You may have heard people talking about how they are preparing for an urban survival scenario. Whether it’s the end of the world, a nuclear attack or the zombie apocalypse, there is always talk in the news and on social media that we need to prepare ourselves by stocking up on food, water and supplies.
But what if you’re not into prepping? What if you don’t want to spend all your money just in case something bad happens? Or maybe you live in an urban area where these kinds of disasters are unlikely to happen do they still apply?
In this article I’m going to debunk 15 myths that prevent people from taking action when it comes to their own personal safety during urban disasters
| Takeaway |
|---|
| Urban survival skills are essential for navigating challenging situations in urban environments. |
| Knowing common survival myths and the truth behind them is crucial for preparing for emergencies. |
| Having the right gear, skills, and knowledge can increase your chances of survival in urban environments. |
| Preparation and planning are key to surviving in any emergency situation. |
| Conserving energy and resources, staying calm, and having a communication plan with loved ones is essential in urban survival situations. |
Myth #1: Only The Fit Will Survive an Urban Disaster
The first myth we’ll address is the notion that only the physically fit will survive an urban disaster. This idea is perpetuated by TV shows, films and even books that show only fit people surviving in a crisis situation.
While it may seem like there would be some truth to this myth, it’s actually nonsense. In reality, being prepared for any kind of disaster is far more important than how much you can bench press or run a mile.
There are many ways to be prepared for an urban survival scenario without having to join an army boot camp or become a prepper.
You don’t need a bug out bag (BOB) and you don’t have to be trained as a soldier just so you can make it through difficult times in our current world climate.
Being focused on becoming stronger on one end of the spectrum isn’t necessary if all you want is basic survival skills like knowing how to collect water from sources around your neighborhood or being able to set up traps for small game within city limits where hunting isn’t permitted due to local ordinances against it.
Surviving in the city is not easy, but with the right preparation and knowledge, you can increase your chances of coming out of an emergency safely. Check out our ultimate guide to surviving in the city to learn more about the essential tips and strategies for urban survival.
Myth #2: Urban Survival is Easy Because There Are More Resources Available
Urban survival is not easy. It’s not for everyone, and it requires skills, knowledge, and planning. You cannot just pick up a book or watch a YouTube video that explains how to survive in the city and expect things to go smoothly. You need practice with your gear, equipment, techniques and skills before you find yourself in an actual survival situation.
Urban survival requires good physical fitness because if you are running from zombies or trying to escape from an active shooter scenario in an area where there is no food or water available for miles around then surviving on the streets will be very difficult indeed without being able to move quickly through them (or away from them).
If you want your loved ones who live close together with their families or friends during these times then they should all go out together once per week on long hikes through their local parks so they can build up their endurance levels so they have enough energy when needed most by each other later during any type of crisis situation occurring within our cities.
Myth #3: You Must be a Prepper to Survive an Urban Disaster
You don’t need to be a prepper to survive an urban disaster. In this day and age, there are many books, videos and resources available that can teach you how to survive in an urban environment. You can also learn from other people’s experiences or practice survival skills in your own home.
Having the right gear items can make a significant difference in a survival situation. Our list of the top 10 urban survival gear items covers everything from first aid kits to multi-purpose tools that can come in handy in various situations.
Myth #4: You Need a Bug-Out Bag To Survive an Urban Disaster
If you’re not familiar with a bug-out bag, it’s a portable survival kit that can hold the bare essentials you might need to survive in an urban disaster. It’s all about being prepared for an evacuation situation but what if your city doesn’t come under attack?
The truth is, having one of these kits around is great for people who live in areas susceptible to disasters, like earthquakes and tornadoes.
But if you live in an urban area, chances are high that your home and other assets will be destroyed before you even have time to think about making an escape plan.
And even if they don’t get demolished immediately by natural causes (which they will), a lot of cities have infrastructure issues that would make it difficult or impossible for residents to leave their homes quickly enough anyway (think lack of roads leading out).
All this means is that there’s no point in wasting time building up supplies when there are more pressing matters at hand: finding food and shelter until help arrives from nearby suburbs or rural towns where things haven’t been destroyed yet!
Myth #5: The Government Will Protect You When SHTF
The government is not a charity, it’s not your friend or family, it’s not your neighbor and it doesn’t care about you. The government is nothing more than an organization of power structures that has been set up to protect the interests of those who hold power.
What does this mean for preppers? While the myth serves as a way for people to convince themselves that someone will come save them in case of an emergency situation like terrorism or natural disaster, there are few scenarios where this could possibly happen.
