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1. I’ve always lived in apartments, to this very day. Couple of additions:

   “It may seem improbable, but it does occur that manufacturing flaws cause containers to leak even when stored safely by themselves. (I once had a sealed gallon jug leak inside a cabinet.)”

   I have had *several* gallon jugs of water burst (in climate control, out of direct sunlight) and leak over the years, to the point that I now only use purpose built water storage jugs. In my experience a grocery-store jug is only good for a year, and needs to be kept in a spill catchment of some kind (boot tray, plastic storage bin, etc.)

   Chafing dishes *will* evaporate and dry out eventually, just like a zippo lighter. I don’t know how long it takes, but I’ve seen it happen. I prefer jar candles, which are prohibited by my current lease, for this reason. Candles do need to be kept somewhat cool, or they will melt and run out everywhere.

   Lastly, don’t forget the water that is in your sprinkler system. This water is non-potable, but it is there. Depending on the system used, the sprinklers should function for some time even without electricity, so removing the water should be a last, last resort of dire need.

2. 1) No discussion about weapons?

   2) I’m not sure but my impression is that even New York City allows one to have hunting rifles and shotguns. A 12 gauge pump and a lever action rifle in 44 magnum provides a decent defense — of course, a trained militia of buddies armed with such would be even better. Note that the lever action can be reloaded on the fly unlike assault rifles which are rendered inoperable while reloading with a new magazine.

   3) If firearms are banned, then a Navy boarding pike backed up with a Kabar should allow you to protect an apartment against the more common intruders. Best pike has spike 7-8 inches long continuing into a bulbous nose at the front of the shaft that stops penetration but gives nothing for an enemy to grab onto:

   https://ageofsail.wordpress.com/2009/05/28/the-boarding-pike/

   4) Apartment manager might look askance at an obvious pike but in SHFT one can be improvised from a strong mop handle and a SOG Spirit or Cold Steel Bushmaster.

   The SOG Spirit screws onto a common mop handle:
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjlG6CWDB8c
   However, the backward pointed wings at the back should be ground down to make the spear head an oval — nothing to catch or grab onto

   The Bushmaster is more sturdy but will need a screw to secure it to a shaft:
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Sp3EWhSpXc

   1. The humble spear, the master of melee Weapons

      Nearly Always a good choice, except for Situations like this, Indoors, very limited space in all dimensions …

      I would prefer a cutlass or other short Sword, entrenching tool or a short mace/hammer(Carpenters hammer?).

      1. All the apartments I lived in when younger had cinderblock walls — maybe due to the fire code. In those cases, one is defending a blocked doorway against a breakin — hence my preference for a boarding pike. Same goes for hallways. But I noted having a Kabar as backup if someone gets past the point. Which they shouldn’t. (Grease the point and rotate it strongly if someone tries to grasp it. ) Also, I was thinking of a shaft of 5 feet versus 8 feet.

         1. A door in a hallway, okay especially as a team but in an appartment with walls, furniture etc in the way, i stand by my choice and would also prefer to´ve on to replace the Spear if necessary

3. Re water, a Sawyer water filter with bleach to kill viruses would be a good backup.

   Re storage cans, I like the tough Scepter NATO 5 gallon water can used by the military but REI and other sporting stores have cheaper models.

4. Thank you for the comments and ideas in response to Part 1! A few of you raised questions about the ease of penetrating drywall with bullets or feet and the possibility of living in an RV or cabin. Living in an apartment is my only VIABLE option for the moment. I do have other and better places to go IF I can bug out in time. The comments about drywall are absolutely correct. People (both criminal and innocent) are often hit by bullets that pass through building materials, even in neighborhoods of single-family homes. There are ways to create bullet stops to create safe spaces indoors in which to hide, and for SHTF those are on the table. It’s an apartment, or an RV, or a house; it’s not a castle. History shows that castles sometimes work against defenders, not just against besiegers.—JFJ

5. I repeat what J.F.J. says: Battery lights are safer simply because of the decreased risk of fire associated with candles and oil lamps. However, oil lamps produce heat which will help in winter bug-ins when no electricity is available; in addition, one can heat small canned foods over paraffin lamps, as long as one uses extreme caution. Be sure to have fire extinguishers not only in different places in the apartment, but also with your cache of fuel.

   Fire will kill you with carbon monoxide or smoke quicker than flame. I am VERY CAREFUL with open flame in our home.

   Maybe I missed advice to install a carbon monoxide detector. No matter. It will save your life, buy it and install it that day.

   Carry on in grace

   1. Robus Lanterns not lamps if needed as backup to electricity, candles hold longer than batteries

      And be careful

6. Good article. Thanks. Note that in some scenarios there actually are advantages to living in an apartment. Think Argentina and currency collapse, or Venezuela today (or America tomorrow?). The government and utilities still exist, but violent crime has skyrocketed. The only way to stay safe in your home is to have it guarded 24/7. In an apartment building the entries can be controlled with armed guards with the guard cost split amongst the tenants. This concept was actually covered pretty well in a book called “A Failure of Civility” by Mike Garand. Unfortunately, it is currently out of print and priced at $180 for a used copy. But the key concept of teaming up with your apartment neighbors is simple enough.

