BOULDER, Colo. -- Kathy Garcia says she got her survivalist training as a Cub Scout mom. Now, as head of the Boulder County Y2K group, she translates that training into no-nonsense advice to people calling the group looking for Y2K survival tips with only days left to go.

'Surviving without electricity, heat or running water for days or weeks is not as hard as people are making it out to be,' she said. 'You can stock up on one week's supply of food easily,' she said.

Garcia advises sticking to food you'll eat, like chili, tuna, chicken in a can. 'Think peanut butter and saltines. Peanut butter is a wonderful thermostat for your body. What you want is food that will keep you warm,' she said. 'Don't buy foods your body is not used to eating. You'll be sick and the sewers may not be working.'

Garcia's approach to mealtime off the grid is simple: grill your food on the barbecue or camp stove outside. For indoor cooking, inexpensive Sternos will boil water for some pasta, or heat up a can of soup. If all else fails, use a coffee can and a candle. 'Punch some holes in the bottom, turn it over and put a candle underneath it. It makes a great burner and it will really cook food,' Garcia said.

Staying warm without heat will be a problem, but she discourages people from buying expensive generators, propane or kerosene heaters. 'The danger of carbon monoxide poisoning is so high with these,' she said. Plus, to stock enough fuel to last a week or more, people would need to illegally store gallons and gallons of fuel in their homes, which could cause explosions or fires.