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Public Transportation

Learn how public transportation works in your area and utilize it, as it could be an asset one day. Also, learn about anything that is public, from restrooms and shelters to tornado shelters. Timing could be an issue, and it could become the closest shelter for a variety of situations. Parks also have water supplies. Know where the water fill ups are. I personally know of some local spots that have hand pumps, which while it is not a secret, few people will think of immediately during a loss of utilities.

Memberships

Having a few memberships can be a huge asset should you become displaced. The YMCA, for instance, has showers you could use without any trouble simply by having an affordable membership. You could also utilize that membership to enhance your strength. A library membership can get you easy access to shelter and information. A self-storage unit can be utilized as a cache, although it’s expensive.

Medical

Basic first aid is a must, and in the city we should be more cognizant of airborne threats. Considering the case example of the Bhopal disaster and also addressing tear, chlorine, mustard, nerve gas, and sternutators, here are some guidelines to survive a gas attack:

• Stay calm. During mask training in the army in the gas chamber, I took slow breaths while the guy in front of me panicked, yelling, and generally accelerating his heart rate. He suffered much worse than I did.
• Climb. Gases are heavy, so if you cannot quickly clear the area by way of vehicle or because of congestion, get as high as possible; climb a tree, stairs, bus, or hill. Gasses will be most concentrated in low areas and ditches. Also, you will have more air flow higher up.
• Cover your face with a wet cloth. Wet a cloth with water or use your own urine but do not expose any skin to the gas to do it, as your clothing will provide a barrier. Once the area is clear cut clothing away carefully, and as with many chemical exposures (including poison ivy) take a COLD shower as this will close your pores and reduce exposure to the chemical.

Many people in the Bhopal Disaster had much worse symptoms because they panicked in the streets and tried to run away. Had they simply gone to a higher floor in a building they would have greatly reduced exposure without attempting to flee. If you understand the topographical layout of your community, you will also understand where the valleys are. Avoid these in the situation of a gas disaster. This also illustrates a reason to avoid subway systems, because they are ideal targets of gas attacks (and nearly every other type of terrorist attack). While speaking on this subject, there is another airborne threat– CO, or carbon monoxide.

CO is unburnt carbon caused by a variety of heating sources and generators. Having a generator is a little like owning a gun; if you don’t use it properly and respect it, it can kill you. Hundreds of people die from CO poisoning every year. It takes minutes of use for a generator to produce lethal levels of CO, which is again heavier than air. So, if you use one, try to keep it 12 feet away from your buildings, down wind and downhill, and utilize CO detectors. You spent the money to purchase the generator, so be sure to read about recent deaths caused by generators with CO poisoning.

Phone Book

I’m amazed how I never hear about owning a phone book as a prep item. This big yellow book has an absolute wealth of information inside of it, and it is completely EMP proof. The next time you get a free phone book, absolutely do not throw it away. Make your own book and your own pamphlet for yourself and your loved ones. Keep critical information in this pamphlet, like the number 185.8.177.142 (SurvivalBlog’s IP address), Ham radio frequencies, the steps to reprogram your handheld, which you should be able to do yourself along with adding additional frequencies. You might have other things in this pamphlet, like problem-solving steps. Don’t be afraid of adding the very basics, because in a situation where your adrenaline is pumping and let’s say you just lost a loved one, your mental capacity and memory is going to be deficient. If you decide you must have a password or security code in this, be sure to encrypt it with a simple key or add nulls to it. You should have a physical phone list and address book of all your friends and family.

Legal Information

I have had the unfortunate need for a lawyer more than once recently. Because I had a lawyer, the individuals who threatened legal action against me backed off. I’ve discovered in my area the retainer for a lawyer is between $1,000-2,500 dollars, and so far I’ve gotten 80% of that back. In these instances, I lost access to my bank and lost income, so I had to have a separate plan to deal with the legal situation. Keep some legal minded phone numbers in your wallet, and understand some of the legal specifics behind the activities you participate in. Marriage, parenting, driving, sailing, shooting, or panhandling, everything is governed by laws. Understand how laws work in your area with the understanding that the law and ethics are not the same. You can behave ethically and still have legal problems.

