Know that you are responsible for anything that happens to you.  The buck stops with you and people cannot usually rip you off without your assistance.  Most scams and rip offs happen because people get greedy or they are too trusting/nice/eager to please.

Be especially wary of any unsolicited offers, whether they come by email, snail mail, the phone or in person.  If you need a loan the seek one out.  If you need new siding, get estimates from reliable companies.

If something is too good to be true, it usually it.  Any offer that you must give your bank/social security number/credit information for should send up a red flag.  Ditto, any "prize" that you need to pay money for in order to receive.  Any "great deal" that you need to decide upon immediately should also be scrutinized.

Check credentials.  If an "undercover cop" asks you to withdraw money from your bank account to help him catch a crooked teller, call 911 and check his credentials.  If the SEC calls and asks you to buy stock in a company to help them investigate a fraud, politely decline.  If a local businessman makes you a great deal on a business partnership, check him out.  If his credit score is like a 10 and the AG is after him for back taxes, run, don't walk, away from him.

Do your research.  It's easier than ever these days to check out people and companies online.  Google the company that you are concerned about.  Check the Better Business Bureau website.  Check the fraud alert websites as well.

Don't make yourself a target.  Protect your personal information (phone numbers, email addresses, credit info) and protect yourself (don't let strangers into your home or allow them to chat you up in the street).

Make a report.  If you feel you have been targeted for a scam or a rip off, make a report to the local police, Consumer Protection Agency, Better Business Bureau, or the Attorney General.  Provide information about the person who contacted you (name, phone number, email address, physical description), their MO and any other identifying information.

Install new batteries in your smoke detectors; ensure all of your fire extinguishers are not empty or expired; install a carbon monoxide detector.

Keep flashlights with new batteries in each room; have a back up generator with spare fuel (and know how to safely operate it); use candles only if necessary.

Have a snow shovel, sand and de-icer on hand; repair exterior handrails if needed; keep all walkways free of ice and snow.

Thieves don't take winter vacations...properly lock/secure all doors and windows every time you leave your home.

Prevent frozen/burst pipes--insulate all pipes located outdoors or in unheated areas of your home and know how to turn off the water if necessary.

Keep a list of emergency numbers posted (include plumbers, electricians, heating system repair services, etc).

Make appointments now for things that will keep your home safe year round (ie: chimney cleaning, furnace tune up, etc.).

Do all of the basic maintenance now: oil change, radiator flush, air filter change, tune-up, etc.

Prepare your tires for winter driving (ie: rotate your tires, buy new tires, install snow tires or carry chains in your trunk).

Check and repack, if necessary, your emergency supplies (add additional warm clothes, rotate food and water that is stored in your car, etc).

Have the basics easily available in the drivers compartment...ice scraper, de-icer, flashlight, maps, etc.

Take care of the outside of your vehicle: repair cracked/dinged windows, quickly touch-up and scratches on the vehicle, run your vehicle thorugh the car wash regularly, especially if you drive on salted roads often.

Plan ahead for your trips: check driving/road conditions online before you leave and plan alternate routes to get to/from your destination

Practice winter driving if necessary.  Go to a big snowy parking lot and practices turns, quick stops, controlling your vehicle when it is sliding, etc.

How would you hide a sensitive document in a public place so that your partner could retrieve it later?

How would you store a 5-gallon sized bucket with your survival supplies in it (cash, food, weapons, ammo, etc.), in the wilderness, so that you could retrieve it a month later?

How would you 'drop' a micro drive loaded with sensitive documents on it so that it could be covertly transferred to a contact?

How would you disguise a 40' shipping container so that it could serve as your home/office/central command without raising the suspicion of the locals?

How would you secretly cache information both on your computer and online?

How would you cache "difficult" (fuel, weapons, large amounts of cash) items?

How would you cache items in your home so they won't be found by the wrong people?

Have a crystal-clear vision of your ultimate goal, preferably in writing.

