Yes, Susan, but it seems that "urban caches " like this are limited. They cant be randomized. The choices are rather fixed or limited for each one of us. So, can we scratch our heads a bit and come up with more possibilities ??

The idea is to have survival items scattered in numerous locations in the areas you think to be around, and be able to have access to them when you need them.

I once left two boxes of personal items for long times with a friend in another town. It is very possible to keep a BOB also. However, rotation of some materials would be a problem. You cant ask him to care for the BOB, especially if you are considered a freak for your preparedness. So, that kind of "cache" should be limited to "eternal" non-consumable items.

I think that burying/hiding is also possible for the peaceful non-survivlaist survival inthusiaists, if you want to be called that (me too) <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> ... How about having your garden tools or scrap lumber, and burying a BOB in the middle of all that mess. All you need is an ugly old bag and fill it with the items you have least interest . The knife you think of replacing ..etc. are good for that purpose.

Any more thoughts on non-Rambo type caches? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The main problems with caches would seem to be safety against theft and deterioration, and how likely you are to be in that area when you need it.

And if you are worried about deterioration in a friend's house, how likely are you to keep returning to a remote cache, dig it up (or whatever), replace certain items, then replace it? Not very, I would suspect. Either you won't have the time, inclination, or people will start wondering what you're doing.

At least if you have it at a friend's house, there's the possibility that they could SHIP it to you! (Bears & raccoons don't do UPS!) <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Keep it Simple. You're not going to cover all the possibilities, anyway. Stick with most likely scenarios.

Sue

Shipping a BOB to me was not one of the considerations when I started thinking about .. ummm. multi-BOB system <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> (OK not a cache system) !! I think the idea is that in a catastrophe I may reach at my sister's house with little more than my PSK or even nothing. BTW, you ought to see my sis when she sits with my DW and ROFL while joking about me and my BOBs. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

OK. I arrive at her house , or my old dad's house , and although a shelter is available, having a good knife, a boncho, or whatever is definitely a boost in a bad situation. If my dad or sister were prepared, then I can assume they have some extra preps to divide or share. But you know how it is . Candles in my BOB maybe the only candles in the house in those times. That is not to mention the possibility of me grabbing the BOB and moving further. Why and how ?? Well, it is always possible that a mess happens and I dont get far or fast to the kids in their schools. I leave the DW, or one of the kids at my dad's, grab an extra BOB, and go back to search for other kids.

Besides, digging a cache from underground is , well, not normal, but having extra BOBs, isnt that a big deal IMHO. It only requires good planning and figuring out more safe places/points for caching than anything else.

Also being fairly fresh at this survival thing I would have to agree with you. However I think there are 3 schools of people on here.1) those who truly want to learn all the ways possible to survive a situation 2) those gadget geeks who rely entirely on gadgets and new fancy gizmo's to keep them alive ( they have moving parts made by humans...their gonna break!) 3) and then there are those bodies we are going to have to step over when it is all said and done...

I beg to differ... if you check out the definition of a cache, you just described it, pre-positioned items for use at a specifically defined point in time (even if that point is defined by "when I need it").
Caching was a militery thing 'til the survivalists got hold of it, then, suddenly, a cache wasn't a cache unless it was a hole in the ground filled with a bombproof container.
Also, distance hikers and bikers used caches on pre-planned trips for years (maybe they still do?) before it became the signature of the survivalist movement. At given points along established trails (Skyline Drive, along the Blue Ridge, for example) they'd have supplies left (often at Ranger stations or established businesses) to top off their supplies and gear during their trip.
As was said about the S word... cache maybe good, not neccessarily bad ... c'mon folks, yer chokin' on the P.C. pablum, spit it out for a while <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Troy

If you're part of 1. , you already know that caching is a viable idea... not a joke, not just something for the "crazys", and definitely not neccessarily a hole in the ground.
If you're part of 2. , you'd better know how to use a compass before you turn on your G.P.S., be prepared to hump the trail when your S.U.V. breaks down or runs out of gas, and get a clue as to how to light a fire when your "JetFire MegaLighter" konks out.
And if you're part of 3. , be fore-warned, I've got my work boots on.

Troy

Many local communities have caches for "disaster recovery". For those of us who live in an urban/suburban environment, we might not make it "to the hills". Or we may choose to stay and help out near home. If you need to go to your kid's school to retrieve your children, perhaps that is as far as you need/want/be able to go. Why not offer to help the school prepare their emergency supplies? Why not offer to help and coordinate some basic training for the school staff? (Some states have teacher mandates for first aid, CPR, AED, etc. Become a Red Cross instructor and volunteer to teach the teachers and other staff.) Offer to help maintain and rotate their stock. Coordinate donations of supplies. Write a grant for equipment and supplies and training. Be the school's ham radio operator.

Don't have small children? How about doing the same thing at the local community center or for your homeowner's association or apartment building?

By being on this board, you have a wealth of knowledge to share with your community. Why not do it now. Help others and you might also help yourself.

BTW, my immediate neighbors are part of my survival plan. They look after us, and we look out after them. We all have basic "earthquake supplies" (the PC term in the Bay Area), and have supplemented those with what we think we might need. We also store some supplies at each other's homes, just in case.

Like many on this board who work in public safety, my SO and I will be going to work in most emergencies. This is the life that we chose, and we have no complaints. My two trusted neighbors have keys to the house, and are welcome to whatever they need to make it through. The opposite is also true.

Surviving an emergency, no matter what it is, is made much easier with a small group. You have to sleep sometime, and maybe someone needs to say up and keep watch. Also, I sleep warmer with my SO with me, and so does she.

Hmm, I guess the boat I keep at a storage lot is a gasoline cache since I keep the tank topped all winter with added Sta-bil.

And the mixed box of ammo I keep at my friend's house (we hunt together) so if I forget my 35 Whelen or 300 H&H ammo, I don't have to fret that Wally world doesn't carry the ammo I need.

Caches don't have to be exotic. Just a little foresight. YMMV.

Cooperation is always preferable, but you really should be prepared to go it alone.

I don't mind helping out so long as people are willing to listen and it doesn't tax my resources. The problem I have with most of them is they aren't until it is too late.

Yes, I agree. I am the person, both in my neighborhood and my department that is always encouraging others to prepare. Fortunately, some of it is work related, so there is that benefit. My lady and I are both prepared to "go it alone" if necessary. I prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

After the 1989 Bay Area earthquake, I responded to our emergency operations center (as was required by my employer, in case of emergency). It is a mid-1960's "bomb shelter" with upgraded communications and supplies for 300 for 15 days. I was the only one there, as everyone else continued to use existing facilities, and saw no need to activate "that old place in the basement". Talk about a supply cache! But it was a bit lonely!