Urban Bug Out Bag Essentials – 10 Must Have Items
Are you prepared if you get stuck in an urban city or stranded in a building in an emergency situation? The urban bug out bag essentials you’re going to need are going to be quite different from what you would need in the wilderness.
While shelter might not be an issue within an urban emergency setting, there will be several things that you might need to survive. Your urban survival kit might need to be packed a little differently. Still, the essentials such as food, water, first aid, etc., remain just as important.
Here is my recommended list of essential items to pack in your urban bug out bag.
1. Mace
It’s dog-eat-dog out there in an emergency situation. Everybody will be out fighting for their lives, and it is on you to protect yourself and your survival stuff if you are to live through this emergency. A canister of mace may provide you with enough protection and time to get out of hostile situations.
2. Wire Cutters
To forage for food, you might need to cut wires to enter properties and get food. Wire cutters are also used to cut ropes and wire fences. While trespassing is illegal, in an emergency preparedness situation, all is fair.
3. Emergency Radio
Get an emergency radio to keep in touch with the outside world and keep yourself up to date with any news that might be useful to you. Keep a battery-operated emergency radio on hand that you can use when needed. It’s survival of the fittest, and the highest chances of making it out alive and well are for those who are sufficiently prepared for a situation.
4. Crowbar
A crowbar is an ideal tool to bring along in your survival kit as it is versatile, and can be used to do a variety of tasks. Whether you want to break through a window or pry open a door, a crowbar can prove super useful in an urban emergency setting. This is the one item I never forget to pack in my urban bug out bag.
5. Water Purification Tablets
Clean drinking water is just as important in an urban setting as in the wild. You might come across water, but if there is a threat of it being contaminated, you can put in a purification tablet and be good to go.
6. Face/Gas Mask
Face and gas masks are imperative in a dirty environment. If the world outside is polluted with toxic gases, or in the case of a chemical emergency, it will pay to have a face mask or gas mask to protect yourself from inhaling dangerous fumes or dirt and debris. A gas mask would be better of the two, but it would be harder to fit in your bag.
7. Ax
An ax can come in handy when you need to break huge doors or chop down trees. It can also be used for protection if the need arises. A backpacker’s ax is smaller and lighter in weight and can be a great addition to your urban survival kit.
8. Water Key
Water keys are used to gain access to urban water tanks and bodies, be it commercial or residential. Having a water key can guarantee you access to drinking water, even when water is scarce.
9. Portable Solar Panel
How can we survive an emergency situation without cellphones? However, if there has been an electricity cut, you might just lose contact with the outside world completely. A portable solar panel may be used to charge your phones and radios and work your televisions to keep up to date on the news. Solar panels are thin and lightweight and can be used during the day to charge up all your gadgets.
10. Can Opener
If you’re stuck in an abandoned building or have locked yourself up in your house, the chances are that the bulk of your food items will be tinned food. Tinned food has a long shelf life and can be used to fulfill your dietary needs in an emergency situation. However, the cans will not be of much use to you if you can’t open them. A can opener might be your key to sufficient food in urban emergency settings.
Final Word About The Urban Bug Out Bag
Your bug out bag or urban survival kit will contain much more than the 10 items listed above. A well-stocked go bag will be needed for you to thrive and survive during an emergency survival situation.
