War reaches civilians in many forms: a small-scale conflict, a civil war, an invasion, or something larger. In every one of them the first questions are the same. Should I stay or go? Where is the safest place to be tonight? How do I get water and food, and what happens if someone is hurt? Preparing for war means preparing for unpredictability, with infrastructure destroyed and basic services disrupted. This guide covers the decisions, the shelter, the supplies and the skills that civilians need.
Wartime shortages and breakdowns overlap with several other guides: surviving in a lawless environment, nuclear fallout: shelter, plan and survival kit and surviving a terrorist attack. The crisis and medical hub lists the rest.
Understand what you are facing #
War-zone dangers include violence and security threats, but also limited access to food, water and medical supplies. Conditions can change quickly, and you may have little or no warning before fighting arrives. Keep up with the progress of the conflict in your area so you know which direction is safer and which is not. Plan for sudden changes.
Before anything else, write down your survival plan. Identify the threats in your area, such as violence, looting and a lack of supplies. Decide how to avoid or manage each one. Agree on a way to communicate with loved ones or fellow preppers if you are separated.
Stay or leave? #
When fighting reaches your home and surroundings, you have two broad choices, and neither is automatically right.
Move away from the fighting #
If a war or invasion makes your home and its surroundings unsafe, relocating may be best. Locate areas far from the main zone of fighting. Rural areas are generally safer because the fighting centers on cities and population centers, but it is harder to receive aid there, and staying safe in such places requires wilderness survival skills. Whichever direction you choose, you need to know what you are going to do for water, food and shelter when you arrive.
Plan escape routes #
If the invasion could spread across the whole country, leaving may mean crossing a border into a neighboring country that accepts refugees. International law obligates most countries to accept refugees who fear being killed in their home country. A few practical points:
- Carry your passport or equivalent identification. Without documents you could be turned back.
- Keep some small valuables hidden, since they can be exchanged for cash or supplies if needed.
- Check whether the government provides transportation out. If it does not, the alternatives are to drive, sail or walk to the border.
- Contact family or friends in other countries to learn about the options for escape.
- Identify more than one route, taking account of road closures, traffic and possible contamination zones.
Do not run in the open #
If an explosion goes off close by or someone starts shooting, do not duck and run. Get down onto the ground. Any ditch, hole or depression provides better protection than even a brick wall.
Shelter #
If you are caught unaware, being indoors is better than being out in the open where you could meet an enemy soldier. Where you shelter matters.
Your home #
If you stay, fortify it. Window and metal door shutters make it safer, and sandbags stacked against the lower parts of walls give additional protection. A cellar or fortified shelter greatly improves the odds. Add barricades and security alarms as appropriate. Expect that the area may be bombarded before an enemy moves in, so think of your home as a place to stay for now, not forever.
Brick buildings with basements #
Brick buildings, especially those with a basement, withstand damage better and provide increased protection. Note any such buildings around you so you can move into one if you have to leave your current shelter. A building whose windows are still intact can be sealed against a chemical leak or nuclear attack, and damp towels can block harmful chemicals from entering. If there are no such buildings, look for any structure with a basement that can offer protection until the fighting subsides.
Woods and open country #
Fleeing to a wooded area may keep you safe, but you will need to protect yourself from the weather and build a suitable shelter soon. Hostile people may pass through the woods, so pick a spot with enough camouflage. Building around a natural feature, such as a fallen tree, makes the work easier and supports a larger structure.
Stay low-profile #
In a region with active security threats, avoid attention. Limit your movements and your interactions in public spaces, avoid displaying valuables or conspicuous items, and be cautious about sharing personal information with strangers. Learn the local customs and social norms so that you do not stand out.
Water, food and supplies #
With little or no warning, you may have to gather supplies in a hurry. Accumulate what you need for sustenance, and keep it light enough to carry if you have to leave.