Make an assessment: of where you are, where you want to be, what assets you have, what problems you foresee, etc.

Brainstorm strategies to reach your goal.

Determine a plan of action with each step along the way mapped out.

Make a decision to reach your goal and don't give up; in other words don't go into a situation with a lukewarm (half-assed) attachment to the outcome.

Know when it is time to bring out back-up plans 'B' and 'C' if needed.

Pat yourself on the back or enjoy a little reward when you reach your goal then refocus your efforts on the next project.

Don't give out your social security number unless absolutely necessary.

Pay cash for everything and avoid credit like the plague.  Credit, debit and ATM cards leave an amazingly concise paper trail on all of your activities.

Pick up all of your mail at a PO Box or ghost address.  Only send mail from a post office or post box, not your home mail box.  Use a re-mailing service if necessary.

Notice how many video cameras are watching your every move, especially in medium to large cities.  Security cameras in stores, streets, banks, etc, are generally watching everything you do.  Be aware of them.

Cross-cut shred all receipts and personal documents you no longer need.

Listen more and talk less.  It's amazing how much information you can find out about people by overhearing their conversations in public places: when and where people are going on vacation (great for burglars), who's sleeping with whose spouse (great for blackmailing), what stocks are getting ready to tank (known as insider trading), etc.

Change your passwords regularly and make them difficult to guess.

Practice the basics before you go to extremes.  Instead of paying out the snout for the latest "miracle pill", concentrate on the basics: adequate sleep, daily exercise, healthy food, simple stress reduction techniques, etc.

Don't fall for fads.  Fad diets, exercise programs, and beauty regiments (remember tattooed eyebrows!?) are just that--faddishly short lived because people eventually come to their senses.

Make it a daily ritual to: sleep eight hours a night, go to bed early and get up with the sun, drink 6-8 glasses of pure water each day, exercise at least a half hour (preferably an hour) each day, keep a sense of balance in your life and a sense of humor to alleviate stress, and eat lots of whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Study health.  Your local library is a great resource for books on nutrition, holistic health, exercise techniques, and healthful living tips.

Consider naturopathic alternatives when you are ill.  A skilled naturopathic doctor can assist you with this.

Make your living space healthy: don't smoke indoors (actually don't smoke period), open your windows daily to air out your home (and sleep with the window open a bit), don't run the car in the garage and monitor your home for CO2, reduce the amount of chemicals you use in your home, and make your home a relaxing "haven" that you can easily unwind in.

Pay attention to all facets of your health: physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual.  Immediately tend to any problems as they arise.

Do a bit of research and find out what weather disasters your area may experience (floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, heavy snowfall, etc.).

Store your BOB (bug out bag) in a suitable location dependant on your research above.  If your area is prone to floods, this may be the attic.  If your area is prone to tornadoes, this may be the basement.

Always keep the basics on hand.  Flashlights with fresh batteries should be kept in every room.  Every home should have a weather-band radio and a small battery-operated TV for the most up to date news during an emergency.  Keep a pair of shoes for each family member under their beds for emergency evacuation.

Most preparedness-related information will tell you to be prepared to be self-sufficient for 72 hours.  As we have seen with recent weather disasters, this is insufficient.  Your survival preparations should allow you to be self-sufficient for a minimum of one week.  Pack your BOB as if you were taking a one-week backpacking trip.

Reinforce your home based on your location's potential for a weather-related disaster.  If your area is prone to heavy snow, increase your home's insulation and focus on alternative heating sources for those times when power is not available.  If you live in an area subject to hurricanes, outfitting your home with a generator should be a must.  If you live in an area that floods, keeping a water craft of some type is not unreasonable.

Have an evacuation plan and know when to use it. 

Do your research before you travel.  Know what types of weather emergencies could happen at your destination and know what actions to take to survive them.

