Things you need for the coming times

• Bottled water does not need to be store-bought bottled water.  When you empty milk jugs or juice jugs, rinse well and fill them with water.  If it sits too long, you can always boil it for 15 minutes.

• If you can afford it, water purification tablets or filtering system.

2.  Shelter

• tents

• sleeping bags

• blankets

• pillows

3.  Food

     I know what I'm about to say does not fit in with what doctors and dieticians have to

    say, but here goes.  It makes sense to us.  Freeze-dried food is very expensive.

    Many folks cannot afford to stock up on freeze-dried foods.  There is another way.

    Buy foods that have long shelf-lives such as

• canned foods, veggies, tuna fish, Spam and other canned meats, Vienna sausages, canned chicken and turkey, canned fruits, canned or freeze-dried soups (Lipton or Campbell soups in envelopes), canned chili, canned milk, olive oil and so on.  Use your imagination and common sense;

• inexpensive freeze-dried foods such as Raman noodles (10/$1.00 usually), beef jerky, Slim Jims, peanuts and other packaged and canned nuts.  Again, use common sense and imagination for variety.

• non-hybrid seeds and non-genetically engineered foods

• bay leaves, lots of them to keep bugs out of the foods you have such as dried foods, grains, etc.

4.  Medical Supplies

• first aid kit (a good one, the best you can afford)

• field surgical kits

• aspirin, Ibuprofen, vitamins, dietary supplements, first aid creams, again, use common sense

• anti-diarrhea medication

• antacid tablets

• syrup of Ipedac (induces vomiting, if necessary)

• laxative

• activated charcoal

5.  Self-defense

    Now, please pay attention to what I am about to say.

    You need to have a gun.  However, when Martial Law is declared, DO NOT, I

    REPEAT, DO NOT fire on any military men, vehicles, planes or helicopters.  Firing

    on these WILL get you killed.  The idea behind being prepared is to stay alive.

    The need for a gun is to protect you and your family from those that did not heed

• short-range personal radio

• CB radio (Citizens Band), many people know that CB radio signals do not carry very far.  However, if you have a CB, use it.  Though the broadcast distance is short, it's possible that someone will pick up your signal and pass along your information.

• short-wave radio

• and the means to power them all (batteries, generators)

• amateur radios, ham radio.  Do not worry about licenses.  If you plan to use the radio now, then you need to be licensed, but if you plan on keeping the radio for after Marital Law, then don't worry about licensing.  After Martial Law, any communication among the general public will be considered ILLEGAL.

7.  Network

• know your neighbors

• know your shop keepers

• know where other people like yourself are ( those who listened when being prepared was suggested)

8.  Miscellaneous items

• fishing equipment

• tools

• axe and shovels

• generator (small)--gasoline will be available whether we have to trade for it, buy it or steal it.  The military will have gas, diesel and propane.

• rechargeable batteries

• battery recharger

• mess kits, paper cups, plates, and regular and plastic utensils

• emergency preparedness manual

• battery-operated radio and extra batteries

• flashlight and extra batteries

• cash or traveler's checks, change

• non-electric can opener, utility knife

• fire extinguisher: small canister ABC type

• tube tent

• pliers

• duct tape

• compass

• matches in a waterproof container

• aluminum foil

• plastic storage containers

• signal flares

• paper (tablet or stationery), pencils, pens

• needles, thread, safety pins, scissors 

• medicine dropper

• shut-off wrench, to turn off household gas and water

• whistle

• plastic sheeting

• maps

• gasoline

• propane

• diesel

• motor oil

• A cloth to wet and put over face and/or head (wash cloths and towels)

9. Personal hygiene

• toilet paper, toweletts

• soap, liquid detergent

• feminine needs

• plastic garbage bags, ties

• plastic bucket with tight lid

• disinfectant

• chlorine bleach

10. Clothing

• at least one complete change per person
• sturdy shoes or work boots
• rain gear
• hats and gloves
• thermal underwear
• sunglasses

11. Important special needs for family and individuals

• all special medication for each family member, insulin, blood pressure medication
• denture care
• contact lenses and supplies
• eyeglasses and extra eyeglasses

12. Important family documents

• birth certificates
• medical records
• passports
• social security cards
• drivers licenses
• bank accounts
• think about what you have and what you might need (you might never be able to return to your home...)

13. Things to use for storage

• soda bottles (water storage, etc.)
• gallon milk or juice jugs (plastic for water storage)
• zip lock baggies (keeps things waterproof, personal papers, etc)
• backpacks (storage for almost every item on this list)

Hi....I liked your storage ideas. I have been "prepared" since Y2k

and even after that i was glad i had "time" to tie up all those loose

ends...most of us are too poor to FULLY prepare...I mean we

INSTANT rice (the regular doesn't work), add one bullion cube

either, chicken or beef. Seal up, roll up and put in bugout bag or

in the storage cupboard. To use just add a boiling cup of water to

the cube. What I do is to add 3 pieces of dried carrots and two

dried mushrooms - the pieces not the whole one. This makes a

GREAT cup of soup.  I figured it out and it comes to ABOUT ten

cents per cup/bag ! I buy 2 big bags of fresh carrots at the cheap

store here, slice in rounds, and then dry. It's cheap. I cut the

mushrooms in 3 or 4 pieces and dry them too. I sit at the table

while I am listening to the shortwave and I make up these

"survival soup bags". It's actually fun to do. I gave some away to

friends and they all said it's a "hearty" soup. More so with the

carrots added. You could throw in a pinch of garlic powder and

some parsley too. You can make them fast too. They should last

a few yrs if the veggies are REAL dry. A 14oz box of Instant rice

will make 25 or so bags using the one eighth cup measurement.

You can really make more than 25 bags, but the bullion cubes

I use some 25 to a jar.

                                 Gary