Rural or Urban Preparedness Part I

Today I’m going to address another issue in the world of preparedness that tends to be quite controversial. This is the matter of where one should live in order to be better prepared. Addressing this issue properly will require more than one article as there are many components to consider. But for today, let’s start with the most obvious one. Can you only be prepared if you live out in a rural area?

For starters, allow me to answer the question based on the strongest fundamental and then we can go from there. Personally, I am 100% certain that all of the warnings and admonitions in the scriptures to be educated and prepared are for the benefit ALL of God’s children, not just those who can afford to live in an ideal area of their choosing.

Parable of the Ten Virgins art c/o rapturechrist.com

I also firmly believe that being prepared isn’t all about the logistical aspects of having a certain amount of “stuff.” That’s clear in the Parable of the 10 Virgins. If preparedness was just about “stuff” then the 5 prepared virgins could have imparted of their oil to the other 5 unprepared virgins. I feel the most important part of being prepared is being obedient to the warnings given to us by God. I think that’s, in part, why we have the account of Joseph in Egypt, Noah’s ark, and the Parable of the 10 Virgins in the scriptures—to warn us to be prepared. These Biblical accounts also show us the unalterable consequences if one isn’t prepared. Frankly, encouraging more folks to be obedient in being prepared is my first priority—although I do not speak with any God-given authority in doing so—simply a genuine concern for my fellowman. It’s actually only my second priority to help folks be prepared properly and practically for whatever is to come.

So, is there a superior preparedness scenario available to those who live in a rural area versus those who live in an urban area? Well, yes. Logistically there is.

The fact of the matter is, if you live in an urban or even a suburban area and things go bad, you will need to prepare to move to another area. An urban area presents a great deal of additional challenges that are mitigated in a rural area. Your selection of an area of refuge should be based on the ability to readily defend it, access to quality sanitation, minimal exposure to violence and looting, and being a part of a community you can trust for your safety and survival. Thus the preparedness efforts you put into place in your urban scenario need to take such a move into consideration. Remember, you won’t just be moving yourselves. You’ll need to plan on taking your preparedness supplies with you so that you will be an asset to any outside community you intend to survive with. In a subsequent article, I will go into greater detail on this part of the topic.

Ultimately, the question of whether to be prepared in an urban vs. a rural area is the wrong question. The better question to ask is “how can I be best prepared for my circumstances?”