When a disaster strikes, arguably one of the worst places is in a city.
In a city, you’ll have to always worry about things like downed power lines and rubble, as well as a threat from crowds of people who’ve panicked because they lacked the foresight to stock up on basic supplies.
Most prepper websites will advise you to get out of the city if you can, which is very solid advice. However, not everyone will pick up and leave everything behind.
Some folks aren’t capable of that. If you’re one of those people, don’t worry. Your bug-out bag can still help you survive in the city.
Bug Out Bags have very many different definitions. Generally speaking, though, Bug Out Bags are defined as survival kits that have everything you’ll need to survive for three days through a catastrophe or disaster condition.
So, the items in this bag should give you the ability to survive a catastrophe in cities or other urban environments.
When planning out any Bug Out Bag, consider stocking up on items and gear that can be divided into categories based on what you expect them to help you achieve.
For instance, you’ll need medical supplies, warmth, food, and shelter if you want to survive any SHTF situation.
Contents
Shelter Considerations
The good thing about bugging out in cities is that you’ll have access to many pre-made shelters. The problem is how you’re going to get inside them.
That is where items like crowbars and bolt cutters can come in handy. You might also want to consider stocking some duct tape and plastic tarp so that you can be able to weather-proof damaged pre-made shelters if need be.
You might also want to map out certain locations in the city, giving you access to good survival shelters.
Abandoned buildings such as factories and schools are usually very good choices, although many other folks might also have this same idea.
Dilapidated buildings may prove to be a little better because not many people will want to go there. They’re also less likely to be a place that looters will target.
The gear you’ll need for this includes:
- A small sleeping bag
- Low picking set
- Crowbar
- Plastic tarp
- Duct tape
Water
When you’re bugging out in the wild, you’ll have to worry about water sources that have protozoa and bacteria. But, viruses are typically not things you need to worry about so much in the backcountry.
Neither are harmful chemicals. So, standard portable water filters, such as the Sawyer Mini, should do you just fine.
However, this isn’t the case when bugging out in a city. Even tap water isn’t normally safe for human consumption during an emergency scenario.
You’ll need to have access to water filtration and purification systems that can eliminate chemicals and viruses.
Another problem is where you’re going to find this water in your city? If you’ve been reduced to sourcing water from sewers and puddles, you can be sure that there’s some toxic waste inside it.
To help you solve such problems, you may want to consider packing survival items like:
- Extra bottles of clean water
- A water filter and activated charcoal (for chemical removal)
- A sillcock water-valve key (to open the water valves in commercial buildings)
- A hydrant wrench (to open hydrants so that you can get water)
- Small camping stove
- Mess kit
- Can opener
Self Defense
You’re more likely to come across gangs and violent crowds in cities. The need to have self-defense gear becomes critical. Many folks would advise you to get a firearm so that you can defend yourself and your loved ones.
However, firearms are only useful if you know how they’re used and if you’re prepared to use them.
A firearm can draw a lot of unnecessary attention, like alerting others of your presence. Though arguably the best non-lethal self-defense item you should always have in your Bug Out Bag is pepper spray.
The personal protection items you’ll want to consider include:
- Firearms
- Pepper spray
- N95 face mask
- Heavy-duty gloves
- Eye-protection
- Earplugs
Medical Needs
Just like with wilderness Bug Out Bags, you’ll also need to come up with personalized medical kits for your urban Bug Out Bag.
This kit should have all the medications you take and the basics for treating common ailments and wounds. Although, you might want to have a few extra things in your urban Bug Out Bag.
For starters, expect an increased likelihood of wounds. Deep cuts, abrasions, and burns are more likely to occur because of the flaming rubble in cities. You’ll need to stock up on extra burn cream, antibiotic salve, and sterile gauze.
You want to strongly consider having is potassium iodide capsules to treat radiation exposure. If you’ve taken shelter or reside near nuclear facilities, then you should have these in your urban Bug Out Bag.
Communication
In urban survival situations, the need for you to communicate increases. For instance, while part of your group goes scouting for supplies, others might want to stay in the shelter and protect it.
There’s a high chance you’ll need 2-way radio devices if you’re going to keep in contact. Ensure the radios you choose are NOAA-approved so that you and your group can have access to disaster updates.
In major disaster scenarios, there probably won’t be any phone signals. But, if you’ve got phone signals, you will want to have a way to charge your smartphone. Solar chargers would be your best bet.
However, when it comes to solar chargers, the best one for an urban Bug Out Bag is one that’s lightweight, small, and can still charge your phone quickly.
Also, it’s a good idea to stock up on permanent markers so that you can leave written messages on buildings in case you need to do so.
Some of the things you need to have in your urban BOB include:
- 2-way NOAA-approved radio devices
- Emergency whistle
- Phone and solar charger
- Permanent marker
- Topographic map
Toxic Pollutants, Rubble And Debris
The terrorist attack of September 11th showed how dangerous toxic pollutants could be.
Today, many folks are still dying due to the respiratory diseases a lot of them got when exposed to flaming toxic materials such as asbestos.
Even relatively minor natural disasters like tornados and hurricanes can produce plenty of toxic pollution. And then there’s the rubble, crumbling buildings, and broken glass.
You’ll need to have the following if you want to stay safe;
- Sturdy boots
- Heavy-duty gloves
- Face mask
- Eye protection
- Earplugs (loud sounds and noises can cause a lot of ear damage, don’t underestimate this)
For many disaster scenarios where there’s a lot of air pollution, the N95 face mask would be the ideal choice. They’re very good at filtering out unwanted particles and are affordable as well.
When it comes to heavy-duty gloves, Ironclad gloves are some of the best out there. They’re flexible enough to allow you to do dexterous tasks but are still heavy-duty.
Discretional Needs
You don’t ever want to draw too much attention to yourself in total SHTF scenarios. Carrying around a camouflage-style backpack that’s filled with useful survival supplies is probably going to do that.
You’ll want to pick out a bug-out bag that’s very discreet. A good tip you’ll hear from most seasoned preppers is to use baby bags as your bug-out bags.
Who would’ve thought, right? Nobody will ever expect a bag like that to be filled with all the necessary survival gear. When it comes to tactical backpacks, go for the ones with discreet overall designs.
You’ll get all the tactical backpack benefits, like sturdy material and loads of space, but without making yourself a target and sticking out.
Why Are Urban Bug Out Bags Important?
Right now, you’re probably thinking you don’t need to have an urban Bug Out Bag, no? After all, you have everything you need at home, right?
Wrong. The truth is, there are very many scenarios where you could find yourself aimlessly wandering your city after an SHTF disaster.
Your home can become instantly unsafe (the people in Syria know about this all too well). You could not leave your city because it has been placed under lockdown (Covid-19 has helped show how real this can be).
You could have an illness or disability that doesn’t allow you to evacuate the city. And so on.
Urban Bug Out Bags will help you survive through such SHTF situations.
Wrapping Up
The items that have been highlighted in this article are what you can expect to find in urban Bug Out Bags. These are what help transform this bag into an effective urban survival kit.
We’re living in an uncertain time, and a bag like this could be the difference between life and death in certain SHTF situations.
Don’t be the one who’s not prepared. Hopefully, now you know what you need to make your own urban BOB.
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