside of your home.

Doors

The front door is your first line of defense. It must be framed securely and have adequate locking devices. If you can, make sure your door frame is well fortified. I recommend talking to your building management and a local contractor. Make sure it is framed solidly enough to hold a heavy wood or even steel reinforced door.

The door itself should be solid wood or steel reinforced. Make sure to choose a door without any decorative windows. The decorative windows can be very attractive but they also allow any potential bad guy the chance to see into your home or they could even break the window and reach in to unlock your door. Most apartments and condominiums do not have decorative windows on the doors, so this will not be an issue for most of you reading this book.

Locks

Your front door must have the best lock you can purchase. I would recommend two 2 inch deadbolt locks for added security. Place one deadbolt above the door handle and one below it.

I highly recommend that all readers consider adding a good security bar like the Master Lock 265D door security bar or a bar from sites like doorware.com. The security bar will be an excellent back up system to your deadbolts. I know a few people who have used the Master Lock models and speak highly about their effectiveness and ease of use.    

Alarms

Although they can be very expensive, home alarm systems can be of great assistance in keeping your home safe. I would definitely advise you to speak with the building management, find out if alarms allowed in your building. If an alarm system is permitted, purchase a good home alarm system. We have all seen the commercials on TV, where there criminal breaks into a house and the alarm company notifies the police for you. A professionally installed and monitored alarm system is a worthwhile investment in normal times. However in a disaster scenario the electricity may be out for an extended period of time. Any extended blackout will disable your standard home alarm system. 

A decent back up alarm system is to purchase simple self stick battery powered alarms. The battery powered alarms simply attach to each entrance. If the door or window is opened they will emit a loud siren. Examples of this type of alarm can be found on Amazon by searching ‘door alarm’. Keep in mind that the intruder will be able to disable this type of alarm quickly and easily. While this is a very simple and basic system it could easily give you the early warning you need and be the difference between life and death.

Panic Room

If you own your apartment/Condo you may want to consider installing a panic room. A Panic Room is a fortified room in your home to provide a safe hiding place, for the inhabitants in the event of a home invasion, storm or other such event. A Panic Room usually contains basic supplies and a telephone so that the proper authorities can be contacted in an emergency.

If you really want to get creative conceal the entrance to the room using a large bookshelf. You can easily attach the bookshelf to the door about 1 inch above the floor, this allow the door to still swing open. While it may not be perfect the bookshelf may keep the entrance hidden for a few extra minutes. A beautiful example of the hidden door can be seen here http://www.fiorenzacustomwoodworking.com/hidden-doors-secret-doors/

The idea of having a panic room may sound great but the simple fact is that the average family can not afford the money or loss of space required to build a panic room in their home. However a decent substitute might be to use a walk in closet as a mini panic room. While this room would probably not provide long term protection from an intruder, even a few minutes of safety might be enough time for police to arrive.

Another idea to consider is searching your home, be creative about finding wasted space and using it as a possible hiding spot for your kids in an emergency. You can make several small hiding spots in your home. You are only limited by your available space and your imagination. While the chances of ever needing to use such a hiding spot are very small, even one use will make it worth the time and expense it takes to create this hideaway.

Storage Room

I highly recommend that all home owners create a small emergency storage room. A storage room can be difficult to create in an apartment or condominium. You may consider converting one room of your home or a walk-in closet into a storage area.

The storage area can be any size you choose. I would recommend a minimum of 6’ X 6’ for simple storage. The room can be used for storing food, supplies and weapons or as an emergency hiding place. It is very important that only your family members know about this room. An emergency room is useless if everyone knows where to find your supplies.

7 – Friends and Neighbors

In an urban environment the after effects of a disaster can be particularly hard to overcome. Water supply may be cut off. The roads may be closed making food deliveries to the stores difficult or impossible. Looters may even begin to break into stores and homes to steal food and supplies.

Your family has been trained and is mentally prepared for an emergency. But are you capable of doing everything that needs to be done on your own? Did you plan for every single variable? The obvious answer is no. So what is the next step to take to increase your odds of a safe and comfortable survival after a disaster?

The issues mentioned above are just a few of the reasons why working together with your friends and neighbors is so important during a crisis. The first step is by simply talking to your neighbors and friends. Suggest having a building wide get together perhaps a barbeque, or a dinner party. Be sure to get any necessary clearances from the management if necessary.

As you get to know your neighbors try to find out which one of your neighbors might have basics survival knowledge or past military experience? Work to build a close friendship with as many neighbors as you can. Talk to them about the need to store up a few basic supplies like the CDC emergency preparedness list.

In a few weeks or months you should have an idea of who might be open to working together after a disaster. Speak to them individually about the possibility of forming an emergency action group for your building. This group can be like a neighborhood watch group and provide protection from looters. If you work together you should be able to come up with a few basic plans for the most common disaster scenarios. Focus on protection for the residents as well as storing supplies. It is important to take it slow and be sure you only talk to those you feel you can trust.

Above all never tell anyone outside of your family about all of the preparations you have made. You can share basic knowledge with your friends and neighbors but never let them know how much food or supplies you have on hand. Of course no one wants to act like a paranoid selfish person but your family’s survival may depend on having at least some basic hidden private supplies.

Now on a brighter note, if you can get the residents of your building working together it will enable you to better assist others in your neighborhood. Several of you could make plans to team up and help the older or special needs residents in your area. Working as a team you could be able to render first aid, help put out fires, share supplies or offer any other needed assistance to those in need.

At the very least you may make a few new and interesting friends to share the good and bad times in life. After all one of our primary purposes in this life is to help one another.

Part Two

Now what do we do?

8 – Overview

Now if you have completed Part one and taken the steps outlined in chapters 2 – 7. At the very least you have a safer and more secure family and home. You will have taken steps to improve your physical fitness thereby increasing your enjoyment of life. Your home should also be much more secure and you may have even made a few new friends.

Now in Part two we will review some very critical steps specifically related to disaster preparedness and survival. We will cover items such as GOOD bags and GHB bags, Bugging in or Bugging out, and also cover some frequently overlooked ideas such as basic health & hygiene, transportation and survival caches.

