| What is urban survival anyways? | | | | several days, even weeks, if necessary. But a |
| We're hearing a lot about emergency | | | | few days without water and forget it. Make sure |
| preparedness these days. Hurricane Katrina, the | | | | you store several large jugs of water - rotating |
| earthquake in Haiti, even the recent shutdown of | | | | them out every few months. You can also use |
| flights all over Europe from the volcano erupting in | | | | the water in your hot water heater for things like |
| Iceland upset many people's everyday lives. | | | | washing dishes or clothes. |
| That's not to mention the potential danger of | | | | #3 Consider Taking a Basic Self Defense Course |
| terrorist attacks, pandemics or even long term | | | | If you play it safe, have food and water stored |
| unemployment. So a lot of people are starting to | | | | along with some other basic essentials, you |
| prepare themselves just in case of an emergency | | | | probably won't need to venture out into the mad |
| situation. | | | | crowds in an emergency situation. But if you do, it |
| There are a lot of books out there that tout that | | | | helps to know some basic self defense. |
| the world is going to you-know-where and we | | | | Consider taking a practical self defense martial art |
| should all move to the country, get off the grid | | | | like Wing Chun or Jeet Kune Do. And keep |
| and learn to grow our own food. | | | | practicing to keep yourself fresh. |
| But what if that doesn't happen? What if you do | | | | #4 Develop an Urban Survival Plan With Your |
| all of that, give up your life and nothing happens | | | | Family |
| (or it's not so bad)? | | | | Sit down with your family and discuss what each |
| Approximately half of people in North America live | | | | person will do in case of emergency. For example, |
| and work in or near a major city. We call | | | | have a place you all agree to meet up should you |
| ourselves urbanites. What do you do if you don't | | | | get separated. |
| want to move up north, get off the grid and | | | | Have a specific phone number (maybe Mom's cell |
| start growing your own food? | | | | phone or Dad's cell phone) that everyone will call |
| There are other ways to be prepared in case of | | | | to check in. When everyone is aware of the plan, |
| emergencies without giving up your life. That's | | | | you're less likely to get separated and lose track |
| really the concept of urban survival - how to | | | | of anyone in the family. |
| survive if you live and/or work in the city should | | | | #5 Consider Having a Bug Out Bag or a Survival |
| an emergency situation occur. | | | | Kit On Hand |
| While the topic of urban survival is huge, here are | | | | These are kits of prepacked items that are easily |
| just a few things you should consider to protect | | | | mobile in a moment's notice. All you do is grab and |
| yourself in case of a major emergency: | | | | go. |
| #1 Consider Long Term Food Storage | | | | They usually contain food, water and other basic |
| Getting food in the city in case of a major | | | | items that you'll need if you have to leave your |
| emergency will be near to impossible. And trust | | | | home. There are even specialized kits like |
| me, after a few days you won't even want to | | | | hurricane survival kits or earthquake survival kits |
| try - people get very ugly when they're hungry | | | | that you can get depending on where you live |
| and there isn't enough food. | | | | and which disasters your city is vulnerable to. |
| Instead of venturing out and fighting the hoards, if | | | | Most Survival kits however are really only good |
| you have your own cache of survival foods | | | | for 72 hours so don't really on a survival kit to |
| stored away, you'll be both safe and full. | | | | get you through a major emergency. |
| There are different types of survival food options | | | | So those are a few urban survival tips you can |
| but most people prefer freeze dried foods as | | | | do to prepare yourself in case of emergency. You |
| they have a long shelf life (up to 25 years) and | | | | don't have to move to the country and become |
| don't take up much room (so your neighbours | | | | a mountain man to protect yourself from a |
| never need to know you have food stored | | | | possible emergency. Take a few steps and you'll |
| away). | | | | be able to weather out most emergencies in basic |
| #2 Have Jugs of Water Stored | | | | comfort. |
| We all know that we can go without food for | | | | |