Prepping Supplies for the Coming Economic Collapse
It seems that the super-rich are preparing for an economic collapse scenario, and they’re stocking up on prepping supplies accordingly.
More than half of Silicon Valley billionaires have started preparing for an economic crisis, according to LinkedIn Corp (NYSE:LNKD) co-founder Reid Hoffman. An explosive report by CNBC showed that some of the nation’s power elite are preparing for a societal meltdown, whether by purchasing bugout properties or stockpiling prepping supplies. (Source: “The super rich are preparing for the end of the world,” CNBC, January 25, 2017).
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Former Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) executive Antonio García Martínez bought hundreds of acres of woodlands in the Pacific Northwest, stocking up on ammo, generators, and solar panels. Steve Huffman, the CEO and co-founder of Reddit, got laser eye surgery to be more independent in an emergency. A number of billionaires have started buying up real estate in New Zealand, which is rumored to be a popular spot in the case of an economic collapse.
It just goes to show that even the wealthiest people understand there’s something not quite right under the hood. No longer is survival prepping just for gold hoarders and tinfoil-hat wearers. It’s now mainstream. The fact that immensely smart and accomplished individuals are now doomsday prepping definitely adds legitimacy to the cause.
The truth of the matter is, however, that societal breakdown is only one of several doomsday possibilities which could affect a regional, or even national, populace. Other potential devastating risk events include: historic earthquakes (think San Andreas or New Madrid fault lines), hyperinflation, an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack, nuclear attack, or terrorist chemical attack (e.g., dirty bomb, water supply poisoning).
The worrisome thing is, all of these events have already occurred somewhere in the world at some level. The possibilities of it occurring in North America are therefore greater than theoretical.
So what prepping supplies are coastal elites purchasing in case the unthinkable happens?
As you might imagine, the obvious choices are the most popular: real estate, weapons/ammo, and electrical generators. The big advantage that wealthy elites have over average folks is the quality of their real estate, weapons and electrical generators. For example, while common Joe American struggles for years to save up for a couple acres of woodland far away from urban and suburban wastelands, the coastal elite has purchased 100 acres of prime, fertile New Zealand land with a built-in runway strip. Who said life was fair?
The thing to remember, however, is that, regardless of socioeconomic status, most people have the capacity to procure quality prepping supplies which can save their lives in the event of an emergency. You don’t need prime New Zealand acreage to ride out the storm if you prioritize the right prepping supplies. Prepping 101 starts with planning; always has, always will.
Now, on to our must-have prepping supplies.
#1. Currency
We lead off with an obvious, but required choice. Whether it’s been tally sticks, seashells, or bronze disks, for thousands of years, currency has been an essential medium of exchange. This fact isn’t going to change anytime soon.
No matter how well thought out your prepping list is before the crisis, the ability to transact will still be required to purchase fuel and other needs. It’s physically and logistically impossible to store all the prepping supplies you need, indefinitely. Currency may also save your life if you need to bribe your way out of a compromising situation.
That’s where owning the proper currency comes in. You could have $10.0 million U.S. dollars in the bank, but in an American hyper-inflationary depression, it won’t do much good. It certainly hasn’t done much good for desperate Venezuelans holding bolivars of late.
The best currencies to own can be broken down into two categories: transacting and barter.
Ideal transacting currencies are likely to be the ones which have stood the test of time: gold, silver, and perhaps platinum. These metals are universally recognized and are historically extremely effective stores of value. All vendors will gladly accept these metals in exchange for their goods, especially in a hyper-inflationary environment where the dollar is crashing so hard that shop owners are using scales at the checkout counter.
Coins from the U.S. mint and smaller stamped ingots are ideal forms of metal to own. Have these metals personally on hand; do not keep them in safety deposit boxes or in paper form because they could get confiscated.
Bartering “currencies” are likely to be an effective choice as well. In a long-term crisis scenario, goods we’ve become accustomed to purchase easily will no longer be accessible. Therefore, they will take on currency-like characteristics.
Ammunition, cigarettes, alcohol, and medical supplies will be among the coveted goods that people will be desperate to exchange for. Ammunition, in particular, will be in high demand. Millions of people will have families and loved ones to protect, and will do so at all costs. Owning a surplus of the right caliber of bullets could be worth its weight in gold, literally.
