Burbank, CA

Practical resilience for a relocator: food, water, energy, and defensibility

For a relocator focused on self-sufficiency, Burbank’s practical resilience is a mixed bag. Water is the most pressing concern. The city’s supply is heavily dependent on imported water from the State Water Project and the Colorado River, both of which face long-term reliability issues due to drought and legal disputes. While Burbank Water and Power (BWP) maintains local groundwater wells and a recycled water program, a major earthquake could disrupt the aqueduct system for weeks. A relocator should plan for at least two weeks of stored water per person, and consider a rainwater catchment system—though annual rainfall is only about 15 inches, making this a supplementary rather than primary source. Food security is moderate. Burbank has several grocery stores and farmers’ markets, but the city is not a food-producing region; most fresh produce travels from the Central Valley or farther. A personal garden is feasible in many backyards, but the Mediterranean climate requires careful plant selection (e.g., drought-tolerant vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and squash). Energy is a relative strength: BWP is a municipal utility with a diverse portfolio including natural gas, solar, and hydroelectric power. The grid is well-maintained, but during a major earthquake or heatwave, rolling blackouts are possible. Solar panels with battery storage are a wise investment, and Burbank’s net metering policies make this financially viable. Defensibility is the weakest link. Burbank is a dense, urban environment with a high population per square mile. In a prolonged crisis, securing a home against looting or civil unrest would be challenging without a strong neighborhood network. The city’s police force is well-funded and responsive, but during a regional emergency, response times would lengthen dramatically. The best strategy for a relocator is to choose a home on a quieter, dead-end street with good sightlines, and to build relationships with neighbors who share a preparedness mindset. The Burbank Emergency Management Division offers free CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training, which is a practical step for building local resilience.

The overall strategic picture for Burbank is one of calculated trade-offs. It offers a stable, economically vibrant environment with strong municipal services and a climate that avoids the worst of extreme weather. For a family that values career access to the entertainment industry or aerospace sector (Lockheed Martin has a facility in nearby Palmdale), the location is hard to beat. However, for the reader whose primary concern is long-term disaster readiness and self-sufficiency, Burbank’s density, reliance on imported water, and proximity to high-value targets are significant liabilities. It is not a bug-out location or a homesteading destination. It is a place where a prepared individual can thrive in normal times, but must accept that a major regional crisis would require either a well-stocked home with a strong community network or a pre-planned evacuation route to a more defensible secondary location. The key is to treat Burbank as a base of operations, not a fortress—and to invest accordingly in mobility, supplies, and local connections. For the right person, it works; for the wrong one, it is a trap.