For example, during Hurricane Katrina (which was caused by climate change), New Orleans residents had to wait days before help arrived from FEMA due to lack of resources available at the time and even then there were no guarantees that help would arrive from national agencies like FEMA!
To survive in an urban environment, you need to have a set of skills that can help you navigate through challenging situations. Our article on 17 essential skills for urban survival covers some of the most critical skills, including self-defense, lockpicking, and emergency communication.
Myth #6: You Must Own a Firearm to Defend Yourself and your Family in an Urban Disaster
People have been saying that you need a gun to defend yourself in an urban disaster for years. But this isn’t the case. You can defend yourself without a gun, and if you do choose to carry one with you, there are ways of keeping it out of the hands of criminals or people who want to use it against you.
There are plenty of other self-defense weapons that can be used in place of guns. Knives and other cutting instruments are much cheaper and easier to find than firearms and they’re just as effective at stopping an attacker in their tracks (or slicing their neck open).
In fact, many martial arts focus on using your hands and feet as weapons instead of relying on guns or other firearms.
Some people even go so far as to say that if someone wants to get into a fight with them over something like food or water during an urban survival scenario, then maybe they shouldn’t be trusted anyway!
Myth #7: SHTF Means the End of the World As We Know It and the Collapse of Society
The term “SHTF” is often used as a catch-all for any disaster, emergency or crisis situation. This myth implies that SHTF = end times and that it’s going to happen all at once.
In reality, SHTF means a disaster or emergency situation—a risk, not a certainty—and it can happen gradually or suddenly depending on context and severity.
Urban survival scenarios can range from natural disasters to riots, and being prepared for any situation is vital. Our article on the most dangerous urban survival scenarios and how to handle them provides tips on how to prepare and what to do in case of an emergency.
Myth #8: If a Disaster Happens, Everyone Will Run for the Hills Where it’s Safe
There are some urban survival myths that are surprisingly true but this is not one of them. If you hear that the world is coming to an end and you feel like it’s time to leave, you’ll be shocked by how many people stay behind.
A survey conducted by the University of California Berkeley found that only 3% would leave their homes for safety. The rest would stay in their city, even if it meant being away from family members or loved ones who had opted to leave earlier on.
So what gives? Well, there are plenty of reasons why people would rather stay put than run out during a crisis situation: they’re looking out for their property (it makes sense), they don’t have anywhere else to go (although most buildings have emergency shelters), and they don’t want to miss out on anything happening around them (they can get updates online).
Also, if everyone else leaves then there will be no one left at home who might need help or come back later once things have settled down again—so why bother leaving now?
Myth #9. You Can’t Have a Garden Because it Requires Too Much Space
There’s no reason why you can’t grow a garden. In fact, you can grow a garden in a small space and even on your balcony or patio! Gardening is a great way to bring some life into your home or apartment. There are many ways to get started with gardening without needing much land or space at all.
You can grow food in containers on patios, decks or balconies as long as the container has drainage holes for water to drain out of it. You can also use these containers to plant herbs if you don’t want to eat them but still want that fresh air scent around your living space!
You may not have a yard at all but there are so many options available nowadays that don’t require any yard space whatsoever (if any).
For example, hydroponic systems allow people who live in apartments/condos etcetera still have access to fresh produce year round whether they live indoors or outdoors altogether!
In an urban survival situation, having a checklist can help you stay focused and organized, and increase your chances of successful survival. Our ultimate urban survival checklist covers everything from emergency contacts to important documents to have in your emergency kit.
Myth #10. SHTF Means Lawlessness and Anarchy in the Streets
It is a myth that people will be lawless when SHTF.
In the aftermath of disaster, the majority of people will still follow the law. However, they won’t be enforced by government agencies like they are now. People will still respect other people and help each other out in times of difficulty.
They’ll protect their neighbors’ property as well as their own; they’ll work together to find food, water and materials needed for survival; and they’ll help each other rebuild after things have settled down again.
Myth #11. Money Won’t Matter When The SHTF
Money is a powerful tool, and it can help you survive. However, if you think that when SHTF money won’t matter at all then you’ll be in for a rude awakening.
You can’t live without water, food or shelter and these things all cost money. If society breaks down and there’s no electricity to run your fridge then the food will go bad before long. If you haven’t paid your rent then guess where else you’re going to be sleeping?
In short; having some cash on hand means that you’re prepared for anything life throws at you whether it’s an unexpected bill or something as simple as buying some extra supplies while they’re still affordable and having enough cash means that if something goes wrong then there are options available besides stripping lead pipes from abandoned houses or robbing cars on the side of the highway (although those may still be options).
