Two things I would add to your list are a good map of the city and a phone book.

The phone book is only for your car or desk. I'm not recommending people carry the whole phone book. But the phone book contains a huge wealth of information, including maps, locations and phone numbers of government buildings, hospitals and nearly every shop. Okay, thats pretty obvious, but if you don't know it and you can't get to google on your Blackberry or Iphone, where are you going to find it?

A map is essential anywhere. Some cities are notoriously difficult to navigate with out one even in normal times. A map will help you find alternative routes and locate information you get from the news. Also, if you carry it regularly, annotate it with any information you find useful or interesting. I draw some maps into my notebook which has the advantage of fixing the information in my mind, but a cut and folded gas station map, a page from an atlas, or an internet map or two could all fit the bill depending on the area.

Yes. Agree. Clear plastic bag to keep it in as well. CPB's make a fairly effective map case.

Here's a site that shows how I like to fold my maps. Fold Maps Its the second picture, figure B-2. It makes them less conspicuous when you're a tourist, and its much easier to manage in a vehicle. You can paste a couple together to make a map book for a larger area.

Thank you. That is exactly what I was looking for. A quick forum search did the rest. I think this is a pivotal item in the urban bug out kit or in situations where you can't carry enough water. I wish someone made one out of strong, light-weight material rather than the cast stuff that seems to be everywhere

This is a great thread, urban EDC is so much different that wilderness EDC and I've seen some great ideas here. Lets keep it going.

Craig.

My normal urban EDC is limited to 2 flashlights,a few spare batteries, 2 cellphones on different networks, money, contact details, travel pass,leatherman tool, and a lighter.

I dont EDC water or food or many spare batteries under normal conditions, but certainly would in adverse weather or if industrial disputes or other problems warrented so doing.

I walk several miles a day normally and therefore allways wear suitable shoes and clothing.

At work I keep food and water for at least a week, and also spare clothing, shoes, batteries, flashlights, glowsticks, radio,blanket, hard hat, respirator, leather gloves, safety glasses,geiger counter,and overalls.

My work requires that I keep a good selection of hand tools, some of which would be useful in any emergency.

I also keep a supply of very cheap home made disposable battery lights, not a substitute for the directional beam of a flashlight but useful to light a room or stairway, and cheap enough to give away.

I'm curious, do you carry 2 cell phones for a specific reason or just to be prepared?

If it's to be better prepared, I'd also be curious as the rationale behind that decision.

Thanks.

I forget everything that was in my EDC when living and working in NYC. Now that I remain mostly in the burbs, I rely of my car kit and fewer things in my pockets.

However, I worked five miles away from my office and always considered that it might not be an option to return home. So, I was very loaded with gear in my EDC. I kept multiple firestarters, paracord, a sewing kit, tiny fishing kit, scapel blades, emergency poncho, garbage bag, escape mask, multitool, small first aid kit and a few other items. That EDC was designed to give me tools to allow me to get or adapt other things to keep me going. The fishing kit was overkill, but so what.

Don,

Which escape mask did/do you have?

The 80 gallon ones (I think they are 80? seems) can fit a person in them, nifty for shelters, personal coverage, and more.

I can't answer for his rationale, but when I carried phones on two networks it was because I carried one that belonged to me, and one that belonged to my employer. It was just coincidence that they were served by different carriers (and different mobile technologies). There were several occasions, however, when having both meant getting signal where having only one would have left me out of touch.