(End of the American Dream)—Okay, this is starting to get really weird. First, we had a “thousand year storm” which caused catastrophic flooding in San Diego. Subsequently, a “Pineapple Express” storm absolutely soaked the entire state on Wednesday and Thursday. Now, a “bomb cyclone” is in the process of dumping 8 trillion gallons of rain on California over the course of approximately 48 hours. We are being told that there will be “life threatening flooding” all over the state, and in the mountains there will be massive amounts of snow in some areas. Do you remember when the state of California was hit by a series of devastating atmospheric rivers in December 2022 and January 2023? Well, now it is happening again, and the storm that we are witnessing at this moment is being called a “monster”. In fact, it is so large that 94 percent of the population of the state is at risk of experiencing life-threatening flooding…
A fierce winter storm fueled by a raging atmospheric river was thrashing Californians on Sunday with intense downpours, threatening treacherous flooding and hurricane-force winds − even in major urban areas.
Up to 37 million people, about 94% of the state’s population, were at risk for life-threatening floods from the storm, Accuweather meteorologists warned. The atmospheric river − like a river in the sky − is the second to pound the state in recent days, but forecasters said this storm would be the season’s most potent, particularly in Southern California.
In addition to staggering amounts of rain, this storm is also lashing the state with immensely powerful winds.
It is being reported that the National Weather Service has actually issued “a rare hurricane-force wind warning for the Central Coast”…
The National Weather Service issued a rare hurricane-force wind warning for the Central Coast: Wind gusts up to 92 mph were possible from the Monterey Peninsula to the northern section of San Luis Obispo County.
Apparently this is the first time that such a warning has ever been issued for that particular area…
The NWS office in the Bay Area issued its first-ever Hurricane-Force Wind Warning for the waters off parts of the Central California coast, where mariners could encounter wind gusts over hurricane force (74-plus mph).
That is interesting.
That is very interesting.
It isn’t too often that the words “hurricane” and “California” are used together in the same sentence.
According to weather researcher Ryan Maue, this storm is also being classified as a “bomb cyclone”…
Weather researcher Ryan Maue said the ‘bomb cyclone’ – a term denoting a storm that rapidly intensifies over 24 hours – could dump more than 8 trillion gallons of precipitation on the state.
He likened the amount to the volume of Lake Mead – 8.5 trillion gallons.
Just think about that for a moment.
The equivalent of Lake Mead is being dropped on California in just a 48 hour period.
That is going to cause a lot of damage.
A number of counties have already issued either an evacuation order or an evacuation warning…
Evacuation warnings and orders were in effect for Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Ventura and Monterey counties. Classes were canceled Monday for schools across Santa Barbara County.
“This storm is predicted to be one of the largest and most significant in our county’s history and our goal is to get through it without any fatalities or any serious injuries,” Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said.
We are being told that some parts of Los Angeles could see more rain during this storm than they usually do in an entire year.
In the mountains, the big problem will be snow.
Apparently some areas could literally get more than four feet of snow, and it is being reported that very rapid snowfall plus extremely strong winds “will lead to whiteout conditions”…
Heavy snow will be the headline event for higher elevations, including the Sierra Nevada and Northern California mountain ranges, specifically at elevations above 5,000 to 6,000 feet.
“Snow totals of several feet are forecast for the Sierra through Tuesday morning,” the NWS said. “Heavy snow rates of 2-3″/hour along with strong winds will lead to whiteout conditions and dangerous, near impossible travel conditions.”
When is the last time we saw “whiteout conditions” in California during the month of February?
I honestly don’t know. That is why I am asking.
What makes all of this even weirder is that this storm has hit California on the exact day that the Grammy Awards are happening.
Do you think that there is any possible way that this is just a coincidence?
The royalty of the music industry has gathered in one location for one night, and it just happens to be exactly where a storm of absolutely epic proportions is being unleashed.
Taylor Swift is there, and the media has been speculating about whether or not she will bring home the evening’s big prize…
Swift could become the artist with the most-ever wins in the Album of the Year category, considered the night’s most prestigious honor, breaking a tie she holds with Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon and Frank Sinatra and adding a victory for “Midnights” to her three wins for “Fearless,” “1989” and “Folklore.”
Sadly, even though Taylor Swift and the other artists that have gathered at the Grammys are very gifted musically, they are also leading millions of young Americans in the exact opposite direction that they should be going.
Coffee the Christian way: Promised Grounds
Once this storm finally passes, the crisis still won’t be over.
Another storm will hit the state late in the week, but that one is not supposed to be as large…
A smaller, trailing storm could spread another dose of low-elevation rain and mountain snow from north to south across the state from Thursday to Friday. While this storm will be moving along at a swift pace and will not pack the moisture of the blockbuster storm, it can add insult to injury by not only hampering storm cleanup but also triggering new incidents of flash flooding, slippery roads in the mountains and slow travel.
All of this rain is going to cause some terrible mudslides.
And the damage caused by the flooding will probably be in the billions of dollars.
In 2023, there were more “billion dollar disasters” than ever before, but I fully expect 2024 to be even worse.
Our world is being shaken in countless ways, and I believe we are in a time when we will get hit by one historic natural disaster after another.
So I hope that you have been getting prepared for what is coming, because what we have experienced so far is just the beginning…
Michael’s new book entitled “Chaos” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can check out his new Substack newsletter right here.
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.
