The fact is, when it comes to preparing for emergency situations, urban preppers have a totally different set of things to consider than rural and suburban preppers do.

That’s because urban preppers have a ton of different space and legal restrictions, and everything from their self-defense tools to their threats can look polar opposite from someone who lives out in the country.

However, Survival Frog’s mission is to equip every prepper with the knowledge and resources it takes to survive – even those who are living in the city.

That’s why today we’re going to focus exclusively on…

16 Mistakes Urban Preppers Make

1 – Not Having An EDC

An emergency can happen at any time of day, and in any location. That’s why it’s imperative you carry an EDC (EveryDay Carry) with you at all times to prepare you for anything.

This can include compact self-defense tools, multi-tools, first-aid supplies, lighting gear…anything that could help you out in an emergency.

2 – Disregarding Your Multi-Vitamin

The beauty of a multi-vitamin is its ability to give you the essential amounts of minerals and vitamins your body needs to thrive. However, the act of taking these pills often falls by the wayside once preppers find themselves in a crisis.

Keep your strength up and take your multi-vitamin every day, whether you’re in an emergency situation or not. Your body will thank you, and the health boost the vitamins give you will help push your body forward when other preppers can’t keep moving.

3 – Not Prepping For Your Pets

If you plan on bringing little Fluffy or Spot with you in an emergency, you’re going to have to prep for them, too. And yes, that means MORE than simply putting food into a ziploc bag.

4 – Not Prepping Your Car

First off, it’s imperative you constantly make sure you have enough gas in your tank to drive for long distances – and that means filling your tank ALL the way up (not just halfway).

It’s also important to consistently fill up the tank completely when it’s at the halfway mark. After all, it’s just as easy to fill it up at the half-way mark as it is on the “empty” mark!

Second, you need to always be prepared for a dead battery; make sure you have working jumper cables and a phone charger that doesn’t require your car’s power in order to work.

5 – Not Having A Home Security System

Now I’m not saying you have to spend hundreds of dollars on a fancy security system, but you MUST have a way to protect yourself (and your home) from an invasion.

This includes installing deadbolts, attaching motion-sensing lights to the ceiling near the door, and installing a compact alarm system that makes loud noise when your house is broken into.

6 – Not Knowing How To Deal With Rioters

You can be that once SHTF, people are going to be angry and will start rioting in the streets. This swarm of people can be terrifying for many preppers, especially those who don’t know how to act amongst the enormous crowds.

7 – Not Planning Out An Escape Route

Surviving an SHTF situation often means planning out your steps beforehand – and that includes your plans to escape. Get a city map, and figure out various ways to escape from your building – these should include taking back alleys and side streets in case the main roads can’t be used.

8 – Not Being Able To Purify Water

Urban preppers can’t afford to depend on their pipes for clean water; after all, not only could the pipes break and stop running water altogether, but your tap water could become contaminated in a crisis, rendering you and your loved ones at the hands of dehydration.

Always have a water purification plan on-hand, and utilize survival tools that can purify water on-demand in a crisis. That way, you’ll never be without life-saving H2O in an emergency.

9 – Being A Chatterbox

Talking too much can really put you in danger once SHTF – especially when you’re talking about your preps.

Not only are the walls thin in many apartments (leaving your neighbors privvy to everything you’re saying), but your conversations are also bound to be overheard by others on the street when you’re at a coffee shop or local market.

My advice? Keep your voice low, and only speak with trusted individuals that you know will be in your bug out party. After all, you don’t want someone to find out what you have…and then steal it for themselves.

10 – Relying On A Firearm As Your Only Weapon

I’m continually surprised at how many urban preppers think they can solely depend on their firearm to help them survive. Most of them think that, once SHTF, they’ll have to use their gun as their only defense option to help keep themselves and their families alive.

However, firearms have many drawbacks in an urban environment; for one, they’re practically useless for hunting around the city. Plus, shooting it (or even drawing it out) will direct everyone’s attention onto YOU.

Think about it – the more people that know you have a gun, the more that will want to keep it for themselves. NOT good.

You’re better off using low-key survival tools that are easy to hide and that won’t draw near as much attention.

