Playing It Close to Home

Prepping is a bit like drinking from a firehose. There's an endless stream of info, more solutions than problems, and the gear alone could hold a person's attention for years. For many new preppers, this usually results in a disjointed plan, and a constant cycle of equipment that never quite finds a home. Whether it's the start of your journey or a period of reassessment, it's important to take a realistic look at your goals before setting off. Where's the best place to start? Close to home.

Without realistic goals in mind, prepping can quickly lose its focus. Plans are left unfinished and eventually we start to lose interest. By focusing on personal priorities, we're able to make informed and invested decisions. Perhaps a less than popular statement in these circles, it's okay not to prepare for the end of the world. Say it with me - it's okay not to prepare for the end of the world. There's no harm in starting small, and in many cases, it's a great way to stretch our legs.

Think of the staples - the things that we need. Food, water, shelter, security, first-aid, and even communications or transportation. Once we've established the scenario, it's easier to understand how our needs will be impacted. Conducting a needs analysis will then allow us to identify the gaps between where we are and where we need to be. It becomes a game of 'if/then'.

If the power goes out in the city while travelling, then I can't take the train. If I can't take the train, then I will need to walk 20 miles. If I need to walk 20 miles, then I will need capable footwear and water. If I need capable footwear and water, then I will need to wear or pack them daily.

Though a little high-level, it's a scenario we can easily remedy. Perhaps the solution is as simple as leaving our work shoes under the desk while commuting in sneakers, or by packing a water bottle as a reminder to hydrate. By working backwards with our goals in mind, it's easier to plan for, and integrate our preps. So, before you start running down someone else's list of problems, take a good look at what's important to you. Afterall, it's a lot harder to steer off course when you're the one driving.

Have you ever invested too much time or money into an Urban Survival scenario that was off-base?

Getting StartedJHMay 19, 2023Urban Preparedness, Urban Prepping, Urban Survival, Prepping, Prepping Blog, Prepper Blog, Apartment Prepping, City PreppingComment

On Shotguns: Shotgun Breaching For Urban Survival

We've all encountered a locked barrier at some point in our lives. Locked keys in the car? Call roadside assistance. Late night as a teen? There's a basement window for that. At the end of the day, these are all easy fixes with ample opportunity. But in an urban survival scenario where self-rescue is required - and a locked door may hold you or your loved ones firmly in harm's way - a heavy-handed solution may be the only way to safety. If a lockpick or hard kick won't clear a path, perhaps it's time to knock a little louder. Enter the shotgun.

The Nail That Sticks Out Gets Hammered

During a period of civil unrest, you're either a number or a target. No matter how well equipped you or your small group may be for conflict, full battle rattle is going to draw a world of unwanted attention from the hoods and have-nots. That overt plate carrier and camo you're wearing? The city will eventually swallow you whole, thinking you're another cop, criminal, or loot drop. But at what point does our affinity for load bearing equipment or camo become a liability in urban preparedness? With big city problems, I figure it's sooner rather than later.

Your Daily Dose of First Aid For Urban Preparedness

While first aid holds an important place in urban survival, many of us continue to focus on the long game. We look solely to the horizon, building out full-scale solutions to face troubled times ahead. But with a world of misadventure just beyond our doors, it's important not to lose sight of the daily unknowns. Whether we like it or not, disaster usually crops up when we're least prepared.