Editor’s Commentary: The folks behind Epic Economist are content specialists. They know how to craft headlines and find sources to back their claims, especially as they pertains to economic downturns. They are NOT survival specialists. Moreover, I really wish they’d get a real person to narrate their videos rather than using an artificial voice emulator.
I’m posting this despite it’s minor flaws for two reasons. First and foremost, the list of 15 items below is pretty good. It’s not written by survival experts… which can be a very good thing. Lists like these, when written by survival experts, can often include items that are priceless to THEM and not necessarily the average American who gets stuck in a crap-hits-the-fan situation.
They also often put too much focus on bugout items rather than items necessary for bugging in. Paracord, for example, is truly priceless and necessary when out in the wild for an extended period of time but it does little to help if you’re holing up in your apartment. With that said, here’s the article they wrote that goes with the video. I added the actual list of items at the bottom; Epic Economist loves to make you watch the video without actually listing the items so I’ll save you the trouble if you’re in a hurry…
(Epic Economist)—These are scary times. Geopolitical tensions are rising all around the globe, and no one knows for sure what can happen next. The United States is in a very tough spot as other nations pressure our elected officials to take action to solve problems that are erupting in many parts of the planet.
From exporting more food, oil, and energy supplies to providing humanitarian aid to countries in need, America is at the center of many situations that are unfolding right now, and it seems like the entire world is watching us.
We’ve been sending our agricultural supplies, fuels, and other resources to our allies abroad to prevent current crises from escalating further. But that has been draining our domestic reserves and leaving us in a very dangerous position. Farmers have lost millions of acres of crops this year, and stores will have fewer supplies than they did a year ago to sell to American consumers in the months ahead. Retailers have also canceled the purchase of several products after sales started to collapse, and their inventories are leaner than ever before.
Meanwhile, inflation isn’t cooling as fast as it was supposed to, and we’re feeling the pain in our wallets. This difficult scenario can be rapidly aggravated if any sort of extreme weather event disrupts the distribution of power to our homes and food to supermarkets. But if you’re a regular on our channel, you probably know that there are plenty of other things that can go wrong in the next few months as well. And it won’t take much to throw our supply chains in disarray again.
On top of that, uur domestic power grid is vulnerable to cyberattacks, extreme weather, and energy supply shortages, and the risks become even higher during the winter. Blackouts and power outages can surprise us at any moment, that’s why it is important to keep extra batteries around to power up our devices in such a scenario.
Every winter, some regions across the U.S. experience power outages that can last for days, and every year people who didn’t have the chance to prepare in advance get frustrated not to find this cheap product at the stores right when they need it the most. But you don’t have to be one of them. Check which types of batteries your devices require, get some extras, and keep them at hand. Now you can still find great deals at dollar stores and sales at big-box retailers but things could be dramatically different in a few months.
Similarly, with flu season getting closer, more people will be looking for sanitary wipes, a product that never goes out of demand. We can use it for personal hygiene, household cleaning, sterilizing surfaces, and also for first aid purposes, that’s why it’s so popular.
This cheap item will be even more in demand in the months ahead, and we can expect some bare shelves at grocery and retail stores. An important thing to know if you’re going to stock up on sanitary wipes for the longer term is that if they dry out, you can add a little water and some rubbing alcohol to refresh them almost like new again. Like so, you don’t lose your money in case the cleaning liquid evaporates, and you also don’t have to rush to the store in crippling winter weather to purchase some more. For that reason, we decided to list some inexpensive emergency supplies you should get before the next crisis hits.
- Batteries
- Emergency Blankets
- Chapstick
- Sanitary Wipes
- Flashlights and Lanterns
- Toilet Paper
- Over-the-Counter Medications
- Non-Perishable Food
- Manual Can Opener
- First Aid Supplies
- Candles, Lighters, and Matches
- Trash Bags
- Rubber Gloves
- Hygiene Products
- Self-Defense Gear
Sponsored Note: Add freeze-dried steak to the list. Freedom First Beef gives my readers 15% off with promo code “JDR” at checkout. Don’t eat “beef crumbles” if the crap hits the fan. Eat NY Strip, Ribeye, and other REAL beef products that enjoy a 25-year shelf life.
SOUND OFF about this list on our Late Prepper Substack.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
