...Carry either a charger, battery, or both.

Carry as in EDC? Not gonna happen. It really depends on the kit. The Bailout bag I’m assembling will have a 10K mAH power bank, but other than that, USB chargers are everywhere I look: at home, in my truck, at work. Why carry another...

both daily and in kits...

My IPhone has a Mophie battery cover @125% extra charge. My EDC bag has a cigarette lighter plug and a regular wall plug , with different wires to recharge the Mophie
and the I Pone/ IPad. My IPad is always @ 100% at the beginning of the day. I don’t generally carry a power bank.

The 500L flashlight in my bag has a rechargeable 1450 battery+ charging wire. That fits the other plugs I carry. My other pocket carried and tiny headband E-Light are Lithium powered by disposable batteries. I do carry a spare AAA and button batteries in the bag.

I overdo flashlights because I work in a highly urbanized environment, high rises, government buildings and I use subways. I want several ways to light my way out in an emergency power failure and to be able to give lights to my wife or a co-worker who might be with me.

Teacher, did you mean a charger/battery for a cell phone?

I keep two cell phone charger cables (with wall plugs) in each of our (wife & my) cars, and a pair of charger cables in my travel bag (usually by car, so we actually have four sets).

When camping or attending day-long events with the Boy Scouts (leader) I always brought a power bank. There was usually never the ability to charge via an outlet.

I once attended a Girl Scout weekend event (**) that included a round-robin on several topics. One of the topics was use of a GPS. Being the good leader that I was, I pulled out my GPS to let the girls use it. Sadly, the batteries were almost dead, and I'd forgotten to bring along an extra set. The good news was that one of the girls had brought extra batteries. It was embarrassing. Lesson learned!! Since then I ALWAYS bring extra batteries.


** I was also a registered, but occasional Girl Scout Leader - helping with overnight campouts. Parents tended to not want a male Girl Scout leader - actually driving out the troop's original male leader. I thought that was insane. Female (mother) leaders were very much an active part of my son's Boy Scout troop, and no one ever blinked about it. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Boy Scouts had/has a VERY well thought out and emphasized youth safety program.

I have to say I never noticed such a program in Girl Scouts, though the main Girl Scout leader for my daughter's troop was also an active Boy Scout Assistant Scoutmaster, so I know if nothing else she used the Boy Scout safety rules.

Sorry for the subject matter left turn there. Sigh.

I don't go to my kitchen without a charging cable.

1. snacks
2. rain gear, jacket or umbrella
3. simple meds
4. water

And how few people test or update their gear.

I keep separate sets of chargers and cables in:
1. my bedroom
2. my kitchen
3. my truck
4. my office
5. my handbag, including a 5 Ah backup battery pack

and, I have a larger 13 Ah backup battery pack that gets used during power outages or while travelling, and otherwise stays in my Travelpro flight tote.

Because of this, the set in my handbag almost never gets used. My iPhone and iPad stay plugged in unless I am actually moving between those locations or out of the house on foot, so they are virtually always at 100% charge.

But, I plan to revamp all of this this year, since my new iPad and iPhone have USB-C charging cables and can take higher current charging, and I am planning on buying at least one Fenix tactical flashlight that takes a 21700 USB-C battery and a Fenix taillamp for my bicycle that takes a USB-C charger. That way, I will be standardised on USB-C. I also inherited my boss’ 2017 model MacBook Pro to replace the 2012 MacBook Pro I inherited from him a few years ago, and that is all USB-C.

I’m going to get either the Fenix TK28 TAC or PD36 TAC, and the bicycle mount for it. Fenix is also coming out with a USB-C charging cradle that will enable me to use a 21700 battery as a backup battery for my iPhone, and that will ensure I always have a backup battery for the flashlight on me, as well, in addition to my Fenix E12 v2.0 EDC flashlight.

I’m just waiting for the specs of the TK28 TAC to be released, so I can decide between that and the PD36 TAC. The PD36 TAC will run over 10 hours at 350 lumens with a flat discharge curve, or over 18.5 hours at 150 lumens, or 45 hours at 30 lumens. I don’t really even care about the super high power modes.

I live on one edge of the downtown area of my town, and my office is at the opposite edge, about 3 miles away. In between is all my shopping. With at least 10 hours runtime at 350 lumens, and a short commute, I’ll have plenty of battery power if I need to actually access the Tactical mode, and I’ll still have a backup 21700 ready to go.

With the pandemic, I’ve been reluctant to buy snacks or drinks outside the house, so these days, I’m always carrying something to munch on and a big bottle of water.