Clear off your desk.  The only items you should have on your desk are things you use every day (computer, pens, reference books, inbox, etc).  Find a storage place for all of the other things you use occasionally but not all the time.

Clean out your file cabinets.  Toss old, unneeded papers, buy new files and properly label them, then file items in easy-to-find-later categories.

Put together organized storage areas for books, extra office supplies, and project stuff.

Toss or give away things you don't need or use any more (ie: old magazines and books, the redundant items you bought because you couldn't find the items you needed because they were lost in your disorganized office, etc).

Make your office meet your needs.  If you seldom watch TV when in your office, remove it.  If you always watch TV while in your office but need to keep the door open in order to see the family room TV, put one in your office.

Set up a system that easily allows you to see what needs to be done.  In-boxes, white boards, and computer memos are all often used to organize information and projects.

Keep your office organized.  It only takes minutes a day to pick up and put away items, take out the trash, clean out a desk drawer, or vacuum the floor.  Pick a small organizing task each day so that you don't get overwhelmed sorting through months or years of junk and clutter.

Boost your immune system.  Adequate rest, healthy food, exercise, vitamins, etc. all will help your body either escape the nasty viruses going around this season or fight them off.

Avoid other people's germs.  You never know if the phone, pen, computer keyboard, dollar bill, etc. you are using has been coughed on, sneezed on, or spit on by someone with the cold from hell.  Make sure to wash your hands often with soap and water, disinfect your children's toys regularly, and wipe down your office tools with a disinfectant if needed.  Keep your distance from sick people as close contact breeds contamination and above all, keep your unwashed hands out of your eyes,. nose and mouth.  

Don't spread your germs.  If you're sick, stay home!  If you must be around people, sneeze or cough into a kleenex and immediately dispose of it.  Keep your distance from others as a cough or sneeze can send cold and flu germs up to three feet away.

Get a flu shot if available and/or recommended by your doctor.

Avoid high-risk places.  Airplanes are notorious for spreading illness since you have a large group of people in close contact for hours on end all breathing the same recirculated air.  Hospitals, are of course, where the sick people gather--avoid these places if possible.  If you work at one of these facilities, take adequate precautions (gloves, masks) to protect yourself.  Malls, schools and other places also require additional precautions as you are exposed to many more people in questionable health.

Pay attention to flu (particularly Avian flu) warnings.  You will notice, especially if you travel around Asia at this time, a heightened concern for the flu.  Shoe washes, temperature testing and visual inspection for illness are all precautions being used to prevent the spread of this illness.  Know where potential outbreaks could occur and take care where you travel.

If you do become ill, stay home, get as much rest as you can, stay well hydrated, and wait it out.  Various over-the-counter medications offer symptom relief however there is no instant cure for these maladies.  Of course, seek medical treatment immediately for extreme symptoms (high temperature, dehydration, etc).   

Get a book, attend a class, or borrow a knowledgeable friend and learn how to can various fruits and vegetables, jams and jellies.

Make a low-cost smoker.  There are books and websites that will teach you how to easily make a low-cost smoker which you can use to smoke fish and, now that hunting season is starting, various wild game meats.

Practice dehydrating food.  Everything from specialized food dryers, your oven, or a box with a light bulb in it can be used to create a food dryer to make fruit leather, dehydrated fruits and vegetables and jerky.

Learn how to gather your own food.  You can harvest your own garden, go to a u-pick place, go fishing/hunting/clam digging, or wander through the mountains finding various wild edibles that can be put up for winter use.

Pickling, cheese making and other old time food preservation processes can be easily learned at home.  Usually this requires much trial and error but it's a great learning experience.

Learn about freezing foods properly.  For the best results, special methods need to be used instead of just tossing your store purchases into the freezer.

Beer and wine-making have been raised to an art form.  Many communities offer classes or have specialized stores that will teach you all you need to know in order to produce a great glass of beer or wine. 

