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You Don't Need Everything for Y2K
You are not Alone
By Ray Strackbein
Don't let preparing for Y2K overwhelm you. What will happen? What do I need? What will I forget? How can I think of everything? How can I afford everything?
Answer: you don't have to.
All of the worries mentioned apply only if you are a survivalist. Survivalists make a mistake -- they think they must face the world alone. It's them or me.
People Help Each Other
I have been watching and participating in disasters and disaster planning for over 30 years. I am constantly amazed by how people pitch in and help each other in rough times.
When I was 19, I worked part time as an ambulance attendant in the days before paramedics. I remember being in the first ambulance on scene at crash site where a bus overturned in the mountains. We
carried the five most severely injured patients to the hospital. During the hour-long ride to the hospital, each of the five people told me, "I am fine; don't worry about me, look after the
others."
Watch television and news reports closely when they show the aftermath of a disaster. Whether it is the Northridge earthquake or hurricane Mitch, look at the way everyone pitches in. People use their
hands to dig people out of cars and houses.
Humans are social creatures. We help each other. Our tradition is to help each other build barns and bring in the crops. The gunfights of the old West are legendary specifically because they are unusual
and embellished, if not outright fictional like Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. Sure, we know about Jesse James. We also know about Johnny Appleseed. The point is: you are not alone.
No One Knows How to Prepare for Y2K
We never had a Y2K before. I certainly don't know how to prepare. If I had a million dollars, that would not be enough money for me to buy all of the things I can think of that I might need.
For example, I need lumber and plastic in case we have another ice storm and a large branch or a tree falls through the roof. How much should I buy and where can I store it?
In reality, I don't need all of that stuff. Our neighborhood does, however. In case a tree or branch falls through someone's roof, we need supplies to help repair the damage. Everyone doesn't need
everything. Everyone needs some stuff to pool with others.
Plan to Eat and Keep Warm
Everyone doesn't need a generator or a wood stove. Everyone does need food and water at a minimum. If you live where it gets cold, you need to be able to keep warm. That might mean long underwear, gloves,
jackets, hats and sleeping bags. Beyond that, we can pool and barter.
What Do You Really Need - A Generator or Water?
We live in a neighborhood with water wells. Without electricity, we have no water. Why should everyone in our neighborhood have a generator to pump water? Why not have two or three generators. Everyone
else can trade a quart of gasoline for 50 gallons of water.
Pool Resources with Neighbors
Talk to your neighbors. Prepare individually. Pool resources. Prepare from individual lists. By preparing separately, we will think of things others will forget. We can prepare for our own unique needs.
Working together and planning now to pool resources and talents when needed sets the stage for cooperation later.
You don't have to prepare all by yourself. You are not alone. Find supportive people.
Your support group must come from your neighborhood. Church, work and community groups are wonderful, but they are not enough. If Y2K gets bad, you may not have fuel to get to work or church. You may have
to carpool with your neighbors to the store.
Knowing your neighbors is essential. Y2K will be about watching out for each other, knowing your neighbors, and promoting community.
www.y2kkitchen.com Copyright © Ray Strackbein ray@y2kkitchen.com
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