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If you can go it alone for 3 days, you're set for Y2K By CHRIS BRISTOL Admit it. Rather than give in to all the hysteria, the only thing you've done to prepare for Y2K is to buy a good bottle of champagne. That's OK -- to a point -- because experts say any disruptions caused by the so-called computer bug are likely to be sporadic at worst. Most predict you won't notice a thing, except maybe a hangover. Still, there's nothing wrong with being ready. "People need to be ready to take care of themselves at any time for about 72 hours," warned Brett Thomas, spokesman for the Jackson County Emergency Management Team. "It doesn't matter whether we're talking about Y2K, fire, flood or any other natural disaster." Cindy Lucas, emergency services coordinator for the Medford chapter of the American Red Cross, agreed. "Our Y2K plan is the same as our planning for other events," she said. "As in every emergency, we encourage families to prepare to take care of themselves for at least 72 hours." Take water, for example. Most of Medford's municipal water system is gravity-fed, so no interruption is expected. But a power outage in cold weather could cause residential pipes to freeze. Experts say the nation's utilities are ready for Y2K, and power stations have manual backups, but do you really want to take a chance? Besides, bad weather is always capable of zapping the power offline. Without further ado, then, here's what you can still do this week to prepare: Water -- Plan to store at least one gallon of clean water per person per day. A normally active person needs at least two quarts of water each day -- twice that in the summer. Experts suggest you store enough for at least three days, but one to two weeks isn't out of line. You don't need to buy water, either. Plastic containers work best, but never use something that has held toxic substances. To purify, boiling for three to five minutes works best. Plain liquid bleach (containing 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite) also works. Add eight drops per gallon if the water is clear, 16 if it is cloudy, stir and let stand for 30 minutes. If an emergency catches you off guard, you can use water from the pipes and from the tank of your water heater. As a last resort, you can even use water in the toilet tank (not the bowl, of course, unless you're a dog). Food -- Store enough for at least three days. Obviously the best kind for storage is nonperishable. Think cans -- ready-to-eat meats, fruits, vegetables, milk and juice -- and high-energy foods such as beef jerky and peanut butter. Soup is good, too, and so are so-called stress foods such as sugar cookies and hard candy. If you have an alternative cooking device, great, but make sure you ventilate it properly. Never barbecue indoors. Finally, rummage through the utensil drawer and make sure you have a manually operated can opener in good working order. Electric can openers are useless without power. Light -- Keep a heavy-duty flashlight and plenty of batteries on hand. Experts say don't use candles and oil lamps -- they are potential fire hazards. Medication -- Keep enough prescription medicine on hand to last a week or two beyond Jan. 1, 2000. It's always a good idea to refill when you have less than a week's supply left, anyway. Heat -- Keep extra blankets handy, never try to heat your home with a cooking stove, and always vent rooms when using a portable heater. Hats and caps are essential for staying warm, because most body heat is lost through the top of the head. Radio -- Do you have a transistor radio? If you don't, buy one. And some batteries. Money -- Most experts recommend having a small amount of cash or traveler's checks on hand, say about $100. Don't contribute to a run on the bank (financial institutions are well-prepared for the date change) and don't tempt thieves with a large stash of cash. Gasoline -- It's always a good idea to keep your gas tank above half-full in the winter. The oil and gas industry says it has plenty in storage, and no shortages are expected. Traffic lights -- In the event a signal is not working, treat the intersection as a four-way stop, according to the state Department of Transportation. This is a basic rule of the road. Utilities -- Do you know where the fuse box is? What about the natural gas line or the water shutoff valves? If you don't, you should. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA