The One Year Urban Survival Plan

Month 1

Food and Water

Make a list of recipes you could cook during a long-term disaster (check out the appendix for a list of recipes that use shelf-stable ingredients; try to find recipes that have about 800 calories per serving).
Think about whether you're going to purchase canned, powdered, dehydrated, or freeze-dried versions of dairy, meat, fruits, and veggies, or whether you want to learn how to preserve them yourself.
Think about what you could have for breakfast and lunch. Make a list of foods you like that don't require any cooking.
Get some long-lasting candy and/or snacks.
Get enough multivitamins and fiber supplements to last three months.

Skills and Supplies

Look for ways to lower your bills.
Learn how and where to find good deals.
Remember to “buy once, cry once.”
Study the list of multipurpose items.
Gather any multipurpose items that could be useful to you.
Look for ways to repurpose or upcycle things you own.
If you plan to learn about sewing, gather sewing supplies.
Practice some basic sewing projects.
Gather supplies for staying cool in the summer.
Practice living without AC for a day.
Decide how you'll heat your home during a winter power outage.
Gather supplies for staying warm in the winter.
Practice living without your heater for a day.
Set aside $40 cash. (You'll do this every month, and by the end of the year you'll have nearly $500.)

Month 2

Food and Water

Decide what type of containers you want to use for storing water.
Store at least 2 days of water.
Try new some off-grid recipes.
Choose one recipe and get enough ingredients to make it 8 times.
Stockpile 8 days worth of breakfasts.
Stockpile 8 days worth of lunches.

Skills and Supplies

Work on making your home unappealing to burglars.
Reinforce your front and backdoor.
Secure your windows and sliding glass doors.
Consider getting a good security system.
Consider getting a dog if you don't have one.
Protect and hide your most valuable items.
Research and consider getting a firearm.
If you get a firearm, take a shooting class.
Consider getting non-lethal weapons.
Practice OPSEC when prepping.
Practice gray man tactics in public.
Practice situational awareness in public.
Consider taking a self-defense class.
Get a paper map and keep it in your vehicle.
Set aside $40 cash.

Month 3

Food and Water

Look for good deals on food you need to get.
Consider joining a warehouse club like Costco or Sam's Club.
Store at least 2 days of water.
Try new some off-grid recipes.
Choose one recipe and get enough ingredients to make it 8 times.
Stockpile 8 days worth of breakfasts.
Stockpile 8 days worth of lunches.

Skills and Supplies

Research off-grid communication tools.
Talk to your friends and family about how you'll communicate in a disaster.
Choose your preferred communication tool and learn to use it.
Consider a backup method of communication.
Develop a communication plan with your friends and family.
Get a map and compass and learn to use them.
Gather any other navigation tools you may need.
Learn to find North and South using natural methods.
Familiarize yourself with your town and its roads.
Plan multiple routes out of town, and mark them on your map.
Put together an everyday carry kit. Keep it with you.
Set aside $40 cash.

Month 4

Food and Water

Get some food storage containers like Mylar bags or vacuum-sealer bags.
Get some food storage equipment like a vacuum sealer or FoodSaver.
Store at least 2 days of water.
Try new some off-grid recipes.
Choose one recipe and get enough ingredients to make it 8 times.
Stockpile 8 days worth of breakfasts.
Stockpile 8 days worth of lunches.

Skills and Supplies

Purchase or put together a comprehensive first aid kit.
Stock up on eye and dental care supplies.
Stock up on over-the-counter medications.
Stock up on any prescription medications you take.
Stock up on antibiotics if possible.
Consider getting some potassium iodide.
Start taking care of your personal health.
Start taking better care of your teeth.
Start learning and practicing first aid skills.
Consider taking a first aid course.
Set aside $40 cash.

Month 5

Food and Water

Decide how you're going to cook outdoors during a power outage.
Decide how you're going to cook indoors during a power outage.
Get the tools and equipment you need for each method.
Practice cooking indoors and/or outdoors.
Learn how to properly care for cast iron.
Store at least 2 days of water.
Try new some off-grid recipes.
Choose one recipe and get enough ingredients to make it 8 times.
Stockpile 8 days worth of breakfasts.
Stockpile 8 days worth of lunches.

Skills and Supplies

Gather two or more fire-starting tools.
Gather tinder and kindling so you'll have it when you need it.
Choose two or more types of fires and practice building them.
Study and memorize fire maintenance tips and safety guidelines.
Practice cooking over a fire on a weekly basis.
Stop throwing away clothes and start buy more durable clothes.
Take stock of your wardrobe and gather any survival clothing you still need.
Be sure you have adequate clothing for both summer and winter.
Set aside $40 cash.

Month 6

Food and Water

Decide how you're going to organize and rotate your food.
Purchase any necessary shelves and racks to organize your food.
Create an inventory with a spreadsheet (optional).
Store at least 2 days of water.
Try new some off-grid recipes.
Choose one recipe and get enough ingredients to make it 8 times.
Stockpile 8 days worth of breakfasts.
Stockpile 8 days worth of lunches.

Skills and Supplies

Gather any necessary tools for your home.
Gather any repair supplies you may need.
Be sure to get safety equipment as well.
Prepare your home for disaster.
Reinforce your doors and windows.
Learn and practice temporary home repairs.
Inspect your home to be sure it's safe.
Make sure your home doesn't have any fire hazards.
Create and practice a fire escape plan with your family.
Get a fire extinguisher and learn to use it.
Get a fireproof safe and put valuables and important documents inside.
Make sure you have renter's insurance, homeowners insurance, and life insurance.
Set aside $40 cash.

