Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
When most people think of preppers, they picture people living in a house somewhere in the country. However, preppers can be anywhere, including small apartments in large urban areas.
The challenges of prepping for a natural or human-made disaster can be challenging for city-dwellers because of a lack of storage space. But the need to be prepared is just as great. When you consider the high number of people living in close proximity to you, the need may even be greater.
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For the purpose of this article, we will examine what you need to have on hand in the event you are unable to leave your apartment for an extended period of time. These days, it’s not difficult to imagine situations that might make it unsafe for you to venture outside. It could be anything from a riot in the streets to a natural disaster.
Here is a list of 23 must-have supplies apartment preppers should have on hand.
1. Bottled Water
During a civil or natural emergency, your water supply could be affected. Store as much bottled water as you can, and consider purchasing a water purification method such as Potable Aqua.
2. CB and Ham Radios
If you don’t have internet or cellular communication, CB and ham radios are essential. A CB radio is for short-range communication between individuals, and you can use a ham radio for longer-range group discussions.
3. Fire Ladder
Depending upon how high your apartment building is, a fire ladder could be a life-saver if elevators aren’t working and stairwells are inaccessible. This escape rope ladder works for 2 to 12 stories.
4. Fire Extinguisher
Don’t forget about this crucial piece of safety equipment. Household extinguishers are labeled A, B, or C for their type of use. “A” is best for wood, paper, and cloth. “B” is for flammable liquids, such as cooking oil or gasoline, and “C” is for electrical fires.
Here is an article that helps explain the differences and how to choose the right one for your apartment.
5. Window Alarms
To discourage a break-in and alert you if one occurs, you might want to install window and door alarms. There are many choices on the market; here are a few wireless options to get you started.
6. Door Bars
Standard door locks might not be enough to protect you from intruders, so door bars are another consideration for your safety.
7. Blackout Curtains
Blackout curtains can eliminate someone’s ability to see inside your home both during the day at night when you have lights on.
8. Non-Perishable Food
Store at least a three-day supply of food that doesn’t require refrigeration or cooking. Examples are canned fish, crackers, dried fruits and nuts, baked beans, granola, protein bars, and peanut butter. If you have a baby or pets, don’t forget to include their needs in the equation.
9. Hand-Operated Can Opener
If the electricity is out, canned soup or beans won’t do you much good without a manual opener.
10. Battery-Operated or Hand-Crank Radio
Keep up with news and weather if the power is out and the internet is down with an “old school” battery-operated radio, or one you can power this one by hand.
11. Flashlight and Batteries
Have several flashlights in different sizes and strengths on hand for emergency lighting. Make sure you have enough fresh batteries too.
12. Candles
If the power goes out, you’ll be glad you had a supply of candles ready. Keep a lighter and some matches nearby.
13. First Aid Kit
You should be well-stocked in bandages, medical tape, antibiotic ointment, and other first aid supplies. You can be first aid kits online, but you're better off building one yourself.
14. Towelettes
During the early weeks of the pandemic, these products flew off the shelves. They come in handy for clean-up tasks when water is in short supply.
15. Trash Bags
You’ll find many uses for trash bags in an emergency – rain poncho and temporary shelter are two of them — but there are many other uses for trash bags.
16. Portable Generator
Who says generators are only for people with big houses? There are many small generators available for apartment use.
17. Hand-Crank Cellphone Charger
Did you know there was such a thing? This ingenious device is a hand crank USB charger, radio, flashlight, and reading lamp all in one.
18. Portable Oven
If the power is out, you can use a small grill like this one for cooking on your patio or balcony. However, if you’d prefer to cook indoors, a small backpacking stove will allow you to cook some food and boil water. Make sure your cooking area is well ventilated.
19. Toilet Paper
During the early days of COVD, some people went a little bit nuts with the amount of toilet paper they stockpiled, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need it. The good thing is that you can squish the rolls down for storage.
And if you run out, there are many toilet paper alternatives. Don’t forget other necessary hygiene supplies as well.
20. Paper towels, Paper Plates, and Plastic Utensils
We all are trying to limit our use of disposables, but desperate times call for desperate measures. If water is at a premium, you will want to have disposable supplies available for your family’s use.
21. Five-Gallon Plastic Bucket With Lid
While we’re on the bathroom subject, a five-gallon bucket can serve as an emergency toilet. If your toilet is working, you can use these handy buckets for all kinds of other uses in an emergency.
22. Cash
It’s always prudent to have some cash on hand for use when you may not be able to use your bank cards.
23. Duct Tape
It’s small. It’s inexpensive. And it works for so many purposes. Here are just a few ideas for apartment dwellers in a survival situation.
- Patch a hose
- Write a note to adhere to a window, door, or wall
- Make a sling
- Use as a makeshift bandage
- Remove splinters
- Alternative for handcuffs
- Mend clothing or shoes
Final Thoughts
You’ve no doubt thought of a few other things that pertain to your particular home and people in your household. We are living in very unusual and stressful times, so you may want to think carefully about a means of self-defense as well.
Next comes the challenge of finding the space to store your supplies. That’s the most challenging part of being an apartment prepper, isn’t it?
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