Crisis Simulation - Day= -1

   Are we talking a week or two without  electricity and water ?  If so people with  families should make sure all the laundry is caught up .  Nothing fun about catching up  nor  doing it on a scrub board .

Paper plates etc. ,   also cards , books , games , puzzles . That much time  with no electricity ...... well leads to creative ways to stay entertained .

 When we are without power  that long in the winter  refrigeration is not a problem  but everyone is ready for bed by 8 .  In the summer we have the freezers to keep frozen  but can find work to keep busy .

We don't know yet.

But to get the laundry done seems like a reasonable suggestion at this stage. Maybe do a few extra loads.

Thanks

We have had some semi day -1 scenarios already (except, so far as I know, the military part). So,  if gold spiked $150 in one day/overnight and the other stuff was happening? On day -1 I would get more $ out of the bank, fill up my several 55 gallon drums with fresh water, go to the grocery store for more supplies/food/TP, go ahead and buy several 5 gallon fuel containers and fill up with gas/diesel so we would have enough fuel to get well away, think about what should be in the vehicles, if that is the turns out to be thing to do, think about what else needs to be done around the house, if that is the thing to do. Give a heads up to friends, relatives, stay tuned to the news.

Excellent...Thanks.

Might be a good idea to make that doctors appointment if you do need to refill your prescription meds. It could take a few days to get the appointment and get the refill, so this seems appropriate.

1.  Take about a grand outta the bank.

2.  Go to the supermarket & stock up on food, TP, etc..  (using debit card)

3.  Hit the health food co-op:  ditto, but for organic veggies, etc.  

4.  Top off the cars' gas tanks.  Also fill the several 5-gal jugs we have (usually for lawnmower/edger/chainsaw, but...).

5.  Go back to health food store, stock up on herbal remedies, etc.  (thanks to this exercise, I won't make 2 trips...)

6.  Call my bro (who's a 4-hour drive away), catch up on news re the Eagles/Phillies, talk about his kids...and then at some point nonchalantly drop in "yeah, when the FIRE economy tanks you know ya'll really oughta just pack up the minivan and come stay with us".  He'll think I'm joking (in that way that gives him the squicks, but he loves me anyhoo cuz I'm his brother).  But when Crisis Day +4 arrives, he won't think twice (he's a GE exec...they're trained to evaluate data & then ACT...[why isn't he onboard already?  Denial is a potent force, ya'lls!])...

7.  Call my cousin (only other family within 1500 miles) and just tell her flat-out that if anything funky goes down she oughta figure out how to get to us (we're a 2-hour bus ride away).  She'll think I'm nuts, but I reckon she already thinks that...

8.  Also purchase:  candles, matches, batteries, vitamins, "green" powder supplements, battery-operated radio, some oil for chainsaw (both chain oil and the 2-stroke engine oil)...

Lord only knows there's probably more I'd think of.  But this'd keep me busy for the entire "-1" day...

Viva -- Sager

P.S.  JAG:  superlative thread idea.  I'm totally in awe, man.

Most of these are from my own existing checklist BTW:

1- (Most Important) Halt all credit card use and pay the balance immediately (it's low since I haven't been using it much), and withdraw all money from the bank except for enough to cover the automatic debits and immediate expenses for the month, like my student loan and cellphone bills (in reality I've been doing this for months now, as my credit union has a high troubled asset ratio I'm not comfortable with).  Maybe paying off the credit card balance very early sounds counterintuitive, but I have plenty of cash saved up already and who knows what kind of nightmare confusion will reign in the credit card industry.

2- Take my belongings from the safety deposit box and lock them in the safe at home for the time being.

3- Set aside a certain amount of cash in a safe place to be used only in emergencies, leaving the rest for whatever shopping we deem reasonable (again, this is something in reality we've already done)

4- Ensure vehicle gas tanks are at least 3/4 full, and buy 2 extra 5 gallon gas cans.  10 gallons would be enough to get me home from my work location should gas become unavailable.

5- Go grocery shopping like usual, except buying a little extra of everything to fill up the freezer and fridge.  Also get some extra fruits and vegetables, ones that will keep for a little while (with some exceptions, most fresh fruits and veggies need to be imported to Alaska).

