Readiness Strategies for the City & Suburbs

I find myself living in the suburbs again. This certainly brings its own set of challenges for my preparedness plan. Every plan that I had in place for country living needs to be re-evaluated for my new location. From deciding where to place water storage to evaluating our personal protection – it’s just different here in the suburbs.

I received a new book, from Jim Cobb, about creating an Urban Emergency Survival Plan and it is very informative for those who live in major cities or the suburbs.

ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF YOUR OWN! See the Rafflecopter entry below.

It is important to realize that we live in an unpredictable world, where weather as well as man-made disasters can happen at a moment’s notice.

Have you taken the time to really assess the threats in your area? I did this for our house in Oregon and have also done it for our new location in Texas. This is so important because it gives you the foundation to build your prep plan on. Jim’s book goes through every possible scenario and gives you plenty of ideas about how to know what to look for in your city.

The Government Will Respond, but…

You can count on your local firefighters, emergency responders and police to do all they can to help your community, but in a major emergency their resources will quickly be overwhelmed. The National Guard may be activated and FEMA may become involved but there are limitations even to these services.

It will take them time, maybe even days, to get to you and these responders only have so many supplies to go around. What should you do?  Your duty is to prepare and be self-reliant. That way the people who truly need the support and assistance of first responders can get it.

Creating your Urban Emergency Survival Plan will help you do just that, with confidence.

Each chapter discusses several strategies you can put into play for your situation. I found the chapter on security and defense to be especially helpful. It really got me thinking about city living and different ways we can protect our family.

• -The people around you are the first risk you may face.
• -Avoid being a target, practice OPSEC – operational security – and don’t let on that you are prepping.
• -Should you make your home look abandoned?
• -Perimeter defense ideas.
• -Should you booby trap an area?
• -How to strengthen doors and secure windows.
• -Do you need a safe room?
• -What about personal defense weapons and martial arts training?

Other chapters cover the topics of emergency water, food storage, sanitation, first aid, shelter and bugging out in great depth.  This slant to the urban dweller and the challenges they might face, is helpful for beginners to preparedness, and those who have some experience.

Love Those Packing Lists

I’ll admit it; I’m partial to a good check off list! Jim has provided the lists that we can use as a foundation for our kits.

These appendices include detailed packing lists for several important preparedness kits.

• –Food storage and meal planning
• -Your get-home bags,
• -Everyday carry bags
• –Bug-out bags
• -Vehicle emergency kits
• -Workplace emergency kits

Stay safe in the city with the book Urban Emergency Survival Plan: Readiness Strategies for the City and Suburbs is a great addition to your preparedness library. I highly recommend it.

ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF YOUR OWN!

This Urban Emergency Survival Plan Book Giveaway is open to any resident who is 18 years of age or older who lives in one of the 48 US Contiguous States. This giveaway starts on Monday, Nov. 24th at 12:00 am (CST) and ends on Sunday , Dec. 1, 2014 at 12:00 am (CST). The winner will be notified by email and will have 24 hours to respond. If we do not hear back from said winner in the designated time period of 24 hours we will choose another winner and they will have 24 hours to respond from the time the notification email is sent. Please check your SPAM email folders. Good luck to everyone!

Let’s be prepared for the unexpected!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PreparednessMama

Preparedness Mama and its collaborators have created a one-stop shop of critical resources for families looking to prepare for disaster. We know firsthand that getting ready for the worst with a big family poses some particular challenges.

 

We’ve learned from the past so that you don’t have to make the same mistakes again. Fear of the unknown is one of the scariest things in life, but we hope that Preparedness Mama’s treasure trove of practical advice will make that unknown less daunting and ultimately help take the scared out of being prepared for every single one of our readers.