The Y2K Personal Survival Guide

Speculates on the kinds of problems that could be caused by the year 2000 computer problem, and provides checklists and contingency plans for weathering the crisis

Why You Need This Book
My first book, THE MILLENNIUM BUG, was about Y2K awareness. It stayed on the NEW YORK TIMES "Business Best Sellers List" for seven months. I wrote it to convince ordinary consumers -- non-programmers -- that Y2K was a real problem and one that threatened our modern way of life. Since it's release in May of 1998, the #1 question people asked was: "Okay, I'm convinced. What do I need to do to start preparing?"

I wrote THE Y2K PERSONAL SURVIVAL GUIDE to answer that important question. I didn't write it for survivalists or emergency preparedness enthusiasts, but for people like me. People who don't even like to camp!

THE ONLY SURVIVAL GUIDE YOU'LL EVER NEED

In writing the book, I first hired five researchers. We went out and read everything we could on the subject of emergency preparedness and self-reliant living. We interviewed the experts. We uncovered the best, most reliable and economical suppliers. And we talked to scores of ordinary people -- busy people -- who don't have a lot of extra time or money to get ready.

I then distilled all of the information into a simple, easy- to-read manual. The book is 360 pages long. It has 15 chapters, 17 quick "PrepTips," 28 tables and charts, and 6 appendices. It also has five comprehensive "Y2K Preparedness Checklists": the 72-hour plan, the one week plan, the 30-day plan, the three-month plan, and the one-year (or longer) plan. Whether you think the effects of Y2K will blow over in a few days or last more than a year, this book is for you.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND INSIDE THE BOOK

Chapters include the following:

Introduction: You Don't Have to Become a Victim

In the this brief introduction, I talk about why it is so difficult to predict what will happen on January 1, why it is only going to get more confusing, and why you need to adopt a "risk management" perspective on Y2K. I also reveal what my personal planning scenario is.

Chapter 1: Secure Hard Copies of Important Documents

This chapter discusses the importance of securing those documents that will enable you to prove who you are, how much you owe, and what you own, in the event that the computers go down. I discuss 17 different documents you must have and where to get them if you can't put your hands on them. I also talk about where to store them so they're safe and secure.

Chapter 2: Build an Emergency Preparedness Library

Your parents and grandparents probably knew how to get by in a low-tech environment -- before the proliferation of technology and automation. Chances are, you don't. Fortunately, that information is readily available *if* you know where to look. After reviewing hundreds of books and web sites, I recommend the 14 essential books you must have and the 13 best Y2K preparedness web sites you must visit to get the information you need to get your family safely to the other side.

Chapter 3: Develop an Alternative Communications System

In a crisis, not having accurate information can be unsettling at best and life-threatening at worst. In this chapter I talk about alternative communication systems, including inexpensive AM/FM/shortwave radios that are powered by hand-crank or solar power. I give a list of the highest wattage, "clear channel" AM stations in North America, and three low-cost options for two-way communication.

Chapter 4: Stockpile Food and Common Household Goods

I distinguish between *hoarding* and *stockpiling* and clearly explain why Y2K threatens the world's food supply. I discuss five long-term food storage options -- none of which require refrigeration -- and the pros and cons of each, including what you can expect to pay per meal, per adult. I provide you with three ways to make your food last longer, including one that is "dirt cheap" and healthy. I provide a comprehensive list of common household supplies and a list of seven little-known storage spaces where you can hide it away until you need it.

Chapter 5: Develop an Alternative Source of Water

If there is one thing that we cannot live without, it's water. The average person can survive about three weeks without food, but only three days without water. In this chapter, I talk about how much water we consume daily and how much you should plan to store. I discuss three ways to store water safely and economically. I discuss four ways to treat impure water -- including tables for how much of each chemical to add to various amounts of water -- and three techniques for filtering water. I also discuss self- sufficient water sources and provide a list of six hidden sources of drinkable water in the average home.

Chapter 6: Acquire a Basic Selection of Hand Tools

Without electricity, many of our modern, high-tech tools won't function. Therefore, it's important to have an array of good hand tools as a back-up. I discuss four categories of tools, including: tools for working with wood, tools for all-around maintenance, tools for gardening and yard work, and tools for fastening. In my research, I uncovered some five very cool specialty tools, including one that will wash five pounds of clothes with a cup of water!

Chapter 7: Evaluate Your Current Location

Like people in retail sales say, it all comes down to "location, location, location." Some places are safer to live in than others. Some places are positively dangerous -- especially if there is a major loss of infrastructure. In this chapter I discuss the pros and cons of moving, including urban, suburban, and rural locations. I talk about what to look for in a new location if you plan to move, what you can do to make your environment safer if you can't move, and how to design a half-way relocation that may just give you the best of both worlds.

Chapter 8: Secure an Alternative Source of Heat

Whenever I think about Y2K, the one thing I keep coming back to is the possibility of power outages. There is nothing we are more dependent on than electricity. And with Y2K scheduled to begin in the dead of winter, the loss of electricity usually means the loss of heat. At best, trying to get along without heat could be uncomfortable; at worst, it could be life-threatening. In this chapter I talk about four alternative ways to stay warm even if the electricity goes off. (Two of these are surprisingly inexpensive.) I also talk about two devices you absolutely must have if you are going to keep your family safe. I also outline options for cooking that do not require electricity.

Chapter 9: Develop an Alternative Source of Energy

If you truly want to be self-reliant in terms of energy, this chapter explains how. I provide specific guidelines -- and a worksheet -- for determining whether or not you need a generator and how big it should be if you buy one. I discuss inverters, deep-cycle batteries, and solar power. I even share alternative ways to light your home *without* electricity. For those who can't afford a generator or solar power, I outline a "community solution" for providing needed electricity.

Chapter 10: Build an Emergency Cash Reserve

Many of those who reviewed the first draft of the manuscript said that this was their favorite chapter. In it, I explain how our modern monetary system works, why it is inherently fragile, and why Y2K threatens to become the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back. I explain in simple-to-understand language what the fractional reserve banking system is and why bankers are scared to death of Y2K. I also explain why the banks are not as far along on their Y2K projects as they would have us believe and what you must do now to avoid becoming a victim. I provide a practical, four-part strategy for building a cash reserve and discuss four specific places *not* to stash your cash. (These are the places thieves look at first.) I also discuss a little-known federal law that could get you into deep trouble if you are not careful.

Chapter 11: Collect Items You Can Use As Barter

If the Millennium Bug bites hard, our monetary system could be paralyzed. We may be unable -- at least for a period of time -- to buy or sell using conventional currency. We may be forced to barter to acquire the things we need to survive. In this chapter, I discuss my "Smart Barter Supply System," a three-pronged criteria for selecting items that will likely be valuable both before and *after* the crisis passes. I then provide a list of fourteen items that meet the criteria. I also talk about the mechanics of bartering and practical ways to sharpen your bartering skills.

Chapter 12: Change Your Investment Strategy

The most common question I get with regard to Y2K is, "What do I do with my 401k (or my mutual fund)?" This chapter is my answer. I explain the importance of changing your investment paradigm, the two crucial problems that afflict almost every modern investment instrument, and what you must do now to safely transport your assets from this side of the crisis to the other. I share the "Ten Commandments of Buying Silver and Gold," including five different investment portfolios. I even walk you through a six-step procedure for buying silver