(The Economic Collapse Blog)—We are about to witness the most dramatic astronomical event in the entire history of the United States. The Great American Eclipse of 2024 will be the last total solar eclipse in the continental United States until 2044, and it is being projected that it will be personally viewed by more people than any other eclipse in North America ever has been. Literally millions of people are expected to travel into the path of the totality on April 8th, and one expert is warning that this will be like “50 simultaneous Super Bowls across the nation”…
Due to the fact April’s total solar eclipse will be the last of its kind to occur in North America for 20 years, it is projected to be the U.S.’s largest mass travel event in 2024, Michael Zeiler, expert solar eclipse cartographer, told ABC News.
Zeiler compared eclipse day travel to “50 simultaneous Super Bowls across the nation,” saying four million people are estimated to travel to view it.
“When you look at the number of people expected to come to the path of totality for the solar eclipse, we estimate those numbers are roughly the equivalent of 50 simultaneous Super Bowls across the nation, from Texas to Maine,” he said.
In many areas of the country, we are going to see traffic nightmares of absolutely epic proportions.
And of course there is always a chance that clouds could ruin the viewing experience in a particular location.
Some wealthy people are not taking any chances. It is being reported that certain individuals are paying up to $3,750 in order to view the eclipse from a plane…
As the moon passes between the Earth and the sun Monday, Andrew Bazos will be cruising at 17,000 feet, rosé in hand, having dropped $2,000 to watch the solar eclipse from a private plane’s window.
He will not be alone: aviation company Blade has sold out 14 flights from New York — costing from $1,975 to $3,750 per seat — which will let people see the 5-minute astronomical phenomenon from the air.
With days to go, people who want to catch the once-in-a-generation total eclipse are shelling out four and five figures for exclusive experiences.
Due to all of the eclipse tourists that are expected, some areas in the U.S. and Canada have already declared a state of emergency for April 8th. Here is just one example…
A state of emergency has been declared in Niagara Region with thousands of people expected to head there to view the April 8 solar eclipse.
A news release issued by the region said the state of emergency was declared “out of an abundance of caution” by Regional Chair Jim Bradley under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA), effective Thursday, March 28.
“Declaring a state of emergency under the EMCPA strengthens the tools the region has at its disposal to safeguard the health and safety of residents and visitors and protect our critical infrastructure in any scenario that might arise,” the release said.
There is so much excitement about this eclipse.
Prior to the Great American Eclipse of 2017, the last total solar eclipse in the continental U.S. was in 1979, and after the Great American Eclipse of 2024 the next one will not be until 2044…
“If you look previous to 2017, the last one was in 1979,” Espenak said. “So it’s a little bit deceptive that these two eclipses were in seven years of each other.”
The next total solar eclipse to occur in the contiguous U.S. won’t be until August 2044 in Montana and North Dakota, and the next to span coast-to-coast is slated for 2045, according to NASA.
If you want to see a total solar eclipse in the continental U.S., this is it. So why are so many people going to call it a “dud” once it is all over?
The reason why they are going to call it a “dud” is because there has been so much speculation on the Internet about what might happen on that day.
If there is no major disaster or emergency on that day, millions of people will mock those that consider this eclipse to be extremely significant.
But those mockers will be missing the entire point of the eclipse. The eclipse is not important because of what may or may not happen on that day. Rather, the eclipse will be important because of what we already know will happen on that day.
Personally, I do not expect any major disaster or emergency to occur on April 8th. But that isn’t what matters. What matters is what is going to be happening in the heavens.
The Great American Eclipse of 2024 will complete the “giant cross” over America that the Great American Eclipse of 2017 started.
The intersection of those two eclipses falls in an area of southern Illinois that sits directly in the heart of the New Madrid fault zone.
And the last time we witnessed a giant “X” over that area, the worst earthquakes in the entire history of the continental United States started to erupt shortly thereafter.
Amazingly, at the heart of the intersection of the Great American Eclipse of 2024 and the Great American Eclipse of 2017 there is a 111 foot tall white cross known as the Bald Knob Cross of Peace…
Bald Knob Cross, officially known as the Bald Knob Cross of Peace, is a large white cross located in Alto Pass, Illinois, United States.[1] The structure is 111 feet (34 m) tall. The base of the cross is 1,034 feet above sea level and overlooks the Shawnee National Forest. Originally completed in 1963, the cross itself stands 111 feet tall, is 22 feet square at the base, 16 feet square at the top and its arms extend 63 feet horizontally. The exterior white panels covering the cross are 4-inch architectural flat insulated metal panels while the base portion is covered in granite approximately 4-inches thick. The structure sits on a foundation of 730 tons of reinforced concrete that goes down 20 feet to bedrock. The steel framework weighs approximately 170 tons. Each of the four sides of the cross have a word inscribed into the granite: Peace, Hope, Faith, Charity.[2]
The Bald Knob Cross of Peace was once the tallest cross in the entire western hemisphere. Do you think that is just a coincidence?
The Great American Eclipse of 2024 will also complete the “giant cross” over America that the “ring of fire” solar eclipse of 2023 started. At the heart of the intersection of those two eclipses another enormous cross stands.
In the Coming King Sculpture Prayer Garden in Kerrville, Texas, there is a seven story sculpture known as “The Empty Cross”, and it is exactly 77 feet and 7 inches tall.
This colossal sculpture is seen by millions of people as they travel along Interstate 10…
The 77′ 7″ hollow cross sculpture at this site has been seen by millions of people traveling on Interstate 10, connecting California and Florida. Countless others have learned about this unique spiritual art garden through various media channels. Remarkably, the paths of the Oct. 14, 2023, Annular Solar Eclipse and the April 8, 2024, Total Solar Eclipse converge deliberately. Many believe this convergence, forming a colossal cross in the sky directly above “The Empty Cross,” is not a random occurrence but a divine sign—a message from the Creator Himself.
As all of this is happening, the sun, the moon and the other seven planets in our solar system will be lining up in the sky.
A user known as “asking_hyena” posted a graphic of this on Reddit…
Coffee the Christian way: Promised Grounds
We will never see a “line in the sky” like this again in any of our lifetimes. And as you can see on this graphic, the path of the “Devil Comet” will be on the verge of crossing this “line in the sky” on April 8th.
To top everything off, all of this will happen on the first day of the first month on the Hebrew Calendar. As this eclipse is happening in the United States, the sun will already be down in Jerusalem and the first day of the first month will already have begun.
The Great American Eclipse of 2024 will literally be the most ominous sign in the heavens in the entire history of the United States. So anyone that calls it a “dud” after it is over is being extremely ignorant.
Once again, I want to stress that I don’t expect any major disaster or emergency to happen on that particular day. That isn’t what this is about. I believe that the Great American Eclipse of 2024 is a sign, and I also believe that it is a warning.
But instead of recognizing what it really means, millions of Americans will be using the eclipse as an excuse to party and celebrate, and that is extremely unfortunate.
And once we get to April 9th, many will foolishly suggest that the eclipse really didn’t mean anything at all, and that is because they failed to recognize the entire point of the eclipse.
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.