   Taking it a step farther, If I was holed up in an apartment in a TEOTWAWKI scenario, that thin drywall would be turned to my advantage. I would cut spidey holes to observe visitors in the hallways and to allow tactical movement between apartments. This would definitely violate the lease! And as always, night vision is a game changer.

   For water, the downspouts can be tapped to capture rainwater. There is a scene in the movie “28 Days Later” where the apartment dwellers have their own solution. I will leave it to interested readers to watch the movie themselves. True fact, the opening scene in The Walking Dead begins with a scene that is straight out of 28 Days Later which was released 3 years earlier, Hmmmm?

   Another advantage of apartment buildings? If the roof is flat, raised beds can be set up for gardening that are unobservable from street level. Solar can be set up to recharge LED lights, radios, and NV.

   Finally, this is not just academic for me. I currently live in an apartment myself.

7. Good advice in the article and in the comments.
   1. Everyone needs a quality Water Filtration System now days. SurvivalBlog advertisers sell good ones.

   2. ‘Ready to Eat’ survival food is available to buy too. >Heat food with a can of Sterno. Sterno cans are made of metal and seal tight. Containers of Propane can be used for >cooking; they store more safely than liquid fuels. [Some stoves can use gasoline as a fuel. BUT, leave the gasoline in your car until needed.]
   …….. Needed heat can be provided by Sterno or a small can of propane. (The little 1lb cans; Not the big tank. If need be, a tent can be set up for sleeping, to help stay warm in the living room.)

   3. Don Williams has the right advice about needing a least one gun. A 12 gauge might be too much recoil for most people. A .410 or 20 gauge would be easier to shoot. … I’m partial to Lever Action rifles. It would make a good defensive weapon, in locations, where it’s difficult to own an AR or AK or a Handgun. A used .30-30 would cost less, than most other calibers. [Regular readers of SurvivialBlog already own good weapons. This comment is for people worrying, and have NO gun.]

   4. Maybe, just buy some long-burning candles for light. The burning candle can be placed in a stain steel bowl, for safety. They’ll provide plenty of light. The last thing anyone needs is to attract attention during an emergency. (cover the windows to hide the light.)

   5. Anyone ‘trapped’ in a city, should live in the safest area possible. Read through Survivalblogs ‘Resources’ headings. Personal Safety is discussed.
   Many people have observed: During emergencies many people return to feral morality.

   In the news >today.
   “Murder, Burglary Soars in New York City During Coronavirus Lockdown”

   “Over the last 28 days, in the middle of the lockdown, murders in New York City have jumped more than 55 percent compared to this same time last year, when there were no lockdown orders in place.

   Between April 13 to April 19, murders increased 100 percent compared to the same week last year. From year-to-date, murders are up by 5.7 percent.

   Likewise, grand larceny auto — a crime that no longer warrants bail in New York — has increased more than 53 percent compared to last year. Specifically, there have been 500 charges for auto theft in the last 28 days. During that same time in 2019, there were 326 charges for auto theft.

   Over the last week, grand larceny auto crimes across the city have jumped 50.5 percent and they are up more than 62 percent overall since the year before — the largest spike in crime year-to-date for any major category.

   The lockdown has also not stopped the rise of burglary in New York City — another crime that in many cases allows the suspect to be released from jail without ever paying bail.

   Burglaries are up by 25 percent in the last 28 days and up by more than 36 percent in the last week. From January 1 to April 19, burglaries are up 27.1 percent compared to this same time last year.
   [From Breitbart April 26, 2020]

   There’s information available, about the number of crimes that go unreported. The crime increase has occurred, when people are actually staying home >more.

   6. Everyone needs at least >one gun. NOT all emergencies are ‘End of the World’ events either. People just need to take care of themselves for a while. With the Wuhan Flu, it’s turned into many weeks. … Other emergencies, it might NOT be possible to safely leave the house for weeks. People might have to live without electricity and city water for a while. One gun is better than NO gun.
   ******************************

   Good article about Apartment Living, as it applies to most everyone; even the people living in a city house. SurvivalBlog is worth reading, for people just getting into ‘prepping’ for emergencies. Food Water Shelter >Communications~Radios and many other subjects are covered here.
   {How to pass time is also important, during a lock-down. A good choice would be: Buy the entire collection James Wesley Rawles books to read. The books contain excellent ideas within the story lines.}

8. If one is holed up like in the present pandemic, it would be good to have at least a portable radio using rechargeable batteries . A police scanner would be even better — although many urban areas have gone to P25 which requires the more expensive Uniden 436 versus the basic Uniden 125.

   LED flashlights, batteries, cell phones ,electronics etc can be charged with a 12 volt deep cycle marine battery —which can be charged before hand with booster cables off a car battery and with a solar cell over a long term.

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