Craig,these are notes from my experience in Northridge quake.drinking water rapidly replenished via bottled retailers.Flashlights impossible(I worked at HD,we were badly damaged,limited sales to one apiece).gas stations unable to pump(Cal drivers even uglier with no signals).No police(held two burglars with 97 winchester for 4hours,police never showed,put them to work)coleman stove was godsend for hotmeals.Antique Dietz lanterns still worked after being displayed for 40years(fresh kerosene).<br><br>

in major disaster pets are often lost,or left. Always keep a collarwith ID.never use nylon! It burns(rescued two horses from Malibu fire,try cutting melted halter in surf by flashlight on burned animal).Ive seen people who lost all moved to tears at reunion with cat<br><br>

My wife and I have already decided we'd never leave our cat behind. He either comes with us or we stay behind with him. He's a member of the family.<br><br>

I have a copy of John Wiseman's SAS Urban Survival manual. I was disapointed. It has stuff like make sure you have an electric circular saw so you can make repairs to your property before further damage occurs. Yeah, but if you don't have utilities, then your electric circular saw is useless. The book sold because of his name and reputation. The information was not what I was looking for. It might help others or maybe I had incorrect expectations.<br><br>Tom Brown has a book on urban/surburan survival. I found it better oriented to surburan/urban people who are not heavy into survival. Good for the average person who is stuck at home due to extreme weather event for several days/weeks.<br><br>What I was looking for was ways to collect and purify water in an urban/suburban environment. Alternate food gathering techniques besides looting local stores. Home defense, etc.<br><br>You might want to stop by Plainsman's Cabin Forum. There is a sub-forum (The 'Burbs) discussing urban/surburban survival. Some good ideas about adapting homeless lifestyle techniques, foraging, dumpster diving, etc. <br><br>http://pub7.ezboard.com/bplainsmanscabin<br><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by resqman on 02/13/01 01:48 PM (server time).</EM></FONT></P>

www.harvestbooks.com searchs OOP titles for up to six months after request.1 800 563 1222. They're in Fort Washington PA craig! <br><br>

Thanks, Chris.<br><br>

I’m brand new here- I hope nobody will mind my digging up an old thread.<br><br>The urban/suburban survival topic is near and dear to my heart. I’m a lifelong backpacker and camper who's taking up sailing again after 25 years, and those are the subjects that brought me here, but… a couple of years ago, when commuting on the Metro (subway) to downtown D.C. a block or so from the White House (talk about ground zero), I very nearly got stranded in the city in the aftermath of an ice storm- getting home was an interesting adventure, that could easily have been much, much worse. I had a little gear, more than most city folks for sure, in a soft attache/shoulder pouch (along with papers and books), and some of it did come in handy. Since then I’ve spent a lot of time and thought on what I should have had with me and didn’t.<br><br>I was also in Connecticut (affected) during the 1965 NY blackout, my parents went through the famous CT “Ice Storm” without power for a week, I was in MD through hurricane Agnes, in San Francisco during the Oakland fire and again during the SF version of the Rodney King riot, which literally passed around me. Not surprisingly, I was more prepared than most for Y2K, and I don’t really regret it, though I’m still digesting that lesson.<br><br>Respectfully, there seem to me to be very different requirements for an urban/suburban survival kit than for rural/marine versions, but that DOESN’T mean that weapons are it. The list I’ve come up with is far less combat oriented than what I’ve seen here- in D.C., for instance, you have very few legal options in that direction, and I was going through metal detectors twice a day. D.C. also has a history of unsafe city water without any emergency, and recently, 400-lb manhole covers blowing 20ft into the air without warning. I’m not currently working there, but it may happen again.<br><br> It also makes a HUGE difference whether you expect to be within easy walking distance of your vehicle. I’d be glad to share what I’ve come up with so far if there’s any interest, and more than glad to hear any suggestions.<br><br><br>

Welcome. There are no old threads here. This site and it's links are rich in information. Urban survival shares one commonality with wilderness;ever changing and different circumstances. The car is your ark,but aside from carried supplies few look at the vehicle itself. Most people are aware of keeping a window open if running the engine for warmth. But you can also use up most of the oxygen even with the engine off. Conversely,take a close look at your door and window seals. If your caught in a firestorm,the quality of that seal can provide precious time if sheltering in the vehicle.<br><br>

I would be interested in seeing a list of what you carry to battle the odds. You could start a new topic since this one is more about books and it might get lost when looking for informaiton in the future.<br><br>