Clean up the yard, turn the compost pile, cover crop the garden, clean the leaves out of the gutters, do any touch-up painting, etc.

Have your car serviced, check the tires for wear, change the oil, make sure all winter driving supplies are stocked (chains, blanket, etc).

Check your home systems (heating, septic, water/well, etc) and perform any routine maintenance needed.

Review, repair and restock your survival supplies that you have used over the summer (ie: re-waterproof your tent, wash your sleeping bags, clean your camp stove, etc.).

Rotate your stored food and water into your pantry and restock your survival food and water supplies.

Take a class--hunter's ed, first aid, orienteering--basically anything that will add to your survival skills and knowledge.

Take a fall camping or backpacking trip and notice the differences between your spring, summer and fall trips (ie: weather, animal behaviour, the night sky, number of daylight hours, etc.).

Have all of your travel documents current (passport, visas, etc); also be current on recommended vaccinations for the countries you will be traveling in.

Carry a handful of small denomination bills in the local currency.  Tipping for just about everything is a widely-accepted practice that will significantly increase the speed and ease at which things get done for you.

Pack everything you will need since many things we take for granted in the states (toilet paper, contact lens solution, Gore-Tex, etc) can be unavailable when you need it most.  Take bandanas/handkerchiefs as well since they have a million and one uses.

Be careful to not make yourself a target (flashing wealth, making others lose face, traveling unaccompanied in obviously dangerous areas, complaining about the government/weather/idiosyncrasies of the culture, etc.).

Have a local contact if at all possible.  Even the third cousin of your college roommate will do to act as a guide/contact/bar buddy.  Be sure to bring small gifts to use as tokens of appreciation for new-found friends and people who you meet along the way.

Be prepared to take care of your own medical needs as much as possible.  Carry a first aid kit as well as a book on basic medical care and learn what to do for basic medical problems.

Watch what the locals do and learn from them.  If everyone takes a siesta during the afternoon, take a siesta (probably one of the better things you can do to avoid the mid-day heat); if people show up an hour late for meetings as a matter of course, don't be offended, just realize they have a different concept of time than you do; if the local women wear conservative clothing, don't go out in a shorts and bathing suit top, you'll end up a) sunburned, b) stared at for all the wrong reasons, and c) possibly arrested for indecency.  

Many people did not take the warnings seriously and/or were unable to leave the area prior to the hurricane hitting.  Do you have access to transportation to leave a potential disaster area?  Do you have cash on hand to buy gas or a plane ticket to leave?  Would you have taken the warnings seriously and left when you realized such a disaster could affect you?

Of the people who were evacuated, many felt they would return to their homes within a day or two.  Instead, they were faced with transient places to shelter, a lack of food and water, infrastructure to take care of them as refugees that was practically non-existent and quite possibly no home to return to.  Do you have valuables and important papers ready to grab at a moments notice?  Do you have a 'bug out bag' stocked with a weeks worth of supplies (food, water, shelter, medication, amusement items, etc) that you can grab at a moments notice?  Do you have a long-term resettlement plan should a major catastrophe strike?

Many people were unable to connect with loved ones who were evacuated or lost during the storm.  Likewise, should an out of the area family member want to go to the affected area and look for their missing loved ones, they may be unable to since entire neighborhoods were washed away.  How would you communicate with loved ones from down the street or across the country if you were in this situation?  Remember, telephone infrastructure (phones, lines, relays) have been washed away and cell towers were either washed away or completely overloaded.  Do you have handheld radios available?  HAM radio access?  Addresses and postage to send a letter?  Calling cards and cell phones?  A plan for getting your plea to the media?

After the event, access to the affected area as well as the ability to leave from the area was restricted due to high water, washed out roads and bridges and debris in the road.  How would you have left the area?  Do you have a chain saw?  Motorcycle?  Bicycle?  Watercraft?  How would you navigate when all visual clues to your location were washed away?