11 – Refusing To Bug Out

Bugging out is often a necessity when you live in an urban environment; that’s because staying in the city (or in your building) makes it almost impossible to survive. After all, you can’t grow your own food in the city, nor can you hunt or find alternate water sources.

You’ll also be putting yourself in more danger by staying, since civil unrest and riots will typically follow, putting countless people in danger of becoming hurt, trampled, or even killed.

Also, if you think you can depend on the grocery store to save you, think again – the shelves will be emptied in three days max, and even the supplies you do retain will run out shortly afterward.

Do yourself a favor and have a bug out location in mind – something rural or even suburban – where there are less people around and more opportunities for survival. Then get to it as soon as possible.

12 – Not Stocking Up On Food & Water

Although city-dwellers have far less space than rural folk to put their supplies, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be stocking up.

It is imperative that urban preppers store at least three days’ worth of survival food (think canned, freeze-dried, and dry items like rice and beans) and emergency water in order to prepare for disaster.

Remember – you can NOT depend on the grocery store shelves to save you once SHTF – so you’ll need to prepare now so that you can survive when it does!

13 – Using Your Space Incorrectly

It’s no surprise that urbanites have the least amount of space of any other type of prepper; however, not using this valuable space efficiently is what causes a lot of people problems in an emergency.

First, many preppers are content to leave boxes, clothes, and other items scattered all over the floor. This has to change immediately. You’ll want to keep all walkways and hallways clear – this way, if you need to get out in an emergency, you can get out FAST without tripping over things (and potentially hurting yourself).

Second, keep your food/water/ammo preps stored in pantries, closets, and other storage spaces for safe keeping. These will not only keep them out of the way, but will also ensure they’re hidden from others so that prying eyes don’t become aware of your preps.

14 – Not Gaining Any Survival Skills

Weapons, food, and water are immensely helpful in a survival situation…but they can only take you so far. That’s why it’s crucial to have a set of survival skills what will help you survive.

Survival skills such as gardening, snare/trap setting, first-aid/medical treatment, and bartering can seriously come in handy in an emergency – especially when you’re forced to bug out.

15 – Not Being In Shape

Being a couch potato may come in handy during weekend-long Netflix binges, but it will NOT save your life in a crisis. Use the urban environment to your advantage and go to the local gyms and self-defense classes in order to get yourself in shape. The strength, muscle, and endurance you gain will only help you in a crisis.

16 – Not Preparing For A Variety Of Emergencies

Too many preppers only prepare for one disaster scenario, instead of thinking ahead and considering all the other emergencies that could occur.

The best way to prep is to prepare for a variety of emergency situations that could happen in your area (such as looters, rioters, home invasion, tornados, floods, earthquakes, power outages, etc.) – that way, you’ll have what you need to get you through any emergency.

The mighty yet under appreciated survival bow.

While firearms rightfully get a ton of attention, the survival bow gets less than it should.

A takedown bow is a huge survival advantage.

It should find a home in our survival arsenal and bug out bag.

Survival bows break down into a compact assembly making them ideal for packing into a bug out bag or stashing in a bug out vehicle.

It’s such a valuable survival tool that I was able to come up with 16 reasons to own one and learn survival archery.

This takedown bow only weights 2.7 lbs.

So it can easily be a part of a skilled survivalist’s bug out bag without having to compromise much on overall bag weight.

Whenever you’re looking at adding a new piece of survival gear to your arsenal, weight matters.

Bows: A decent takedown bow will cost about $150 and last you a lifetime…if you take care of it.

Arrows: Twelve arrows to go with it will put you back about $30.

Now let’s compare that with a basic hunting rifle.

Even a Synthetic Handi-Rifle (one of the lowest priced hunting rifles I know of) is going to cost at least $250 and that’s before ammo expenses.

Most “affordable” hunting rifles are in the $450 range.

So for the money, a folding takedown bow is a solid investment.

Hunting: They can take down most animals with a good shot. They are able to take down something as small as a squirrel or as large as a deer.

Self Defense: They can take down a human if necessary.

Now, I’m not going so far as saying that I’d prefer a survival bow if up against someone with firepower. That’s not what I’m saying…

However, if the stranger has a knife, then a takedown bow would be a good weapon to have.

Basically, it can be an effective self-defense weapon in many situations, which adds to its versatility.

