Apartment Prepping & Preparedness Challenges
There certainly are some significant challenges associated with apartment prepping. According to US statistics from the National Multifamily Housing Council, 44.1 million households are renters, and 37% of renters live in apartments. That’s 16.3 million households who live in apartments.
If you fit into that statistic and are a prepper, you’re presented with unique challenges regarding your apartment prepping and preparedness.
Awhile ago I received an email from an apartment prepper:
I live in an apartment and would like to know if you have thoughts or suggestions for those of us who don’t have land, gardens, etc.
I have about a month’s worth of food and a couple of weeks of water (more if I drain the water heater). I also have good clothes, radios, TP, a camp stove with fuel, lights, etc., and a decent Get Home Bag in the car.
Storage is limited as I am in a two-bedroom apartment and cannot reasonably relocate.
My current approach is to continue my preps and maintain a low profile, and I would like to hear more thoughts. Thanks.
You have a month’s worth of food—that’s great!! You also have a couple of weeks of water—that’s great! That, as well as the other supplies you mentioned, tells me that you are a practical, sensible prepper. Keep it up.
My recommendation for anyone living in a limited space is to focus on the priorities of survival first: water and food. Neglecting these essentials could lead to dire consequences in a crisis. There’s more (security, a roof over your head, and all sorts of helpful supplies), but given the limited space for storing extra things, you need to square away the basics first.
Apartment Prepping Challenges
Here are a few challenges that come to mind.
INSIDE Space Limitations
While we all have space limitations to varying extents, apartment preppers have less space than those who own a home. Since prepping and preparedness partially involve collecting extra food and supplies, these supplies need to go somewhere. Space is limited and challenging for apartment preppers, so utilize space creatively.
During an earlier time when we were first getting into preparedness, and when we lived in a small home, I kept twelve 5-gallon buckets (long-term food storage preps) behind a couch. I placed a row of six buckets across – stacked two high. I covered (draped) them with a fabric that matched and blended with the couch color. Then, I placed a proper-sized finished board across the top of the buckets, stacked right behind the couch. The board served as a shelf and was convenient and practical (remote controls and knick-knacks). And it served to hide all those buckets of food storage.
Do you have a second bedroom in the apartment? That will present more options! What about storage space under the furniture? Under the bed, behind furniture, in the furniture, in the closet, in your luggage bags, hiding in plain sight? Creativity is the key to utilizing spaces.
You could rent a storage unit if you’re tight on space. Many people do this anyway. Sure, it costs money, but it’s an option.
OUTSIDE Space Limitations
Similarly, the apartment prepper may have little or no space outside for themselves. There may not be a ‘yard’, a garage, space for gardening, a shed, or other spaces typical of a homeowner.
There might be a small outdoor space like a balcony or patio (container garden?) or a common area outside for everyone in the building (kind of useless for prepping). But it’s not like having your yard if you live in a single-family home.
Proximity With Others
The apartment dweller lives right next to other apartment dwellers. You might even hear them through the walls, which is not ideal for privacy and security.
OPSEC
Operational Security. Most preppers try to keep a low profile, given the stigma surrounding prepping and preparedness (which is stunning—why would the masses look down upon preparedness?!). Keeping a low profile in an apartment might be challenging.
Apartment Prepping Is Okay For Short-Term Disruption – But Not Long-Term
If you live in an apartment and experience a disruption event (hours, days, maybe up to a week), you could be adequately prepared to get through it fine. However, some events (SHTF) will present significant problems to the apartment prepper.
Find Solutions To Apartment Prepping Challenges
There’s only so much space inside an apartment for apartment prepping. Instead of haphazardly acquiring ‘stuff’ for preparedness, give it some serious thought first.
Prioritize! What are the most critical preps? Take care of those things first, at least to the extent that you can. Things like water, drinking water filtration, and food storage should be first.
Find A Way To Store Extra Water
Even the apartment prepper should have enough space for some water storage: a case or two or three. Store more in a larger container like this one, which I wrote about in the following article. Whatever you do, find a way.
[ Read: Aqua Tainer 7 Gallon Water Jug With Spigot ]
You Need A Drinking Water Filter
Water is number one. You need safe drinking water. A good drinking water filter is essential for the apartment prepper (and all preppers!). The following Berkey countertop water filter may be perfect for the apartment. It’s their smallest countertop model. Berkey is expensive, but a great investment if you can afford it.
[ Read: Smallest Berkey Countertop Water Filter ]
If this is out of reach, I suggest the Sawyer Mini. It’s a small portable drinking water filter with excellent filter specifications. I have several (they’re great for survival kits), and I like how they will screw onto an ordinary plastic water bottle.
I could go on and on about water filters. Do your due-diligence and get ‘something’!
Extra Food
Again, could you find a way to store extra food in your apartment? Since space is limited, focus on calorie-dense food choices and foods packaged for long-term storage.
A few of the many articles on this site that come to mind…
[ Read: Canned Food That’s Best For Survival Storage ]
[ Read: Emergency Survival Food Companies Short List ]
Have A ‘Bug Out’ Place To Go If You Live In An Apartment
An apartment prepper should prioritize having a place to go, just in case the SHTF is real… Do you have family or friends who may be prepared and don’t live in an apartment? These connections can be a lifeline in times of crisis. You can plan where to go if living in your apartment is no longer an option if and when things get terrible.
There’s really no way to be fully prepared for a long-term (some call it SHTF) disaster scenario. While apartment prepping is limited to a relatively short term, it’s important to understand that most disruptions are indeed short-term. However, if you’re considering anything more severe, it’s crucial to be aware of the potential severity and the need for preparedness.