In case things get rough - and I hope you realize that they will - you need to keep some things on hand. Here's a beginning list of items you should purchase and stockpile now.
A water purifier (a table-top one like a Brita or even better would be a Berkey model)
Beef jerky
Canned tuna
Canned carrots and beets
Canned red beans, black beans, etc
Canned fruit cocktail, peaches, mandarin oranges
Dried prunes, figs, raisins
Rice - buy in bags, and keep those in a sealable storage container from Home Depot or Lowe's
Chinese noodles - keep these in a sealed container as well
Booze - keep a few bottles of whiskey, rum, etc. for use as well as barter
An emergency radio - get a hand-cranked/solar-powered one, which you can find at Home Depot. (I happen to have this one.)
Batteries - various sizes
A first aid kit - buy one at Target or Wal-Mart, so you have all the basic necessities
Ivory soap
Toilet paper
Baby wipes - get the packs that can be resealed, these have many uses
An oil lantern - make sure to have oil for it as well
5-gallon gas cans - get 3 or 4 of these and of course they should be full of gas
A 5-gallon can of water - keep it full, add a very small amount of bleach to it to keep it from getting nasty.
Toothpaste
You can of course add to this list as you see fit (or as your needs dictate) but this is a beginning list of things to grab and keep in your home. (This list doesn't address home / self defense. See this article if you want to get ideas for survival clothing.) If you simply buy all the things on the list, you'll be light-years ahead of the vast majority of people in the cities - who will not be prepared. When everyone else is hot, tired, hungry, and thirsty…you and your family will be able to survive in at least relative comfort.
A very few people are making plans to evacuate now, many people will evacuate when ordered to, and a whole bunch more will just stay (unless forcible rounded up and either evacuated or put into "camps"). Of those who stay, a very small percentage will have stocked up on supplies and food. Be one of those, even if you plan on getting out at some point - because you simply don't know what the next day will bring!
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