By Daisy Luther
Have you ever noticed that most Americans live in cities or large towns, but most of the information out there for preppers relies on a plan that will only work in a rural environment? While books like Strategic Relocation (also available as a documentary) and this one listing the 5 best bug-out locations in the US are excellent sources of information, what about those who have numerous excellent reasons to stay put in their current location?
According to the US Census Bureau, more than 80% of our national population lives in urban or suburban environments. Add to this another statistic: 96% of Americans live in an area that is subject to extreme weather events.
By ignoring this demographic of suburban preppers and insisting that anyone who wants to survive must make a pilgrimage to the Outer Boondocks and live there in a shack without running water or power, dining off of the same deer you killed in the fall all winter long and hoping to make it until spring, the prepper community does a huge disservice to this majority.
Here’s a plan specifically for Urban and Suburban Preppers
I’ve always been very vocal about my dislike of this discouraging perspective, so when I heard my friend Rory’s interview about urban survival, I knew that I had to post it here.
You can go over to Rory’s website to get a free downloadable evacuation plan that goes along with the interview.
Resources for Urban and Suburban Preppers
For more information on surviving in more population dense areas, check out these resources:
The Prepper’s Water Survival Guide
Bloom Where You’re Planted: Prepping No Matter What the Setting
Hi Daisy,
Great information here. I love what Brad says about leaving a symbol of relocation if you can’t stay in the original meeting place. I also agree that, in an urban survival situation, you would need to stay both hidden and mobile.
I’m going to talk to my wife tonight about weekly camping trips.
Thanks for sharing!
Joey
This is good information for short-term/localized threats (NOT societal collapse).
We are firm believers in “5-Minute Grab and Go Lists” to pre-prioritize key items and actions to save critical time.
Just two of us normally live in our home. We have TWO ‘5-Min. Grab & Go’ lists (hidden of course). The lists have no overlap in locations for efficiency. My spouse grabs things at locations A and B. I grab things at locations C and D. This saves time by not having to decide what to take, its location or asking if it was already packed by the other. The lists also include actions, such as reminding us to shut off the propane, move gas cans, etc.
Incidentally, the first items are securing our pets. They will likely get anxious in the inevitable commotion. The last thing you want is to be ready to leave and not be able to find Miss Kitty.
Hi Daisy,
Great site, I enjoy reading your articles. Keep fighting the good fight!