6- Stock up a little more on what ammo is available, and make a list of guns to buy if the situation escalates further.  Most likely to include an extra shotgun, handgun, and rifle of calibers I already use and have extra ammo for.  This is in part an investment, but mostly for backups for my own collection (if something breaks) or for close friends or family who later might have a need for a firearm but cannot get one (due to either unavailability or lack of funds).

7- Purchase and fill an extra 5 gal. propane tank for my indoor-safe propane heater (least important, as this is only a short term solution and we have other places to stay with wood-burning stoves).

8- Take some of the discretionary cash that is left and put into whatever PM's are available.

9- Review food and prep supplies inventory and make a list of anything we forgot that we could conceivably need for the next few months, to be bought if more warning signs show up in the next few weeks.

10- Spread the word to family and friends that something funny is happening, and to ensure they have enough cash and food on hand to get by for a little while.  Some will probably go, "yeah whatever", but hopefully some will take at least a few steps.

Basically, for me this stage is primarily a warning to get prepared for immediate action and watch for a worsening situation.  Most substantial actions involved at this point are financial.

- Nickbert

Funny how being really prepared makes one's choices so different....

If I thought "the crisis" had finally arrived, I would drive to my supplier and buy a dozen bags of chicken feed. Then I would immediately plant at least one third of that so that by the time the remainder runs out I have a crop to feed them with and replant for later.

This, as it turns out is exactly what my next major project is anyhow, and the only reason I haven't yet done so is because I'm hanging out for some rain...... the 1/4 inch we got yesterday just doesn't cut it!

Mike

Put out several tons of hay for the beeves.

Check and maybe change locks on diesel storage tanks.

start a fire(stop burnin' fuel oil as tractors make better use)

mix a whiskey sour, put on a coat and watch the sun set.

check heifers at dark as they're calvin',7bull calves and 4 heifers so far this year with 49 to go.

Robie

close gate and turn guard dogs loose 

Hmmm...not seeing a post I thought I put up earlier.

Seems like you all have put together a pretty good list.  Here are a couple more I thought of.

Replace the "borrowed" items in the barter stock: I've got wine, but think maybe hard liquor gives more bang for the buck.  Some other things I've thought of: aspirin and band-aids, reading glasses (can you tell my age?) and some novels; lipstick; toothpaste, can openers.For rererence, review "100 items to disappear first" and "From a Sarajevo War Survivor" (thanks Stpaulmercantile - http://www.chrismartenson.com/forum/inte... - ).

Check supply of batteries, candles, matches, butane lighters with extra fluid.  The dark is no fun. Charcoal and lighter fluid;

For those going somewhere rather than staying: Double check the bug-out kits and replace the "borrowed" items. If you have kids, get those size two jammies changed out for the now-applicable size 4; place bags by the door. Make sure you include a copy of your financial info that Chris had us put together a few weeks ago.

Lori

Thanks again everyone for your input. I have summarized the Day Minus 1 checklist below:

1. Go to the bank, withdraw some funds, and withdraw my cash and PM's from my safe deposit box and anything else I might value. I would them bring the contents straight home and secure them, maybe making a few trips if the contents were quite valuable to minimize the risks of "carrying all my (nest) eggs in one basket".
2. Fill up the vehicles with gasoline and maybe a few extra gas containers.
3. Take a quick inventory of my pantry, and make (or update) a list of needed items.
4. Go to the grocery store and do my normal shopping, maybe buy a few things for the pantry if they are on sale.
5. Top-off ammo supplies if you own guns.
6. Take a few minutes to check the vehicles, and perhaps the generator, and perform any needed maintenance.
7. If you or family take prescription medications, inquire about getting a 3 month supply or refill.
8. Memorize my family's schedule for the next couple days and be prepared to cut out anything non essential.
9. Contact family and friends and share your concerns with them. If appropriate make plans to meet up in advanced in case communications become difficult.
10. Charge all batteries and battery powered equipment.
11. Get the laundry done and other household chores that require electricity.
12. Store some fresh water at home.
13. If you have chickens or livestock, stock-up on feed if needed.
14. Spend a little time online to see what is "going on".

You can download this checklist in PDF by clicking here and print it if you so desire.