Rural or Urban Preparedness Part I
By Kellene Bishop
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?
Photo c/o scripturereader.blogspot.com
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. To believe such would require one to operate under the assumption that only those who can afford a rural resort prior to a catastrophic occurrence are worthy of the Lord to be safe. Um…that would be about ½ to 2% of our entire population in the U.S. Thus logic defies such a presumption. It’s simply not the case. If it was, I’m certain we would read an abundance of scripture that would caution us from living in an urban or suburban environment. Sure we read of cities being abandoned on occasion (such as Sodom and Gomorrah as well as Jerusalem), but we also read of persons being directed to flee to other communities for their safety. Likewise, I believe that the logistical need to be prepared is applicable to everyone, regardless of where they live. This belief applies to those who live in the city or the country, but it also applies to whether someone lives in the South Africa, Armenia, or the Philippines.
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. But that certainly doesn’t mean that a loving Heavenly Father wouldn’t encourage all of us to be prepared in spite of our living location. You just have to look at your preparedness needs dependent on where you’re living presently.
NYC photo c/o Matt Jalbert exuberance.com
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?”
Copyright 2009 Preparedness Pro & Kellene Bishop. All rights reserved. You are welcome to repost this information so long as it is credited to Preparedness Pro & Kellene Bishop.
While I was teaching classes in Vegas this weekend, I had a gal come up to me and share some of her personal stories. One of which was about her daughter who lives in “tornado territory.” The woman shared with me that she was happy her daughter had finally started being mindful about being better prepared. She says that her daughter realized how often they hear tornado warnings and decided to “get on the stick.” The thought that came to my mind after hearing her story was how we ALL have tornado warnings going off all of the time. It’s my hope that we’ll learn to pay attention to them. Keep in mind that a tornado warning isn’t an indicator of death and destruction. It is a warning that now is the time for you to put your preparedness into practice. Thus the fact that we’re hearing the tornado warnings all around us in virtually every aspect of our environment, we are essentially being provided with “dress rehearsals” to help us be ready for the “live performance.” 
