Hey, gang, maybe we could help newbies a bit by summarizing yet again the kind of preps that are desirable. My preparation assumption, FWIW, is "bad" but not IFM-worst-case: grid highly unstable worldwide, banks shaky at best, energy supplies intermittent, international instability for at least two years, five to ten year depression.

(Disclaimer: milage varies by location, type of family unit, budget and time remaining until rollover. This is optimal, not necessarily achievable. Some items within a category overlap others).

1. Family protection and hunting (weapons, ammunition).

2. Direct util backup (generator, surge protection et al, fuel).

3. Alternative energy (solar, micro-hydro, oil lamps, kero, solar battery recharger).

4. Communications (battery-operated radio, batteries, ham radio).

5. Food (up to a year supply of staples and long-storage items, emphasizing balance and variety).

6. Gardening (greenhouse, hybrid and non-hybrid seeds, tools, etc).

7. Hard assets (currency, gold, silver, barter items).

8. Medical and emergency (medicines, first-aid, fire equipment).

9. Extra clothing and boots/shoes (especially Northern climates).

10. Books and other off-grid entertainment items (home-schooling or other family activities).

.... Bug-out items separately: these especially important for people living in cities or high-density suburbs.

Help from the regulars welcome ..... to all: you may have all year but it is quite likely that the prep door will begin closing within three months or so. Get it finished.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), June 02, 1999

Answers

BigDog,

You forgot one... WATER. Store it, or get access to it.

-- (cannot-say@this.time), June 02, 1999.

Da Dog knows. Da Dog is big. Listen to Da BigDog. Start making your lists and checking them twice. The longer you "think", they'll run outa rice! (man, I need to get more sleep).

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), June 02, 1999.

Da Dog, knows. Da Dog, is big. Listen to, Da BigDog. Start making your lists and checking them twice. The longer you "think", they'll run outa rice! (man, I need to get more sleep).

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), June 02, 1999.

SEE? Told you!

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), June 02, 1999.

Cannot say: Doh (slap to side of head). Thanx.

Water is primary and a huge big deal for most Americans come Y2K. Priority item number one, two and three.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), June 02, 1999.

Birth control

-- Gotta get fixed (not fixed@this time.com), June 02, 1999.

let's do it this way:

11. Water (drums, disinfectants, cisterns, well, pump).

12. Alternative heat (wood stove, wood, tools).

13. Alternative cooking (wood cook stove, non-electric propane stove, solar cookstove).

14. Alternative refrigeration (propane fridge and/or freezer).

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), June 02, 1999.

BigDog, Your "ASAP" comment means the prep activities also need to be prioritized. Can't do it all at once, and not all of it will be available (at least, not the combination that might have made the most sense for your situation). Up here in the north country (Go Sox!), arranging for alternative heat and large water containers were my first priorities. As the year drags on, it will become more and more important to find out if there is any way to pool resources and skills with neighbors, friends, or family, especially on those big ticket items like wood stoves, generators, water filters, hand grinders, etc., that will become increasingly difficult to find.

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), June 02, 1999.

Big Dog,

As my English buddy would say, "Spot on!"...

No offense, but I question your priority list...; ) My first four would be:

Shelter

Water

Food

Heat

I love my arsenal of weapons, but they are considerably down the list, just below radio, communications...

Get the first four before considering the rest. Although IMHO, weapons are going to become harder and harder to acquire, if Billy Jeff and company have their way.

A lot of people I have talked to say they will come visit me if Y2K turns sour, so why prepare? My Ruger says otherwise. Don't get me wrong, I have select relatives/friends on my list, that if they do show up at my doorstep, will be welcomed warmly, I have made adjustments to my "stash" to accomodate them. I just can't feed every DWGI in New Mexico....

gettin' a drink,

The Dog

-- Dog (cmpennell@juno.com), June 02, 1999.

Something I don't think i've seen mentioned that i have started to acquire : Hand Tools. Manual saw, drill, good plane, ax, chisels, so I can fix some stuff when it breaks...

-- kozak (kozak@formerusaf.guv), June 02, 1999.

Good call kozak. Rubber caulk and duct tape can serve a multitude of purposes. Think cheap, be clever!

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), June 02, 1999.

Every hand tool you can think of.

bailing wire

masking tape

twine

etc...

these type of preps are very useful. Me being a gearhead, I already had all this stuff....

Got stuff???

