Protect Your Future, Now

If state and local government run out of services where are going?

Getting acquainted with at least one local official and asking questions. You may be quite surprised that your town or city actually has all kinds of preparedness plans and many will work well.
Have you ever thought about leaving your home and where would you go?
What if there isn't a home or it's inaccessible?
Reaching out to acquaintances familiar with police, para military of emergency strategies if your community is adversely impacted

Protecting Your Family

Storing small amounts of fuel. Digging a deep hole and burying supplies of gasoline.
Hand cranked radios or short waves. In emergencies most people will turn to radio.
Storing only the smallest gold coins. Some small bills, no greater than $10.
Keep the most money you are personally comfortable with, then divide it up and store in a number of places including in your car and hide money outside your home.
Firearms: Police always recommend a pump action 12 gauge shotgun because of the noise it makes when you cock it.
Phone land lines will often work in a disaster but cable or DSL may fail. If you keep a live dialup account such as at AOL you'll have web access. Or try the local library if it’s open.

The neighborhood you may need to depend on.

Do you talk with your neighbors once a year? Actually communicate?
Who is rugged, who is smart, who is sympatico, who has medical experience? If you had to depend on someone else is there a person who you’re comfortable with?
Who could be counted on to help defend your shared turf?
Who can you trust to function like you for your family?
Do you know one handyman to help bail you out?
Book one block or neighborhood meeting to set groundrules?
What plans for handling the elderly people in your life?
Can you turn to your church or temple for real assistance?
Could you hammer and nail a simple structure together? Do you have any nails?
If the lights and electricity are gone, what's your backup plan? After candles.
How will you get through total blackouts for a week or two?
Can you share a generator with a neighbor?

Financial Preparedness

If communications are hampered, how will you reach a broker or financial advisor if you need their help? Do you know someone by name at your bank?
Stashing bills under $20, precious metals, or valuable items for trade or barter.
Setting up multiple ATM/Credit accounts for easier cash access.
Examining your cash liquidity for emergencies.
Using food stuffs as potential cash equivalents.
What if your normal cash stream is simply gone?
What if I will need to cash in some of my assets to survive? How can I convert assets to cash if most electronic media are not working?

Preparing your home for extended stays

How do you handle laundry when water is in short supply? How big is your waterheater?
What if you have unexpected, longer term guests?
The Neighborhood Network---does it actually exist?
Could you secure doors or windows to make it harder for an intruder to get in?
Partnering with nearby neighbors or friends. Can you do it?
Storing a long burning lantern with fuel where you can find it.
Using a sleep aboard boat as an alternative.
Digging out that old fashioned tiny tv from the garage. It will receive basic tv channels..
Local radio stations are virtually the only source of useable news. An old fashioned transistor radio will keep you informed.

Essential Medical Concerns

How can you access medical care if paperwork channels have closed?
Pre-arranging email or surface mail to your vital physicians.
Have you had to work problems through your health care system before?
What limits govern your in-hospital healthcare? Is there any dollar limit on your care?
How will you communicate with at least one doctor if all the phones and email are out?
What five to ten pharmacy items do you regularly use each year? Stock up.

PYFnow.com