Lock Picking

I’m going from the law straight into lock picking. In generalized research for this article, I read instances of Jews defeating handcuffs and escaping. Also, there are other legal reasons to use lock picking. Learn the law of your area, and make your own decision. Having a kit can be useful, and practicing is certainly something you’ll want to do. Once you understand how locks work, you’ll have a useful skill, even without having a lock pick kit. Further, understanding how locks work will help you utilize them in a more effective manner.

Encryption

Let’s say your garage door key code is 3456, you can offset the numbers by two, so it becomes 25678; the number two helps you remember the offset. Or, you could just add some numbers like, 134561. Use a code as well. Don’t label it as garage PIN; label it as safety deposit box. Then store this inside your wallet. I’ve known people who forgot their garage code because they never used it, until they needed to. I have a combination lock at work, where I have engraved an encrypted solution to the lock. Remember, nothing is uncrackable; somebody could figure out my encryption, but it’s a combination lock, which are easily defeated anyway. In this manner, you can store keys that to the casual observer would not reveal too much information. Never write down a password or PIN without encryption.

Every Day Carry

If you do not have it on you, it will not help you in the situation you’re in. Most people have seen the Austin Powers carry list before he leaves. I go through a similar routine– keys, wallet, phone. Regarding keys, on your key set do you have two dozen keys you don’t use? Get rid of them; replace them with a FOB of sorts. If you have a prescription, you could carry a dose right on your keychain. I carry two pain relievers. Also, a little compass for days where the sun is not shining is great. A little penknife on your keychain and a light source is a bonus item. At this point you haven’t added any weight or bulk; you’ve simply made your keychain more useful. Use the same method with your wallet, which you want to keep slim. Pull out those extra credit cards. Yes, drop them in the shredder. Now you have made some space to put a laminated card with contact information on it. If you get arrested, they take your phone, so put some numbers on this card of people who could bail you out, like your lawyer, who you already have on retainer. Perhaps include a number to return the wallet should you lose it with a reward amount to sweeten the pot for somebody to return all those IDs and credit cards, which are no longer in there. Want to get crazy? Put a little map in your wallet, just one page of a critical area you could be lost in. This is an especially good idea if you are visiting a new area. You also might have random information, like the number 185.8.177.142 (SurvivalBlog’s IP address), local Ham frequencies, emergency numbers, and perhaps a basic encryption card.

Car Repair Kit

On my recent camping trip out of state, I drove an un-tested 94 Forerunner. I learned quickly why they call it a slowrunner or “6.slow”, and I ended up having to use the kit I brought with me. The already slow vehicle had a spark wire come loose from a broken clip. Five cylinders of slowness, no available Internet, and 80-degree weather demonstrated the need for preparation and forethought. Finding a car shop only to discover they closed in 45 minutes and would not even look at the car, I eventually applied my own limited knowledge of the car and peeked under the hood and checked the wires when I discovered the loose wire. Upon the advice of a friend in discussing the trip, I had added a length of plain insulated wire to my car kit, which I used to lash the loose wire into place. It remained attached for the remaining 5-hour trip home. So, in your car repair kit, start with tire repair/maintenance and build from there. I recommend the following:

Tire Repair/Maintenance Items –

• Tire plug kit
• Air pump – I’ve been using a $12 Slime compressor for several years now; it is light duty, so don’t run it continuously for too long.)
• Spare tire
• Scissor jack
• Tire iron
• Cheater pipe (2-3 foot long pipe large enough to use on tire iron scissor jack)
• Air gauge

For Your Car’s Electrical System –

• Jumper cables
• Extra fuses
• Lengths of 12-gauge insulated wire*
• Wire clippers
• Needle nose wrench
• Wire brush (to clean those terminals)

For the Mechanical and Miscellaneous-

• Socket set (with allen set, and assorted flat and star bits)
• Adjustable wrench vise grips
• Duct tape
• Box cutter knife
• Headlamp
• Mechanics gloves
• Tow straps
• Ice scraper
• Haynes Service manual (specific for your car!)
• Pipe clamps

Other Items to Think About-

• Fire extinguisher
• Shovel
• Coolant/Oil/Fluids/Fuel
• Perm-o-seal radiator seal
• Bug-home-bag

City dwellers certainly have a lot to consider during a Schumer event. Knowing basic survival skills could be what separates you from misery or even death. I really hope this article gives you some creative ideas on what skills you can practice that could both entertain and enlighten. Thank you for reading SurvivalBlog and contributing to our community.

