In many ways, surviving is a process of trial and error, hopefully before a crisis hits.
Here are some basic things you can do if you are just starting out to ensure that you will be prepared in all but the direst of survival circumstances.
Get a bug out bag. I know this site is all about surviving in the city, but there are certain disasters that could force you to relocate. Just in case that happens, you should make a bug out bag.
Store some water. No one can go more than 3 days without water so this should be a top priority.
Gather important documents. I’m talking about birth certificates, the deed to your house, your driver’s license, your marriage license, insurance policies, passports, social security cards, vehicle titles, and any other important documents. Make copies, put them in water-proof freezer bags, and keep them with your emergency supplies.
Plan your evacuation route. If you have no choice but to evacuate, you need to know exactly where to meet your loved ones and which way you’re going to take out of town. Get several maps and mark the routes that are least likely to be crowded. You should also plan a way to get home during a disaster.
Refill your gas tank when it’s half empty. Yes, you’ll have to stop at the gas station more frequently, but if that bothers you, just think about how much you’ll regret it if the gas stations are tapped and you’re running on empty.
Add to your food cache every week. Every time you go grocery shopping, grab some extras. Just make sure they’re things that will store well and that you will eat, disaster or no. If you do this weekly your food supplies will add up fast.
Buy used supplies. It’s amazing the kind of deals you can find if you just look. I’m not just talking about flea markets. You can find some great stuff on Craigslist. If you’re on Facebook, try joining some local yard sale groups.
Learn to purify water. There are several ways to do this, and I encourage you to practice lots of them so you won’t have to refer to books when the time comes.
Put a 72-hour kit in your car. If you’re at work 40 hours a week, there’s a 24% chance the next major disaster will happen while you’re there. It’s even higher if you count time spent on the road or time you spend out during the evenings and weekends.
Store some powerless entertainment. Even if you do all your reading on a Kindle or tablet, gather some paperbacks. You can get them for pennies nowadays. Also get some cards, crossword puzzles, games that don’t require batteries, Sudoku books, etc. This might not seem important now, but during TEOTWAWKI, it will be critical for everyone’s sanity.
Get ready for cold weather. Cold is just as, if not more, deadly than heat. Make sure you have extra blankets, coats, sweaters, thermal underwear, and other winter survival items.
Rotate your food. You don’t want to know how much food I had to throw away after my first year of prepping. I panicked a bought several things that ended up untouched in the back of the closet. By the time I got them out, they had already passed the expiration date. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Survivalism 101:
Store what you eat, eat what you store.
Get some good multipurpose tools. You can’t have a tool belt, much less a tool box, slowing you down during a disaster, so find a good multipurpose tool you can keep on you at all times. Also look for other types of multipurpose devices such as a flashlight with a built-in radio.
Learn how to hunt and fish. Even if you already know how to hunt and fish, make sure you know how to clean and butcher all sorts of animals.
Learn to cook without power. Many people are so reliant on their microwaves and stoves that they have no idea how to cook a meal without them. Of course, there’s always the grill, but the smell could attract hungry looters, and what if you run out of charcoal or propane?
Just starting out preparing for survival can be challenging – what to store, how much, when, when to rotate, etc.? can throw anyone for a loop.
These basics, however, are a good foundation to lay the groundwork for a successful and effective survival strategy.
To learn more about basic survival for beginners, check out the Urban Survival Site.