Disaster Prepping Tips for the Apartment Dweller
[ If you don’t live in a big city or apartment — forward this article to someone you know who does and give them a hand-up in getting prepared for whatever lies ahead! ]
Okay, not everyone gets to live out in the country like we do. So it would make sense that those in urban areas would think of preparedness a little differently. Most in big cities live in apartments and condos vs. single family homes on a chunk of land that provides more control and room with less exposure to others.
In this day and age, many folks have no choice but to live in multi-family dwellings – duplexes, complexes and high-rise apartment buildings. Then there are those who live in big cities because they prefer that lifestyle. And, good for them — that’s what America is all about! Living where you want — and, like us, having the freedom to pick up and “get out of Dodge” like we did when we left Chicago a decade ago!
For anyone with a true prepper’s heart, living in an urban environment is a very serious concern. Being surrounded by throngs of strangers in the face of a real disaster is a secondary nightmare in and of itself. For this reason alone, those living in that type of environment should be even more interested in prepping.
Here are some prepping tips to give you a fighting chance when disaster strikes. These are actionable tips you can get working on today!
Put together a Bug-out Bag.
First things first — a Basic Bug-out Bag Could Save Your Life! This is an article I wrote about putting together your first Bug-out Bag.
Keep your ear to the ground.
Living in an apartment, especially in a highly populated area, means it is even more important that you know what is going on around you. When it comes to responding to many types of disasters, your available reaction time is significantly shorter than the prepper who lives in an isolated area.
You should have a solar-chargeable weather radio (Judi has the NOAH weather app on her phone and highly recommends it!), a transistor radio, a good quality cell phone with a solar-charger. Have a meeting with all concerned and write down your communication action list in order of priority discussing everything in the detail. Establishing your plan should include communicating with family members who aren’t home when disaster strikes.
In addition to availing yourself of the best communication supports you can afford, both low and high tech, you should work at building a network of like-minded individuals who can be trusted to work with when things are going south. Contact your direct neighbors on your floor and coordinate a get-together to get some basics in place.
If your building, block or neighborhood has an association, bring up disaster planning at your next meeting. If there is no such organized group — spearhead one. If you’re not comfortable with connecting with strangers search for a local prepper network, churches or local community organizations which are often a great place to meet folks who believe in being prepared.
Have multiple evac plans.
Leaving a highly populated area in a disaster can be very daunting. Fortunately it is a rare disaster that justifies completely leaving the area. You should have a plan for a nearby place where you can get away from the crowd – perhaps at a home of a relative or close friend.
Have a talk with them about what situations may arise and if you can count on them. Offering to keep extra supplies at their location in case you need to count on them helps make their concerns about cost less of an objection.
This is particularly useful if this person can be trusted with storing some of your emergency supplies and food. However, in the off-chance that you have to completely evacuate the area, you should already know where you’re going and how to get there.
Research the area in advance to know what kind of resources are available, where you can get gas, water and supplies between your apartment and your destination, and if possible know people you can trust along the route. Do a practice run on a weekend and stop in the establishments you would want to utilize if the time comes.
Be friendly, introduce yourself and chit-chat — this will lend to you being remembered in a positive light if times get hectic. Creating a “Plan B” is recommended, since disasters, by nature, can make it hard to predict the continued safety of your primary destination.
Get in shape.
Your physical health is the most important resource you can have in an emergency in an urban environment. In large cities it will be more common for evacuation routes to be blocked.
In a situation where your vehicle is no longer an option, you’re going to need some serious stamina to hoof it out of the city while carrying your bug-out bag, and being ready to defend yourself as needed. Getting regular aerobic exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and incorporating strength training into your daily routine will not only help you to feel physically better, they will also improve your mental well-being and sense of security. Taking care of yourself is key to being prepared.
There aren’t many advantages to living in an apartment when disaster strikes. But if you do, you don’t have to throw in the towel. I have a bunch of articles for you to refer to here to read at your convenience.
“It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.”
~ Howard Ruff
If you are well-informed and supplied, have a plan in place, and are prepared to carry it out, you’ve got a fighting chance of getting through whatever comes your way!