We live in a dense city and I expect there to be a shelter of some sort set up. There will be water there even if it is only a little. I didn't mention any firearms, but Candy and I have our own Colt 1991A1's with many mags and almost too much ammo. I have taken the children out for walks and bike rides many times, during which I have asked them to take me on a journey involving something that has too do with emergency planning. One time when we got home from a bike ride I asked my son Jimi what he would do if he tried to get into the house and it was all locked up. I listened to his answer, (go to the neighbors house) and then I instructed him on what I would like him to do. First he is to go to the old lady's house next door as she has all the contact information for Candy and I and if we had to go somewhere without the kids for whatever the reason (hospital) and couldn't find them we would tell her what we are doing and where we would be going and the kids would wait there. If she was not home or didn't answer, Jimi would get Gemma and go to his friends house three doors down and wait there. If no one is there, then he is to go down the road about 1000ft to a Pizza Hut where all of the people there know us(I worked there for many years) and wait. I trust everyone there and my kids could go home with almost anyone of them with no problem.I have the Nalgene bottles, many trash bags and the Camelbaks for water. How much water can you reasonably carry if you are on the move anyway? We have 50 water tablets in each bottle, and that can make a hell of a lot of water until water is restored, I can also boil water to purify it. I am looking for some inline water filters for the Camelbaks to filter water also. I could gather water when it rains. If it got really bad, I would just whack some and take their water. When the excrement hits the air conditioning, I want the kids to go through it with as little trauma as possible. I want them to know that something happened but I want them to have fun and I want it to seem like a neighborhood camping trip, per se. My 17 year old was in NYC on 9/11/01and had I been there we would have gotten out of town and once we reached safety I would have sat with her and talked about what was going on and her thoughts about it. I am a good listener (Candy will argue about that sometimes) and I do try to be there for all of our 6 kids. Only two are left in the house now, the rest live all over the country. Each child has a whistle, lightstick, and a compass. Keep the ideas coming though, I love to gain knowledge.