Aug92011
What to do next in a time of uncertainty
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image by Don Hankins
The reason even experienced preppers and survivalists are active in online forums, read blogs, and regularly add books to their home survival libraries is because there is always more to learn. One excellent resource of information is the website of Robert Wayne Atkins, also known to many as ‘Grandpappy’. His article, “The One Minute Meltdown” is one of the most popular linked-to articles in the history of my blog, and now he’s published, “What to do right now if the hard times have begun and you are not prepared.”
Hard times begin with two scenarios, as explained by Grandpappy
- You have some money and many local stores are still open for business. There’s time to prepare and resources are available.
- Stores are all closed, whether you have money or not, and banks are closed, making it impossible to access any money that you have.
From this point, Grandpappy explains,
Hard times are inevitable. The only things we do not know about hard times in advance are:
- the trigger event,
- the severity of the hard times, and
- the duration of the hard times.
Trigger events can be localized, such as an earthquake or tornado, or they can be very widespread, caused by an economic collapse or war. This leaves me wondering if, perhaps, the recent downgrade of America’s credit rating may be looked back upon as a trigger event. Whatever the trigger, desperation will mount. Grandpappy offers this sobering view of the future:
It really doesn’t matter if you and 5% (or 30%) of the rest in the people in the world can afford to buy food, or if some percentage of families already have an emergency food supply. The people who can’t afford food and who do not have an emergency food supply will not simply sit down and wait to die a peaceful, quiet, extremely unpleasant death due to starvation. They will do the same things today that starving people have always done in the past. It will begin with just a few people in each area reverting to savage behavior. Then you will hear about small organized groups of people who are engaging in savage behavior. Then each geographical region will be overrun by a huge uncontrollable mob of people who are starving and they will do anything to anybody in order to survive.
image by andrew cooke
America hasn’t faced a famine, the dust bowl not withstanding, but a few events have caught my attention recently and caused me to think hard about the food supply of our nation. First, massive flooding along the Mississippi River damaged valuable farmland earlier this year. Thousands of acres of land were flooded, washing away spring crops, and many farming families are still displaced.
A recent headline reads, ‘41% of U.S. in Major Drought‘. Ranchers in the midwest and Texas are selling off most or all of their cattle because there is no water and grass to feed them. This may lower the price of beef, temporarily, but until the drought ends, cattle ranches may become ghost towns. A cow can only have one calf per year. Even if a rancher is able to hold on to a portion of his stock, it will take a couple of years to build it back up. And, of course, the drought is affecting crops. A friend in Texas told me of driving past miles of cornfields filled with dead, dry plants. The effects of a drought are long-term and very serious.
I can’t think of a single reason why food prices shouldn’t increase or why we might not experience food shortages, even famine, in America someday. We can import food from other countries, but will they be willing to sell food if they are also experiencing shortages. And how eager will they be to sell to a country that is trillions of dollars in debt and who no longer has a top-notch credit rating?
Grandpappy, in his wisdom, notes that a complete breakdown may not ever happen. Governments may still continue to, somehow, keep water, sewage, and power systems running, but the key is to be as self-reliant as possible. Thinking that our current level of prosperity and comfort will continue forever, isn’t realistic, and to that end, Grandpappy offers lists of essential items to make sure you’re as prepared as possible.
Read the entire article and review his lists here. It’s great food for thought and a terrific, practical resource.
© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.
(9) Readers Comments
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Space-Saving and Effective Sub-Irrigated Planters (SIPS)
Mosquitos are definitely an issue with this type of design. There are
Space-Saving and Effective Sub-Irrigated Planters (SIPS)
mine has a watering tube running up the inside wall of the pot, which
Space-Saving and Effective Sub-Irrigated Planters (SIPS)
How do you control for mosquitos breeding in the stagnant water at the
Lynda
I love Grandpappy's forum and long ago saved it to my favorites, although I haven't visited in awhile. I actually printed out his many rice recipes months ago. Thanks for the heads up. Time to pay another visit.
millenniumfly
Those of us who are smart enough to be here and reading this post should NOT be waiting until the 11th hour to prepare! You should begin now and strive every day to stock your supplies. If hard times do hit THEN follow Grandpappy's suggestions to bolster your supplies. When it comes to food and other perishable supplies you can NEVER have enough.
