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.