>>I would be interested in seeing a list of what you carry to battle the odds. You could start a new topic since this one is more about books and it might get lost when looking for informaiton in the future.<<<br><br>Good idea, will do.<br><br>I don’t want to imply that I’m carrying this now (I’m not working in the city at the moment- that could change) or that I’ve gotten everything in the list- though I think I have almost all of it.<br><br>Keep in mind this assumes you're far from vehicle and home.<br><br>So, here’s a start:<br><br>Outside the kit:<br><br>I always carry a mobile phone. In a generalized emergency, though, you’ll probably find the “lines” jammed with callers. Keep trying, though, as they can clear up in seconds, and be jammed again seconds later. Digital phones should fall back to analog if you’re in the boonies.<br><br>It goes without saying that a multitool is even more useful in the city- but don't forget that in some cities the knife blade can cause trouble with the law. <br><br>In winter, I always carried a fleece cap and neckover in the pouch. Per ounce, insulating your head is the best deal.<br><br>I also carried a Totes pocket umbrella- very small, flat, light, more so than most rain gear, is faster, and can save getting soaked, which is worth a lot.<br><br>In the kit:<br>________________________<br>Money. Probably the most generally useful thing you can have in the city, emergency or no. I’m thinking three $20 bills, four $10 bills, and enough change for three local pay phone calls. Reserved for emergencies only. Split up the carry when you need it.<br><br>Phone card- prepaid calling card for long distance.<br><br>Pocket knife- to taste, as large as the local laws allow. In DC I believe that’s a three inch blade.<br><br>Paper printout with as many emergency numbers as you can think of, including friends and relatives, in small print. Use boths sides. Include local cab companies. Cabs will get you out (see MONEY above) when the police are too busy to respond.<br><br>Flashlight- I used to carry a Mag-Lite solitaire (single AAA), these days I have a Photon III in white, and I intend to get another in green, each to be programmed differently. Flashlights have come in handy at least twice already in the city.<br><br>Compass- it’s very easy to get disoriented in the city, especially with subways, and you often can't see the sky. I have several, but I think I’d pick the Suunto Clipper, as it’s the smallest with a wristband, so you can check it on the move without pausing. You won’t be taking bearings, you just need to be oriented.<br><br>Map of the city. One page. Doesn’t have to have a lot of detail, but must show the streets and major routes. Firehouses and police stations would be a big plus. Make sure it extends into territory you know.<br><br>Iodine tablets- see my remarks about the history of D.C. tap water.<br><br>Water bottle- I have one of the Platypus flexible bag/bottles that rolls up. In a pinch, for reserve capacity, you can crush Evian water bottles so that they’re a squat disk with a neck, blow them up and use them again a surprising number of times. <br><br>Micro-FM radio- one of the new coin-cell radios that weigh under an ounce and cost less than $10, with earbuds. They work. It could be very useful to know where the riot is, or the fire, the flooding, or whatever, and they can be worn on the move.<br><br>P38 can opener- the classic. There’s more chance of needing this in the city than anywhere.<br><br>ACR emergency whistle. As loud as some others, but much flatter. Might startle an attacker, but mostly think “trapped in the rubble”.<br><br>Mini-Bic lighter or similar. Fire is basic anywhere. I have waterproof lighters, but none are as light as these little 2.5 inch disposables.<br><br>Writing utensil- pencil or small pen. I actually carry a tiny silver ballpoint clipped in the fold of my wallet- saves ever worrying about it.<br><br>Tiny Post-it notes: can be used for taking notes, or for leaving them for others, or as bread crumbs a la Hansel & Gretel in buildings or subway.<br><br>Tiny folding reading glasses. Ok, that’s just me. But if you need them…<br><br>Leatherman Mini. For backup if you have another, but it’s legal anywhere, and very small.<br><br>Spare keys for vehicle and home. Don’t want to make it all the way back and be arrested for breaking into your own property.<br><br>Safety pins, needles and thread.<br><br>Plastic garbage bag- some rain and wind protection.<br>_______________________<br>I think that’s it. I can supply more info on each item, or my rationale.<br><br>One thing that came to mind just recently- I was checking the vehicle kit, and noticed that my chemical heating pads are near expiration (it’s been years). These are non-toxic pads that, on exposure to air, heat up to over 130 degrees and stay hot up to 20 hours, depending on the “model”. On visiting the website, I see that they have a fleece headband, double thickness over the ears, with pockets for the mini-handwarmer versions. Altogether small and light, but with this, I think you might face a night that has others in hypothermia in relative comfort.<br><br>Comments welcome.<br><br>