This is only half of it. The other half I am still working on.
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Preparation So You Don't Have To Get Shot

It has come to my attention that a number of members claim a disadvantage at preparation on age, financial problems, over protective parents, legal crap, etc. After making such claim they talk about looting which will get you shot.

I have only one thing to say about this claim. Nonsense! Preparation for whatever disaster can be made if you over the age of eleven, have a little common sense, and are willing to take certain risks. If you meet the listed criteria I'm going to tell you how to do so.

You are going need ten things. If you do not have some of them all I can say is you better get your hind quarters in gear and start working on obtaining them. Some may be a bit broad, but I'll break them down even more.

#1 Friends who trust you and whom you can trust.
#2 Access to tools.
#3 Reliable transportation.
#4 A newspaper.
#5 A pretty good or decent reputation.
#6 Good physical/mental health.
#7 A calendar.
(I'm going to throw in three more and you better have them. A lack of both or either renders all else moot. When that happens you will not survive.)
#8 Balls.
#9 Common sense.
#10 Patience and a small notebook.

Friends who trust you and whom you can trust.

This is almost as important as the last two on the list. Not only because it makes preparation easier, but some of them can go places you can't. If you do not have any friends or your current compatriots are run of the mill slacker who is a mommy's/daddy's little boy/girl (they are still useful) you may have to work on your contact list. This takes time. Months or even a year. Unless they are friends of your friends which you can work through the latter. Takes some of the risk out of certain preparations.

Access to tools.

Keyword right there. Access. I did not say you had to own any tools or go out and buy any tools. They could belong to your parents, some relatives down the street, neighbors you're on good terms with (stupid Flanders), etc. Just so long as you have access to them. The few I'm going to list should cover everything I talk about in this thread. Some of them are optional. Keep this list should you ever pull together a decent amount of cash.

Hammers (carpenter and blacksmith's)
Punch set*
Screw drivers
Pliers (you can make due with a good pair, even better if a set)
Allen wrenches (some people call them hex tools and L wrenches but that's what they're called here)*
Wrenches*
Utility knife
Hacksaw
Crowbar (pry bar, wrecking bar, whatever you want to call it)*
Small torch (as in propane torch)*
Flashlight (your choice as long as it works when you need it)
Bolt cutters*
Medium length handsaw
Grease gun
Soil auger
Big blue tarp
Staple gun*
Various staples* and nails
Whatever you need for sewing*

*Optional

All of the above should handle common tasks you will probably be stuck with and others will handle the uncommon ones. Others just make certain jobs easier should you choose to take them up.

Reliable transportation.

As in a vehicle. You do not have to own one or have constant access to one. It makes transporting tools and materials a whole lot easier. Not to mention odds of you being stopped and searched are reduced. Don't believe me? See how far you get lugging a piece of plywood through your town. I don't know if someone with a bike and bike trailer will be stopped, but I don't want to find out. Car or truck depending on your load.

A newspaper.

If it's like the one around here it should contain a great deal of information that you will find helpful. Make sure it has personal ads and crap like that.

A pretty good or decent reputation.

Makes it easier to work with or through people. No one is going to give sharp hand tools, building materials, etc. to someone who talk(s; ed) about blowing something up.

Good physical/mental health.

Former makes physical stuff easier and will probably keep you from getting your ass kicked in some situations. Mental health should explain itself.

A calendar.

Set deadlines, helps when keeping track of stuff, etc. Make sure you check the damn thing. If I considered it a tool it would probably be the most important thing on the list. It is tied to everything you will need to prepare. Yeah, if you have #9 I shouldn’t have to tell you this.

Common sense.

Explains itself. Lack of it renders all preparations, tools, equipment, etc. useless.

Balls.

I'm not talking about James Westfall and Dr. Kenneth Noisewater either. Every guy has that pair and girl can get a pair too (plastic surgery does wonders these days). Courage, guts, craziness, and/or whatever you want to call it. If you take or certainly plan on taking risks that will result in therapy, civil/criminal prosecution, and/or injury/death you've got them.

Patience and a small notebook.

Young grasshopper..... I know I am the last person who should preach about someone needing patience. That's a reason why I can't get a whole lot done. Kind of why this too so long to finish. Yeah. You're going to need it. Small notebook is for writing everything down and keeping track of stuff that isn't in the newspaper or put on the calendar.

Food.

Golden rule of store what eat, eat what you store. If you don't like wheat, beans, corn, and other things you'd better learn to before anything happens. I mention those three specifically because they are cheap and last the longest if stored properly. Don't just buy one or just those three either. Variety is the key. Nothing is worse than having to eat the exact same thing every single day (something picked up from Great Grandmother, never paid attention until now). So add different spices and flavoring stuff to your list.

Always an option to store dried foods (jerky, fruits, nuts, vegetables, etc.) along with said items. Keep in mind that those are not suitable for long term storage. Except for fruits and vegetables so dry you can snap them in two with little effort. Maybe throw in some home or store bought canned foods and MREs (make your own if needed) if you like.

