Tips for the Apartment Prepper

Prepper’s or soon to be preppers that live in an apartment or condo have special space challenges to contend with. I live in a one bedroom condo with my husband and two cats so I thoroughly understand the prepping challenges. Here are a few tips for the apartment prepper.

Finding Space to Store your Supplies :

One of the biggest challenges is trying to find space to organize your supplies. This is a REAL big concern unless you have an extra bedroom or large garage; I don’t have one, so I feel your pain. I also don’t relish the idea of storing bottles of water under my bed.

Go through each room and pick one drawer or cabinet that can be dedicated to emergency supplies only. I have dedicated the following areas to my prep supplies:

• Kitchen Pantry (my shelves are 24 inches deep– the bottom shelf is used to store water only, I can easily store enough food to last a month. I only store food I normally eat, and it’s replaced as needed.
• Top shelf over broom closet in the kitchen – crank radio, flash lights, batteries, duct tape, etc.
• Corner of closet in bedroom – bug out bags 
• Bottom shelf of Linen closet in hallway– small solar generator, kitty litter, box of large heavy duty plastic bags, solar shower.
• Hallway coat closet – Inside the door I taped a list of supplies and their location in the house.

 

Other tips for the apartment prepper:

 

Ask yourself what are the most likely disaster situations and threats you may face and plan accordingly. The answers to these questions will help you to decide what supplies you need for your specific situation.

Did the area experience long periods of time without electricity or safe water?
Is your area prone to earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoe’s, etc.?
What are the crime statistics in your area?
In the event of an evacuation, where would you go and how would you get there?
Are you more concerned with a natural disaster, an economic collapse, long term unemployment or a Zombie attack?

Once you determined exactly how prepared you want to be it’s time to put your list together and make sure you have room for everything before you go out and start buying supplies.
You can also start growing plants inside on a windowsill or on your balcony. Small container gardens are a great way to save a little money and be more self- reliant. Many fruits, herbs, and vegetables do well in an indoor or balcony setting.

Here are a few items you may want to include in a basic supply kit:

Food and water( 3 day supply for each person)
Hand crank radio
Flashlight and batteries
First Aid Kit
Basic First Aid Book
Dust Mask
Towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties
Wrench or Pliers
Manual Can Opener
Local Maps
Pet food and extra water
Cash and coin
Fire Extinguisher
Paper plates and utensils
Extra blankets
Matches in a waterproof container
Battery powered lights and extra batteries

Have a Bug Out Plan:

At some point you may need to evacuate so make sure your supplies are mobile. At the very least you need to have a bug out bag that’s ready to go in a moment’s notice. If you don’t have room in your home, at the very least keep a BOB or Bug Out Bag in your car.

You need an evacuation plan. Each member of the household needs to know what to do and where to meet up.
Note: Always keep you automobile gas tank full.

If you have pets have a bugout bag ready for them also. I personally have a few cans of cat food, dry food, large bottle of water, small trash bags and a couple travel kitty litter boxes in the storage area over my parking space. If we need to bug out quickly I would toss those items in the trunk before leaving. My cat carriers are stored in the hall closet and I’m considering getting a 2 cat carrier since my cats would undoubtedly freak out, and they would be more comfortable if they can cuddle up together.

Closing tips for the apartment prepper in the city

Preparedness is an ongoing task; you want to rotate your food and water supply and check batteries, generators, etc. to make sure they are working properly.

So many times when I start to talk about prepping people will mostly roll their eyes and think I’m being a bit paranoid. Preparedness isn’t always about an Economic Collapse, Nuclear War or a Zombie Attack; most of the time it’s just making sure you have what you need in the event of a natural disaster or sudden unemployment.

I suggest not being to vocal about your preparedness efforts. During a major disaster, you don’t want or need your neighbors to know exactly what you have. However, you should always be a good neighbor and share what you have and look out for others who need a help.   I would gladly share my supplies with my neighbors and their pets, you want it to be your idea. 

Start moving yourself toward a more self-reliant lifestyle by being prepared and living within your means. As I get older I don’t think I really want the responsibility of house so I live in a condo and intend to make it my little prepper heaven.

Some people may tell you to move to a rural area, learn to hunt, buy guns, etc., I’m not that kind of prepper commonly refered to as “survivalist”,  I love the city life way too much to move away.  But…. I sure would love a little piece of land and a vintage Airstream. Maybe one day.

Definitions *

Bug Out – to depart in a hurry, usually because of a natural disaster has occurred and you need to find a safe place to stay.

Prepper  – a person who believes a  disaster or emergency is likely to occur in the future and makes active preparations for it, typically by stocking  food and supplies.