I’ve been a SurvivalBlog reader for years and grew up prepping. My parents were preppers in the 90’s, so I’ve been through the full spectrum. I love the articles and especially all the news to be found on SurvivalBlog. I appreciate the hard work all the authors have put into their articles over the years and recognize that most individual skills and ideas have been put to ink. I’m going to attempt the 10,000-aerial view in this approach to city survival. My military background taught me to do a risk assessment for everything, and I practice this today. The million-dollar question is, “What do I need to prepare for?”. We cannot predict the future, but we can consider the past and see trends and patterns and learn from those. Consider this.

Create a Risk Assessment

The earth has been hit with many asteroids over its existence, and per a map that I found the location seems random. The frequency of these impacts is rare and typically minor.

Looking at a risk assessment matrix regarding risk with earth space impacts, I conclude that it is an “improbable” event with “catastrophic” to “negligible” severity. The threats seen from an earth space impact are fire, dust, impact, loss of power, social services, et cetera. You can use the risk assessment matrix to evaluate types of events that could be likely in your local areas. I live near Dayton, Ohio, so I will use this as the case example.

You should know some history of your city/county and natural disasters that are prevalent. Dayton is in what is known as the Miami Valley, which houses the Miami River, which is a tributary of the Ohio River. The Ohio River flows west then south and empties out into the Mississippi, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Dayton has five dams, which were built in response to the great Dayton flood in 1914. Dayton is not known for earthquakes or fires, and flooding has been reduced since 1914. We have a variety of wind directions, and sometimes tornados can touch down. We also have the Wright-Patterson Airforce base, which is a high value strategic U.S. asset. Ohio falls under Region 5 of Homeland Security, and our Statewide Interoperability Coordinator is Richard Schmahl, who is responsible for coordinating emergency communications. Ohio has 11.59 million people, and 1.6 million of those receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). We have the intersection of I-70 and I-75 interstates, which assists us in being a manufacturing hub. Every bit of this information is important in a survival situation. You will personally want to know where your city water comes from and if a city wide power failure will result in raw sewage emptying into your home. Threats that we face here, rated by the risk assessment chart, per the likelihood and damage level are discussed here. I will follow with threat types, remembering that this brain storming session will require some creativity.

Asteroid Hit

• Dust
• Fire
• Loss of power, et cetera

Forest Fire

• Dust
• Fire
• Loss of power, et cetera

Car Accident

• Abrasions
• Fire, et cetera

Looking at the sub threats, we see fire and dust are common threats, so an economical solution could be to have some fire-resistant clothing on or accessible. Once you have a large list, you can start grouping the threats together and decide on the most practical course of negating threats. Fire-resistant clothing for instances is not terribly expensive, and you buy clothing anyway. Some of the stuff looks casual.

Top ten normal routine threats we face per the National Safety Council are:

• Heart Disease and Cancer 1 in 7
• Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease 1 in 27
• Intentional Self-harm 1 in 97
• Unintentional Poisoning by and Exposure to Noxious Substances 1 in 103
• Motor Vehicle Crash 1 in 113
• Fall (Gravity not season) 1 in 133
• Assault by Firearm (Firearms don’t assault people) 1 in 358
• Pedestrian Incident 1 in 672
• Motorcycle Rider Incident 1 in 948
• Unintentional Drowning and Submersion 1 in 1,183

Why, When, and How Do We Prep?

So, do we prep to prevent death? I would argue, “No.” Obviously, when we look at a prepper’s list against these two subjects, we realize we do not prep to extend our life. Preparation for me has three goals:

1. Greater independence realizing my full potential to make decisions based off my own ethics and morality, not being dictated by the trends in society.
2. To increase the quality of life within my household during routine disasters.
3. To train my children for the above, plus to enhance the skills and ability to live in a radically different culture due to a cultural paradigm shift.

Those goals are addressed with three categories:

• Skills
• Practices
• Equipment

Let us say, predominately we prepare for paradigm shifts and we prepare all the time. Well, I know the countryside is a better place to live, but you are probably like me, living in the city and in an apartment. It’s the worst place to be during Schumer events. So, let’s get to work! What skills do you need? If the Schumer hits the fan, city folks can use these skills. Each have their own perspective equipment and practices.