You can buy one without having to register it like you do a gun. Walk into your favorite hunting store, buy it, and walk out with no questions asked.

You can even buy one online and have it shipped directly to your door.

Plus, if you put a survival bow and arrow in the right person’s hands, it can be nearly as deadly as a gun.

When you shoot it, it won’t garner any unwanted attention.

With guns, everyone within a mile or two will know someone just shot a gun and may just decide to investigate.

You can shoot a bow without letting every neighbor know that you just got dinner.

An overall excellent survival tool for stealth and evasion.

Sure, arrows won’t last forever, but they will last much longer than a bullet.

If used properly a dozen arrow will last years. So 100 arrows and you may be set for life.

If you get 100 bullets you’ll be good for a month (depending on how bad it gets).

Ok…I admit this one’s pure speculation, but let’s say a criminal breaks into your truck and sees a rifle, shotgun or handgun…you know it’s gone.

If they see a folded up takedown bow:

• They might not know what it is
• Have no idea how to use it
• Have no clue what it’s worth

They might take it or maybe they might not…with a gun, you can kiss it goodbye 100% of the time.

The overall design of a survival bow and arrow is so simple.

This makes them a light and portable bow but also makes them easier to repair.

If you ever need to prove your skills to another group of survivalists, shooting a takedown bow accurately will impress them.

Garnering respect in times of anarchy might just keep you alive.

If your survival group gets split up you might have to try and join a new survival coalition and most will only want those who can pull their own weight.

Being a survival bow and arrow marksman has many uses…they will recognize that you’re one to pull your own weight.

If you practice and hone your skill, it is one that will stay with you the rest of your life.

No matter how bad things get, the knowledge and ability cannot be taken away from you(especially if you learn to make a bow out of wood).

It can obviously be used to kill (animals or humans). It can also be used for signaling.

If you are coordinating with a group and you want to notify that group visually, then you could shoot an arrow to a predetermined location that would signal something to your team members (and do it silently).

Also, some of the individual parts of a takedown bow can also be used for other tasks.

The bowstring is typically between 4 and 6 feet in length and is very strong. Strong bowstring can be used for:

• Building shelters
• Setting up snare traps in the wild
• Substitute it for fishing line
• To create a bow drill for making fire with sticks

The arrows are also multi-use parts which are perfectly suited to be used on the tip of a short spear to gig frogs, fish or small game.

Broadheads can also be latched to a longer spear to take down larger prey.

If a child finds a loaded gun without a trigger lock, they could easily pull the trigger hurting themselves or someone else by accident.

If a child finds a takedown bow, they will have to unfold it, notch an arrow, and pull back on the drawstring and let go (in my opinion this is a low probability event).

You can make your own longbow and craft arrows using primitive bushcraft skills if you know what you are doing.

I’m not suggesting making your own bow is easy or even that it’s a great use of your time and energy, but it can be done.

You can’t say the same thing for most other weapons.

Ever heard of a bow and arrow jamming? Me neither.

There are no complex mechanical parts that will fail you when you need it the most.

Revolvers are the guns least likely to jam since they are much simpler in design than other types of guns but survival bows are even simpler.

Shotguns blast a hole in anything in its path or surrounding it. Have you ever shot a squirrel with a shotgun?

Not much left of it…

With an arrow, it’s going to keep the collateral damage to a minimum.

It will kill its intended target but leave the surrounding area relatively untouched.

You can purchase as many survival bows as you want.

You can purchase 20 of them to give away as gifts. The government is not currently trying to regulate the bow and arrow market at all.

I’ve yet to hear the term “Bow and Arrow Control”.

It’s a survival weapon that’s completely off the government’s radar.

Time To Sound Off

So what do YOU think?  Did I miss anything?  Do you disagree with my assessments?  Are you going to get one today?

Let me know in the comments so we can continue this conversation.

Remember: Prepare, Adapt and Overcome,

“Just In Case” Jack

p.s. – A friend of mine was living in Lousiana when Hurricane Katrina devastated the area.

AND he was visiting his family in Houston during Hurricane Harvey!

Can you image? What bad luck…

Hacktivist group Anonymous has released a chilling new video – urging people around the world to prepare for World War 3 – warning that the US is maneuvering its military for battle.

