Urban Bug In

[Lightspeed]

Welcome SUF, and thanks for sharing your situation.

That;s a good strong house you're in. I lived in one in almost exactly the same position as you describe.

Thoughts on your plans:

Sounds like you have security well covered.

We’re installing a CCTV system like yours at the moment and already have a GSM controlled alarm system. The alarm and wi-fi rigged up to our emergency 12v PV batteries. The CCTV will follow suite. Batteries are currently on permanent trickle charge from the mains, but have connectors and charge controllers already installed to take PV Panels which I keep in the cellar. This system should allow us to keep observation of access points using wi-fi connected tablets/ smartphones, even in grid down conditions. If your systems are grid tied, look at doing this. Its very simple and very effective.


As your house is Victorian and has a cellar, chances are that there’s a coal hole somewhere in the front garden. This is worth looking for, both to secure it so no one can get in that way, but also so that if necessary you could use it as an emergency get away route.

You’ll also have whopping big chimneys, so worthwhile having multi-fuel burners to take advantage of these.

As long as you have enough water and food, 3 months will be doable there.

What are you going to do with toilet waste?

Your biggest asset and your biggest liability is the rest of the neighbours in your street.

As you say, at first a number of them will join together for mutual defence. But when food stocks start running low, that’s when they’ll start to become a liability. This is your biggest challenge.

If you are too strong and look too healthy, they’ll know you have supplies.

If you lock down and pretend there’s no one at home, sooner or later your house will get broken into on the off-chance of something of value in there.

Clearly you need to find a middle ground, and that my friend is going to be a delicate balance…

Good luck.