We really got into being prepared for Y2K but then got a little slack...believe me...the events of Sept. 11th are a big wake up call! We have continued to grow a big garden although the one this year didn't do as well as years past. I do have lots of canned and frozen vegetables though. ALso have a large stock of dry beans.

Am planning to buy two of everything every time I buy groceries whenever I can (like two of cooking oil, two huge packages of toliet paper, etc.) Also will make sure we have plenty of stored water.

This is such a time of uncertainty!

We are also moving our plans to install a new wood burning heater to our first priority. I am cashing in our insurance receipts (where we get reimbursed for 80 percent of medicine after a deductible) and that should give us just enough with my savings to get the wood heater.

Since we've had insurance this time only since March this is like "found money" even tho we paid it out to begin with!

how are the rest of you stocking up, or are you??? Just talk to anybody who lived through rationing of WWII and you'll likely decide it will be good...also if you get a sudden lay off or your job goes down some, you will be warm and won't starve!!!

-- Suzy in Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), September 21, 2001

Answers

Dear suzy, I lived during the 2nd world war, in washington state.We had rationing cards for gas, shoes, meat, canned fruit,butter, and of course there were no cars for sale. we were allowed one pair of shoes per person a year, so went bare foot most of the time. not much in the way of meat, as it was going to the troops over seas, but we had our chickens, and lived close to pacific ocean so had lots of sea food. there were no bobby pins.we didn"t have curlers then.as a matter of fact there wasn"t much of anything. I used all my y2k stuff, so am starting again, lots of beans, rice, lentals, I really think it may be a good idea to can some pork or what ever to season some of these beans. as we may not be able to buy them, the meat that is.buy some corn meal for corn bread and freeze it to get the weavels out and then seal in large jars or plastic bags. To tell the truth, I am more scared of terrist attacks with cemicals and such. Not much we can do there. just stay home period.Can you just amagine what it will be like in the citys. well I quess I have said enough love Irene

-- IRENE TEXAS (TKORSBORN@CS.COM), September 21, 2001.

The events of September 11th were an excellent example of what folks who have been into preparedness for many years have been saying all along.

"When the emergency hits YOU WILL GET NO WARNING!!!"

If you pay attention hurricanes and blizzards will tell you they're coming so you may get a little time to run out along with thousands of your neighbors to grab what you can. Other disasters like earthquakes aren't so kind, they come when they come and you'll be ready or you won't and will have to accept the consequences.

With the development of modern communications and travel the United States became vulnerable to sudden, surprise attack by hostile powers. It's been this way for decades but so few wanted to believe it. Now we've all had a painful lesson in geopolitical reality.

It's a blessing that in spite of the terrible losses we've sustained so far our economy and logistical systems are still intact and functioning so that any who will can make some prudent preparations. I really have no idea what is ahead for us all in this coming war but the fact is that we *are* at war and there may well be some disruptions in at least a few areas of our economy. We've all been given clear notice to get our heads out of the sand and make some prudent preparations.

It's not necessary to move to the boondocks of Alaska and live in a bunker but it would be a good idea if everyone got into the habit of keeping *at least* two weeks of non-perishable foodstuffs on hand (don't forget your animals!), stored water and if you can't keep fuel stores on hand then at least get into the "half equals empty" habit of never letting your car's fuel tank go below half full so you won't find yourself in a position of being forced to pay $5.00 a gallon for gas just so you can get home. We're heading into winter now so it would be prudent to make some preparations for how you're going to stay warm too.

We've had clear warning that the road may get rough ahead for an uncertain length of time. If you choose not to heed that warning then you'll just have to accept whatever consequences may befall you when we hit the potholes and detours.

={(Oak)-

-- Live Oak (oneliveoak@yahoo.com), September 21, 2001.

We have always kept extras on hand but more so since the Y2K preps. I have enough dried beans, rice and pasta to last me a year. I also have cornmeal, flour and sugar stored up. I have plenty of canned meat on hand to last us at least a year. We haul our water so have a 2500 gallon water tank that we use out of all the time. We keep it topped off and also have eight 55 gal. drums full with an ample supply of both iodine and bleach for water purification. I believe that the next terrorist act in the country will be biological. Living in the boonies here in the mountains doesn't seem so bad now.

-- Grannytoo (jacres40@hotmail.com), September 21, 2001.

