Urban Survival Skills List

In terms of the United States, the U.S. Census reveals that over 62% of the population resides in urban areas. However, these cities make up only 3.5% of the country’s total land area. This indicates that a significant number of individuals are concentrated in limited areas. The average population density amounts to approximately 1,600 individuals per square mile.

In order to ensure your survival in the event of any disaster, it is necessary to possess urban survival skills.

This list of urban survival skills emphasizes the essential skills that everyone should know for surviving in the city. It is important to note that the list also includes the top 6 general prepper skills that are crucial for everyone regardless of their location. The main emphasis is on skills that will be especially advantageous in an urban environment.

So, without wasting any time, let’s get started immediately!

1. Blending In

Blending into the environment is the foremost crucial urban survival skill. Taking greater risks in a SHTF scenario occurs when you stand out more. Your ability to blend in completely determines your survival. Developing and learning this skill is truly one of the utmost vital urban survival skills.

In order to last a few weeks at home, it is important to learn how to blend in. This involves stashing food, water, and supplies, while actively seeking help alongside your neighbors who are also in need. It is crucial to be out there with them, pondering when help will arrive and discussing the scarcity of items in grocery stores. Ultimately, blending in at home entails these aspects.

• Don’t have lights on at night when the power is out.
• Don’t let the smell of food emanating from your home.
• Wear normal clothes.
• Be discreet about your preps.

When you are on the move, blending in is just as important. It is crucial to maintain a low-profile while navigating through the city streets. If you appear to have valuable possessions, you are likely to attract attention and become a potential target.

It is advisable to avoid wearing a backpack, if possible. Carry all the necessary items on yourself to conceal them. This can be challenging when you need to leave quickly, but your backpack is with you. If you have a bag, make it appear worn out and avoid overfilling it. The more pristine and packed it seems, the more likely you will attract attention.

2. Finding Water

Finding water may not be simple in your locality, but it ranks as the most crucial urban survival skill. In the event that you are still situated at your residence, the ideal situation would be that water continues to be supplied through your faucets. Nevertheless, if accessing water through taps is not possible or if you are relocating, it is essential to be knowledgeable on locating water sources.

One crucial factor in locating water in urban areas is the storage of rainwater. By setting up a rainwater collection system at home, it becomes possible to conveniently capture rainwater from the roof or balcony of your apartment. This setup should be established well in advance, even prior to any potential disaster occurrence.

If you live in an apartment, you can still create a basic water system by utilizing 5-gallon containers on your balcony, along with rainwater barrels and screens to prevent debris from entering.

In every direction you turn, you will encounter bodies of water, ranging from small ponds to large lakes. Bodies of water are always present in urban areas. Whether you reside near a river, a lake, or a centrally located fountain in the city, you have the opportunity to access these water sources. Remember to bring containers to your place of refuge so that you may store or consume water while you are on the move.

There is an abundance of sillcock valves in various locations. Both big public and private structures possess outdoor water connections, particularly in the central area of a town. As a result, you can easily access water as long as it is still running through the faucets. Moreover, the hydrostatic water pressure within the pipes frequently enables water delivery even when the flow has ceased. This proves beneficial during situations of water scarcity.

Water access is limited, so you cannot simply go up to the faucet and turn it on. Instead, it would be advisable to possess a sillcock key in order to activate the water flow. Purchasing one is simple and inexpensive at your nearby hardware store.

3. Purifying Water

It is now important to prioritize the purification of water. Unless you are certain that tap water is still safe for consumption, it is necessary to purify your water. This becomes especially crucial in urban areas where the disease can rapidly spread through the water system. Below are some methods that can be used to filter drinking water:

• Boil the water—this is the absolute easiest way to purify water.
• Drop bleach in the water—two drops of bleach per quarter of the water
• Drop-in water purifying tablets 
• Use a portable water filter 

4. Foraging Essentials

If the disaster persists or society collapses permanently, your food reserves will eventually deplete. Alternatively, there could be a situation where you are compelled to evacuate your residence. Consequently, during this period of being on the move, it will be necessary for you to locate provisions and essential items.

