It amazes me how people refuse to spend several hundred dollars to gather the means get through some unexpected cut in normal supply chains or breach social order and security.
It doesn't cost THAT MUCH to secure yourself for a considerable amount of time. People who I have talked about this with even feel pressure from a social stigma...(Well, if I gather all that stuff up, people will think we're crazy!)
I frequently hear the semi-joking remark amongst co-workers, who know of my penchant for firearms and a generally "be prepared" attitude who all state "Well, if the shit hits the fan, I know where I am going..." which means my house. I realize such statements are made mostly in jest, but there is a sheepish truth behind them as well.
As if I, some obscure dude who in many ways is just a yuppie fag with redneck wannabe leanings could take in their huddled masses in and lead them to warmth and comfort in their perception of my "compound" which in reality is a house in a completely stereotypical suburban neighborhood which requires about $40 worth of candy each Halloween if you want make it through the evening alive.
Yeah, so I keep a decent amount of drinking water on hand.
A healthy supply of canned goods.
A half-assed first aid kit.
Toilet paper.
A nice handheld shortwave radio.
More guns than is practical.
Ammo.
With a strange penchant for flashlights, I have a lot of them.
I also like to burn candles. If happen to find a mid-aisle 80% clearance orgy in a store, I fill up.
A kerosene heater
Firewood.
Soap.
Beer.
About 40 lbs. of Kitty Food to keep Ivan and Bob from killing me in the night.
Playboy's "No Boys Allowed 2...100% Girls" DVD.
I am pretty well set, though I have been debating getting a decent generator, but have not been able to get myself to pull the trigger just yet.
It doesn't take that much to keep yourself self-sufficient.