Month 7

Food and Water

Decide where you're going to hide your food.
Create a grid or system to show you where your food is.
Store at least 2 days of water.
Try new some off-grid recipes.
Choose one recipe and get enough ingredients to make it 8 times.
Stockpile 8 days worth of breakfasts.
Stockpile 8 days worth of lunches.

Skills and Supplies

Create a lights out box.
Get at least two methods for lighting your home.
Practice living without power for a few hours.
Stock up on extra batteries and store them properly.
Learn how to charge your phone with a 9V battery.
Consider getting a portable generator.
If you get a generator, practice using it.
Create an auto repair kit.
Learn and practice maintaining your vehicle.
Stock up on fuel and store it properly.
Remember to keep your gas tank at least half full.
Consider getting a “bug out vehicle.”
Set aside $40 cash.

Month 8

Food and Water

Decide how you're going to collect and transport water.
Choose at least 2 ways to purify water and familiarize yourself with them.
Store at least 2 days of water.
Try new some off-grid recipes.
Choose one recipe and get enough ingredients to make it 8 times.
Stockpile 8 days worth of breakfasts.
Stockpile 8 days worth of lunches.

Skills and Supplies

Stock up on personal hygiene items.
Learn about toilet paper alternatives in case you run out.
Consider planting some plants that can be used as soap.
Practice keeping clean without running water.
Practice doing laundry without running water.
Practice doing laundry without power.
Stock up on household sanitation items.
Consider creating a greywater system.
Practice minimizing the amount of garbage you produce.
Decide what you're going to do with garbage.
Prepare for the possibility of sewage backup.
Practice using the bathroom without running water.
Decide what you're going to do with human waste.
Stock up on pest control supplies.
Set aside $40 cash.

Month 9

Food and Water

Practice canning or dehydrating food (or both).
Store at least 2 days of water.
Try new some off-grid recipes.
Choose one recipe and get enough ingredients to make it 8 times.
Stockpile 8 days worth of breakfasts.
Stockpile 8 days worth of lunches.

Skills and Supplies

Gather tools you may need for scavenging.
Explore your city for places that could be scavenged.
Learn to scavenge safely.
Gather barter items you may need someday.
Practice haggling at yard sales, flea markets, etc.
Explore your city for places you could shelter for the night.
Learn to build a shelter using a tarp.
Learn to build a shelter using natural materials.
Learn and practice the most important knots.
Set aside $40 cash.

Month 10

Food and Water

Experiment with sprouting seeds.
Learn about growing food indoors and outdoors.
Research and decide which gardening methods and plants are best for you.
Start at least one herb and one vegetable, and practice taking care of them.
Store at least 2 days of water.
Try new some off-grid recipes.
Choose one recipe and get enough ingredients to make it 8 times.
Stockpile 8 days worth of breakfasts.
Stockpile 8 days worth of lunches.

Skills and Supplies

Gather any gardening tools you will need.
Gather any gardening supplies you will need.
Practice starting seeds.
Practice your chosen gardening method.
Learn how to maintain a garden.
Learn how to prevent pests and disease.
Learn how to harvest your crops.
Learn about composting.
Start a compost pile.
Set aside $40 cash.

Month 11

Food and Water

Find out what wild edibles grow in your area; learn to identify them.
Find out what small animals or fish live in your area; learn how to catch them.
Practice cooking some wild edibles and/or small game or fish.
Store at least 2 days of water.
Try new some off-grid recipes.
Choose one recipe and get enough ingredients to make it 8 times.
Stockpile 8 days worth of breakfasts.
Stockpile 8 days worth of lunches.

Skills and Supplies

Practice relying on your 72-hour kit for one weekend.
Find out what wild edibles are available in your area.
Practice finding and identifying local wild edibles.
Memorize the universal edibility test.
Practice cooking with wild edibles.
find out what local animals are available in your area.
Practice fishing and hunting small game (where allowed).
Learn about famine foods and how to prepare them for consumption.
Learn about the various types of natural remedies.
Gather any natural medicine tools and supplies you need.
Learn about healing herbs and decide which ones to grow.
Plant some healing herbs and take care of them.
Stock up on healing foods like oats and honey.
Learn how to treat common ailments using natural remedies.
Set aside $40 cash.

Month 12

Food and Water

Check your water, rotate it.
Check your food, rotate it.
Reread everything in the Food and Water section in Months 1-11.
Dig deeper into any topics that interest you.
Practice everything you've learned about food/water storage and survival cooking.
Buy some books on food & water storage, off-grid cooking, gardening, etc.
Store at least 2 days of water.
Try new some off-grid recipes.
Choose one recipe and get enough ingredients to make it 8 times.
Stockpile 8 days worth of breakfasts.
Stockpile 8 days worth of lunches.

Skills and Supplies

Rotate perishable items in your bug out bag.
Do a bug out drill.
Practice relying on your bug out bag.
Review your food and water, make sure you have what you need.
Go back and practice any skills you missed.
Review your tools and supplies, make sure you have what you need.
Assess your skills, identify areas you need to work on. ‘
Work on your social skills (join groups, meet your neighbors, etc).
Work on your mental health (be realistic, escape your addictions, etc).
Work on your mental resilience (practice meditation, Stoicism, etc).
Set aside $40 cash.