In order to ensure your survival, it is crucial to possess urban survival skills such as forging and scavenging.

The urban area has an abundance of various types of edible food, and the key is knowing how to locate it. To be precise, dandelions found on individuals’ front lawns can be consumed. Additionally, their roots can be used as a suitable replacement for coffee.

As long as you know what to search for, you can effectively take care of your own food needs. This is feasible in urban settings like parks, lawns, and vacant areas.

It is important to note that numerous foods have a high concentration of nutrients. It is advisable to acquire the skill of recognizing and utilizing wild edible plants as part of urban survival knowledge. Familiarize yourself with their identification, gather them, and acquire the ability to cook them effectively. By thoroughly searching, you might come across surprising discoveries.

In your urban environment, hunting wild animals can also be an option for acquiring food when necessary. Squirrels, ducks, rabbits, fish, and various other small animals can provide essential nutrition.

5. Scavenging for Resources

It is possible that your survival relies on what you are able to locate. Luckily, there are numerous locations where you can obtain food, water, and supplies. Here are a few instances of places where you can find the necessary goods:

• Other houses
• Cars
• Apartment buildings
• Office buildings
• Campgrounds
• Restaurants
• Grocery stores
• Department stores
• Railroads
• Gas stations
• Schools
• Malls
• Hospitals
• Pet stores
• Drug stores

Fair game refers to any vacant building, which may potentially contain merchandise on store shelves or in their storeroom, as well as stocked kitchens with useful items.

The people might even have vending machines, not the ideal food, but it will do in a pinch. When scavenging, there are some things to keep in mind. You aren’t the only one. Others will be looking for the same things that you are searching for. They could become a friend, or they could be a menace. Be on the lookout.

Additionally, it could be wise to avoid the usual locations like Wal-Mart, Target, or local drugstores since they will probably be frequented by others resembling yourself. Choosing less obvious places like office buildings and warehouses could be a safer and potentially more fruitful alternative that most people may not initially consider.

In conclusion, gaining access to any of these facilities or buildings may prove challenging. It is recommended to carry pry bars to assist in opening closed doors, cabinets, vending machines, and other inaccessible items.

6. Finding Shelter

In order to ensure urban survival, it is important to find shelter within an urban area, unless you have access to a personal dwelling like an apartment or house. This skill is often overlooked by many people, but there are numerous possibilities available.

• Empty houses
• Office buildings
• Stores
• Malls
• Schools
• Hospitals
• Abandoned vehicles

You can utilize various spaces, including dumpsters, garages, sheds, and covered alleyways, which are often overlooked. It may be necessary to use a pry bar to assist in opening doors and gaining entry to find shelter.

In order to discover potential alternative shelters in case of necessity, simply dedicate some time to observe your surroundings in the vicinity. Additionally, anticipate the presence of other people who may already be residing in these locations.

What You Need in Addition to Your Bug Out Bag

According to the U.S. Government, it is recommended that all car owners have a portable emergency kit for their vehicle. This kit should consist of essential items such as a reflective triangle, ice scraper, cell phone charger, blanket, map, sand, and jumper cables.

Make sure to monitor your vehicle’s gas levels and have an additional gallon of gas readily available. When we resided in the New England mountains and I had to commute through a mountain notch for work, it was crucial for us to have emergency equipment in our car. This was especially important because there was no cell-phone reception or pay phones in the vicinity for miles. Including flares among the emergency gear is also recommended.

A get home bag, also known as a miniature bug out bag, is intended for portable use and should be kept in your car or office. It is designed to provide essential items for a 24-hour period. At the very least, your get home bag should include:

• Water
• Nonperishable food
• Change of clothing
• First-aid kit
• Sleeping kit

EDC (Everyday Carry) refers to a collection of essential items that ensure readiness for minor mishaps. Consider it as a supplemental set of accessories to be conveniently stored with your keys, phone, and wallet. The fundamental components of EDC encompass:

• Folding knife
• Compass
• Notebook (or paper) and pencil
• Basic first-aid items
• Paracord
• Car and apartment keys
• Phone and charger
• Multitool
• Flashlight
• Reusable water bottle and water purification tablets