Be safe and Stay Prepared. Remember, it is better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it.

9 – Make It Home Safe

Home, the very word inspires feelings of safety and security. Whether you are arriving home from a vacation, or just getting home after a long day at work, nothing feels better than walking in the door and seeing your family and home are safe and sound. You hope that if an emergency ever arises that you will be at home so you can work with your family and friends to overcome the disaster.

However most of us have to work for a living, we find ourselves spending 8 – 10 hours a day away from our home and families. The average American commutes 16 miles, one way, to work each day. What will you do if a disaster strikes when you are at work? How will you get home if the roads are blocked or an EMP wipes out all electronics including automobiles?

In this chapter we are going to put ourselves in a worst case, but plausible scenario, an EMP or Solar Flare. You may wonder what is an EMP? The acronym EMP stands for electro magnetic pulse. An EMP can be caused by either a nuclear detonation or the sun releasing a massive Solar Flare.

The effects of an EMP can be widespread and permanent. If the EMP has sufficient power most electronic devices such as cell phones and automobiles will cease to function, it can even cause a complete electrical power grid failure.

Now let’s begin our journey to get you home safe after the EMP has struck. We will play through an imaginary scenario to give you a basic idea of what you might do in this situation.

Suppose that you are sitting at your desk at work, 5pm has just arrived and you are calling your spouse to let her know you’re on the way, when your phone dies. You check the phones screen and it is dead. You look at the computer on your desk and it too has died. As you look around the office you notice all the lights are out and the few remaining employees are all looking around wondering what has happened.

You first thought it that this is some sort of black out. You decide that you better head home right away to check on your family. You rush to your car and try to start it. You frantically turn the key, but your hope fades, as you realize that your car is completely dead. You now know in your heart what has happened. A major EMP has struck your area disabling most, if not all, electronic devices. 

While everyone else is standing around wondering what to do, you are getting ready for the long journey home.

Since you are reading this book, you will already have a GHB (get home bag) with you wherever you travel. You get your GHB out of the trunk of your car and prepare for the walk home.

Before you start walking home, you should ask yourself, is there anyone heading the same direction? You know that if you can walk some of the distance with a friend or co-worker it will be safer and having company will make the time go by faster.

Prior to leaving, head back to your desk to gather any supplies (water, snacks) that you might have.

You should sit at your desk for a few minutes to review your get home plan. Every hour without power will increase the chance that people will panic or that looters will start to roam the streets. You know you have about 16 miles to travel. At a comfortable walking speed this could take about 5 hours. Will you have to pass through any bad neighborhoods? Are there areas to avoid? Review your map to memorize your route home and any possible detours you may have to take.

Now it is time to go. As you head out you decide to follow the highway as it is the most direct route. The highways are packed with stranded commuters. This could make your walk more risky as people get hungry and thirsty, your supplies will make you a target. While it may seem unlikely that anyone will try to steal your supplies on that first night, people will ask you for food or water. It may seem heartless, but you will need to save all of your supplies for yourself and anyone walking with you.

You may have to travel at the edge of the highway or maybe even on side streets running parallel to the highway. After a couple of hours you should stop to eat and rest your legs. Since your journey is less than 20 miles, I recommend that you walk as many hours as needed to get home.

If your journey is more than 20 mile you may have to plan on stopping to sleep for at least six hours. Remember safety is your first priority. When you stop for the night, do not make a fire. If you have a small tent set it up far from the road. If you do not have a tent, place your tarp on the grass and use your poncho as a blanket. First thing in the morning eat a large breakfast and pack your gear. You are now ready for the last leg of your journey home. 

The scenario above was just one of the possible ways that you could be stranded and forced to walk to your destination. I am sure that just from this simple example you can see the practical need for a GHB in your car or truck.

Now let’s review some basic ideas for making your very own GHB.

The Get Home Bag - Basics

You can make a decent GHB in as little as one afternoon. Below you will find a list of the bare essentials but remember to customize the contents for the area you are in and the distance you might have to travel and the local weather conditions

You may also want to consider making 2 GHBs. One GHB would be for your daily commute to work and the other would be designed for any longer trips you may have to make. The second bag would have multiple days of food and water.

Supplies

The Bag - I recommend the Condor 3 day assault pack – although any basic backpack can be used.

1 gallon bottle of water or eight 16 ounce bottles and a metal canteen

1 box of energy bars

2 MREs per person – these can be bought or homemade (see below)

Rain Poncho

Hiking Boots

Warm jacket

Gloves

LED Flashlight

Small first aid kit

A good multitool

N95 rated mask 

Local Map

Pepper spray for defense

Collapsible baton for defense

Money

Matches and a Lighter

For Longer trips add

Compass

2 small washcloths

Emergency foil blanket

Hunting Knife

100 feet of Para cord

Emergency Radio Dynamo hand crank

Collapsible grill Grilliput is a great model  

Small two man tent 

Home Made MREs

Buying prepackaged MREs can be very expensive. If you want to store up long term survival food then buying MREs might be a good idea. However for your GHB I would recommend you make your own MREs. Below is a sample of some homemade MREs that I have made. To keep my MREs fresh I rotate the stock every 90 days. I store the MRE in a large Ziploc bag. You can also buy large foil bags if desired. Remember to use your own creativity when creating your MREs.

MRE Sample menu

1 individual serving of Soup or Ravioli Approximately 230 calories.

1 Snack packs of Peanuts

1 Packs of Snack crackers

Two individual drink packs

1 energy bar

A small handful of hard candies

1 pack of utensils

Seal the contents in an airtight bag, with an oxygen absorber and a moisture absorber. Rotate the contents of your MRE every 30 – 90 days, or as desired.

Be sure to plan on making a GHB for every vehicle you drive. Even if you borrow a friend’s car for a day, move your GHB to the trunk of his car. Now go and make your GHB so you can get home safe. Good luck.

Remember on your journey home after a disaster, you are only limited by your creativity and the supplies you have in your GHB.