My EDC pouch always includes ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and diphenhydramine, because I get frequent headaches and hay fever.

Two years ago, I bought a really nice Knirps umbrella for my travel kit, travelled to my stepfather’s funeral just before the pandemic quarantine, and left the umbrella at my mother’s. It’s never been used, and I have yet to see my mother since March 2020. My mother is disabled, so I didn’t ask her to post it. But normally, I do carry a small umbrella in my handbag, with another in my truck.

A very good point. I have not been increasing my preps but I am keeping my preps up-to-date. Tomorrow I will order 5 new tires (81mph) for our camper. The current tires have less than 2 years old but are starting to dry rot after being 6 years old. If bugging out from a hurricane, I need reliability!

...live in Seattle and don't own a raincoat

I cannot get the Urban Preparedness forum to open. It comes up with Chaosmagnets posts about what notto discuss. Am I alone in this problem? Any solutions to suggest?

Look down to show topics. You should see "active in the last 3 months." Click the arrow pointing down. You will see multiple options. Select "from all dates" and click the icon "Change."

Jeanette Isabelle

Thanx JI, that worked for me. Good luck with ur impending move.

Not to pry too much into youur private life, but in our family , our eldest daughter suffered an accidental pre-natal head injury which left her with many physical and intellectual deficients. Due to my wife’s therapist intervention ( she was a Special Ed teacher) and lots of outside therapy, Rachel lives a happy life as a upbeat 35 year old, with a functional ability of a 3-4 year old. But, she does not view herself as “ different”. A small person( 4’6”, 70lb.s, svelte ,perfectly proportioned and a natural beauty ), she now lives in a Group Home we helped to found.

It was a labor of love, which took every bit of legal skill, search for program, , intervention and help from friends and caring government and charitable officials, “ rattling “ government agency and private charity doors etc., that I/ we , could muster.. It is/ was finally supported by State, Federal and private monies & programs. It is situated very near our home. An award winning facility, perfectly integrated into the surrounding , middle class, residential community. The whole process, from idea to a functioning Group Home, took seven years.

She lives at her new “ home” as she calls it, with her new “ family”. ( 3 other similar adults) , 5 - 6 days a week and attends a work program at the local JCC, 5 days a week. The other 1 1/2, she comes home with us to stay overnight. On our death. ( tho healthy, we are both well past Seventy) , her very supportive , 2 year younger, brother , will become her guardian and her life should continue on the same plane.

We did this so as to transition Rachel to a new home life while my wife and I were young and healthy enough to support a phased transition. As I said, The whole process, begining to end, took seven years. My son , also an attorney like me, has his own family , but can be , long term, loving and supportive and still not responsible for her everyday care.

The reason for this long personal exposition is that you have been ( rightfully and admirably) very open as to your challenges and needing a supportive environment, but functioning well within that environment. I believe you are also in ur thirties and your supportive adult is your mother, who must be at least 60+. You say this move is to get closer to family/ friends. My exposition and advice to you is to use this move as a kick-off point , for the rest of your life and to plan an environment for your self , that will be supportive but not suffocating , as your functionality is obviously very high.

Unfortunately, anti- tax, anti- “ welfare “ , anti -big government forces in Texas give that state a less than stellar reputation in supporting its citizens with physical and mental challenges ,in the best, least restrictive environment. ( NB to all u fiscal conservatives. My version of supporting programs, has proved to be , long term , most cost efficient and least overall tax drain, than ad-hoc emergency intervention and big institutional care. Not to mention much more humane.. reread the Sermon on the Mount for all you Christian ( economic) conservatives out there.). Nevertheless, if you are near a city with a big university and /or medical teaching facility, you vastly improve you chances of finding supportive programs. Best of Luck and feel free to PM my wife and me.

I recently turned thirty-six.


My sister and brother-in-law recently bought a house in Bryan; otherwise, I don't know anyone in that corner of Texas. Mom is looking for a place in or near the Bryan-College Station Metropolitan Area.


I receive Social Security Disability.

Jeanette Isabelle

Very well said Acropolis

Not to derail the thread, I just want to add a small note.

Linking with support groups is very helpful.
We all need support one way or another. I, for one, have always been feeling so alone in thinking about preparedness in the middle of a community so consumed in consumerism. So, I started touring the net and found a few webpages and Youtube channels that contain much of what I am looking for like prepping, homesteading , gardening and the like. Now, whenever I feel drained, I just wear my headphone set and search for my favorite websites or Youtube "buddies". LOL.

It works