Pull the power plug and whole populations are disabled. Period. We are entering a time when y2k can be blamed for disruptions.

Most of the people I know and love are not preparing for anything.

I do not want to be out in the cold holding one arm open for Human Daily Rations to drop from the sky and a plastic bottle in the other for water.

Office of Emergency Services and Red Cross minimal self sufficency warnings will at least prevent a few days of possible suffering. And take the burden off them.

-- Nadine Mac Donald (nadine.macdonald@angelfire.com), September 01, 1999

Answers

OES, the Red Cross and State and Federal government KNOW they can't take care of everyone....and they've said this for years. As Pete Peterka, former director of OES in Sonoma county used to tell me "folks are expecting the cavalry to ride over the hill and save them" (define save however you like; put out the fire, supply food and water, etc.). If we face a large multifacted disruption the cavalry could be stretched mighty thin. Folks need to take responsibility for their own well being and that of their family. Following the FEMA and Red Cross guidelines is a good start but it's only that, a good start in my opinion. Rather than be prepared for 3 days to a week I'd reccomend 1 to 3 months but anywhere from a week on up will at least help.

We need to look at our dependencies on infrastructure and how to take over these responsibilities if need be. Fact of the matter is, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink (and if you do figure a minimum of 25 gallons per horse per day FYI). I've got friends who in spite of my best effort are making zero preps (not even the minimal prudent ones for storms or earthquake). I've worked on them for over a year now to no avail. Sadly there's only so much one can do Nadine. So make your preps and try to do some extra to help folks you know will need it most. Good luck.

DCK, Home Power Magazine http://www.homepower.com

-- Don Kulha (dkulha@vom.com), September 01, 1999.