10 – Staying Home

When a disaster situation occurs we believe that help is only a phone call away. We have been told for years that all we have to do is dial 911 and help will come. Now ask yourself, what can you do if the disaster is so large scale that there is no one to call for help or what if the disaster knocks out the telephones so we can not call help? If we are left to fend for ourselves what should we do?

The three main options that you must choose between are search the city for authority figures to help, Bug Out and head for the hills, or choose to Bug In. Many people will instinctively feel the urge to run. In a real emergency Bugging Out should be the last option you choose. You should not leave the comfort and safety of your home unless it is absolutely necessary.

In the other chapters of this book we have discussed many of the preparations you should take to become more independent. These same preparations will now help you to survive in a Bugging In scenario.

Now let’s look at some basics needs to successfully Bug In, there are 5 basic needs Water, Food, Shelter, Power and Safety.

Water

In chapter 12 we will cover some ways to build up a water supply and possible ways to purify drinking water. But let’s take a minute to go over a few points.

Approximately 1 gallon of water per person per day

25 gallons per week for a family of 4

Store at least 100 gallons of water in your home if possible. This will give you a 4 week supply of water and is the minimum I would want to have on hand if I was going to Bug In.

Food

Chapters 4 covered some basic ideas for gardening. The garden you have created could prove to be a helpful source of fresh vegetables in the days following a disaster.

In chapter 11 we will review food storage ideas to help you build up a long term emergency food supply.

But at this time we will go over a few basic points to keep in mind.

If you are storing canned goods you will want to have at least 4 cans per day, per person. A 4 week food supply for 4 people would equal 448 cans. I think we can agree that this is too much for the average family to keep on hand.

If you are storing dried good such as noodles, beans etc. you will have to have a way to cook them in order to eat.  Also noodles and beans will require an additional water supply for cooking.

An ideal food supply should be a combination of different foods foe example you could store smaller quantities of canned goods, dried goods such as beans and rice, MREs and fruits and vegetables from a garden.

Shelter

Your home is your sanctuary. If you have taken basic safety measures as mentioned in chapter 6 then you are well on you way to having a safer home during your Bug In.

Additional safety precautions

If you fear that you might be at risk for looters, consider boarding up the window for your fire escape or having metal shutters installed over the window prior to any disaster. You may also consider barricading your front door. However keep in mind that you may be trapping yourself inside as well. You need to have a clear exit in case of fire or other emergency.

During a black out try not to have any lighting on that is visible outside of your home. Try to minimize any food smells when you are cooking. The smell of hot food carries a long distance and could attract looters.

Power

If you have sufficient money to prepare properly, you should have a basic solar power system in your home. You should have purchased solar charges for your electronic devices, a solar powered radio and flashlights.

It would be wise to acquire a solar power system such as the - Goal Zero Yeti 1250 Solar Generator. This generator can power lights, tools, refrigerators and other equipment. It is silent and safe, no noise or fumes. It comes with two Boulder 30 solar panel which charges Yeti 1250 in 24 hours from sun. 

I would also recommend a solar power or hand crank radio such as the - Ambient Weather Emergency Solar Hand Crank AM/FM/NOAA Digital Radio, Flashlight, Cell Phone Charger

Batteries are a must have, every home should have at least 3 – 5 sets of batteries for all essential items. Items such as flash lights and radios must be ready for use at any time.

Safety

Most people will act very civil and even helpful after a disaster has struck, however looters and thieves often come out after a disaster to prey on those who are unprepared. This is one of the reasons why joining with the other tenants in your building is a good idea. Working together you can ensure that the older or weaker individuals are kept safe and have enough food and water. Having a building wide neighborhood watch program and working together to patrol your area can greatly increase your chances of staying safe.

While you need to keep your home and loved ones safe, violence should always be a last resort. Firearms are one option for protecting your home after a disaster. It would be wise to have at least one gun in your home. All family members should have already attended a gun safety course. All family members should have had time on the firing range with the gun of your choice.

Dogs are great for home defense unfortunately most apartment buildings do not allow pets. If your building does allow animals, I would recommend at least 1 medium sized dog for basic home security.

Practice

Whether you are learning a new activity or preparing for a disaster, practice is often a key to your success. The final piece of advice I can offer is to practice. Have your family spend a weekend on a “Bugging In” camping trip. Shut down any external distractions such as cell phones and the internet then try to ‘survive’ for the entire weekend. These practice sessions will help to highlight any weaknesses in your preparations. Having a few practice sessions will help you to prepare for the day when the SHTF. In time you will find that your family has little to no trouble going for a few days without the modern conveniences. An added benefit of the practice sessions could be that you will all be able to spend time together talking and playing games, reconnecting with your loved ones. I do not really remember the TV shows I watched with my father, but I can still remember the times we sat and talked while we played a game of cards. Take the time to build those memories with your loved ones as well.

Practice your survival skills to stay safe but have fun while you are doing it. Or to put it another way, prepare for whatever may come tomorrow, but remember to enjoy today.

11 – Food Supply

The key survival needs are air, water, food and shelter. Although humans can go up to 30 days without eating, the average person eats at least 3 meals per day, everyday. We need to consume an adequate quantity of food (about 2000 calories) everyday in order to maintain a healthy body.

In a disaster situation the food distribution network in your area may be disrupted. The grocery store in your neighborhood probably does not carry more than 1 week worth of food on their shelves. Most grocery stores receive multiple deliveries per week from suppliers in order to keep their shelves stocked. If there are no food deliveries to the local store, the shelves will be empty in days. How will you find food to eat if there are no stores open, or if all of the food is sold out? What can you do to avoid this situation?

In this chapter we will discuss ideas for building a medium-long term survival food supply. We will review a few basic options to give you a better idea of where to begin your food storage plans.

Storage area

The first step to building a food supply is location. If you have a storage closet in your apartment or condominium you may be able to use that as your storage area. If no storage space is available to you, I would recommend converting your hallway or coat closet into a food pantry and water storage area.

You can easily install shelving as illustrated in the photos below. If done correctly a 6 foot closet could over 25 water bottles and hundreds of cans of food.