Many of the community services we take for granted were severely stretched and/or unavailable after the event.  How would you deal with looters, panicking crowds and violence?  How would you get medical care for yourself or a loved one?  What would you do with your pets?  How would you care for family members with special needs (the elderly, babies)?

Are you ready for the aftermath of such a disaster?  Dead bodies, contaminated water sources, and overflowing sewage can immediately cause third-world health conditions.  Are your vaccinations (Hepatitis A & B, tetanus, etc) up to date?  Do you know how to purify water and safety dispose of waste?

In a matter of hours, everything that many people had (a home, a neighborhood, work) was gone.  What would be your long-term plan to recover from such an event?

Make sure your kids are healthy.  Adequate sleep, healthy food, daily exercise, immunizations, etc. all play a role in your child's health and prepare them for success in school.

Make sure your kids are safe.  Make a trial run to school with them and make note of any dangers (vicious dogs, busy streets, etc) they would face going to or from school.  Have them carry an emergency kit, cell phone, water bottle, energy bar, cash, etc.

Make sure your kids can protect themselves.  Teach them basic fighting skills (how to kick, scream and bite if physically assaulted) or enroll them in a self defense class.  Teach them about "stranger danger", talk to them about predators and to alert a parent or teacher if they feel they are in danger.

Make sure to monitor your kids activities.  Know who their friends are.  Know who their teachers and coaches are.  Attend their games and practices when possible.  Know what they are doing when online.

Make sure to spend lots of time with your kids and get them involved in extra-curricular activities.  A bored kid or neglected kid is more likely to do drugs, drink alcohol, get involved with gangs and/or hang out with people who would negatively influence them.

Make sure to build your child's self-esteem.  A happy child, a child who receives positive reinforcement of good behaviour, a child who feels confident in their abilities is more likely to be a leader, not a follower, do better in school and be more successful overall.

Make sure your child is taught responsibility.  How to do chores, how to solve problems, and how to organize their school work and free time are all important skills to learn.

Sell something (or a lot of somethings) on EBay.  Everyone has things they can sell and if you look through the site you will see that this is true--it's like the worlds largest garage sale/swap meet/retail store all in one.  Earn a minimum of $100 from your sale.

Hold a garage sale.  The end of summer is an excellent time to clear out the junk before fall.  Put your marketing, display and horse trading skills together and earn $100+ for your efforts.

Use your skills to perform a service that will net you $100.  Mow 10 small yards or two huge yards.  Change a friend's brakes and make yourself $100 while saving him the cost of having this repair done at the dealership.  Have a one-day summer camp for kids...10 kids at $15 each is a bargain for parents and, after expenses, is $100 for you.

Ask for a raise.  Clearly outline why you deserve a raise, suggest reasons why this would be a bonus for both you and your employer, and, if necessary, look at ways your employer would be able to afford to give you the raise (ie: reducing supply costs, ideas for ways to increase revenue, etc.).

Go to where people are and look for ways to cash in.  There is an acrobat who performs on the Victoria, BC waterfront.  After a relatively amusing half hour performance he passes the hat earns a minimum of $30 to $40 for each performance.  Another guy I've seen fills up a cooler with a variety of soda pop, puts it on a roller, and announces "ice cold soda pop" as he rolls it through various crowds at outdoor concerts, festivals and events.  He sells for less than the concessionaires and seems to disappear before the event coordinators show up to hassle him.

Sell what you are good at.  Query local magazines and sell your writing.  Offer to take a group of out-of-towners for a day long excursion to your favorite fishing hole.  Bet the golfer in front of you that you can show him how to improve his swing so that his distance will increase by 20% and earn a quick $50 to $100 (note this type of thing can only be done if you know you can deliver what you promise).

Take up a collection.  If desperate measures call for it, know that you can always ask for money.  Ask 10 friends for $10 each, 20 friends for $5 each or two friends for $50 each.

