This is were it is different for me. I live on the outskirts of town and most of the plans and routes I have take me right out of the city or skirting the edges of the city. In my case that is why I need a little more gear. If I was in the middle of a big city I would tone the gear down a little but probably not much. My view on that is this. There are alot of things you could get in a big city where you can't in the country. The concern I would have would be being able to get it if I need it. If there is no power I am sure the stores are going to lock the doors. You could just take it, but do you want to be one of those people that are running in a grabbing something with the looters that will be around? Me personaly, I would rather stay away form the groups or individuals that are doing that stuff. My main goal is to get away from whatever to where I am going and to do it as safely as possible so I get to my destination alive. Remember that this is just my opinion. I may be wrong having never lived in a huge city. For me I would just rather need what I have then hope I was able to scavenge or but it after something happens.
mlrs
I agree with your rationale completely. If I were in your situation and had a vehicle, I'd definitely carry more gear. No question.
In speaking of "traveling light," I was talking in terms of walking around dense urban environments -- either as a resident or visitor -- for the sake of those who might be used to thinking of "survival" mostly from the standpoint of wilderness or rural environments.
You can be nomadic almost indefinitely in the wilderness/country, or even on the outskirts of a town, so having a portable shelter/food/weapon etc makes a lot of sense.
Not in the big city: you need a safe house, or you need to get out. You don't want to be a nomad, exposing yourself on the street; unless that’s part of your escape tactic, in which case traveling light would still be key.
Many businesses did not close their doors during the most recent blackout here, because they saw the opportunity to profit from the situation, and rule of law remained intact. Particularly with stores and restaurants with perishable food, it behooved them to sell as much as possible to diminish their losses. That’s why the restaurant I mentioned visiting in my initial post only had eggs left by the time we got there.
Given these factors: when in or about a big city, my approach/advice is to carry only what you need to get you to a safe house/location, where you keep everything else for long-term survival/evasion.
Or, if you're visiting -- carry a smaller kit with you and leave the bulkier stuff in your hotel room/temporary domicile, for example.
I have everything I need at home to not have to rely on stores and others for at least a couple weeks, I'd say.
That's why I mentioned my goal in a disaster would be to get home ASAP, which is what I did during the blackout. Once home, I have what I need and can assess whether to wait it out or leave.
Another thing: I live in an apartment building, so if my strategy were to wait out a particularly bad disaster, or if i were stuck without the possibility of leaving, one of my first steps would be to get as many neighbors onboard to help with fortifying/planning/preparing the entire building for medium- to long-term survival. That way, we’d be pooling resources and increasing odds of survival.
One of the weakest links here in NYC as far as disaster preparedness is our severe handicap in terms of self defense given the gun and less-lethal weapon laws foisted upon us.
Fortunately, I live two blocks from my local precinct.