Prepackaged Food (MREs)

Buying prepackaged MREs (Military Meals Ready to Eat) or dehydrated food can be a convenient way to build up a large food supply. Frequently these products will come in their own large plastic bucket, as pictured below. Many companies such as Wise or Mountain house sell these meals on Amazon and other websites. Typically these meals are prepared by mixing the ingredients of a package with a small amount of boiling water.

While the meals offer convenient storage and do provide basic nutrition, there are 3 drawbacks I want you to consider. 1 - The meals typically require the water to be heated before adding it to the meal. It can be very difficult to boil water in a black out situation. 2 – The meals are not a part of your regular diet. By consuming unusual food you are increasing the risk of having an upset stomach. 3 – The meals can be expensive to purchase. The cost varies widely depending on the brand you choose but I have seen prices ranging from $3 - $7 per meal. I was recently able to purchase a bucket with 24 meals for $59. While a convenient option, this may not be the best path for building a food supply.

Canned Goods

One of the best ways to store food for long term Bug In survival is by purchasing canned food. Canned food has many advantages that make it a good choice to add to your food supply.

Variety - There are over 1,500 different canned items available in American stores. This large variety will help you purchase items that will better suit your own dietary needs.

Shelf life - Canned food generally has a shelf life of over a year. Most cans are marked with a use by date. The use by date allows you to easily rotate stock as needed.

Nutrition – Canned food has been shown to be almost as nutritious as eating fresh food. The cans have nutrition labels on them showing the various vitamins and minerals, making it easier to plan a healthy diet.

Safety – The metal cans are resistant to tampering from mice, rats and insects. This allows you to store canned food in more locations than perishable food.

Canned food can easily be stored in large quantities and rotated on a regular basis. The cost is usually around $1 - $2 for most common fruits or vegetables.

The quantity to store will depend on your household and personal preferences. I would recommend that you consider 4 cans for each person per day. If you have a family of 4 this would mean you will need 480 cans for a one month supply.

One note: Be sure to store at least two or three good quality can openers with your canned goods.

Dried Goods

Another relatively inexpensive way to store a large emergency food supply is by buying and storing dried goods. I would recommend that you purchase foods that you consume on a regular basis.

Rice can be purchased in a 50 lb bag for around $45 per bag. I would recommend that you store the rice in sturdy plastic buckets with tight fitting lids. These buckets can be stored in closets or in your storage area. As you eat the contents of one bucket refill it and rotate your stock.

Beans are a great source of protein and are easily purchased and stored. I keep two 5 gallon sized buckets filled with Pinto beans in my food storage. As one bucket is consumed I refill it and rotate my stock. Always label the bucket with the contents and date filled.

Flour, Salt and Sugar – Although baking may not be possible after a disaster I would recommend storing a good quantity of basic baking supplies such as flour, salt and sugar. An example of what to keep might be 3 – 5lb bags of flour. 1 – 5lb bag of sugar and 2 – containers of salt.

12 - Water

Water is the most basic and simple survival need. A human can only survive about 3 days without water and the average person needs 3 liters (3/4 gallon) per day, 2 liters for drinking and 1 liter for cooking and hygiene.  A family of 4 needs 84 liters / 21 gallons to survive for one week. 

Historically we have seen that when a major disaster strikes an area, getting clean and safe drinking water to the victims has become a major challenge. This lack of safe drinking water can force the victims to drink any available water, even from streams or puddles, this unclean water can lead to illnesses and disease.

Now we will attempt to look at a few ways you can provide your family with safe water if / when a major disaster strikes your area.

Water Storage

Water is heavy and can use a lot of valuable storage space. If you have a storage area in your building or a closet that you can empty, you can create a storage area for your water supply.

The first step is to build or buy a simple shelving system. My personal ‘Water closet’ holds 18 (5 gallon) bottles of water. This supply will allow a family of 4 to survive for almost 4 weeks. This is the minimum amount of water I would recommend that you keep in storage.

It would be much wiser and is highly recommended that you store a 3 month supply of fresh water. Every week rotate the oldest bottle into the house for drinking and add a new fresh bottle.

Rain Barrel

A rain barrel can be a great way to store water for emergencies or for use when watering your balcony garden. The first step is to purchase the food safe BPA free barrels. This will avoid any accidental exposure to unsafe chemicals. It is important to note that since this barrel will be stored on your balcony, it would be wise to buy a much smaller one, as pictured, to avoid adding too much weight on your balcony, I would recommend buying a 25 – 30 gallon barrel. A good barrel or Keg can be purchased from many retailers such as Amazon

The barrel can easily be installed in a matter of minutes. I would recommend that you fill the barrel with common tap water. It is easier to refill as needed and you know the water is safe to drink. Tap water is also a good choice since some cities have banned collecting rain water.

Water Purification

Now let’s examine a few ways to purify water.

Iodine water purification tablets can be used to kill most common bacteria in water. Be sure to follow the instructions on proper use carefully. However the elderly, people with Thyroid problems, women over fifty, and pregnant women should consult their physician prior to using iodine for purification. 

You can kill most bacteria in water by boiling it. The CDC recommends boiling water for 1 minute to make it safe to drink. However I would still recommend that you use a filter to help remove any possible contaminants.

Water filters are another critical and inexpensive survival supply. The Lifestraw is a good model to have on hand. The Lifestraw is capable of filtering up to 1,000 liters of water. I recommend having one on hand for each member of your family. I keep four in my bug out bag and one in my get home bag as well. Another good portable water filter is the Katadyn Pocket Water Filter it will filter over 13,000 gallons.

Tips: In an emergency situation one of the first things you will want to do is fill every empty container in your home with tap water. One great product you can use is a Water BOB. The Water Bob is a large plastic bag that you place in your tub and fill. It can hold up to 100 gallons of water. At an average price of about $20 it is a great idea to have one on hand just in case.

You could also gain drinkable water from your hot water heater tank. You simply open the drain valve at the bottom of the tank and collect the water in a container. Make sure the water is clean and free of rust. The water can then be treated with water purification tablets or household bleach. To treat with bleach add six drops liquid bleach for every gallon of water, let the water stand for 30 minutes.

It is important to note that you should not drink any water unless you are sure it is safe. If you are in doubt about the water I would recommend boiling it for at least 1 minute to kill germs. Please remember all of the recommendations are only meant as possible advice in an extreme disaster. Always try to ensure that any water you drink is clean and safe at all times.

13 – Survival Caches

In this chapter we will examine a very critical part of your survival preparations that is often forgotten or overlooked by most people, the survival cache.

We have discussed the appropriate supplies to have in your home for long term survival. We have also explored food storage and home gardening. Now we need to consider other possible scenarios. What if you had to flee your home due to fire, disaster or attack? What if your apartment was robbed and your supplies were stolen? What if your apartment building was damaged in the disaster? How would you survive if everything you own were stolen or burned to the ground? These are possibilities that we must consider. You may not be able to prevent every possible disaster from occurring but you can plan for it. You can take action now to increase your odds of survival later.

One of the best ways you can increase your chance of survival after the loss of your home or supplies is to have several Survival Caches. What is a survival cache? Simply put a survival cache is an emergency set of food, water and basic survival gear stored outside of your home. These caches can be in a local storage facility, the basement of your building, a friend’s home or even in a wooded area nearby or even out of town.

I break survival caches into 3 categories, Small survival cache, Large survival cache and the Food cache. 

Small survival cache

A Small Survival Cache (SSC) is primarily meant to provide you with the basic supplies to survive for another one - three days. The SSC is to be used as a last resort, after you have had to evacuate your home and have lost all of your other supplies. When making a Small Survival Cache (SSC) you will need to keep in mind the word small.

An example small survival cache: a 2 or 5 gallon plastic bucket with lid filled with the following items.

Survival foil blankets

1 – Gallon of water or A few water bottles

One water filter

Four high calorie food bars

Small basic first aid kit

LED flashlight

Lighter

50 ft of Para cord

Knife

Duct Tape

Each bucket is filled and taped around the edge of the lid to prevent water or insects from getting in. I have several small survival caches in my survival supplies. I also have 1 SSC buried in my neighborhood about 5 minutes from my home. Remember to be creative with your SSC. Fill each bucket to the top. If you have extra space, add more food and water.

Large survival cache

When making a Large Survival Cache (LSC) you will want to think of it as a miniature version of your home. A LSC is meant to provide you with a few weeks worth of your most common and critical supplies to enable your family to survive.

              When you live in an apartment building in the city, where to locate an LSC is probably the most difficult question. Here are a couple examples of possible locations for large survival caches LSC.

I have a small storage unit 6’X9’ at the local storage facility. Below is a sample list of what I have inside my LSC.

Three weeks worth of survival food, three meals per day per person.

Dehydrated food in a bucket or MREs.

A couple of cases of caned fruit, vegetables and meats.

10 filled water bottles 5 gallon variety.

Basic survival first aid kit

Basic camping gear

At least 2 changes of clothes for every family member.

Another location for a survival cache could be on a friend’s property. If you have a friend that lives outside of town or owns a single family home, you could have a small 6’ storage shed on the corner of his property. Simple dig a 4’ wide by 3' deep hole under the shed. Keep your LSC in the hole wrapped in plastic tarps. The hole is covered with a sheet of plywood. The shed is filled with a few old and unneeded gardening tools for camouflage.

Here is another possible location for your LSC, if your building provides storage units to the tenants, consider turning yours into an LSC. Is there a storage facility near your home? Rent a small storage shed. Can you store supplies in your office at work? Choosing the best location can be difficult, but the security and peace of mind you will feel knowing that you have an LSC is worth all of the time and trouble.

Food cache

Another type of emergency cache is the Food Cache. I choose to keep my food caches hidden with my LSC, but if you want to keep a few extra food caches hidden it is not a bad idea.

A good basic food cache would have about 2 weeks or more of food and water (or water filters) for your entire family. You can purchase good basic survival foods pre-made and stored in large plastic buckets. I would recommend at least 5 buckets for a family of 4. The food cache can be hidden in a number of areas.

Emergency caches are a very important survival tool. I can not recommend them strongly enough. Make multiple survival caches and be sure to store them in different locations. They could be the one thing that saves your life.

Remember the tale of the Ant and the Grasshopper

In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.

     "Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of working so hard everyday?"

     "I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and I recommend you do the same."

"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; "We have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its work.

     When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger - while it saw the ants eating corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew: It is best to prepare now for days of future need.

14 – Health & Hygiene

One area of disaster preparation frequently overlooked is basic health and hygiene. Basic hygiene is important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In a disaster hygiene can be especially important. You will need to keep yourself and your surroundings as clean as possible to avoid any risk of illness of infections. You do not want to get sick when help may be very difficult if not impossible to find.

In a disaster situation stores may be closed for days, the electrical grid may go down and water for bathing and laundry might be unavailable. The key to planning for a disaster successfully is to try to imagine worst case scenarios and plan accordingly.

In this chapter we will assume that you are able to (bug in) stay in your home, but have little or no access to running water for cleaning, no electricity and only the supplies that you have managed to store. Now we will review some simple basic steps you can take to keep yourselves cleaner and healthier in a long term disaster.

Health

The first concern with health is drinking water. If you have taken the actions outlined in chapter 12 you should have a reasonable supply of clean drinking water. If you begin to run low on clean water you can use the water purifications methods outlined in chapter 12.

Another critical concern is our diet. Chapters 11 & 13 covered the basics of building up a food supply and creating survival caches. With these two steps taken you should have basics food on hand. But Nutrition is still a critical factor. Eating canned and dehydrated foods is not an ideal diet for a long term situation. The window and patio gardens mentioned in chapter 4 will allow you to have a semi regular supply of fresh vegetables to add to your diet. These fresh foods will also help to make your diet healthier but you still may not have an ideal nutritional food supply.

A good supplement to your disaster diet would be to purchase and store a 3 – 6 month supply of the following items.

Multivitamins suitable for every member of your household

Vitamin enriched drinks ( Ensure or Boost etc.) try to stock enough to provide your household with a 90 day supply.

Have each member of your family take a vitamin everyday and drink one bottle of the nutritional drink.

