Defending an Apartment After the SHTF

My wife is currently in school and after she graduates and gets a permanent position, we plan on renting a house. In the meantime, we’re living in an apartment in a densely populated area. I admit to having some reservations about living here in case the SHTF, but moving just isn’t feasible right now. If you’re also living in an apartment and you’re on this site, you’ve probably had similar concerns. The good news is, there are some steps we can take to defend ourselves in case looters and hungry scavengers come knocking.

Doors. You’re going to want some sturdy doors, ideally metal fire doors. If your apartment manager allows it, I would consider replacing your current doors with them. Otherwise, get some long wood screws and reinforce your doors. You should also get several 2×4′s and cut them to span the width of your door. Then if things are getting ugly and you’re ready to bug in, you can drill them into place, at least one a couple feet above and one a couple feet below the doorknob.

You might also want to get a battery-operated doorknob alarm. Simply hang it on the inside doorknob and an alarm will sound if anyone tries your door. Finally, if there is a gap at the bottom of your door, get some towels to stuff underneath it.

Windows. Even if you’re on the second floor or higher,  your windows are still vulnerable to attack from the floor below or above or from a building across the way. In order to stop people from checking out your apartment, buy some bubble wrap and tape it over the windows in the day. That will allow natural light inside but will obscure people’s view. Also buy some thick curtains, the kind designed to block out 99% of sunlight. Close the curtains at night so no one will see if you’re using a light or a candle. If people see your lights, they’re liable to assume you have food and supplies (and they’d be right!).

For additional security, buy or find some sections of chain link fence and cut panels that fit your windows. Then if things get bad, nail these panels to the inside of the window by driving the nails in halfway and bending them over the chain links. If you have a balcony, get enough chain link to completely fence in your balcony. When the time comes, put hooks in the underside of the balcony, hang the fence, and secure it with bent nails at the bottom. You should also keep some bolt cutters on hand in case you need to get through the fence.

In case someone does get through the doors or windows, get a hand or battery-powered portable motion sensor. Set it somewhere that will cover the main traffic areas in your apartment before you go to bed.

Supplies.

• Wood screws.
• Power drill and/or screw drivers.
• 2×4′s.
• Bubble wrap.
• Sun blocking curtains.
• Chain link fence.
• 16p nails.
• Hammer.
• Bolt cutter.
• Doorknob alarm.
• Motion sensor.
• The most important thing to keep on hand for self defense: Guns.

I’ve heard people express concern that if you’re in an apartment, someone could go into the apartment next door and start smashing through the wall. But if you start shooting, they’ll stop smashing. Do some research and get whatever gun would be best for you and your situation.

If you follow these steps, you should be safe in your apartment for weeks or maybe months. Of course it all depends on the disaster. You might not make it that long if it’s a zombie apocalypse or something, but as far as protecting against looters and rioters, this should do. Good luck!