store water; make a point of filling your bathtub

at the first news of trouble: they turned off the water

in the 4th ward for a whole day during the Newark riots;

or better yet make a habit

of keeping the tub clean and full when not in use

change this once a day, it should be good enough

for washing, flushing toilets when necessary

and cooking, in a pinch, but it’s a good idea

to keep some bottled water handy too

get a couple of five gallon jugs and keep them full

for cooking

//

store food—dry stuff like rice and beans stores best

goes farthest. SALT VERY IMPORTANT: it’s health and energy

healing too, keep a couple pounds

sea salt around, and, because we’re spoiled, some tins

tuna, etc. to keep up morale—keep up the sense

of ‘balanced diet’ ‘protein intake’ remember

the stores may be closed for quite some time, the trucks

may not enter your section of the city for weeks, you can cool it indefinitely

//

with 20 lb brown rice

20 lb whole wheat flour

10 lb cornmeal

10 lb good beans—kidney or soy

5 lb sea salt

2 qts good oil

dried fruit and nuts

add nutrients and a sense of luxury

to this diet, a squash or coconut

in a cool place in your pad will keep six months.

//

remember we are all used to eating less

than the ‘average American’ and take it easy

before we

ever notice we’re hungry the rest of the folk will be starving

used as they are to meat and fresh milk daily

and help will arrive, until the day no help arrives

and then you’re on your own.

//

hoard matches, we aren’t good

at rubbing sticks together any more

a tinder box is useful, if you can work it

don’t count on gas stove, gas heater

electric light

keep hibachi and charcoal, CHARCOAL STARTER a help

kerosene lamp and candles, learn to keep warm

with breathing

remember the blessed American habit of bundling