Medication

You should also stock up on basic over the counter medicines for the common mild sicknesses that you might face.

Pepto Bismol

Antacids

Milk of Magnesia

Aspirin

Motrin

Cold and Cough medicine

              Having these basics supplies on hand will greatly assist in keeping you and your family healthier in a crisis.

Hygiene

Basic hygiene can be a key element to helping maintain proper health. Feeling cleaner and healthier will also help to maintain a sense of normality which can help to reduce the mental stress of the day to day struggle for survival.

Some things we should stock up for basic hygiene include:

Body wipes – You can use these to dry shower daily. Be sure to try them out prior to an emergency to ensure you do not have a sensitivity or allergies to any of the ingredients.

Mouthwash – Have each member of your family rinse their mouths out at least twice a day with a germ killing mouthwash like Listerine.

Toothpaste and Dental floss – Of course you will want to keep brushing and flossing daily. Caution, be sure to keep the use of water to an absolute minimum.

Anti bacterial gel / hand sanitizer – Be sure to disinfect your hands to avoid spreading any germs

Disinfecting wipes – Use these for cleaning your house, tools, and other items.

Lysol – This can be useful for keeping your trash area and waste area or bathroom cleaner.

Toilet tissue - in a disaster you might be spending weeks without basic supplies. Toilet tissue is light weight and can be stored in an attic or under the bed. This is one item you will be glad you stocked up on.

Small trash bags and a bucket - If the water is out for an extended period of time that means the plumbing will not function. A bucket can be used as a temporary toilet. Simply put the trash bag in the bucket, take care of your business and dispose of the trash bag.

Remember that you want to take as many steps as possible to not only survive the disaster but to be able to exist in a long term recovery situation. Having these basic health and hygiene supplies on hand will increase your chances of staying healthier in a long term crisis.

15 – Bug Out Bag or GOOD Bag

What does the term Bug Out mean? To Bug Out means to evacuate because of an impending threat or recent disaster. What is a Bug Out Bag? A Bug Out bag or GOOD (Get Out Of Dodge) bag is a bag filled with the basic emergency supplies you would need to survive at least 72 hours. The basic purpose of a Bug Out Bag, is that when a disaster strikes you can grab your bag and run, without having to search for the basic supplies you need to survive.

There are many and varied reasons why you may have to leave (Bug Out)

- Your home is damaged by a disaster such as an earthquake

- Fire or flooding is forcing you to leave

- Forced evacuation by Government. (FEMA)

- Societal collapse, looters or roving gangs in your area

- Leaving to stay with family

When making a BOB (Bug Out Bag) you have to consider your primary reason for using this bag. Is your BOB meant for a short fast escape i.e. a 72 hour survival bag, or is your BOB meant to provide for you and your family during a long journey. How you answer this question will decide which type of BOB you will need.

I have split the BOB (Bug Out bag) into two categories, the standard all in one bag and the Mini Bug Out bag. Now we will take some time to examine the bags and what you might want to carry in them.

Mini Bug Out Bag

The Mini BOB is meant to provide the wearer with the basic supplies needed to survive for a minimum of 72 hours. In an urban environment you will find that the Mini BOB may be one of your most useful preparations. It will provide you with the basics you need to survive, without making you stand out from the crowd. The fact that it is smaller and carried in a simple backpack allows you to camouflage your survival supplies. The bag is also light weight, which will allow you to travel faster or even run with the bag if needed.

                  What do you put in your Mini BOB? While it is best for each bag to be customized for the individual user, below you will find a good list of the basic minimum supplies to get you started.  

Each mini bug out bag should have these basic survival supplies

Water - as much as the person can comfortably carry

1 Metal Canteen with cup

1 Water filter such as the Lifestraw

1 box of energy bars or Granola bars

I recommended 2 MREs per person

Utility Knife

Matches and a Lighter

LED Flashlight

Small first aid kit – Small 4”x4” container will do

100 feet of Para cord

A good multitool

Rain Poncho

Emergency foil blanket

Gloves

N95 rated mask

Safety glasses 

Hand crank radio with USB charger ports

The Bag – I recommend a simple Backpack. It is important to blend into to the surroundings and not stand out by carrying a large duffle bag.

I know that some of you may be wondering why you would want or even need a Mini BOB. After all wouldn't it be easier and quicker to just have one really large BOB that you can throw in the trunk of you car during an evacuation? While I agree that it would be ideal, to be able to evacuate in a nice orderly fashion with one giant BOB, we all know that things rarely go smoothly especially in an emergency. Roads could be blocked forcing you to travel by bicycle or even on foot. If this were to happen, how would you carry that large BOB?

One more possible scenario, you and your family could become separated. If one member of your family was separated from the rest how would they survive? Would they have any basic supplies with them to make it through even one day?

To protect your loved ones in the event that you become separated each member of the family should carry their own mini bug out bag.

Now take a quick break from reading and go build your own Mini Bug Out Bag, don’t worry I will be here waiting for you to return.

Bug Out Bag

The standard Bug Out bag is designed to provide you and your loved ones with the things you may need to survive for 3 - 7 days or even longer. While a Bug Out bag is a great addition to your survival supplies you must use your own judgment to ensure that you have the proper supplies for your situation and environment. Keep in mind that in an urban environment it could be very difficult to carry around a large and heavy bag. The Bug Out bag I have outlined below is designed to be thrown in your vehicle as you drive away from your home. Not carried by hand.

Below is list of a few basic supplies to pack in your Bug Out Bag. 

Food

For a 3 day bug out bag keep your food supplies simple. Some small canned meats such as tuna or chicken can add needed nutrition. Military style MREs (meals ready to eat) are a good simple option. Energy bars are useful to have as a snack but you do not want them to be your primary food item. Remember to account for 3 meals per day for each member of your family.

However, my food of choice, are my own Homemade MREs, which are covered in chapter 9. Remember to keep the food simple and easy to eat on the go. Sample MRE – 1 Mini Soup – 1 Bag Peanuts – 1 packet drink mix – 1 Snack crackers – 1 energy bar – 5 hard candies

Water

Water is your most critical and basic survival need.