Avoid situations where you may need to defend your life (ie: if your girlfriend just left her mentally unbalanced husband for you, avoid hanging out at her place where he would be likely to show up.  Walking through the worst neighborhood after midnight isn't a great idea either.  And of course if you hang with druggies/gangs/criminals you might as well paint a big target on your back).

If you find yourself in such a situation, try to diffuse it and get away as quickly as possible...talk your way out, act crazy, give them your wallet if that's all they want, etc.

Use common sense instead of instinct.  A guy I know saw his car being stolen so he threw himself on the car trying to get to the thief.  The result--the thief slammed on the brakes, the car owner rolled to the ground and the thief ran him over killing him instantly.  Instinct says 'it's mine and I want it back"; common sense says "it's just a car and it's insured".

In most situations, use lethal force only to defend life, not property.  It's not worth the expense and time to shoot a burglar who is stealing tools from your out building.  Depending on which jurisdiction you live in this may be perfectly acceptable or it may keep you in court for the next decade.  Again, common sense over instinct.

Should an assailant be coming into your home or towards you with homicidal intent, seek cover and call police.  Lock yourself in your car, run into a crowd or barricade yourself in a room.

Should said assailant break out your car window to get to you, disregard the crowd and continue towards you or break down the door to the room you are barricaded in, its fairly clear that lethal force will be necessary.  Unless as a last resort, don't use hand to hand fighting, a knife or a baseball bat--his skills may be better than yours and you don't want the assailant to get that close to you before you take action.

Should you need to use a firearm, shoot center mass (trying to "wing" an assailant is a trick best left to TV), don't shoot unless you can clearly see your target (not through the door or down a dark hallway), and clearly warn the assailant of your intentions.  Immediately after the incident call the police (again), don't clean up, move or otherwise destroy evidence, and wait for law enforcement outside and unarmed.   

Your first priority should be creating a super reserve of money.  Have adequate cash on hand, in your car, in your home, in various banks and in various investments.

Next, create a super reserve of income.  Increase your contracts, your skills, your employment options, your education, and your passive income sources.

Create a super reserve of supplies.  You should have more than enough of the needed supplies for your home and vehicle...everything from toilet paper to gasoline, from food to matches should be acquired as soon as possible.

Create a super reserve for your health.  Instead of eating healthy sometimes, commit to do this as a matter of course.  Instead of exercising 20 minutes a day, work up to an hour daily.

Build a super reserve of safety.  In addition to safety supplies, develop safety skills and an "always on" safety mindset.

Develop a super reserve of people you can count on.  A handful of trustworthy buddies and close immediate family members can provide for secure, immediate back-up if necessary.  Of course don't tell all of your secrets to anyone.

Develop a super reserve of space for yourself.  Consider using a ghost address, scheduling your day with plenty of 'you' time and/or having a secret bug-out location.

Consider not driving one, two, even three days a week.  Think about grouping your errands, telecommuting, riding a bike or taking public transportation on these days.

Look at ways to reduce your home's use of oil and gas.  Look into small solar or wind energy projects, hang laundry outside instead of using your dryer, install an energy efficient water heater or better yet, consider installing a tankless hot water heater.

Grow a garden or buy from local farmers--transporting food over long distances uses a lot of energy and can double or triple the price you pay.

Live seasonally when possible.  Heat and cool your home "like they did in the old days", sleep when it gets dark and rise when it gets light, eat foods that are in season instead of buying produce from the other side of the hemisphere, etc.

Reduce, reuse, recycle or do without.  Realize that practically every product you own relies on oil for manufacture...from the energy needed to fuel the machines that make the product, to the oil derivatives used in the product, to the fuel needed to transport the item to market.

Spend time with family and friends in simple, no-energy-needed ways such as picnics, games (charades, etc), and just enjoying each others company.

Take advantage of local city and utility conservation programs.  You can often get free or low cost shower heads, light bulbs, compost, etc. just for the asking. 

