Rick's view - Home owner preparation?

Oil will get more expensive. Natural or manmade disasters will happen. I think we all agree on that. Let’s all assume that we will have at least 1 week of emergency supplies ready.

What Alan has been discussing on his blog is a long term “disaster.” Something that isn’t gone in a few days or even weeks. The whole country “Katrina’d” in the sense that things change for all of us like they changed for those affected by Katrina. The end of cheap gas, cheap products, a way of life. Based on that assumption this article is going to attempt to give some ideas of what can be done if this comes to pass.

I have to make some assumptions and one is that things will get expensive but there won’t be riots in the streets and it will be safer to stay in your house than leave. I’m making an assumption (as dangerous as that is) that you’ll have food, water, heat, light and shelter; it just may cost more.
My point of view for this article is I’m not mobile like Alan. I have a wife, a house and dogs and we’re not going anywhere.

Here’s what I see as an upside. We seem to have some time to prepare. We have great products that we can purchase to make a difference. Solar panels, crank devices, propane devices, camping equipment, tools, clothes that will keep us warm and dry, or cool (depending on where you are) a myriad of things, some made from oil (ironic isn’t it?) that are light, sturdy and could last a long time.

The economy would go to hell. Just about everything will get more expensive since most things are trucked in and trucks use gas; and many things are made from oil. Lower your debt. Have some cash handy. Maybe gold. Live on less. If things get tight the less you’re spending the better. Dumping cable and latte’s will be high on the list.

Get off the grid to any degree. Start with solar. Even if no major disaster, oil/gas/coal/hydro won’t be going anywhere but up. Have a solar company come give an estimate. Go to EWEB’s home page, search on solar, read the info, contact the contractors on their list. Educate yourself.
The less you have to pay EWEB for example the more you have for other things and in case of a power problem, you’ll have some independence.

When oil goes up whatever you’ve spent on solar will be worth it.

Rain barrels to collect rainwater. There will be uses for it besides irrigation.
Start a garden.
You can’t learn how to do everything, but pick something that may be of use and improve that skill.
Start networking with friends and neighbors; see who’s good at what. Consider the bartering of services.