I recommend 1 liter per person per day. That works out to a minimum of 3 liters per person, for a 72 hour period. You will need to have several canteens or water bottles 1 for each member of your family.

Water is heavy so you will also want to have the supplies to purify your own water as you travel. A few ways to purify water are:

- Water Filter Such as the Lifestraw

- Purification/Iodine tablets; Be sure to follow the instructions carefully

- Small bottle of Bleach; 3 drops of bleach added to a gallon of water will help to purify it in a pinch. Use this method only in an extreme emergency.

First Aid Kit

Chapter 3 covered the basic information on first aid training and supplies. I highly recommend that you build your own custom first aid kit. This will give you a detailed knowledge of the contents and allow you to customize it for your families needs. 

Below is a list of some items you might want to add to your kit.

Various size bandages.

Allergy medication such as Benadryl/Claritin

Eye Drops

Cold / Flu medicine

Tylenol and Motrin

Special needs

Epi-pen

Insulin and syringes

Asthma inhalers 

Clothes

Your Bug Out Bag should contain at least one change of clothes for each family member. Make sure to choose sturdy and tough clothing. Good sturdy boots, Jeans or canvas pants, good warm shirts. Also pack at least three pairs of socks and underwear per person. Bandanas and hats are also a good idea. Be sure to pack / plan for your local climate. 

Weapons

While no one wants to hurt another human being, the simple fact is that in a disaster there may be criminals looking to prey on innocent people. It is your responsibility to protect yourself and the ones you love. I would recommend one handgun for each adult. If possible try to carry at least 500 rounds of Ammo as a bare minimum.

If you will be bugging out to a rural area you may want to add the items below.

Basic Gear

Solar or Hand crank Radio

Matches

Rain Gear

Survival Shovel

Small Axe

Collapsible grill GRILLIPUT is a great model

Fire – Fire Starters (make your own) - Lighter - Matches.

Knife

Survival Chainsaw

Basic Mess Kit for each person

A small backpacking stove and fuel

Light – Flashlights – Light sticks – Flares

A 22 caliber rifle and 500 rounds of ammo

A 12 gauge shotgun and 500 rounds of ammo

A ground tarp for placing underneath your shelter. I would recommend 2 or 3 tarps.

Some type of Bedroll, preferably a good sleeping bag.

A couple of 2 man tents is also a wise investment.

As you can see the Bug Out Bag can come in many different sizes and the supplies you pack must be customized to suit your family’s needs. The examples listed in this book are only meant to provide you with a basic framework for you to build upon.

It is also a very good idea to practice a Bug Out scenario on a regular basis. The discipline of having the drills will save you valuable time in a real bug out situation. My family has an evacuation drill every other month. The peace of mind you will feel, knowing your family is prepared for an emergency, is worth the time and effort.

16 – Should I stay or should I go?

The majority of this book has been based on the premise that after a disaster strikes your home is still safe to live in. Now we have reached a part of the book where we will examine the question of leaving your home. Do you Bug in or Bug out? 

Bugging In

Bugging In (staying home), is for most of us, the most desirable situation. But before you settle in for a hot cup of cocoa, you have to examine your present circumstances, is it best for you to stay in your current location? Consider making a Bug In check list. Try to make a list of points to consider prior to Bugging In.

Is your home safe? Has your apartment/condo suffered any apparent damage? Try to thoroughly examine your entire home for any damage or dangers.

Has your building been damaged by the disaster? For example, an earthquake could make it unsafe to stay in your building. If there is a maintenance man or manager in residence in your building you will need to meet with them to see if any signs of damage are present.

It would also be wise to arrange a group meeting with other tenants to share information about the disaster and any possible damage to your building.

Is the current disaster anywhere near the building you live in? Is there any known risk of the disaster spreading to your area? For example if there is a fire outside, are the flames spreading to your neighborhood? While it may not be entirely safe to venture out after a disaster you may need to try and ascertain if your local area appears to be safe from any fires. Again I would recommend a group meeting with the other tenants.

Remember teamwork and information are incredibly valuable assets during a time of crisis.

Bugging Out

Simply defined, Bugging out means to quickly evacuate your home in a time of crisis or emergency. Here are a few questions you will need to consider before bugging out.

Forced Evacuation

Are you being forced to evacuate by FEMA or some other government agency? If so grab your BOB and any other supplies they will allow you to take. Officially my advice is to always obey the authorities.

Evacuation by choice

If you have not prepared a bug out location, is there a government run shelter nearby? If there are no shelters nearby, you may be forced to seek shelter in any available empty home. Carefully examine your area, Are there any empty or foreclosed buildings in your area? Are you close to any rural areas where you might find shelter? Keep in mind that if you are being forced to bug out many others are probably bugging out as well. Being part of a large evacuation will make finding food and shelter much more difficult.

Bugging out to your chosen location

Do you have a bug out location prepared such as a cabin in the woods or a relative’s house? Did you store supplies at your bug out area? If you have not stored food, you will need to gather as much food as possible to take with you to your bug out location. Is the bug out location near the current disaster?

Is it safe to travel the distance to your bug out area? Can you walk or bicycle to the location? If you are able to drive there, do you have enough fuel stored to get there?

What are the possible hazards you will face on the way to your bug out location? Will you be traveling through any bad neighborhoods?

Safe travel

If you are walking or bicycling take extra precaution as you bug out. Try to travel in a group of family or friends. Travel quietly and quickly. Make sure you bring all weapons with you, keep the weapons accessible and ready for use. Try to avoid any troubled neighborhoods. Do your best to camouflage your appearance. Try to look as if you are just out for a walk with a simple backpack on. If you look like you have a lot of supplies people will be more likely to try and harass you. Remember once you bug out you will probably not be able to return home until the disaster is over and order has been restored. There is a very real possibility of never returning to your home or returning only to find it destroyed.

These above passages are just a few of the questions to consider prior to bugging out. One final piece of advice is to have bug out drills. Practice bugging out with your family once every few months. These drills will help you to be better prepared when a disaster strikes. . 