Map Reading

Topographical maps are wonderful in the country but in the city I wonder. Just get a street map and get to know it! Give yourself extra time, and turn off GPS; take alternative routes to work. In Cultural Neuroscience: Cultural Influences on Brain Function, it states that taxi cab drivers have greater hippocampal brain volume based on studies of London taxi cab drivers. The increased brain function is due to spatial mapping. Engaging in spatial mapping will increase brain function, even if it is during game play. Practice thinking about like a spy; they never take the same route to and from a place, and military folk try to avoid that as well.

Music

In that same peer reviewed paper, they mention the benefits of music playing on the brain, so grab an instrument and start to learn. If you are on the run and hiding in the streets, nothing is better than hiding in plain view. Beaten and battered, pull out your harmonica, put a hat on the ground, and start to play. You’ll get well needed rest and possibly bring in some dough for your next meal. (The Arshanskaya sisters are two examples of Jews using music to sustain their safety.)

Languages

If Canada is your target location to split, French would be a decent option while also used in Europe. If Mexico is your target location, learn Spanish. To learn a language, there are many techniques. Listen to the music, choose a song, listen to it over and over until you are proficient in it, while also reading the lyrics in that language. Once you can recite the song, from beginning to end without the music playing and can spell it, then you should translate the song to English. The worst case scenario is at least you can hum and sing the song under your breath to convince others you are speaking that language, which may not fool the natives of that language but could fool somebody into thinking you cannot understand them and then avoid any questioning altogether. If you want to become proficient in a language, the quickest method is to immerse yourself in the language and culture, cooking your favorite SurvivalBlog recipe after you have translated it into French. Another note about culture has to do with table etiquette, which can reveal where you are from, especially in Europe.

Morse Code

Morse code is an ancient, barely used dialect. As I’m writing this, my daughter distracts me while she is playing on my smart phone, which starts beeping. She is playing with one of my Morse Code applications, which teaches morse code in a fun way. Morse code also has international codes, making it versatile.

Driving

When I was stationed in Afghanistan, we had civilian vehicles. What was weird was the fact that the driver wheel was on the right-hand side of the vehicle. Oh, yes, and it was stick shift. I already could drive a stick shift, so I was a lucky one who got to drive the vehicles instead of hoofing it. The key here, is that I could drive a stick shift.

Sailing

I’m here in the Mid-west and have always loved ship adventure books, but I thought that sailing was something I could never learn. Enter CLSA, Cowan Lake Sailing Association, and twenty dollars. Now I have several sailing hours under my belt from an entry class. I was amazed how inexpensive it was and how much experience I got from it. Sailing ships are used everywhere, and having this skill could help you charter passageway for work if you already have some experience. Also, many coast cities have harbors where you can find lots of handy work to do working on boats. I’ve spent hours on this subject realizing there is a plethora of skills that can be leaned heavily upon. Rigging is something you learn a lot with sailing, which is multi-functional. As seen in the national safety council chart, “falling” is a common cause of death. So, learn how to tie a Swiss Seat; you could even keep one for the car with some basic carabiners. Learn some rigging skills and practice them. Rigging is one of the most under taught skills of city dwellers; so, learn rigging for trucking, climbing, boating, and anything else you can get a hold of.

Networking

If you had to go to another country, who would you visit? You should have a few contacts in the areas of interest of your “bug out location” that you could contact for help, or at least can claim you were visiting for the sake of legitimacy. Having a small list of some names and locations in your wallet; this list could assist you in remembering who these people are. So, if you intended to go to Winnipeg, Canada, meet some people online that have like interest, perhaps hockey. Build a list of people and keep in contact with them. Then, if something comes up where you must for whatever reason bug out, you then have a list of people you could contact who already know who you are and an excuse, such as a hockey game or music, et cetera. These people should not know anything about you beyond that you love the Winnipeg Jets. You should know about hockey and keep some literature on hand should you need to refresh the details of hockey and the Jets.

Passport

Have one, and use it. Create a routine of visiting different locations, so it is not out of the ordinary, both for yourself and as far as your paperwork goes. Being familiar with a process, such as a border crossing, can turn something from a mountain to a mole hill. Also, you can become familiar with practices and routines and so can identify unusual security precautions that could threaten your personal mission.