“All the signs of a looming war on the Korean peninsula are surfacing,” the group claimed in a six-minute clip, posted on YouTube over the weekend.

“Unlike previous world wars, although there will be ground troops the battle is likely to be fierce, brutal and quick. It will also be globally devastating on environmental and economical levels,” Anonymous warn.

Preparedness Hacks: Once a nuke is heading your way, you might think that there isn’t much left to do, but you would be wrong!

Because we will show you America’s natural nuclear bunkers that are also EMP proof. When the sirens start wailing, all you need to do is pick the closest one to your home, where you can take cover before it hits.

Thefreethoughtproject.com reports: For more than a decade, North Korea has been unsuccessfully attempting to prove its military might to the world through a series of failed missile launches, nuclear proliferation, and threats to anyone who attempts to come near their border. And for more than half a century, the US has enabled it. In spite of threatening nuclear war on the world, most countries have never acted. However, the Trump administration appears to want to change that.

As the Free Thought Project has faithfully reported, tensions between the US and North Korea continue to rise — almost intentionally — as the US rattles the saber at the crazy Kim Jong-Un.

Just last week, North Korea, feeling pressure of encroaching American and allied vessels, threatened to make a ghost ship of a U.S. nuclear submarine.

“The moment the USS Michigan tries to budge even a little, it will be doomed to face the miserable fate of becoming an underwater ghost without being able to come to the surface,” railed propagandic North Korean outlet, Uriminzokkiri, quoted by the Independent.

“Watching as each country moves strategic pieces into place,” Anonymous notes, in their signature distorted robotic voice behind the Guy Fawkes mask. “But unlike past world wars, although there will be ground troops, the battle is likely to be fierce, brutal and quick. It will also be globally devastating, both on environmental and economical levels.”

The very real threat of nuclear war would most assuredly be devastating on all levels.

Instead of attempting to achieve peace, the US is responding in kind with intercontinental ballistic missile tests of their own.

To show Kim Jong Un that launching test missiles won’t be tolerated, the United States, last week, launched an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from a US Air Force base in California — just seven days after a previous launch.

“This is a real war with real global consequences,” Anonymous explains. “With three superpowers drawn into the mix, other nations will be coerced into choosing sides, so what do the chess pieces look like so far?”

“The citizen will be the last to know, so it is important to understand what the other nations are doing,” the group stated.

“The pragmatic Chinese, it seems, are starting to lose their patience.”

The Chinese do appear to be making moves for a potential conflict.

Last month, China’s Foreign Minister warned that an armed conflict with North Korea may break out “at any moment,” urging Washington and Pyongyang to tone down their hawkish rhetoric and realize the price to pay for both sides if a new Korean War were to start.

Shortly after the warning, China issued a notice to its citizens telling them to leave North Korea at once.

Anonymous also points out that war is likely imminent due to President Donald Trump meeting with the murderous president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte, who compares himself to Hitler and publicly calls for the extrajudicial murder of his own citizens for using drugs, was invited to the White House by Trump.

“When President Trump starts reaching out to those like President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines to assure they are on the same page, one must start to wonder,” Anonymous says in the video. “However, even Duterte has advised the US to back away from Kim Jong Un.”

During a SHTF situation, pain could become an annoyance for some, but unbearable for others.

If doctors are scarce and medicine becomes even scarcer, this one little weed, found all over North America and similar to morphine, could be a saving grace.

“Prepare for what comes next,” warns Anonymous.

“We are Anonymous.
We are Legion.
We do not forgive.
We do not forget.”

https://youtu.be/GfOC2nz5Nmc

Having in your survival bag a versatile item like a tarp will come in handy during an emergency situation. It will help you gather water, camouflage your supplies and it will provide an excellent shelter in case nothing else is available. Improvising a basic tarp shelter can keep your head dry. It will help you conserve heat and it provides a sense of comfort and safety.

A polyethylene tarp will go a long way and you should definitely get one for your bug out bag. It is lightweight, durable, draft-proof and waterproof. They come in a variety of sizes and color, and they won’t burn a hole in your wallet.

Making a tarp shelter is easy and there are dozens of different ways and patterns to construct a suitable shelter with only a single tarp.

