Be ready for first 72 hours

Many times I have discussed the importance of revisiting your
preparation checklists. In The Y2K Personal Survival
Guide,
I provide five different checklists: one each for 72-hours, one week,
one month, three months, and one year. Today, I thought I'd share some
pointers from my 72-hour checklist.

Until you have these items nailed down -- and can get through the
first three days of an emergency -- it doesn't make a lot of sense to
prepare for longer periods of time. Like they say, "if you can't make it
through the short-term, there is no long-term."

• Collect empty two-liter soft drink or fruit juice bottles,
  and purchase bottles of unscented Clorox and an eye-dropper. Fill
  two-liter bottles (plus four drops bleach); store in cool, dark place.

• Purchase matches (for candles, cooking, etc.). If you can get
  waterproof matches, do so, and purchase a Coleman cook stove if you
  don't already have one. Make sure you've got food to cook on it.

• Buy an AM/FM radio, preferably one with short-wave capabilities.
  Learn how to operate whichever model you purchase.

• Take inventory of important records to determine which ones you
  have or still need. Determine how you will file/store these records for
  safekeeping. Faithfully request, and re-request, the documents you do
  not yet have until you have them all. Since time is quickly vanishing,
  work soon on this chore.

• Start with at least a 72-hour emergency cash reserve fund (about
  $300).

• Make sure you have a sufficient number of jackets, hats, gloves,
  and boots for every member of your family. While this is optional, you
  might consider getting a sleeping bag for every member of your family.