The kit #
A kit to get you through a few days includes:
- Canned or wrapped food and bottled water, kept for emergencies when fresh food and clean water become scarce.
- Medicines, hygiene and sanitation products.
- A first aid kit.
- A clean set of clothes.
- A bug-out bag with a flashlight, batteries, a multi-tool, a map and a compass.
- Important documents such as birth certificates, social security cards and marriage licenses.
- Enough money, withdrawn from the bank if electronic access is not possible.
Check and refresh the bag regularly, so everything is in good condition. Consider storing supplies in more than one location to reduce the risk of losing everything in a single incident.
Water #
If the war drags on, bottled water will run out. Locate clean water sources nearby, such as lakes and streams, and purify before drinking. Boiling for a minute kills pathogens. Filter out larger debris through a cloth or fine net first. Do not drink seawater, even if you are desperate, because it can cause serious illness. If you find a clean source, use it and save your bottled water for emergencies. In the rain, collect water with buckets, containers and tubs for bathing and drinking, and purify it as well.
Food #
Stock non-perishable and canned food, because regular supply will almost certainly be disrupted. Avoid high-salt foods, which make you thirsty and increase water use. Keep at least three days of non-perishable food at home as a baseline. When fresh food is available, eat nutritious meals with vitamins, minerals, protein and fat, because they strengthen your immune system. If there is none, dietary supplements can partly make up the shortfall.
Knowing how to hunt or fish gives an advantage when supplies run out. Meat needs proper skinning, bleeding and dressing before you eat it, so that it does not spoil. In wartime even basic resources become precious, so waste nothing. Reuse rags, and turn food scraps into broth.
Identify local sources of food, water and medical supplies that you can reach in an emergency. Abandoned grocery stores may have canned or unopened items, if there is a shortage.
Skills #
Supplies run out and skills do not.
First aid #
Injuries are inevitable in a war. Learn basic first aid for yourself and the people around you. Learning to use a tourniquet is especially valuable. Applied to a limb to stop blood flow, a tourniquet has saved many lives on the modern battlefield. Wash wounds with clean water, never dirty or unfiltered water, cover them with sterile bandages and change the bandages regularly. CPR is another skill worth having.
Self-defense #
The best answer to violence is to avoid it, but desperate times push some people to hurt or exploit others. If you have no military training, learning to shoot may help for survival. A combat veteran can teach you how to use a weapon, and a decent trainer will cover selection, cleaning, maintenance, regular practice and gun safety. Shooting from a supported position, on the ground or against a wall, is much easier than taking an unsupported standing shot.
If someone tries to steal your supplies or hurt your family, you do not have to hesitate to fight back. It works better when several members of the group know how to use the weapons, not just one.
Navigation and communication #
Learn to read a map and use a compass, and to communicate with your group by radio or agreed signals. Take courses or training programs that cover the skills relevant to your circumstances, and practice regularly.
People #
You are unlikely to get through a long conflict alone. Form alliances and networks with like-minded individuals or groups, and share support, resources and protection. Reach out to other preppers, community organizations or neighbors who share your goals. Set up communication channels and protocols so that you can coordinate. Neighbors can share food and necessities.
Keep your relationships with family, neighbors and friends. They help you through the crisis and ease stress. Seek help from humanitarian organizations, government agencies and other support networks when you need them, and do not be too proud to ask.
Keeping a clear head #
Staying calm and positive makes logical thinking possible. Develop emergency plans for whatever may arise, and refine them as the situation changes. Have contingency plans for different scenarios, and be ready to make quick decisions under stress. Reducing anxiety matters, and so does maintaining the personal relationships that keep you composed.
Closing thoughts #
The Geneva Conventions give civilians protection in principle, but a person caught in the middle of a war zone has to keep themselves safe. No guide can promise that you will. Still, the basics are within reach for most people: know where you can go, keep documents and money together, have a sheltered place, keep a few days of food and water ready, and learn first aid. A clear mind and some planning make a real difference.