Before you make your tarp shelter you must consider the following:

• The location of your shelter is crucial and you should stop and think about it before building your shelter.
• The direction from which the wind is blowing should be taken into account or your shelter will sail away.
• The ground should be comfortable enough if you plan to get some sleep. Pointy rocks will keep you awake.
• The ground should slope slightly for the water to runoff.
• If there is no slope, you will have to dig some trenches around your shelter to aid drainage.
• Take into account the purpose of the shelter and make it as large as it needs to be.
• Consider the weather and chose a model that is stable and won’t collapse if rain or snow are expected.

Tarp Shelter Designs:

For all the shelter examples provided here, you can use a 10X10 foot tarp.

1. The A-frame tarp shelter

The A-Frame shelter is probably the most common shelter one can make. It can be made by stringing the paracord between two trees. Draping over the tarp and staking it down are the final steps required to make this standard shelter.

The 30-degree angle of the tarp’s roof will create a ten-foot-long living area. The shelter will be 8.6 feet wide and 2.5 feet tall. This shelter provides a good rain and snow runoff and a proper wind deflection.

The downside of the A-frame shelter is that there is no floor and if you haven’t stretchered the paracord tight enough, there will be sagging in the middle.

2. The Sunshade tarp shelter

To create this type of shelter, you will need four anchoring points to which you will tie the paracord. This is a shelter parallel to the ground and it’s designed to provide 100 square feet of shade against the sun.

Some people use this type of shelter during the rain because the water will pool in the middle and it’s easier to collect it. To make it sturdier, you can add support poles to the corners.

This basic sunshade tarp shelter will provide maximum protection against the sun, but it’s not suitable for cold weather and it can’t support rain for long.

3. The Lean-To tarp shelter

This is another shelter that it’s simple to make and it’s excellent for deflecting wind or providing sunshade. To make this shelter, you need to secure the tarp to the ground on the windward side and support it with the paracord between two anchor points.

A 30-degree angle of the tarp will provide five feet of height and 8 feet of width under the shelter. This is an “on the go” shelter because it’s easy to erect and you can quickly take it down. It provides excellent wind deflection and it will keep you safe from rain or sun heat.

The downside of this shelter is that there are no sides and no floor to offer protection against other elements.

4. The tube tent tarp shelter

This is a sturdy shelter that provides a floor and, if suitably secured to the ground, will prevent rain from seeping in.

To make it, you will need to secure the paracord between two trees and drape over the tarp with the opposite ends secured together.

The sixty degrees walls will provide 3 feet in width and almost 3 feet of headroom. This should be enough room for a single adult.

5. The mushroom fly tarp shelter

This type of shelter is very similar to the primary sunshade shelter but it adds a central support pole at the tarp’s midpoint. It is designed for rain or snow runoff and it’s pretty sturdy if you secure the four corners of the tarp well enough.

You can make it as tall or as short as you need depending on the length of the pole. This shelter provides an excellent runoff for rain or snow, but it doesn’t have any sides to protect you from the wind or cold.

6. The cornet tarp shelter

This shelter utilizes the entire length of the paracord strung from a tree to the ground. The tarp is draped over the paracord diagonally, while the leading edges fold under to form the floor. The corner of the shelter must be faced towards the direction of the wind.

You will also need to tie off some drip lines above the entrance of the shelter to prevent rain from running down the paracord and into the shelter.

This is a good design for wind deflection and rain/debris shedding. The downside of this model is that it doesn’t offer too much headroom and if you are a tall person, you might not have enough room for you and your gear.

7. The dining fly tarp shelter

This is the favorite design for many campers and it’s a simple open-air cover. It provides a good sunshade and enough headroom without sacrificing too much space. It keeps away rain but it offers limited protection against the other elements due to its lack of sides.

When properly tied down and staked, the dining fly becomes a sturdy shelter and the height of the support pole will dictate the amount of headroom.

This is a good model for desert survival because it provides proper ventilation and adequate coverage.

8. The wind shed tarp shelter

This type of shelter requires a little practice to get it done the right way. You will need to fold the tarp into thirds and make sure the leading edge of the roof hangs over the groundsheet for adequate rain runoff. The main ridgeline has to be secured with paracords while stretched between two trees.

A length of paracord must be added to the bottom fold, where the back panel meets the groundsheet. It provides excellent wind deflection, but it requires a lot of secure points.