Besides trying to keep supplied with future needs, which I was doing before anyway, my biggest change since 9/11 is keeping a source of news much handier now. I am not confident at all that all the terrorist attacks in the U.S. are done yet, and I want to be kept informed of the latest developments. Bugging out ten minutes ahead of the rest of the pack is important.

Most of us live in small towns or the countryside, but we have all been in or visited large cities before. We have seen what grid lock is during regular times. Imagine living in a large city where EVERYBODY and their dog were evacuting it all at once. Just wouldn't work; it would slow, then clog up, then become the world's largest parking lots. I chose living in a small town for a reason, now I know that my thinking was sound.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), September 21, 2001.

I am restocking some of my Y2K supplies. I've found that I have used most of the meat I canned myself and hardly touched the purchases canned meats. Still have half of dehydrated veggies and meat, which I have tried to use sparingly. Have a bit better idea now of things I will use the most. Will stock up again on regularly used cleaning supplies, dog and cat food, litter and powdered milk. Will try to make only 1 trip to town a week, thus saving on gas, and use my small truck which is more economical than the car more. I have enough wood for heat for the next 2 winters and my garden has produced much of which I still am canning, freezing or dehydrating. I will try to keep a month supply of chicken and duck food ahead.

-- Duffy (hazelm@tenforward.com), September 21, 2001.

I think I'm still in shock and denial and need to get cracking.

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), September 21, 2001.

My husband and I were not home when all of this happend. In fact, we were only about 80 miles from New York City. I had read once that more than likely you will not be home when a diaster strikes. I was very uncomfortable not being home with my animals and security of our homestead. Suppose we all should just pack a little backpack with the neccesary foods and water just incase we have to walk home from work or shopping. Saw all of those people walking across the bridges to get out of New York made me wonder how prepared they were for walking home in dress shoes and suits. Makes you think though. I know during the winter we always have boots and snowsuits in the car with the usualy supply of a candle and tin can and snacks just in case we need them or get stuck in the snow. Maybe we should always have than on hand. Makes you think though doesn't it ?? Guess being prepared doesn't really have a season.

-- Helena (windyacs@ptdprolog.net), September 21, 2001.

I thought of the same thing helena. We used to ALWAYS have a pack with us after getting stuck in a blizzard in town one time. I have gotten terribly lax about that. We were only 20 miles from home when this happened but we certainly were not prepared to walk that far home if we had needed to.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), September 21, 2001.

I doubt any of the folks evacuating from the towers had time to think about grabbing their sensible shoes, but maybe they did. I always wore running shoes to work and changed them there.

Once, going to Milwaukee to visit friends, my car broke down. It was summer, and I was only wearing flimsy, slip-on sandals. I had to hike to try to find help, the sandals broke down, my feet got cut up, etc. I always take walking shoes (or boots, in winter) now. And even if I think I'm just making a day trip, I take a change of clothes, a towel, and a nightgown, extra eyeglasses, etc. Maybe I should add some things. I try to keep water and a drinking bowl for the dog in the car (I could drink water out of the bottle), and I have "space blankets" in my car kit.

-- Joy F [in So. Wisconsin] (CatFlunky@excite.com), September 22, 2001.

At some point preparedness becomes unwieldy enough that you constantly think of reasons you don't need that heavy pack THIS TIME. Just going to the store, etc. The best advice, in my opinion, is to have emergency packs in the cars and the house, and carry some sort of reliable fire starting device (ligher that's always kept filled, waterproof matches, magnesium starter, whatever), a pocketknife or multipurpose tool of some quality and utility (although you can't keep it on the plane anymore - Fed Ex it to your destination so it doesn't get sent to another place with your luggage), and maybe a small Altoids tin full of bare-essentials first aid with a few water purifying tablets thrown in. If your thinking of it, go ahead and hunt down a mini-first aid pamphlet to stuff inside as well.

Will it help you if you have to hike 4 miles in your pumps? No, but although that is no doubt a painful proposition, you won't likely suffer any long term problems from it. The above items are small, easily carried by anybody with minimal pockets or a fanny pouch, and will keep you alive in times of true emergency. Spend a few hours each month or so practicing fire starting in adverse conditions (outside in the rain or some such) if you feel it you (or the kids) need it, and don't forget to "load up" your kids as well - most schools will allow SOME form of the above mentioned items, even if not the most useful ones. The goal is not to be comfortable, but rather not to be dead.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), September 22, 2001.