When leaving your home--all appliances off, food and water for pets, secure all doors and windows.

When getting into your vehicle--walk around vehicle to check for obstructions, check gas, put on seatbelt.

When driving--use hands free equipment if you must talk on your cell, pay attention to the road (no rubbernecking), drive happy (road rage is a useless state of being).

When parking--leave car in gear with the e brake on, make sure anything of value is out of sight, secure vehicle doors and windows.

When returning to your vehicle--be aware of your surroundings, check inside the vehicle before entering, enter car quickly and leave the area quickly (don't make a phone call, put on makeup, etc.).

When returning to your home--back into your driveway, secure vehicle doors and windows, scan you home for anything unusual (broken window, open door) before entering your home.

When leaving/returning to your home in general--leave and return to your home at inconsistent times, always be aware of your surroundings (ie: look out the window prior to exiting your home), always have with your your emergency kit.

Are your water stores sufficient for drinking, cleaning and hygiene?

Can the family entertain themselves for 48 hours without TV, the stereo, the computer, etc.?

How did food preparation go?  Was the food easy to cook, palatable and sufficient for your needs?

Notice how the laundry stacks up (the bigger the family the more noticeable this is).  What would happen if this was a real disaster and you couldn't wash clothes for an extended period?  How would your laundry habits change?

How did the lack of lighting affect you?  Did everyone go to sleep earlier and wake with the sun?  Did your house still feel secure without floodlights around the property?  Did your candles and flashlights last through the drill?

Did you have all of the equipment and supplies you needed?  It takes a drill like this to sometimes remind people they only have an electric can opener in their home, that bills wouldn't get paid on time if they couldn't use their computer and that they often take for granted the ability to run out and pick up anything they need.

Create an after action report.  Review what happened over the 48-hour period.  Look at what worked as well as what didn't and plan ways to improve the situations that didn't work so well.

Always carry extra food, water and clothing when you head out, even if it is only for a day trip.

Learn wilderness skills and practice, practice, practice.

Choose your traveling partners carefully.  The more lengthy and technical the wilderness adventure, the more important this point is.

Know your own abilities and don't stretch far beyond them without guidance from an expert, especially with technical mountaineering tasks.

Always have a grasp of orienteering and wilderness medicine before heading out.

Consider in advance what you will do if confronted with wild animals, a deep-woods meth lab or other unsavory situation.

If all else fails, carry a cell phone or sat phone to get yourself out of a difficult situation.

Get out of the way.  If you are in a panicking crowd, don't stand in the middle of everyone.  Get to the side and get moving away from all of the excitement.

Help others if possible but unless it's in your job description, don't be a hero.

Heed warnings but use common sense.  Warnings prior to an event are usually useful.  Information immediately after an event can be limited or down-right wrong; use your common sense.

Be prepared as much as possible.  Carry a small survival kit.  Pre-arrange communication plans.  Practice "what if" scenario drills.

Learn in advance about possible disasters that could strike your area.  If you are new to earthquake country, find out how to prepare for an earthquake.  If you are traveling to a politically unstable country, learn how to travel as safely as possible.

Don't discuss what happened immediately after the event with anyone (including the media and other survivors).  Sharing stories immediately after an event tends to distort what actually happened and you certainly don't want your knee-jerk responses blasted through the media which could be used against you later.

Immediately after you are clear of the event, make notes.  What happened and what time.  Basically the who, what, when, where and how of what you observed. 
Whys are usually figured out much later.

List and complete any home repairs you will need to do before fall.

Get ready for your garden harvest (have supplies for canning and other types of food preservation, etc.)

Get out into the outdoors (camp, backpack, hike, climb, raft, etc).

Clean out the garage and out-buildings, getting rid of stuff you don't need and replace stuff you do.

Evaluate your home security both inside and outside and make any necessary changes or upgrades.