The hanging roofline could also sag under rain loads and channel the water onto the groundsheet.

9. The Fold-Over Wind Shed tarp shelter

This design is similar to the traditional wind shed, but it provides more coverage by sacrificing the groundsheet.

The height of the paracord ridgeline determines the angle of the roof and the footprint of the shelter.

It offers excellent wind deflection and rain runoff, but it doesn’t protect entirely against the elements due to its lack of floor, flaps or sides.

10. The diamond fly tarp shelter

This shelter is suitable for two persons and it’s easy to make. You will need to secure the paracord to a tree and the ground and drape over the tarp at a diagonal. The length of the paracord and the angle with which it is tied to a tree will determine the overall headroom and width of the shelter. The steep walls will shed rain and will deflect wind if they are well staked. This model will require drip lines, just like the cornet shelter.

Depending on the size of the tarp, this shelter can accommodate more than two persons or more equipment. However, the lack of a floor and flaps won’t keep out the elements. If the wind changes direction frequently, the shelter can be compromised.

11. The arrowhead shelter

Start the construction of this shelter by supporting the center of two perpendicular edges with five foot long poles or by attaching those edges to trees using a paracord. You will need to stake to the ground the opposite corner so that it creates a series of four triangles.

This design will provide 35 square feet of living space and five feet of headroom at the opening. The flap will hand down and make a partial closure. The poles need to be supported by paracord tie-downs.

This shelter deflects wind with its low profile and it’s very roomy.

12. The half box tarp shelter

This shelter will require some time to be built and you need to use at least four support poles and as many or more tie downs to hold it all up. The footprint provided is 25 square feet and it has two sides of protection from the elements.

If not supported in the middle or kept taut from the sides, it will sag under the weight of water or snow. A full one-quarter of the tarp goes unused and folded up behind the rear corner.

This type of tarp shelter provides good sunshade throughout the entire day if you position it correctly.

13. The barn stall tarp shelter

To make this shelter, you can either use four five-foot poles for support or two poles and a paracord attached to two anchor points. The front is supported by poles and the single 90-degree wall provides enough protection, although strong wind can damage the entire structure.

This shelter produces a 50 square feet living area but it has no floor. It’s simple to build, but it doesn’t provide adequate protection from the weather.

14. The Square arch tarp shelter

As the name implies, this shelter is an arch with a square top. Starting with two parallel lengths of paracord attached to anchor points approximately 3 feet apart and 3 feet high, drape the ground cloth over the two lengths of paracord and secure the long ends of the tarp with stakes.

This is a good shelter for narrow spaces, but the odds of finding four anchor points in the needed proximity is quite low. To allow rain to runoff, make sure you secure one paracord slightly higher than the other.

This shelter is three feet wide, three feet wide and ten feet long.

15. The shade sail tarp shelter

This is an easy and quick to build shelter and it requires to diagonally drape the tarp over a length of paracord attached to two anchor points. The opposite corners of the tarp are staked to the ground.

This is an open and airy shelter and the lower the angles of the sides are, the better it will deflect wind and the more shade will provide.

It provides all-day shade and it requires minimal stakes and set up, but it’s not weather resistant and it will not keep you dry.

What not to do when building a tarp shelter:

• Don’t make your shelter over an ant nest or any type of burrows
• Never set up your shelter beneath a dead tree or in the vicinity of one
• Don’t attach tarp lines to a tree standing alone or too tall trees. Always go for the short tree in a group of taller trees.
• Never set up your shelter below the high tide mark of a shoreline
• Don’t set up your shelter on top of a hill or ridge.
• Don’t set up your shelter on a river bank

Making a proper tarp shelter also depends on what you bring along. Things like a backpacking knife, durable paracord, and one or two space blankets will help you improve the quality of your shelter. It takes time to master the art of making a proper shelter using just a tarp. However, once you manage to do so, you will be able to build various shelters in all sorts of environment.

Conclusion

Making a tarp shelter is not rocket science. With a little bit of practice, anyone should be able to make one. Learning these tarp shelter patterns will come in handy during an emergency preparedness situation. If you are looking to buy a tarp explicitly designed for the backcountry, I recommend going with the Sanctuary SilTarp or Aqua Quest Safari models.