Gas Explosion Kills One, Displaces 45 From Bronx Apartment Building

I rented for 12 years before buying a house. During that time, I couldn't install a generator transfer switch, couldn't bolt a safe room to the floor, couldn't mount a rain barrel to the downspout, and couldn't modify a single door or window without my landlord's permission. But I was still prepared. Renters face real constraints. They don't face impossibility.

Here's what I've got this morning:

Proton Mail offers what others won’t:

We don’t scan your emails. We don’t sell your data. And we don’t make you dig through settings to find basic security. Proton is built for people who want control, not compromise.

Simple, secure, and free.

Explore Proton’s benefits

Preparedness When You Don't Own the Building

We covered apartment preparedness in Issue 94. This week broadens the scope to all renters, whether in apartments, duplexes, townhomes, or houses, and addresses the specific constraints of preparing in a space you don't own.

The core constraint: you can't permanently modify the structure. No drilling into studs for earthquake straps. No installing whole-house surge protectors. No reinforcing door frames. Everything you do must be either removable or non-destructive.

What you can do without modification: store supplies (water, food, medical, power), build go-bags, create communication plans, develop skills, build community, and deploy any freestanding equipment. All the foundational preparedness from 164 issues applies to renters without restriction.

For security without modification: door security bars (Issue 125) brace from the inside without touching the frame. Rubber door wedges ($3) provide emergency barricading. Portable door locks ($15) add a secondary lock without drilling. Window security film (Issue 66) applies with adhesive and removes cleanly. Freestanding cameras (Issue 103) need no mounting hardware.

For water storage in rentals: under-bed storage (Issue 94), closet water bricks (Issue 39), and a WaterBOB for the bathtub work in any rental. No modifications needed.

For power backup: portable power stations (Issues 21, 72) and folding solar panels work anywhere. No installation. No electrical modification. Plug in and charge.

Renter's insurance (Issue 96) is the single most important renter-specific preparation. At $15 to $30 per month, it covers your belongings, provides liability protection, and pays for temporary housing if your rental becomes uninhabitable. If you rent and don't have renter's insurance, get it this week. Seriously.

The advantage renters have: mobility. If a disruption makes your area unlivable, you can leave without the burden of protecting property. Your go-bag and your plan are your entire preparedness system, portable by design.

If you rent and don't have renter's insurance, get a quote today.

Call your auto insurance company (bundling is usually cheapest) or search online. Most policies cost $15 to $25 per month. You'll have coverage by the end of the day.

NOAA Cuts Its 2026 Hurricane Outlook to 7 to 13 Named Storms

NOAA now predicts 7 to 13 named storms for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, down from the 8 to 14 it forecast in May, with 2 to 6 becoming hurricanes and no more than 2 reaching major, Category 3 or higher, strength. The agency raised its confidence in a below normal season to 75 percent, up from 55 percent three months ago, crediting a strengthening El Nino that increases wind shear across the Atlantic and Caribbean.

A quieter forecast is not a guarantee. It takes only one storm making landfall near you to matter, so keep water, batteries, and an evacuation plan in place through the season's November end regardless of the seasonal numbers.

Source: NOAA

Creek Stewart's Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag is written for portable preparedness, which aligns perfectly with the renter mindset. His philosophy: your preparedness should be mobile because your circumstances might change. A system built on portable supplies, practiced skills, and adaptable plans works regardless of where you live.

Stewart's advice for renters: invest in go-bag quality over home modification. The money you can't spend on door reinforcement can go toward a better pack, a better filter, and better skills training. When you eventually move (and renters do), your preparedness moves with you.

Explosion and Fire Displace 45 From Bronx Apartment Building

An explosion tore through a 148 unit apartment building in the Norwood section of the Bronx on August 5, triggering a five alarm fire that killed one resident and injured 14 others, including six firefighters. Police say a homeless man who removed a stove from a vacant unit caused a gas leak that ignited; he has been charged with murder, manslaughter, and burglary. Residents told reporters they had complained for weeks about suspected gas leaks with no response from the landlord, and the city's Department of Buildings has since issued a full vacate order for the building.

Renters cannot control a building's gas lines or wiring, and a landlord's inaction can turn a routine maintenance complaint into an overnight displacement. Renters insurance, not a landlord's policy, is what pays for temporary housing and replaces belongings when that happens.

Source: ABC7 New York, News 12 Bronx

Portable Door Lock (Addalock)

This small device inserts into the door strike plate and prevents the door from opening, even with a key. It requires no installation, no drilling, and no modification. You place it when you're inside and remove it when you leave. No trace.

We tested it on three different door types. On all three, the door was effectively locked from the inside even when the regular lock was unlocked. It's designed for hotel rooms and Airbnbs, but it works in any rental for additional security. About $18.

Budget alternative: A rubber door wedge ($3). Jammed under the door from inside, it prevents opening. Less secure than the Addalock but functional and nearly free.

Overrated: Waiting until you own a home to start preparing. Many people delay preparedness because they rent and assume it requires home ownership. The most important preparations (plan, skills, supplies, community, insurance) are location-independent.

Underrated: The renter's mobility advantage. In an evacuation scenario, the homeowner agonizes over leaving their property, their investments, and their modifications behind. The renter grabs their bags and goes. Fewer attachments mean faster, cleaner departures.

ThePrepared.com: Emergency Preparedness Checklist. A beginner's guide to prepping fundamentals that applies in any living situation, rented or owned.

FEMA: Individual Assistance. Federal disaster assistance programs, including help for renters with uninsured losses.

Insurance Information Institute. Renter's insurance education and comparison tools.

Addalock.com. Portable door security for rentals and travel.

Mom With a Prep. Family preparedness blog with apartment and rental-specific content.

Vehicle maintenance for reliability. The basic upkeep that prevents your car from failing during the moment you need it most.

PS: When I moved from my rental to my house, every single preparedness item came with me. The go-bags, the food storage, the medical kit, the communication plan, the skills. Nothing was attached to the building. Everything was attached to me. That's how renter preparedness should work.