#2. Communication Device
Regardless of where you bug out after a doomsday scenario, communicating with your family, community, and outside world are imperative to your long-term survival. According to prepping tips, a proper communication device can save your life if you’re stranded or under threat.
There are many different devices out there, but not all are suitable. For example, cell phones mostly work great in a normal world, but in a world with sporadic power, not so much. Cell phone batteries can also run down easily and are not readily replaceable. If the doomsday does arrive, by all means use your cell phone for as long as it operates, but don’t expect service to last very long.
My recommendation is an amateur (HAM) radio. These radios have many distinct advantages, since they are powerful, versatile, can be operated with little power, and have a million different frequencies in which to send and receive information. HAM radios have been used in emergency situations since the early 1900s, and have reliably stood the test of time. Other forms of communication don’t have this type of consistent history backing them up.
Keep in mind that operating a HAM radio station requires a license with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and takes some practice, so some advanced preparation is required. But in an emergency, you’ll be glad you have one and know how to use it.
#3. Water Filter
It goes without saying that clean water is essential in the bugout bag. Few people can live more than three days without consuming clean water. In a doomsday scenario, the industrial pumps filtering municipal tap water may not operate, and pristine water sources may get contaminated. There’s a reason why bottled water on store shelves is often the first to go in panic buying sprees or looting.
Fortunately, there are many great portable options to choose from in the marketplace. Most of them filter 99.9% of microbes and viruses. The higher-end brands can filter out heavy metals like lead and mercury, so choose those if you can afford them. There are gravity-type devices which can filter dozens of liters per day, and even straw-type filters which allow users to drink directly out of streams, lakes or even chlorinated swimming pools!
That type of versatility is incredibly valuable if you’re away in the wilderness, away from a municipal supply.
In the end, access to clean water is an essential element of life. Being dehydrated is taxing on your immune system and makes a person susceptible to illness and exhaustion. You won’t make it very long without a fresh supply of water.
#4. Weapons
What is prepping without owning the proper weapons to defend yourself and your loved ones? When the grid goes down, the unprepared masses will be desperate to acquire the things that the prepper has already acquired. The proper protection will be essential to guard your remaining property and supplies.
In terms of weapons, I believe that having at least two types is warranted. The first is an effective long-range weapon: a firearm. I’m not to0 finicky about the particular type. As long its owner is comfortable enough using it, and it is powerful enough to incapacitate an attacker, most will be effective for self-defense purposes. If you’re planning on defending a homestead or joining a local militia, this is another conversation entirely.
The second type of weapon I recommend is a short-range weapon, like a stun gun. These devices can deliver up to three million volts to an assailant, incapacitating them for up to half an hour. The device simply has to make contact for the assailant to be subject to its effects, giving the user plenty of time to escape danger.
These weapons are great in close quarters, since they are harder to knock away for the user’s hands. If you’re unfortunate enough to be subject to an attack in a camping tent or sudden face-to-face standoff in public, a stun gun could definitely save your life.They provide the added deterrent of visible electricity passing through the probes; something an assailant likely wants no part of. After all, the best defense is preventing an attack in the first place.
#5. Antibiotics
Sometimes this is an overlooked essential item in a bugout bag. For some, they may not have needed it before or have eventually overcome symptoms without them. But in a doomsday scenario, the relative cleanliness of everyday life is likely to give way to a less sterilized environment. This includes the degradation of the water supply and the many microbes and viruses that lie within.
Preppers also must account for the fact they could be using hand tools more frequently. This poses a potential hazard in that metal tools rust over time and, should your skin get pierced with such a rusty tool, life-threatening infections can spread quickly.
I would consult your doctor for more information on which types of antibiotics are appropriate for different conditions. A general-purpose antibiotic would be desirable, but the reality is that different medications treat different conditions.
A good start might be a purchasing combination of Ciprofloxacin, Metronidazole, Cephalexin, as these will treat the majority of common infections. But again, I encourage you to research more fully on the matter and consult your physician for further advice.
