SHTF in a big city.

[BatBoy2 75]

Sheltering in place in an urban area during a long term SHTF scenario is a death wish. Even if you don't own a bug out property out in the country there are plenty of things you can do to prepare an escape plan. Barring a zombie out break or extreme natural phenomenon (the least likely scenarios), you'll have plenty of warnings that things are spinning out of control.

Step one, and the most important step, is leaving at the beginning of the turmoil. It doesn't matter if you have nothing but the clothes on your back or a completly stocked fortress hideaway out in the country; you need to get away from the death trap. You may still starve or be killed, but your chances of survival go up expedentially once you get away from a SHTF urban area.

[Gibson_GM]

I agree with ya like 95%, Batboy...the zombie apocalypse isn't likely coming...BUT - extreme natural phenomenon?

Like Hurricane Sandy, or Katrina?  Tweak either event just a tad, and it can easily turn into SHTF.  So, if  the 'grid' was down for 3 months or more...the natives get restless when they can't use their iToys, Wiiii and eat hot food with cold (<32oz.) drinks, man.   People are patient for the first *insert time here*, and then they go nuts.  Which equals SHTF.   

Urban dudes should have it together well before that time. 

[ranger1968]

  Living in a city?

   Be prepared;

    Humans turn feral in 24 hours or less.

[Gibson_GM]

  Living in a city?

   Be prepared;

    Humans turn feral in 24 hours or less.

What's the other way they say that - humans go feral within 9 missed meals?

That's not a whole lotta time to do what you need to do; and by the time you 'see it coming', it's already there. 

[scarymike23]

Firstly get to be on good terms with someone in a (much) less populated area. Figure out a way to contribute to their survival and well being - don't just sponge off someone for the sake of floor space on their country home. If you're an important part of their survival plan you'll both benefit and they'll be less likely to kick you out or even turn on you if the going gets tough.  Stock enough gas to get whatever vehicle you're taking to that location and then some - you might not be able to get straight there.

As others have said, sheltering in place can work in the short term but anyone in a highly developed urban area should always have a less populated fall back location. If you're living in one place but planning to bug out to another you'll have to be able to gauge what is going to be a temporary disruption in civil order and what will be something more long term that would trigger the need to get out. Problem is that might not be immediately obvious as zombies parading up main street. A bad situation better dealt with outside of a populated area may develop slowly and/or look like a less serious situation at first. Or, as was the case with that Selco guy during the Yugoslavian civil wars, you could just get surrounded and barricaded in so fast that you have no option to leave.

You may also want to spend some of that money on some basic staple foods like rice, beans, etc. that can store in quantity for the long haul. A solar cooker might not be a bad idea too. And yes, more ammo for the SKS. If you have to be in a big city it seems like there'd be an advantage to being in a location with roof access to allow for better rainwater catchment, observation, and so on.

But really, if you're expecting something to happen you have no business living within 40-50 miles of a major metropolitan area. The further away the better.

[05redtaco]

Thanks for all the replies. To those who are curious, city in question is Phoenix, AZ and I am very close to downtown. getting out would be major issue when SHTF...

Yes I know I am unprepared. I think I would be screwed either way...lol Maybe the best way would be to try to get out of the city and head towards Flagstaff, anything else around is very hot desert...

[ranger1968]

Thanks for all the replies. To those who are curious, city in question is Phoenix, AZ and I am very close to downtown. getting out would be major issue when SHTF...

Yes I know I am unprepared. I think I would be screwed either way...lol Maybe the best way would be to try to get out of the city and head towards Flagstaff, anything else around is very hot desert...

 Getting OUT, early, BEFORE a panic sets in, is the way to roll;

 BUT;

 You need to have your destination set, stocked, and otherwise arranged BEFORE you hit the road; being a refugee , with no clear destination or support network, is almost as bad as trying to survive the urban panic.....

[kstechtom]

have your BOB (Bug Out Bag) set up and ready to go with the above mentioned items (food (MRE's), water, defense, shelter) Makes the escape faster (don't have to waste time packing) even if you stay in place you will now what you have and where it is at

  I'm still building on my plan and supplies and am planning on a few different situations, If I need to bug out I already have several places to go, any where from 15 mins to 4 hours drive time and there are a lot of back roads I can take.

