So as I've been working on educating myself on basic preparedness and survival issues, I have come across an interesting assumption in the material I've read:

(Booming Megaphone Voice) YOU MUST LEAVE THE CITY AT ALL COSTS!! REPEAT, FLEE THE CITY AND RETREAT TO YOUR PERSONAL Rural-Bunker (TM), etc..

Well, what do you do if its not possible to leave? Or even if you could, you don't have anywhere to go? Or even if you did get out, traveling to your destination may be more dangerous?

So if you have to stay in your house, townhouse, apartment, etc.. How does that change one's survival strategies? How do you keep it legal when there is no emergency (weapon and carry restrictions within urban areas)? What are the resources that are unique to the urban environment that you should be aware of and/or befriend? What should you carry at all times? (as you won't be at home most of the time). Are there perhaps any specific advantages to staying?

If the city has become a dangerous place, due to flooding, fire, etc. Than yes, getting out is good.

But if there isn't a danger, except other people and there is enough food and water. Tthan fleeing the city, is more or less an inrational behavior, caused by fear. Although the media reporting things like widespread looting and killing and stuff. These incidents usually turn out to be incidents and on very small scale. During crisis there are in general fewer incidents of crime than in a normal situation.

A more dangerous aspect during crisis can be considerd armed people who (irrationally) fear other people, because this is one of the things that ingreas instead of reducing during a crisis.

"One of the most dangerous aspect during crisis can be considerd armed people who (irrationally) fear other people."

That has yet to be a problem anywhere that I have seen, at least in the USA. Here the only armed people that I consider dangerous are the ones that want to appropriate your money and/or stuff (or worse.) You are absolutely right on about the media though.

My absolute first priority is to stay put. Besides a modest cache of supplies and gear, I have a network of friends and family here that are well able to help one another. Why leave unless there is absolutely no choice? In fact, it is when I contemplate bugging out that I get a little apprehensive.

Most people don't have an emergency cache stored at a remote place.. I believe most people, if they have anything, would be in their home for a shelter in place scenario.

With the fort being your home, you have to understand what it takes to get from place X to your home. NYC requirements are different than most other cities. Most people don't drive to work in NYC, thereby requiring you to carry more. When I say more, I mean what you need to carry to get home in an emergency. Most other cities require people to drive to work, hence, they can have their BOB in their trunk versus on them.

You must understand what type of emergency you expect to have. I personally believe that a bandana, first aid kit, and a whistle are the primary items. For most cases, right after an emergency, believe it or not, the criminals aren't looking to kill/rob people, instead they want to get out of dodge just like you. The bad things start happening later, and hopefully, you're already home.

In regards to keeping it legal, I don't quite understand. In an emergency, you shelter and stay at home. You don't go out to buy milk at the local grocery.. If you could, it's not really an emergency. In the States, for the most part, you can have loaded firearms in your house <- This of course is not allowed in the most dangerous city in the United States (Washington DC), but that's probably one of the few..

Just curious why a bandana would be on top of the list.

A bandana deserves its own thread of useful tips.

The simple Goverment issue triangular bandage, O.D. Green...is the worlds best bandana.

Splint, headcover, backpack, mitten, wick, poltice holder, potholder, scarf, sock, sunblock, minnow trap, weapon....

...the list goes on and on.

As long as you have adequate food and water, and there's no nukes floating around, staying in the city is a viable option. You'll have greater access to technological resources when things calm down and the surviving rural populace comes to town to trade <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Suburbia would be better, but hey, surviving is about making it with what you have!

Yes, there are a ton of uses for a bandana.. Not only that, but a bandana can be an everyday carry item that won't "freak" people out. One use that Fallshirmjager left out is an improvised dust mask in the event of building collapse etc.. I guess you can always carry dedicated particle masks, but feel in an urban environment, single purpose items add volume and weight..

I think your best bet is to stay put, if you can.

You may be ordered to evacuate and you will have to leave. You need to have Bug-Out items ready to go.

