Urban Prepping/Preface/Tiers of Readiness

Each tier builds on the last, so Tier 0 habits make Tier 4 easier. This structure scales for everything from localized disasters to long-term system collapse. Practical readiness begins with daily resilience and expands toward sustainable autonomy.

Goal: Reduce everyday vulnerability. Be ready to pivot into any crisis smoothly.

Priorities:

• Strengthen daily resilience (physical, financial, digital)
• Build habits that scale up during emergencies

Core Checklist:

• EDC (Everyday Carry): Phone, ID, cash, multitool, flashlight, lighter, small first aid kit.
• Digital: Password manager, offline backups, key documents on encrypted USB.
• Financial: Emergency fund (at least one month’s expenses in cash or quick-access form).
• Home Safety: Fire extinguishers, smoke/CO alarms, basic tools, home first aid kit.
• Health: Routine meds, vaccinations, physical fitness.

Goal: Survive the initial event—disaster, grid failure, civil unrest, or any other sudden crisis.

Priorities:

• Preserve life
• Secure essentials (air, water, shelter, medical)
• Communicate and decide whether to stay or evacuate

Core Checklist:

• Bug-Out Bag (per person): 3 days of food and water, water filter, power bank, flashlight, first aid, change of clothes, fire starter, multitool, map, local cash.
• Go Binder: IDs, deeds, insurance, medical records, emergency contacts.
• Comms: Radio (NOAA or HAM), spare batteries, offline maps.
• Home Kit (if sheltering in place): Stored water (1 gal/day/person), canned food, backup lighting, first aid, fire extinguisher, sanitation supplies.
• Plan: Evacuation routes, rendezvous point, backup transportation, pets covered.

Goal: Ride out short disruptions in infrastructure with comfort and security.

Priorities:

• Maintain food, water, warmth, hygiene
• Keep information flow steady
• Manage morale and routine

Core Checklist:

• Food & Water: Two-week pantry (non-perishables, cooking fuel, manual can opener, stored water, filtration).
• Power: Solar chargers, inverter generator, batteries, extension cords.
• Health: Stocked first aid kit, prescription refills, sanitation supplies, masks, gloves.
• Security: Reinforce doors/windows, basic defensive tools, lighting perimeter.
• Communication: HAM radio or GMRS, local contacts, information networks.
• Comfort: Books, games, routines, stress management.

Goal: Sustain self-reliance while systems recover or while rebuilding your local micro-economy.

Priorities:

• Replenish and extend supplies
• Establish renewable or trade-based systems
• Keep health and sanitation high

Core Checklist:

• Water: Catchment systems, rain barrels, purification tablets, gravity filters.
• Food: Gardening (fast crops), bulk staples (rice, beans, flour), long-term preservation (dehydrating, canning).
• Power: Solar setup, fuel storage, battery bank, low-power appliances.
• Health: Dental care, long-term med storage, community healthcare skills.
• Trade & Skills: Bartering items (fuel, soap, ammo, meds), learning repair, carpentry, gardening, basic mechanics.
• Security: Local watch, defensive coordination, trained response plan.

Goal: Achieve sustainable independence from fragile systems.

Priorities:

• Food and energy independence
• Community and governance
• Generational resilience

Core Checklist:

• Food Production: Gardens, livestock, seed saving, crop rotation, soil management.
• Water Systems: Wells, filtration, graywater recycling, irrigation.
• Power Systems: Solar, wind, hydro, maintenance know-how.
• Infrastructure: Tool workshop, mechanical repair, waste management, local material sourcing.
• Medical: Herbal medicine, first responder skills, preventive health practices.
• Education & Governance: Knowledge preservation, teaching skills, local leadership, fair barter systems.
• Psychological Sustainability: Social bonds, community purpose, recreation, philosophy of resilience.

Goal: Move from survival back to thriving civilization.

Priorities:

• Restore economy, infrastructure, and governance
• Pass down knowledge and stability

Core Checklist:

• Community Projects: Infrastructure repair, trade markets, local schools.
• Documentation: Rebuilding laws, record-keeping, libraries.
• Ethics: Justice, fairness, reconstruction without exploitation.
• Technology: Restarting sustainable industry (micro-manufacturing, alternative energy, local tech repair).