Myth #12. Living in Rural Areas is Safer than Living in Urban Areas during a Disaster
Some people think that living in rural areas is safer than living in urban areas during a disaster. This isn’t true, though—rural areas are often more dangerous than cities.
Rural areas have fewer resources available to them compared to urban centers. For example, there may be only one hospital for miles around and that hospital may not have the capabilities or equipment to treat major injuries or illnesses.
Also, during an emergency situation there will likely be massive traffic jams as everyone tries to get out of the affected area quickly; this makes it harder for law enforcement and first responders from other parts of the country (or even world) who want to help their neighbors recover from destruction caused by such events such as tornadoes and hurricanes (in addition to fires).
It can also be harder for rural residents themselves because they might not want others coming into their communities after experiencing some kind of trauma like having lost everything when someone set firecrackers off near where they live or something similar happened before like
Myth #13. When SHTF, People Won’t Help Each Other
You’re probably thinking, “Of course people will help each other! That’s what humans do!” Well, yes and no.
During an emergency people are more likely to help others than they would be under normal circumstances because they know it may be their turn next.
Also, people tend to think of someone else’s needs above their own when they’re afraid or injured themselves though this is far from guaranteed and might depend on the person you run into. In general though, we do have a tendency to come together in times of great need.
Myth #14. SHTF is No Time to Panic or Freak Out
Myth #14: SHTF is No Time to Panic or Freak Out
The truth is, you should never be afraid when something unexpected happens. If you feel anxiety or stress, then it means that you are not prepared for the worst-case scenario. When SHTF, always remain calm and level headed so that you can make sound decisions.
Myth #15. After SHTF, It’s Every Man for Himself
It’s unlikely that people will help each other after SHTF.
When a disaster or crisis hits, it’s no longer every man for himself it becomes every person for themselves. Even if you have a group of friends who plan on helping each other survive, they may not always be there when you need them.
If one of you gets injured and needs stitches right away, leaving your friends behind to find help could mean the difference between life and death.
Your first priority should always be your own survival; don’t forget about yourself just because someone else is in trouble!
However, if someone does ask for help or come asking for water/food/medicine etc., there’s no harm in helping out as long as it doesn’t put yourself at risk too much (i.e., giving up half your supplies).
Conclusion
In conclusion, urban survival is a far more complex and nuanced topic than most people realize. And it’s important to keep this in mind as you develop your skills.
There are many myths about urban survival that can be debunked, but you should still take precautions when practicing in the city.
For instance, avoid standing out from the crowd too much by wearing camouflage clothing or carrying weapons with you at all times this could cause trouble for yourself as well as others around you who may not know why there are armed people roaming around their neighborhood!
Further Reading
For more debunked survival myths, check out the following articles:
20 Common Survival Myths That Could Cost You Your Life: This article from Urban Survival Site debunks common survival myths, such as sucking venom out of a snake bite, eating snow for hydration, and punching a shark in the nose to deter an attack.
29 Survival Myths Debunked by the Experts: Survival Dispatch explores various survival myths, including whether moss consistently grows on the north side of trees, whether you should drink your own urine for hydration, and whether you can start a fire by rubbing sticks together.
9 Survival Myths That Could Actually Hurt You: This article from Business Insider highlights a few survival myths that could actually harm you, including the belief that you should suck out the venom from a snake bite and whether wild animals won’t attack groups of people.
FAQs
Q: What is urban survival?
A: Urban survival refers to the skills and knowledge needed to survive in an urban environment, which may include natural disasters, social unrest, and other emergencies.
Q: What kind of gear do I need for urban survival?
A: For urban survival, you may need various types of gear, such as a flashlight, multi-tool, first aid kit, face mask, and fire starter.
Q: How can I prepare for an emergency in the city?
A: To prepare for an emergency in the city, you can create an emergency kit, plan escape routes, practice self-defense, and have a communication plan with your loved ones.
Q: What are some common urban survival scenarios?
A: Some common urban survival scenarios can include earthquakes, riots, fires, flash floods, and power outages.
Q: What should I do if I get lost in an urban environment?
A: If you get lost in an urban environment, stay calm, conserve your energy and resources, and find a way to signal for help. It’s also important to have a map and compass, or a GPS device to help you navigate.
Hi! I’m Hellen James, and I am the founder of Unified Survival. I have a deep passion for the wilderness and everything that goes along with it. I’ve been hiking since I was a child, and I grew up camping in state parks all over the country. But it wasn’t until recently that I learned how to survive in the wilderness.