Special Series: Y2K -- Part 3

"WHO YA GONNA CALL?"

"Why prepare?" The Federalist asked in the last installment of this series. We don't like to answer a question with a question, but remember the theme song from the "Ghost Busters" movie: "Who ya gonna call...?"

In Part 1, The Federalist emphasized that individual and family preparedness is the critical foundation of community recovery efforts in any crisis. In Part 2, The Federalist stressed that Y2K has been a catalyst for a renewed interest in preparedness and noted that emerging threats to continuity of commerce and government posed by terrorist groups targeting the U.S. is a rationale -- more serious than Y2K -- for preparedness. We also noted that no level of government has the ability to provide the basic needs of an entire region of the country for more than a matter of days.

So, "who ya gonna call" if a crisis of regional proportions occurs?

What follows are the basic steps necessary to protect and provide for your families in the event the distribution of goods and services is disrupted for an extended period of time. Preparing to protect and provide for your family in the event of a crisis is not difficult.

To begin this process, make an assessment of your needs and how dependent those needs are on functioning power and communication grids and the normal distribution of basic necessities. Make a list of those items that are essential if you could not restock them for up to four weeks. After careful deliberation, The Federalist Editorial Board recommends that every individual or family be able to sustain itself for a minimum of four weeks (considering that most households have the ability to be self-sustaining for up to two weeks). To assist in this process, consider these skills and necessities.

1. WATER -- An average consumption of water per person, per day is one gallon. This is for drinking and food preparation. An additional one gallon per person is estimated if you include washing of dishes or clothes. If you can anticipate a crisis that might affect water supplies, fill clean bathtubs with water. If not, consider other sources of water such as that stored in your water heater, a neighborhood swimming pool, or rain runoff. To begin a program of water storage now, thoroughly rinse plastic milk containers or 2-liter soda bottles, and fill them with water. To safeguard it against bacteria, put water in an open container and add scent-free bleach 24 hours before consumption. Use approximately 2-3 drops of bleach per liter. Water from a tub or pool should be boiled if possible, or filter water through forced water purifiers available from camping goods suppliers. Choose a water purifier that can filter up to 0.002 microns.

2. FOOD -- After water provisions, food is the next most important concern, and will take careful planning. Because of "just in time" inventories, stores no longer maintain more one or two days of shelf inventories. In other words, the shelves will be empty in the first hours of a crisis. One method for accumulating a food surplus is to purchase extra quantities of your family's favorite foods each week. Be sure to purchase food types that will store well. A cool, dark place is best for food storage and will almost double the extended shelf life of some foods. Store extra pasta, rice, beans, and canned meats. (Some of the Federalist's Editorial Board members carry their four-week food supply around their waistlines at all times!)

3. HEALTH -- If you or a family member have specific medical needs or medication requirements, check with your doctor about maintaining enough supplies on hand for an additional month. Be sure to check for expiration dates on medications and rotate your supply, first using those that expire earliest. Also, purchase or put together as comprehensive a first aid kit as possible, along with an instruction book to administer first aid in an emergency. Get hard copies of your medical files, x-rays, etc., so that an emergency caregiver can have a comprehensive knowledge of your medical history. Another consideration in this area is supplies for sanitary needs: diapers, toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, etc. Consider alternatives for disposing of garbage and human waste.

4. HEAT -- Take inventory of heat and power sources in your home. If your central gas or electric heat system is not operational, do you have a fireplace and wood to burn? If possible, the installation of a wood-burning heater in your fireplace provides an excellent alternative heat source. Make sure you have the obvious -- extra warm clothing and blankets. Without electricity, what source of power would you use for lights, cooking, or running essential equipment? Don't overlook the basics such as batteries for flashlights and propane for outdoor grills or camping stoves.

Other considerations are: Self-Defense -- Before all else, the ability to defend your family and community is essential. Combine your families or neighbors into a central location so that you can work together for security and safety. Communication -- Do you own a portable radio? Keep sufficient batteries on hand to operate a radio for four weeks. Transportation -- Gas pumps don't work without electricity. If you could not obtain gasoline for a period of time, what would be the alternatives? Currency -- Banks may be closed. What will you use for negotiable currency?

Discuss emergency preparedness with your neighbors. Above all, encourage neighborhood preparedness and avoid the "bunker mentality." Opt instead to be prepared for assisting others who may be without resources. The Federalist Editorial Board has an abiding faith in the people of our great nation -- our ability to come together to serve one another in times of tragedy or crisis.

And a final note: Remain vigilant -- a patriot first -- in any crisis of national magnitude. There is great opportunity for all kinds of mischief when a society is under duress. (See Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal.") If ever there were political opportunists, they are Bill Clinton and his ilk of Sociocrats. Given their propensity -- vis a vis executive orders -- for turning any "crisis," real or perceived, into a government growth opportunity, do not sell out individual rights for the promise of short-term comforts.

(Note: John Koskinen, chairman of Mr. Clinton's Council on the Year 2000 Conversion, will release the government's final report on the nation's computer readiness Wednesday, November 10th.)

http://www.federalist.com/current/feddigest-99-44.html

-- Brooklyn (MSIS@cyberdude.com), November 05, 1999