I might speculate that the people who say you "YOU MUST LEAVE THE CITY AT ALL COSTS" don't live in the city to begin with. They are not accustomed to the city and therefore don't like it.

Country folks such as myself are not equipped to survive in the city. Our finely honed instincts are all wrong for the city.

Ferinstance, on my last ill-advised trip into NY City, I was trying to drive from Manhattan to Long Island ("Longuiland" in the local dialect) without a detailed local map. I looked up at the sun to orient myself and took the nearest street West until I got near the Hudson River. Then I headed South to the tip of Manhattan where it joins the East River and continued to follow the coastline as it curves East. From this point I could SEE Long Island and a number of Bridges. However, the entrances to the bridges are several blocks in from the shoreline amongst a maze of one-way streets and dead-ends. Eventually I got of there, but I'll take a loincloth and knife in the middle of the woods to a pocketfull of subway tokens in the city any day.

Just as we post articles here about the stupid hiker from the city who got lost on a well marked trail, had no gear and died a quarter mile from an interstate highway, I'll probably end up being the subject of a report on a hungry, dehydrated guy who was rescued after being lost in a subway station for three days. City forum members will post comments like "...the idiot didn't even have and iPod!"

A response to your “ill-advised trip into NY City”.

You begin your little communiqué by explaining how you oriented yourself using the sun, but then you failed to go in the proper direction. Long island is to the east of Manhattan. Anywhere you are on Manhattan, long island is to your east. This is not something to brag about. Next you criticize the bridges for being, well, bridges. “However, the entrances to the bridges are several blocks in from the shoreline amongst a maze of one-way streets and dead-ends” The bridges over the East River must be high enough for boat traffic to pass underneath them. This requires that they gradually rise to a height above the river. This is why they start inland, other wise you would need a car elevator to get you to the proper height. While you may consider this to be a stupid concept you will notice that there are many bridges around the world that follow similar logic. You go on to say that you failed to bring a map. This was your mistake, not New York’s. Also, next time I would suggest wearing your glasses, as there are tons of signs on how to get onto the bridges and tunnels. You state that “eventually I got there”. I would certainly hope so, considering that there is more than one way across the river. In fact there are many:

1. Triboro bridge.
2. The 59th street bridge.
3. The Williamsburg bridge.
4. The Manhattan bridge
5. The Brooklyn bridge.
6. The Brooklyn battery tunnel.
7. Midtown Tunnel

Had you been on the FDR (The highway on the east side of Manhattan) you would have also noticed that half the signs were for the next bridge or tunnel over the river.(the other half being exits) This highway is the major thorough fair for the east side of Manhattan. Logically it follows that from this thorough fair it just might make sense for the city to enable motorists to be able to cross the river into Long Island. Do not get all mad at the city because you failed to properly use the transportation system. Next time, do not be so quick to criticize an entire city, when you get frustrated and lost due to your own stupidity. City forum members will post that if you are smart enough to post on the internet on a BB then you are smart enough not to get lost, or die in New York City. But then you couldn’t brag about how you are a good ‘ol country boy could you?

Deep breath Dan!! I think THSENG was just saying he was out of his element in the city.. Being born and raised in NYC, I didn't take offense to his comments, I just noted that he was a "tourist" ;-)

Look on the bright side, the Yanks won tonight.. Unless egads... You're a Mets fan!! <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Hey, can't I be a Mets fan and root for the Yankees too? GO NY (whichever team) - now when they are playing each other - I root for the Brewers... (who, obviously aren't playing, so I avoid arguments...)

In urban environments, you can orient yourself by looking for satellite TV dishes. They all face more or less south, pointing at geostationary satellites on the equator.

kc2ixe,

You can also be a Yankee fan and root for the Mets...when they're playing the Red Sox. Yanks in 3!

I used to be a Brewer Fan (AL) and a Cub Fan (NL)... until Bud "the moron" Selig moved the Brewers to the National League. Now, I have 2.5 favorite teams. The Cubs (1), the Brewers (.5 I like to see them do OK, but not fanatic about it as I was). and ANYONE PLAYING the YANKEES!!! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Go Tigers!!!