Hawaii Honey
Great advice! I am in the habit now of buying a few preparedness items (or extra canned goods or stock foods) every time I go to the store. Yesterday, I splurged and bought a heavy duty fire extinguisher at Costco for $30. I think those "zombies" that Grandpappy talks about will use fire to flush out people from their coffers. I think that fire extinguishers along with adequate fire arms and ammunition are on the top list of valuable resources to have starting NOW ! I think that everyone needs to start looking for a source of fresh water because the water storage we are doing is not going to be enough. Thank you, Survival Mom, for this blog. You are saving lives!
Lynda
I began this effort nearly two years ago and have no regrets.
MasterPo
Something else to consider: The country is on VERY shakey ground more so now than any other time in the past 10 years at least. Don't overlook the possibility of a massive terrorist attack to take advantage of the confusion and termoil. Besides the damage and death such an attack would directly cause in the immediate area(s), just as with 9/11, it could be the final straw to push a teatering economy (and society!) over the edge.
Kick 'em when they're down.
MasterPo
I would also like to add this: (1 of 2 – have to break up the post)
Notice what happened with the S&P downgrade and the market reaction. Specifically, note the timing of events. Very telling.
S&P released it's downgrade on a Friday evening – right on the cusp of the weekend when most average people are at their least ability to respond to events and the markets are closed. This gave the banks, brokers, market makers and shakers as well as the government time to put together plans and strategies for the start of trading on Monday. And as we saw it was a massive sell off.
MasterPo
(2 of 2)
This is significant because if the event had happened during the week and during normal business hours that might have lead to a run on the banks (and supermarkets??) and possibly a 4-digit market drop as Joe Average Investor called their broker and mutual fund in a panic yelling "Sell! Sell! Sell!"
On top of this one of the official comments from the administration was this downgrade wasn't a suprise at all but readily expcected (despite the budget deal just passed).
My point is that next time there is a momentous economic event it too will likely be "scheduled" for a Friday or weekend at a time when financial institutions are closed so you will have very limited access to your money and assets. Maybe a "bank holiday" will suddenly be declared.
Sierra Dave
Grandpappy has a great site that is very easy to read. A couple addendums to his thoughts.
In the event of moderate to complete collapse. Power Companies that have Nuclear, Dams, Solar, or Wind. Will be the only ones that can continue. Others will be unable to purchase new fuel. I fully expect the Military to take them over and keep the power for military bases and major government installations. And then there will be a vast no-mans land in between where people will have to fend for themselves.
In the event of a bank holiday and a NEW devalued currency. James Wesley Rawles has pointed out, and history supports this. With a devalued fiat currency(paper), coins retain their value. It's too expensive and difficult logistically to issue new coinage in a hurry at the same time. So, your current coins will remain. If you keep $100 in coinage, if the paper is devalued 10 to 1, your coins have in effect multiplied by 10 times. Now Mr. Rawles has a whole page devoted to storing Nickels. The metal content makes them worth seven and a half cents. And the possibility exists that(presuming no collapse)new Nickels will be issued that are slugs made with less valuable metals, boosting the old Nickels worth.
You might also get into the habit of separating your Copper Pennies. Keeping 1981 and older as their Copper value is about 3 cents per. Yah funny, your Pennies are worth 3 cents. In the event of a currency crash and new money being issues. The little copper Penny will retain value based on its raw material. Sometimes mid 1982, Pennies were switched from solid Copper to Zinc coated. With a little effort, you can make a scale to weigh them to differentiate.
There are NO good economic indicators. I listen daily to multiple financial news outlets. Prepare while you can.
katzien
Grandpappy is "sobering" to say the least. Quite sobering.