A lot of the articles we post on Sirius Survival are about being prepared, having the proper tools and necessities if SHTF, and what items to keep in your survival kit. What we don’t talk about as much are other factors that can help keep you protected. More specifically, we don’t often mention what can be done, and what can be done differently, if you’re living in an apartment. Today we’ll break down a list of things that you can do from your humble abode as well as discuss things that might look a little different if you’re in an apartment and not a house.
Storage System
In all reality, you’re going to need a storage system of some sort. If you don’t have a spare bedroom, a large closet, a garage, etc. you are going to want to invest in one. Grab a storage unit nearby if needed. You’re going to want to be sure that the way you are storing your items and where you are storing your items is well thought out.
In addition to having a space to store your items and materials to store them in, you may want to consider having a separate location that you can go to if your apartment is no longer safe or livable. That’s why having a bug-out shelter or storage unit may be of service.
Taking Up Space
Although you might not have a ton of excess space there are some things you’re going to need to have on hand. Be sure to prioritize which necessities will fit where. This is obviously a personal choice and will be different depending on your specific needs and location.
Since you have limited space compared to other locations where you might be stockpiling you will want to be sure you are choosing items that have multiple purposes. If there is a multi-tool, then choose that over each individual tool. The less space it takes up the better. When choosing items you should focus on small and compact items if there are those varieties available.
Food & Water
Again, we will want to focus on space as a factor of what you are choosing as a food source. Stockpile foods that have a high-calorie content compared to the amount of space they take up. One great example of this is MRE (Meals Ready to Eat). They have a very high-calorie count and do not take up a large amount of space.
When choosing foods you should obviously stick to things that do not need to be cooked. Granola bars, canned items, such as beans, fish, vegetables, etc., and cereals are some good examples of these.
If you are going to add food to your stockpile that needs to be cooked then make sure that boiling is the only thing that would need to be done. you won’t be able to control if you have heat, water, or electricity. But if you’ve stockpiled water as we’ve suggested then you might be able to boil it and prepare potatoes, pasta, soup, etc.
Another necessity is water. If your water gets turned off, you will be glad you have a collection of water bottles, jugs, etc. You never know when this type of challenge may occur so don’t wait until things hit the fan before grabbing some extra resources. We all know that in the case of an emergency people flock to stores to invest in water jugs and water bottles. You don’t want to have to fight them for that so be sure you are already prepared with a collection.
Security System
Many apartments, especially if you are in an apartment complex, do not have individual security systems. In fact, some complexes don’t offer any type of security. But did you know that you can invest in your own? Add an extra lock to your door. Purchase a home security system and install it yourself if needed, set up some type of camera. You will want to be sure that you are going to be safe in case of an emergency and you might not just be able to rely on what the apartment already has in place.
Know your Escape Route
You should obviously have a fire extinguisher in your apartment, but if that doesn’t work and you need to evacuate then you should already have a plan. We’ve talked about this a lot in previous posts but for someone prepping from an apartment, it is extra important. Apartments tend to have fewer direct exits compared to a house. In fact, it may even only have 1 door to get in and out.
Map out the exit route from your individual apartment. What if the stairs are unusable and you’re not on the first floor? Is there a window you can jump or climb from? Imagine the worse scenario and have a plan for if that happens. I happen to be on the very top floor of my apartment building, so for me, jumping from the window or balcony is not realistic. If you are like me and are higher up then have an alternative option. What do you have available that could help you get down from the apartment? Think up these options before there is an emergency so you’ll be better prepared if there is one.
You may need to escape for more than just a fire. If you have an intruder, you should have prepared how you will be able to leave the apartment safely. Set up a plan so that if there is ever an emergency you are not just thinking on your feet but have preplanned.
Communication
There are a few aspects to think about in terms of communication. First, you’ll want to think about your communication with others about our prepping. I’m not saying you need to keep it a complete secret, but if you are going around sharing this information with your neighbors, if there ever is an emergency you can bet that you’re going to have a wide variety of people showing up at your door. If you make it known that you are stocked and ready to go then you can also assume that others will come to you in times of an emergency.
You may also want to consider if any of your neighbors, or other people you may share this information with, would be a threat to you or your prepped items. Security and your safety is the absolute most important thing, so if you are unsure – don’t share this information.
The second half of communication is to be able to keep in contact with those that are outside of your home. If cell service is down, how are you going to get information? Having a crank radio, walkie-talkies, or alternative methods of communication may be something you want to look into and invest in.
Even though prepping is a pretty generic action, depending on your location, personal situation, and family life, you will need to tweak how you prep and what you prep. Prepping from an apartment is definitely not impossible. It does pose a few extra challenges in terms of space, but following this advice will help get you off on the right foot.