BIG yawwnnn,

The Dog

-- Dog (cmpennell@juno.com), June 02, 1999.

And, lest we forget--the ever-popular toilet paper.

-- Don (whytocay@hotmail.com), June 02, 1999.

I'll agree with Big Dog on one count, regardless of the severity you see Y2K being and how far along in preparations you are, the situation requires a re-ordering of priorities to have at least one defensive firearm and a suitable store of ammunition for it. If we weren't living under leadership which seems so determined to prevent any more citizens from obtaining firearms, then buying one would not rank as high as food, water, heat or shelter.

But we face a situation where any quantitiy of all four of the above will be at risk if they can't be defended. And as each day slips by, the possibility that your ability to purchase guns and ammunition will be cut off by some Presidential stroke of the pen or an ill- concieved Congressional bill.

A twelve gauge, pump-action shotgun and one hundred rounds of ammo in a 50-30-20 assortment of #4 shot, buckshot and slugs is a good start. Add to it later, with handguns and or rifles if you feel your family can effectively use multiple weapons. But a minimum of one weapon is preferrable to none, if you need to prevent the loss of all you other supplies.

After all, what good is an unending water source, five years of food, two years of firewood, you name it, if two guys with baseball bats can intimidate you into fleeing for your and your family's lives? Yet the sound of one round of ammo being chambered in a pump shotgun will send armed persons running. Much less the effect of one being fired at them.

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), June 02, 1999.

Toiletries! Deoderant, shampoo, babywipes, soap, feminine hygiene products, toothpaste. For those who wear corrective lenses, an extra pair of glasses.

-- Wanda (lonevoice@mailexcite.com), June 02, 1999.

Wood for the stove is a right-now item, it needs to season. (Winter's cold here!!) And don't forget the duct tape ;-)

-- Tricia the Canuck (tricia_canuck@hotmail.com), June 02, 1999.

Go to dentist now....get corrective eye surgery now....

If you live in country, drill a well, install a D.C. well pump (with wire) and (4) 75 watt solar panels with a pump controller and shut off switch --or-- if you live near a river, get a medium flow 12 volt D.C. water pump and (2) 6 Volt Golf Cart Batteries and (2) 100 watt solar panels and a charge controller and a small pressure tank >>>>most items found at>>>>>>(www.realgoods.com) Food, Shelter with rain catchment, More garden plots and more non- hybrid seeds. Get Multi-vitamins and Olive oil,the latter may not be available later. Aloe vera and Zinc oxide ointment for Sun and burns. Skin-So-Soft from Avon (used in gulf war for insect repellent) or get a 50 lb. bag of diatomacious Earth to kill household insects (dehydrates them)

Guns and ammo, wide-mouthed quart canning jars with many spare lids and pressure canner and recipe book for canning.

Dig holes in ground for caches. Many varied cache locations. Let closest one to you know of the locations. Caches consist of large PVC pipe that is capped at one end and has a screw on/off piece at other end. Don't waste, use 5-10 ft. lengths (come in 10 ft lengths) Cache High calorie foods or pasta....keep magnetic/metal items by themselves. Let tube air out for a while so PVC primer/Cement can dissapate, thus not infiltrating foodstuffs.

Someone elses turn

-- Feller (feller@wanna.help), June 02, 1999.

First aid book, first aid kit, burn kit (especially with all the oil lamps, wood stoves, etc)

-- Sammie Davis (sammie0@hotmail.com), June 03, 1999.

Get knowledge. Lots of skills to learn that some of us may not be very familiar with: alternate power, solar cooking, home repairs, gardening and home production.

If budget allows, you can purchase some very good books on any of the topics listed above, but most can be researched on the internet or you can borrow books from the library.

Schedual a class at local community college on auto mechanics, small engine repair, masonary, carpentry or other trades. Don't overlook your county extension service for advice and classes; if you have a question they can't readily answer, they will search the world for you. To introduce yourself to them, go in and get a soil test kit, free or nominal charge. Even if your garden is already started for this year, you can puchase the fertilizers and soil ammendments you need for next year.

Don't forget local folks you have noticed practicing the skills you are interested in. If you have driven by the house with the solar panels every day on your way to work for the last 10 years, stop in and introduce yourself (at a convenient time). The best garden and fields, the healthiest looking livestock...most people don't mind sharing their trials and errors with someone who is genuinely interested in learning.

-- Lilly (homesteader145@yahoo.com), June 03, 1999.