Start here · War: minute 0
Weeks 2 to 4 and beyond
- Restocking: small, frequent purchases at quiet hours. Priority: water, dense calories (oil, peanut butter, rice, beans), salt, medicines and batteries.
- Barter: what's valuable is what isn't produced locally: batteries, medicines, filters, feminine hygiene products, coffee, alcohol and tobacco (even if you don't use them).
- Getting around: rationed gas, combined trips and never below half a tank.
- Community: the real survival unit is the block or the building, not the family alone. Split the jobs: water, watch and care.
- Document everything: photos of damage, receipts and communications. Later they're used for insurance and FEMA assistance.
- Late exit: if the city keeps degrading (more than 72 hours without water, without safety, without supplies), leave in a calm window, by day, with a full tank and a confirmed destination (chapter 23).