Hey, this is really good advice... thanks
<img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

The Evil Empire isn't all bad. Come to the dark side, Ogre. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yanks in 4?

Mets in 3!

Dan - I wasn't criticizing the city, I was criticizing my own ability to function in the city. I wasn’t bragging, I was self-deprecating. Sorry if you took it the wrong way. All my errors that you described illustrate my point!

This is interesting, because I was actively looking for a forum or specific topic on urban survival. Seems like almost all sites focus more on wilderness survival, where the plan seems to be go into the wilderness with a gun and a knife and live off the land until things get better. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm much more comfortable in the city, even after a disaster. I guess it depends on the type of disaster though, but except for maybe a Katrina type event (which are rare over here) or nuclear attack, I can't imagine an disaster big enough that would cause me to leave everything behind to go live off in the woods. Even after an earthquake, fire, tornado, etc, there are still more resources for food, shelter, and even water, in a destroyed city than in the woods. I assume most city people, even someone who's familiar with the outdoors, would probably be more comfortable in familiar surroundings in the aftermath of a natural disaster, than in an unknown wilderness.

One thing I've been doing is shifting my stuff for more of an urban environment. For one, I live right in the middle of the city, so it would be a lot more trouble to try and escape to the wilderness. Even after a large earthquake, there is still more salvagable resources here than in the mountains around me. A lot of the equipment is the same (knife, first aid kit, water), but I would probably reconsider bringing certain things like maybe a tarp or other wilderness specific items. I might also add other things like a prybar, emergency tools (for a vehicle), or firearm.

How many days till Spring Training? Well, Met fans can bask in the glory this year. I'll take my lumps, awaiting the news on poor Joe Torre, whose biggest stars couldn't come through in the clutch. After losing a bet to my father-in-law, I'll be forced to root for the Mets for the rest of the postseason. At least they have a former Yankee leading them.

There is no emoticon that can express what I am feeling right now...

Before they get rid of Joe, they better get rid of A-Rod.. for a guy that makes 25% more than Jeter, he sure doesn't produce 25% more...

If you are in the city then take the hight ground... get together with a few friends and find an empty building.... secure the first and secondo floor and don't forget any entrance to the basement.

At the first time of troulbe start by taking as much water as possibe and also empty containers to collect rain water...

Also start taking all your food and equipment and be sure that someone (with a weapond) stays there at all time till you move in for good.

Be sure that building is taller than any other in that area and post guards at the 12 and 6 on the roof... same as downstairs but at some distance from the building and with radios.

Set booby-traps in all rooms in the first and second floor and make sure that there is only one way to get into the building and only one way to go upstairs.

GET OUT OF THE CITIES NOW BEFORE ANYTHING HAPPENS !!!

Truely, your life is in your hands and nobody knows more about your situation than you. You are the most qualified person on your own personal preparedness. BUt here are some general guidelines:

If you are stuck in the city, stay down, stay quiet and do not advertise to everyone else that you have food and water. Be ready to evacuate your building in the event of fire or other problems. Have back-up locations inside the city... friends, family or neighbors. Have some form of firearm. If you can rig a way to collect rain run-off and charcoal filter it discretely, so much the better.

Really, it depends on the situation. We can offer options and specific preparations but ultimately you are incharge. Often the situation is too complex and too fluid for a flowchart of what actions to take and when. Is your city just experiencing local problems? Or is this a nation wide disaster? Is normalcy going to be restored soon? Or is this the big end? Are you in the position to help your elderly neighbors? Or is this a dog-eat-dog fight for survival? See what I mean? Too many factors for anyone but you to make the call.

I get these 5 gallon pickle buckets from Burger King for free. I use them in my greenhouse. You could easily store purified water in them for months at a time. In the city, water is most likely the most critical necessity. If you have no heat, get several neioghbors together in one house or apartment. People put out a lot of heat if you have enough of them in a small enough volume. Just plan ahead.