Urban Survival Site's 15 Steps for Hardening a Home Before Disaster

Alan Urban of Urban Survival Site lays out 15 ways to make a house harder to break into before a major disaster. He argues that desperate people will try far harder to get in once normal life breaks down.

Key points

• Doors and windows: He recommends deadbolts and longer screws in hinges, jambs and strike plates, plus metal bars or shatter-resistant security film on windows and glass doors.
• Alarms: Urban says an alarm's biggest job is waking the household, and he names SimpliSafe as one system with battery backup.
• Perimeter: He says a security fence should be at least eight feet tall, hard to climb, set in concrete, padlocked and see-through. Thorny plants under windows and clearing away firewood stacks, bins and trellises also help.
• Overlooked spots: The list covers capping the chimney, securing garage doors and attic access, and notes that drywall and wood studs offer little protection from gunfire unless the exterior is stone or brick.
• Low profile: He suggests breaking down boxes from big purchases, keeping supplies off social media, using blackout curtains and getting to know neighbors who could take turns keeping watch.

Quick take

Urban concedes that a determined intruder with enough time and tools will eventually get in, which is why his final item is keeping at least one loaded firearm within easy reach. He also mentions a dog, a decoy safe or a safe room as further options.

Read the full story at Urban Survival Site.