🏙️ The Ultimate Urban Prepping Checklist

💧 Water — 72-Hour Minimum

Target: 1 gallon per person per day = 3 gallons minimum per person.

Storage Solutions

• Stackable water containers (3–7 gal) $$ — WaterBrick or Aqua-Tainer; fits closets and under beds
• Case of bottled water (24-pack) $ — Backup supply; easy rotation by drinking and replacing
• Collapsible water bags (5–10 gal) $ — WaterBOB; fills the bathtub when an emergency is imminent
• Water locations marked FREE — Label with fill date; rotate every 6 months

Purification & Backup

• Water filter (Sawyer Mini / LifeStraw) $$ — Filter questionable sources if stored water runs out
• Purification tablets (50-pack) $ — Treats 25+ gallons; lightweight; long shelf life
• Unscented bleach (small bottle) $ — 8 drops per gallon as a last resort; plain bleach only

🥫 Food — 72-Hour Minimum

Target: 2,000 calories per person per day, with NO cooking required.

No-Cook Essentials

• Peanut butter (2 large jars) $ — ~190 cal/serving; high protein; no refrigeration
• Canned proteins — tuna, chicken, beans (12+ cans) $ — Pop-top lids; no can opener needed
• Protein / granola bars (20+) $$ — Easy to ration and rotate; individually wrapped
• Dried fruit & nuts $$ — Calorie-dense; trail mix is a great morale booster
• Crackers / rice cakes $ — Base for meals; sealed packaging lasts 6+ months
• Canned soup or chili $ — Can eat cold; comfort food; variety matters for morale
• Coffee / tea bags $ — Cold brew works; huge morale booster during stress
• Manual can opener (2x) $ — P-38 military style; don't rely on pop-tops alone

🔋 Power & Light

Light Sources

• Headlamp (2x) $$ — Hands-free; LED lasts 20+ hours; better than a flashlight for tasks
• LED lantern $$ — Lights a whole room; hang from a ceiling hook; long runtime
• Glow sticks (12-pack) $ — Safe for kids; mark paths; no fire risk; 8–12 hr duration

Power Solutions

• Portable power station (100–300Wh) $$$ — Jackery / EcoFlow; 20+ phone charges; runs small devices
• Power banks 20,000mAh (2x) $$ — 4–6 full phone charges each; keep charged daily
• Battery stockpile (AA, AAA, D) $ — 20+ batteries; check expiration yearly; for lights & radio
• Device priority list written FREE — Phone → radio → light → comfort; charge the smartest device first

📡 Communication

• Emergency radio (NOAA weather) $$ — Hand-crank or battery; AM/FM/weather; critical for updates
• Printed contact list (laminated) FREE — Family, building manager, utilities; your phone may die
• Out-of-state emergency contact FREE — Long-distance often works when local lines fail
• Primary & secondary meeting points FREE — Specific landmarks everyone knows; practice once
• Whistle (2x) $ — Signal for help without exhausting your voice; attach to the go-bag

🩹 First Aid & Medications

• Pre-made first aid kit $$ — Red Cross or Adventure Medical; covers the basics
• Pain relievers (100+ count) $ — Ibuprofen + acetaminophen; helps with stress and sleep too
• Burn gel & bandages $ — Candles plus cooking without power means a high burn risk indoors
• N95 masks (10+) $ — Smoke, dust, disease; urban air quality degrades fast in a crisis
• 7-day prescription backup $$ — Ask your doctor for a "vacation supply"; rotate through regular use
• Prescription list (laminated) FREE — Drug names, dosages, prescribing doctor; wallet card + go-bag
• Backup glasses / contacts $$ — If you can't see, you can't function; store a pair in the go-bag

📄 Documents & Cash

• ID copies (license, passport) FREE — Color photocopies in a waterproof bag; proves identity for aid
• Insurance cards (health, renter's) FREE — Needed for medical care or claims after a disaster
• USB drive with digital copies $ — Encrypted; scan all documents; keep one in the go-bag
• Cash — $200+ in small bills $$ — ATMs fail and cards don't work; keep $1s, $5s, and $20s
• Quarters ($20 worth) $ — Laundry, vending, parking; surprisingly useful

🚽 Comfort & Sanitation

Toilet & Waste

• 5-gallon bucket with lid $ — Emergency toilet; a hardware-store bucket works
• Heavy-duty trash bags (50+) $ — Line the bucket; double-bag waste; 13-gallon or larger
• Kitty litter or sawdust (20 lb) $ — Covers waste; reduces smell; lasts ~72 hrs for two people
• Extra toilet paper (12-pack) $ — Runs out fast; stores flat under a bed; critical for morale

Hygiene & Comfort

• Baby wipes (6+ packs, unscented) $ — Full-body cleaning without water; avoid scented
• Hand sanitizer (multiple) $ — 60%+ alcohol; prevents disease when there's no water
• Mylar emergency blankets (4+) $ — Reflect 90% of body heat; fit in a pocket
• Hand / foot warmers (20+ packs) $ — Instant heat; prevent hypothermia in winter outages
• Entertainment (books, cards, games) $ — No screens means you need analog fun; stress relief

🔒 Security

• Door security bar $$ — Wedges under the handle; prevents forced entry; renter-friendly
• Portable door lock (Addalock) $ — Installs in seconds; works on inward-opening doors
• Door alarm (battery-powered) $ — Screams when opened; alerts you to danger
• Fire extinguisher (5-lb ABC) $$ — Kitchen or hall; know the PASS method; check pressure yearly
• Building evacuation routes known FREE — Every stairwell; never the elevator; practice once

🎒 Go Bag — Urban Edition

72-hour walking evacuation kit · Under 25 lbs · Urban-focused.

The Essentials

• Backpack (30–40L, hip belt) $$ — Comfortable for miles; water-resistant; kept by the door
• Water (2L) + filter $$ — Heavy but critical for the first 24 hours
• Energy bars (12+, 2,400 cal) $ — Lightweight; no cooking; high calorie-to-weight
• Emergency shelter / bivy $$ — You may need to sleep outside; compact is key
• Rain poncho $ — Staying dry is staying warm; doubles as a shelter tarp
• Change of clothes (vacuum-sealed) $ — Underwear, socks, a t-shirt; staying dry matters

Tools & Navigation

• Multi-tool (Leatherman) $$ — Pliers, knife, screwdriver; a Swiss Army knife is the budget option
• Paper map of your area $ — Your phone may die; mark evacuation routes in advance
• Work gloves $ — Glass, metal, debris; protect your hands for climbing and moving
• Headlamp + batteries $$ — Hands-free; this one must be in the go-bag

Documents & Comms

• All documents from the Documents section FREE — Waterproof bag; ID, contacts, insurance, cash
• Charged power bank (20,000mAh) $$ — Check the charge monthly; your primary communication lifeline
• Compact first aid kit $$ — A smaller version of the home kit; band-aids, meds, gauze

💰 Budget Breakdown

✅ Your 4-Week Plan

• Week 1: Water (3 gal/person) + 3 days of no-cook food
• Week 2: Light (flashlights, batteries) + a power bank
• Week 3: Go-bag — documents, cash, basic supplies
• Week 4: First aid, comms, comfort, security
• Ongoing: Rotate supplies every 6 months · Update plans quarterly · Practice evacuation yearly

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