Most importantly. If you do not know how to do so now LEARN TO COOK! If you can cook without burning down your kitchen or neighborhood learn how to cook/prepare whatever you store. If you can do that play around with different recipes. Almost forgot. Get a d*** good wheat grinder that can also handle other stuff such as corn. A manually-operated one. Crap. Forgot a few things you will need or you'll get nowhere. Basic utensils for cooking, frying pan, and sauce pan. You can add more as you progress in culinary arts. I'd go with anything cast iron if you do not plan on moving. They're a b**** when it comes to weight. A weapon I don't want to be on the receiving end of. By all means add something lighter to your inventory just in case you do have to leave.

If you're relying on store bought goodies all I have to say is shop around, clip coupons, or whatever else you can think of. Use that newspaper and calendar! There might be a whole lot of stuff on sale. You might be able to hit up a farm supply place going out of business for wheat and corn. Unless you know what comes along with what you buy or what you're looking for state that it is for human consumption. That way you don't have to worry about chemical treats or assorted nasties.

An alternative to using stores. Grow it or hunt it. Now there is no way I'm going to put time and effort on a 700,000+ word thread on how to garden or hunt. Make that no way in h*** (I wanna swear d*** it!). That's something you're going to have to learn on your own.

I don't think parents are going to freak out or send you to a psychiatrist if you take an interest in gardening. Wait..... I take that back.... They might if you have/had a little drug problem. So they might not freak out and just check out what you've got to make sure there isn't any wacky tobacci growing. If land is an issue look into containers and/or raised bed gardening. If you happen to know someone fairly close with a patch of land they aren't using ask them about using it for a garden.

As far as hunting goes I do not want to hear the first one of you (excluding members outside the US) whine about not being able to because you don't own a firearm or bow. In I don't know how many states there are youth programs and such specifically for introducing people to hunting. They'd be glad to take you because they want more people hunting. More hunters means more money being spent that goes into conservation efforts and it is a political bitch slap to USHS, PETA, and like. If there isn't one find out if there is anyone in your area that goes hunting. Find out if you can visit a few relatives that do. Firearm/archery issue almost covered. Oh yeah, almost forgot. You might want to put back a little money to pay a place that processes wild game. Not a big issue if you know someone who does that themselves. [hint] You might learn something. [hint]

Neither of those are an option for long term storage.

Water.

I'm sure you all can name a hundred different ways to purify water sometimes with only a zip lock bag, handful of sand, tube sock, and ballpoint pen. I'm willing to bet most of you are focused on using brackish water, that which is found in a mud puddle in the middle of the street, or a creek with nuclear power plant upstream (Look kids! It's Blinky the Fish!). Why it's use is considered in the first place (not calling knowing how to purify it a useless skill) is beyond me. Wouldn't have to do so if you took the time to prepare.

I'm sure you can get water from the home no problem at all. If you're worried about your parents and/or a high water bill I'd look for another source. Such as a creek, river, lake, rain catchment, or something of that nature. Just be sure to filter and purify the hell out of it with a separate filter (not the one you keep for emergencies). Should you be a rich little boy or girl you can order water. I heard there are certain things offered that last indefinitely.

Water Storage.

This is a subject (same with food storage) that I am still looking into. From what I have gleaned from Ted Wright's Complete Disaster Survival Manual is the two biggest problems you have to worry about when storing water is light and heat. One of his suggestions digging a trench (6" wide, 10" deep, 36" or more long) and bury it leaving just two inches or less of soil over the tops. Other suggestion was any place that is dark or cool such as part of a work shed, closet, underneath a hedge, etc.

He also mention treating empty containers (milk jugs, soda bottles, and like) with undiluted chlorine bleach (four ounces) before filling. Filtering if it is to be consumed straight from the container after six months or more. Of course he stresses not using your filter unless necessary. If stored properly (as in you didn't leave the container in direct sunlight every day) or you weren't working with crud to being with bacterial growth shouldn't be a major worry.

Might I go ahead and state that it shouldn't be a problem if using it for cooking or sanitary purposes. Yes that is something you may have to consider it's use for even if you live out in the boonies. Sure beats making all those trips back and forth. Especially if things heat up to a point of where you want to lie low for a while. Less of an issue if you're not worried about creature comforts.

How much do you store? Another question worth asking. I'm just going to go with what a number of people say. One gallon each day for each person. So if you plan on staying four days with four people that's four gallons. That's kind of stretching it for me due to a number of reasons. When space and weight isn't that much of an issue two gallons is preferred. Never know if you might pick up another person. Oh yeah, one gallon of water weighs eight pounds. Not including tank weight. If you intend on going mobile (last resort) you could spread it all out in caches. That way you can move from one to another when needed. Keep track of where everything is though.

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