17 – Transportation

One of the greatest modern inventions is the internal combustion engine, which led to the creation of motorcycles, cars and trucks. The convenience of modern transportation has allowed our society to develop at an amazing pace. The majority of us, over 79%, now live in urban areas. With so many of us living in large cities the only way to feed such a large population is with products shipped in from farms and factories.

The average American family has approximately 2 weeks of food in their home at any given time. This amount of food would seem fine since we can go to the grocery store and buy more food at anytime. What about the grocery store, how much food is stocked in the local grocery store? The average store carries less than one week’s worth of food on their shelves. Where would everyone buy their food if the farms and manufacturers could not deliver the food to the local store?

This is just one example of how critical modern transportation is to continue in our present way of life. Without our cars and trucks society would literally grind to a Halt. Whether you are driving to a hospital, searching for food or going to the FEMA relief station for drinking water after a disaster, transportation will be a critical tool for your survival

Now we will take some time to discuss possible methods of transportation available, in an urban environment, after a disaster has struck.

Walking

If you need to take a short trip to a corner market or a local aid station, walking is the cheapest and easiest form of transportation. However for a long trip, such as an evacuation, you should only choose walking as a last resort.

Crime is an unfortunate problem, especially in larger cities and in the aftermath of a disaster criminals may turn into looters. Traveling on foot makes you an easy target for any criminals. If you must do any traveling on foot, try to do it only during daylight hours. If possible travel with friends and try to stay in areas that are familiar.

Unfortunately there is a high probability that you will be required to do a lot of walking after any disaster. Therefore you owe it to yourself to prepare now. Part of your disaster preparedness plan should be exercising now, to prepare your body for the future. Consider taking long walks while wearing a 10 or 20 lb backpack.

Bicycle

The bicycle is a great tool to have in a crisis especially a grid down situation. They are quiet, relatively lightweight and inexpensive to purchase. While you can not carry a lot of supplies on a bicycle, you do have the option to attach a wagon or cart on the back.

Most apartment buildings have a storage area where you can secure a bicycle when not in use. You should consider purchasing a good quality bicycle for each member of your family. If a disaster strikes I recommend that you move your bicycle into your home to avoid the risk of theft. Consider purchasing baskets to attach to the bicycles, helmets for the riders and a pack for each rider.

Scooters

If you are living in a large city a scooter can be a very convenient form of transportation. They are light weight, quiet and get great gas mileage. Almost any teenager or adult can learn to ride a scooter. The drawbacks are only one or two people can ride at a time and you can only carry a small amount of gear.

However in a long term blackout situation they could be useful for trips o the local FEMS or Red Cross aid station.

I would recommend purchasing one and having each member of your family trained on the proper operation of a scooter. Be sure to purchase proper protective equipment for each rider.

Motorcycle

If you live alone Motorcycles are almost perfect for short term transportation in a disaster setting. They are able to travel over smooth or rough terrain. The average motorcycle gets far better gas mileage than a car, for example the Honda CRF250L is a dirt bike that gets approximately 70 miles per gallon.

Possible difficulties with choosing a motorcycle as your primary vehicle are - Only one or two people can ride at a time, they are very noisy and this noise can draw a lot of unwanted attention and you can only carry a small amount of supplies on a motorcycle.

Electric Car

While Electric cars are great for the environment they will not be very useful in a long term power outage. Very few if any residents of a city have a generator and fuel on hand. However if you have a fully charged electric car when a disaster occurs, it could be a backup vehicle for a last resort evacuation.

Car / Truck

While being able to use your own car may be the best of all possible circumstances, you have to consider the lessons of history. After super storm Sandy struck the eastern United States in 2012, gasoline was not available for weeks in many areas.

Another point to consider is road blockage. Depending on the nature of the crisis roads could be blocked with anything from downed tress to other dead automobiles.

Even if you have some fuel on hand and the roads are all clear, it would be wise to conserve that fuel for as long as possible. Only use your car when absolutely necessary,

Bus/Mass Transit

It is very unlikely that any mass transit will be running after a major disaster. If you do find yourself in a city with functioning transit system keep in mind that the routes and schedules may be dramatically altered due to the current emergency.

Final Thought

Always be prepared to do a large quantity of walking after any disaster. Be sure to purchase good walking shoes or hiking boots.

18 – Things to Consider

I would ask that all readers please remember that all advice given in this book is based solely on the opinions and experiences of the author. While this book was written to help you become safer and more independent in a disaster, you should always consult a professional.

The primary purpose of this book was to offer basic ideas and advice for you to expand upon. I encourage anyone who reads this to use your own judgment and imagination to expand on the advice given and formulate your own preparedness plan. The only limits are the ones you place on yourself.

If you liked this book, please give me a review on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/What-Now-Urban-Disaster-Readiness-ebook/dp/B00IKW4ZOM/ref=la_B00G1XPULE_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393107841&sr=1-2

I would love to hear about your own preparedness plans and ideas. Working together I am sure we can help make the world a safer place for all of us.

Good luck and stay safe out there.

J. Meister

January 2014

Recommended Links

Links

http://www.amazon.com/

http://knowledgeweighsnothing.com/

http://www.selfsustainedliving.net/

http://thepreparedchristian.blogspot.com/

http://www.theurbansurvivalist.blogspot.com/

http://www.shtfpreparedness.com/

http://www.shtfplan.com/

http://offgridsurvival.com/

About the Author

Mr. Meister appears to be what can only be described as an all around normal American. But like many of us just beneath the surface is a horse of a different color.

His driving force in life is trying to be a good husband and father. His hobbies and interests are wide ranging. An avid reader going through at least one book each week, a prepper and survivalist a martial arts enthusiast, a lover of philosophy and ancient cultures, a member of MENSA and a writer. Aside from this project he has also published ‘What If?’ a disaster preparedness manual and is currently working on two novels and a short story collection.

He currently lives in the beautiful and sunny southwestern United States with his wife and daughters.

He can be reached at:

https://www.facebook.com/JMeisterStories

https://twitter.com/Meister67

Amazon Author Page:

http://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Meister/e/B00G1XPULE/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1