Take a week of your summer vacation and focus on yourself--areas such as health, home, finances, education, family...devise and implement a plan for improvement.

Check out the fall college catalogs or other educational opportunities that will enhance your earning power.

Ditto what you read last week.  Education and practice should start at home, in advance of when you will need the skills.

Plan as much in advance as possible (reserve rooms, rental cars and tickets for attractions in advance).

Keep your attitude in check.  Realize a family trip won't be the same as traveling with your unit.  Things will go slower, things won't get done, barking orders won't work as well...focus on team/skill building at this point.

Establish a communication plan and an emergency plan.  Everyone should know when/how to check in, where to meet and what to do in case of an emergency.

Be prepared to keep the troops happy...have a reserve of food and drinks and entertainment items during long drives or waits in the airport.

Make this a learning experience for yourself.  Note what works and what doesn't, note how others handle situations (kids, for example, can be surprisingly insightful), and integrate your learning into a plan for improvement for the next trip.

Make this a learning experience for the kids.  Use opportunities that arise to teach them security procedures, how to do new things (use the Metro, etc.), and how to rely on themselves.

Always have your travel things prepared and ready to go (ie: bags pre-packed, passport and inoculations current, etc).

Travel light.  One carry-on bag should be big enough to take you anywhere and for any length of time.

Think security when traveling by being prepared with information on your destination, not making your valuables and wallet easily accessible to thieves and constantly being aware of your surroundings.

Blend in with the locals as much as possible.  Americans are internationally known for their "typical" behaviour...gestering wildly, talking loudly, easily getting into a huff over small incidents, flashing money or other expensive items.  Don't do that.

In many foreign locales do a lot more listening than talking.  Even if you are the most well educated person on the planet, when it comes to discussing religion, politics, war or other sensitive topics, say very little and listen to every one else.  You may gain additional insight this way and at the very least you will avoid an unpleasant situation.

Realize that many of the freedoms we are accorded in the US do not apply once you leave the country.  Anything illegal conducted in a foreign country could have very serious implications.  Avoid unstable countries unless you have a specific reason to be there.

Learn some tips and tricks about your travel destination ahead of time by asking other travelers and reading bulletin boards.  For example, if your cruise ship docks into port at 10am, it's ludicrous to think you will be on the gang-plank at 10:05--2000 other people have the same idea.  Wait a half hour and your way should be clear.  If a new friend in a Filipino bar offers you a balut, know that you will probably want to politely decline unless you like the crunch of beaks and feathers.  Finally, save your bear hugs for friends back home, most of the world finds this, if not off-setting, downright offensive.

Always carry a cell phone, cell charger, domestic and foreign calling cards, and a complete list of contact information with you.

For particularly sensitive calls, use a calling card from a phone booth or a disposable cell phone.

Know how to operate alternative communication systems (ie: CB radio, HAM radio, Morse code, etc).

Have a variety of email addresses for various communication purposes.

Pre-arrange trusted people who can act as emergency contacts and/or information relays.  These people should be located in your town, in your state, and at various locations nationally and internationally.

Practice alternative communications exercises with your family or survival group (ie: physically hiding messages at various locations, sending and receiving coded messages, emergency communication drills based on various scenarios, etc.).

Learn enough about communication systems to cover your tracks (ie: how cellular service works, limits of radio anonymity, etc.).

Have a selection of firearms that you will use and train with on a regular basis.  This should include a small handgun for concealed carry, average handgun for basic protection, shotgun, rifle, and any other firearm that catches your fancy.

Always have an adequate stock of ammunition for your firearms.  Buy ammo by the case to save money, reload your own ammo, or barter.

Practice with your firearms in a variety of ways (ie: at the range/shooting area, IPSC practice, competitive matches, etc.).

Take excellent care of your firearms.  Diligently clean your firearms, always keep them repaired and in good working order, and pay attention to how you store your firearms to avoid rust and deterioration.