1) SHTF no warning (most likely a natural disaster, where I live,  a tornado, would leave me with no vehicle)  I have back packs for each person in the storm shelter,   3 days... food, water, first aid, matches, and blankets (have CCL so defense should be covered)  should be enough to clear disaster area, or if unable to exit storm shelter do to debris, survive till help arrives.

 2) little more warning, I have conversion van, already stocked with camping supplies (been to the lake a few times this year  (good practice, go camping see what you need) just add food from the well stocked pantry, plus survival food (have several of those wise 60 serving bins with 25 year shelf life) and water purification filters, barter items (cigs, alcohol, extra tools, silver coins)

3) have to stay in place, I live just out side of a mid-sized city, and know my neighbors pretty good, most hunt and fish, we have river access, large open farm fields all sides, I think we could defend our sub-division pretty good, I have supplies to block off windows, but wood framed homes don't stop bullets or fire, have underground storm shelter, but could leave me trapped, so if it gets to bad may still have to leave.

this is not something I've worked on all at once, has taken years to reach this point and I still need to add more.  The first step is deciding to be prepared

[Brianut]

Getting OUT, early, BEFORE a panic sets in, is the way to roll;

 BUT;

 You need to have your destination set, stocked, and otherwise arranged BEFORE you hit the road; being a refugee , with no clear destination or support network, is almost as bad as trying to survive the urban panic.....

I gotta ask the what if, what if you dont have anywhere to go?
How do you go about finding locals that are out of town but still able to get there in a reasonable amount of time and travel. I have an open offer for a friends Dads large farm, but it is some 3.5 hours away by car under normal circumstances and weather. Almost not even a reality if I had to drag my family of four there on foot.

The good news for me is a very close friend with same mindset is buying a small acreage property just 14 miles from me. I am as far out as I could afford without going the extra 15 miles like he is so it would decline in price again and I still couldn't afford his place, so he is a good bit out there but still attanable on foot if ever it was that bad.

Is it wise to try and make that move to the country and add another(double it) 20 miles to my commute each way?
My wife and I are trying madly to save enough funds to buy a large enough chunk of acreage even further out then just use that as our weekend/bugout place and build a smallish cabin to start then as funding allowed go bigger if need be but that is still a few house payments away.

The nice thing would be that I would have my buddies place as a first location then if it got real bad we all could head out further.

So is it worth the extra commute to be far enough out there if you dont have a place to go?

[wolfgang2000]

Brian if you don't have a place to go being on the road, especially with a family is a real iffy situation.  You need to cement those other possibilities if you can.  Read up on the refugees in Europe during WWII. Remember that if you have kids that is the pace you will have to walk at unless you have plan for some sort of cart for them to ride in.  Also remember YOU have to pull the bloody cart! 

I believe we all understand the financial difficulties of a young family.  Like the rest of us you just keep chopping away till you get where you want to be at.

On the plus side you have (and it sounds like your wife in on board also) acknowledged that there is the possibility of a problem.  I still say that the majority of infrastructure disruptions will be natural events.  Unless you live in one of the regions that have natural events that will cause you to move, concentrate of bugging in.   

[Gibson_GM]

Another 'option' for the urban folks could be to seriously tour their cities.  Drive around the industrial areas, and make note of abandoned/lonely and forgotten hard structures.  Look very critically, and you may find an option there. You'd also have to 'patrol' them regularly, to see if gangs use them.

But, in the event of an emergency, some hidey-hole like that may prove just the way to avoid being caught up in the "haven't had a meal in 3 days" thing.
 
Esp in a basement/machine room kind of area, a place that has more than one means of egress.   Not that you can stock it w/food, but maybe you could get there faster than trying to get out 15 miles!   Something out of the way, not quick to get at; less attractive to the sheep that don't know much or who don't want to work at securing themselves a place.   They  may bypass such areas if they feel there is no food there and don't know you're there.   

It worked for the Germans during the Allied invasion, after all....millions came up out of the ground after the fighting passed!