Survivor Story

Since food prices went up about 200%-300%, people would cut expenses wherever they could so they could buy food. Some ate whatever they could; they hunted birds or ate street dogs and cats, others starved. When it comes to food, cities suck in a crisis. It is usually the lack of food or the impossibility to acquire it that starts the rioting and looting when TSHTF (Sh*t Hitting The Fan).

Whatever sort of scenario you are dealing with, services are more than likely to either suffer in quality or disappear all together. Think ahead of time; analyze possible SHTF scenarios and which service should be affected by it in your area. Think about the supplies you would need for these tasks before you actually need them. You have a complete guide on how to prepare the meat on you computer… how will you get it out of there if there is no power? Print everything that you consider important.

If you can build a well, set it as your top of the priority list. Water comes before firearms, medicines and even food. Save as much water as you can. Use plastic bottles and place them in a cool place, preferably inside a black garbage bag to protect it from sunlight. Estimate that you need approximately one gallon per person per day. Try to have at least 2-4 weeks worth of water.

Have two or three LED lights. They are not expensive and are worth their weight in gold. A powerful flashlight is necessary, something like a big Maglite or better yet a SureFire, especially when you have to check your property for intruders. A little-known fact is that only yellow and red LED bulbs last 120hrs in mini-flashlights while all the other colours (including white) only last 12hrs per battery.

Rechargeable batteries are a must or else you’ll end up broke if lights go out often. Have a healthy amount of spare quality batteries and try to standardize as much as you can.

I have 12 NiHM 2500Mh AA and 8 AAA. Rechargeable NiHM batteries have the disadvantage of loosing power after a period of time, so keep about 2 or 3 packs of regular Duracell batteries and check the rechargeable ones every once in a while.

Once the SHTF, black markets will take no time to appear all around you. What can be found at a local market? Mostly food and clothing, but canned food, spices, honey, eggs, fruits, vegetables, beer, and cured meat are generally available. Clothes are also popular and you can find copies of brand name clothes, imitations, or even original stolen new clothes, shoes and snickers. Children clothes, underwear, socks, sheets and towels are all very popular. Some offer their services and repair stuff or offer work as handyman.

Everyone wants to buy gold! “I buy gold. Pay cash” signs are everywhere! They deal with junk gold, like jewelry, either stolen or sold because they need the money. No one pays for the true value of the stuff, so big WARNING! Since it is impossible to determine the true mineral percentage of gold, small shops and dealers will pay for it as regular jewelry gold. Besides gold coins, buy a lot of small gold rings. They should be less expensive than gold coins, and if the SHTF bad, you’ll not be loosing money, selling premium quality gold coins for the price of junk gold. Buy a small bag worth of gold rings.

The primary weapon for a urban survivalist who has to function in a society even after the SHTF, is his HANDGUN. It’s the weapon that stays with him when he is doing his business around town of working on the field. Buy body armor! Get the concealable kind (Class II). I ordered it from USA through bulletproofme.com.

Always have a survival kit with you. The kit I carry is very small (metal Bandaide box) with great thought to the contents:

1. A good quality Swiss Army Knife
2. Condoms for water storage, unlubricated.
3. LED flashlight, ligher and strike-anywhere matches
4. Water purification tables
5. Long strip of heavy duty aluminum foil to cook with
6. One small pack of hard candy for emergency energy
7. Small and light survival pamphlet

Having a survival kit aids in your sense of well-being. With the kit, you have the minimum to survive. It helps you realize the situation is not hopeless. Practice using your survival items before you need them.

Any kind of emergency Bug-Out-Bag (BOB) must be calibrated to weigh no more than you can comfortably carry the whole day. A jar of peanut butter for an all-round survival food. Nice to put some hard candy that won't melt but will provide emergency energy.
Compass is necessary, even if you don't know how to read a map. At a minimum, it keeps you moving in the same direction and avoid walking in circles.

Money (total amount divided in 4 equal parts and hidden in different places). Consider tucking in $500 or so in ten and twenty dollar bills, along with a a couple of small gold coins.

No need to reinvent the wheel here just look what the homeless guys are using to transport all their belongings - a shopping cart.