Two is one and one is none.

I know the Dooms-Day fanatics have made a lot of people shy away from preparedness discussions, but this really is something we need to talk about.

Lots of things can create enough of a crisis to leave us taking care of ourselves for a period of time.  A natural disaster could strand us for days.  A Teamsters strike could stop or slow food distribution for weeks.  A snow storm could confine us to our homes.  I'm sure others could come up with much scarier scenarios...

Having some basic supplies to carry us through is a good idea.  But please remember.  We're not just getting ready to provide for ourselves.  We have to keep enough supplies for our "grasshopper" neighbors as well.

Stock a basement shelf with enough food for your family for 60 days.  Rotate your supplies by using and replacing them.  Store stuff your family will eat.  A 60 day supply means you can feed your family and a neighbor's family for a month.  Or three neighbors for two weeks.

Have gas for the generator.  You'll want enough to run it at least an hour a day to charge batteries, run your freezer, or to run your well-pump.  If you have a sub-pump, get a battery backup pump unless you are willing to let your basement flood.

Buy a good kerosine heater and keep enough fuel around to run it.  Kerosine will keep for about 10 years, so fill a couple of cans and forget about it.  If you have a fireplace or wood stove, stock some good firewood.  Or better yet, get a coal tray and a cubic-yard of coal.  Pile the coal in the yard, cover it with dirt, plant some wild flowers, and forget about it... until you need it.

Keep a couple of 5-gallon water jugs filled in the basement.  Get a decent hiking water filter and store it away with some iodine tablets.  Pure chlorine bleach is a good water purifier as well.

Store some candles and a couple of oil lamps.  Oil lamps will run on kerosine.  Use them a couple of times so you can learn how to trim the wicks and how to get the most light from them without sooting up the sconce.

Make sure your first-aid kit is well stocked and up to date.  Make sure you have enough prescription medications around, especially essential meds like insulin or Synthroid. 

All these ideas are fairly inexpensive.  The average family can get a basic preparedness kit together for a couple of hundred dollars.  Then supplement the kit a bit at a time over the years until it meets all your family's basic needs.  Get a backup of any essential items.  Remember: Two is one and one is none.  Things break and get lost.  Be redundant.

Practice with the kids by having a "lights out" weekend.  Use oil lamps and candles.  Cook over a campfire.  Read together, play board games, and sing campfire songs.  The kids will absolutely love it (once they quit whining about missing their iPhones).

Americans are an independent bunch.  Let's practice that independence by being ready to take care of ourselves.  And our neighbors.

God bless.